I remember watching Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals with my brother and my father. Looking back, I think I was astonished how overjoyed my father was when Doug Gilmour put in an empty-neter. He had seen the Flames through the early days, the Flames of Kent Nilsson, Lanny MacDonald, Reggie Lemelin. He had witnessed disappointments against the Oilers and the Jets. He remembered Brian Skrudland's crushing 9-second OT goal in the 1986 Finals against the very same Montreal Canadiens. My dad was overjoyed, and only years later, would I understand why.
Having only fleeting memories of Flames seasons prior to 1988, I could honestly confess that the first vivid memory I have of the Flames was Game 2 of the Smythe Division Finals against the Oilers. That memory, of course, was Wayne Gretzky streaking in on left wing and blasting the OT winner over Mike Vernon's shoulder. It was quite an initiation to playoff disappointment. My dad told me, after the Oilers finished the sweep, that the Oilers are the best team, for now, and the Flames' time would come soon. I didn't know that soon would be the very next year. I did not understand how special 1989 truly was then. I thought the Flames would hoist the Cup for many years to come. I was spoiled by the success, and soon my optimism would come crashing back to earth.
But 1989 would grow ever more special for this Flames fan after having lived as a hardcore fan through the 'lean years', the years spanning from 1990-2004. Well, the early 1990s brought a great deal of regular season success for the Flames; finishing near the top of their division consistently, with the exception of 1991-92 when they missed the playoffs. All that regular season success only prepared Flames fans for crushing playoff defeats. 1990 - The L.A. Kings eliminate the Flames, defending champions, after a legitimate Flames goal is disallowed in Game 6, which is ended by Mike Krushelnyski in 2-OT. 1991 - Esa Tikannen scores an OT winner in Game 7 of the Smythe Division Semi-Finals. This ruined a magical moment in Game 6 when Theo Fleury scored on a breakaway in OT, and then pulled out the most overblown celebration in Flames history. 1993 - The Kings thoroughly beats the Flames in 6. 1994 - The Flames blow a 3-1 series lead by losing three straight OT games, capped off by a Pavel Bure's OT winner in Game 7. 1995 - Flames fail to close out San Jose, despite having a 3-2 lead in the series. The OT winner gets past a puzzled Trevor Kidd.
Did I mention that the Flames selected Trevor Kidd ahead of Martin Brodeur in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft? Or that they traded Doug Gilmour for Gary Leeman and change? Well, I just did, and these tidbits may provide explication for the futility the Flames would experience in the eight years following their 4-0 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1996 playoffs. No playoff appearances. Draft picks ranging from Daniel Tkaczuk to Rico Fata. And the team was at one point in serious jeopardy of having to move from Calgary. The lack of playoff revenue, sagging attendence, and terrible mismanagement does that to a franchise. The team didn't move. The team survived. And 2004 happened. To Flames fans in my demographic, who lived through the lean years, that playoff run was truly miraculous. Even though the Flames came within one goal, or some would contend, one would-be Gelinas goal, from winning the Stanley Cup, I came to understand why my father was so unbelievably overjoyed after Doug Gilmour potted that insurance marker. They arrived. They made it. And he was there for that long journey. After having lived through the absolute lowest of lows for the Flames, 2004 was almost as sweet as 1989. Almost.
The image of Jim Peplinski and Tim Hunter hopping over the glass, in what looked to a seven-year old to be pajamas, to hoist the Stanley Cup with Lanny is one that will never be forgotten. So Happy Anniversary to Lanny and the 1989 Flames. To Hakan Loob, Joe Mullen, Joe Nieuwendyk, Theo Fleury, Gary Roberts, Al MacInnis, Mike Vernon, Ric Nattress, Gary Suter and the rest, thank you so very much.
