POLL: MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN FLAMES HISTORY

[yave1964]

The Flames came over from Atlanta in 1980-81, and took the Province of Alberta by storm. Here, IMHO are some of the greatest moments in team history.

 

THEO SLIDES ACROSS THE ICE IN CELEBRATION!!

 

 

One of the greatest rivalries (mentioned later on this list) of the eighties spilled into the nineties and in game six of the 90-91 playoffs against the hated Oilers little Theo scored in overtime to force game 7 and his celebration of the goal is an iconic moment.

 

1986: FLAMES MAKE FINALS FOR FIRST TIME

 

Finally! after several years of falling short against their greatest rival, the Flames swept the Jets before beating the Oilers in 7 and then the Blues in 7 as well before falling to Patrick Roy and the Habs. Badger Bob Johnson did a wonderful job of coaching, mixing veterans such as Lanny McDonald, Dan Quinn and doug Risebrough and kids such as Joe Mullen, Al Maciniss, Joel Otto and Hakaan Loob and rode the hot hand of young Mike Vernon and the club went further than the team ever had.

 

  JAROME IGINLA COMES OVER FOR JOE NIEUWENDYK

 

Lets get this out of the way right now, Joe Nieuwendyk was one hell of  a player. Back to back 50 goal seasons in his first two years in the league, a key cog to the 1989 cup winning club. But dealing him to the Stars when he held out in 1996 to the Stars for the Stars first round pick of that year, the young Iginla brought in the greatest player in team history.

  The rugged winger holds nearly every offensive record in team history, including 525 goals and 1095 points in a Flames uniform. He had 13 straight seasons of 30 plus goals including 50 twice.

 

THE RIVALRY: THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA IN THE 1980'S

 

 Now this was hockey. The Flames and Oilers were simply amazing during the eighties, One of the two clubs represented the West for eight consecutive seasons from 1983 to 1980 and usually the path to the cup finals went through each other.

  They met 5 times in the postseason during that time

The Oilers knocked the Flames out 4 times in the postseason with the Flames only victory against their rival coming in the 1986 season.

 

03-04 FLAMES STANLEY CUP FINALS AGAINST LIGHTNING

 

 Was it a goal or was it not a goal? That is the question.

 

 A no goal call on a play involving Khabibulin in net for the Bolts and a Martin Gelinas shot with game six tied 2-2 with under 7 minutes to go when the puck clearly crossed the goal line was not reviewed and the Bolts won in double overtime and won the series two nights later. If Gelinas goal had counted (it is possible it wouldnt have counted anyway because he kicked it in) the flames, led by Iginla and coach Darryl Sutter as well as the impecible netminding of  Kiprusoff who went 24-10-4 and then sparkled in the postseason with a wonderful 1.85 goals against fell just short.

 

 1989 WINNING THE CUP FOR LANNy

 

One of the most beloved and respected players in the history of the game, Lanny McDonald was in his final season in the NHL and had not won a cup, the Flames, ed by young Joe Nieuwendyk with 51 regular season goals and 10 in the postseason and Joe Mullen matched him with 51 goals, Dougie Gilmour was clutch, Al Macinnis and his wicked slapper was firmly established with 74 points and over 100 PIMs. The very underrated Mike Vernon in goal played huge, Coach Terry crisp pushed all the right buttons all year long on guys like Loob, Suter and Otto and kid Gary roberts was a pest all year to the opposition.

 McDonald had been a healthy scratch often during the season and Crisp sat him in the finals for games 3,4, and 5 before reinserting him in game 6 against Patrick Roy and the rival Canadiens. McDonald scored the tie breaking goal in the second period and Gilmour added two more as the Flames went on to win their only cup by a score of 4-2, and the mustachio'd Lanny Mac grinning from ear to ear finally got to hold Lord Stanley's cup.

 

 

 

[Yorick]

That beard!

[jammer2]

  Lanny in a landslide.

[hf101]

This had to been one of my favorite Stanley Cup Finals to watch.  

 

 

and if you have some time:  Lanny scored his first and last goals in Montreal.

 

[jammer2]

@hf101  What made it so great was the lunch bucket approach the Flames had. The Joel Otto's, the Jim Peplinski's that would not take no for an answer. Loved watching that team. Of course, everyone was cheering for Lanny to get one, Lanny was the Bourque of his day.