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Greatest Saddledome Games: The Habs hoist the Cup as the Flames go down swinging (May 24, 1986)

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

By Ryan Pike

Aug 10, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 6, 2026, 02:29 EDT

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As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: the Flames face off against the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens in their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Calgary Flames did a lot of growing up in the mid 1980s. They matured from a scrappy underdog team into a team that, well, wanted to win things. They reached a milestone in that maturation process in 1986 when they made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

It was a bit of a rude awakening for them, though, at the hands of hockey’s most-decorated club, the Montreal Canadiens.

The lead up

The 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs were a massive breakthrough for the Flames. They swept the Winnipeg Jets in three games. They eliminated the Edmonton Oilers for the first time ever, beating them in seven games. They advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final by beating the St. Louis Blues in seven games, including a really composed 2-1 victory at home in Game 7 to finish that series.

The Flames opened the 1986 Stanley Cup Final with a 5-2 win on home ice… and then lost each of the next three games to get pushed to the brink of elimination by the Habs. (In the Flames’ defence, Montreal’s largest margin of victory in those three wins was just two goals – the Flames kept things close.)

The box score

Fotiu Cgy (roughing) – 2:43, first period
McDonald Cgy (hooking) – 5:53, first period
Montreal (1-0) – Gaston Gingras (2) (Claude Lemieux, Mats Naslund) PP – 6:53, first period
Skrudland Mtl (high-sticking) – 7:15, first period
Risebrough Cgy, Skrudland Mtl (misconducts) – 15:21, first period
Fotiu Cgy (slashing) – 18:26, first period

Lalor Mtl (roughing) – 1:28, second period
Chelios Mtl (slashing) – 3:26, second period
Calgary (1-1) – Steve Bozek (1) (Tim Hunter, Jim Peplinski) – 7:17, second period
Montreal (2-1) – Brian Skrudland (2) (Mike McPhee, Claude Lemieux) – 10:49, second period
Fotiu Cgy (high-sticking) – 14:40, second period

Fotiu Cgy, Ludwig Mtl (roughing) – 6:31, third period
Montreal (3-1) – Rick Green (1) (David Maley, Mike Lalor) – 10:11, third period
Montreal (4-1) – Bobby Smith (7) (Mats Naslund) – 10:30, third period
Hunter Cgy (high-sticking), Lemieux Mtl (interference) – 13:01, third period
Calgary (4-2) – Steve Bozek (2) (Jamie Macoun) – 16:46, third period
Calgary (4-3) – Joe Mullen (12) (Dan Quinn, Al MacInnis) – 19:14, third period

Final Score: Montreal 4, Calgary 3

W: Patrick Roy (3 goals against on 33 shots), L: Mike Vernon (4 goals against on 33 shots)

The aftermath

After the Canadiens hoisted the Stanley Cup on Saddledome ice, the Flames returned the favour three years later in their rematch capturing the Cup at the Montreal Forum in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.

Montreal was the only road team to beat the Flames on Saddledome ice for a Stanley Cup. Conversely, the Flames were the only road team to beat the Habs on Forum ice for a Stanley Cup.

11 members of the Flames 1986 team returned to win the Cup in 1989: Tim Hunter, Hakan Loob, Al MacInnis, Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Joel Otto, Colin Patterson, Jim Peplinski, Gary Roberts, Gary Suter and Mike Vernon. (And Doug Risebrough was on the Flames’ coaching staff in 1989 after being on the 1986 Finalist team.)

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