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Greatest Saddledome Games: Punching a ticket to their first Stanley Cup Final (May 14, 1986)

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryan Pike

Aug 9, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 6, 2026, 02:09 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: one of the most important games in the team’s development into a legitimate powerhouse.

The Atlanta Flames walked so the Calgary Flames could run. During the 1970s, Flames management constantly tinkered with the group they inherited from the 1972 expansion draft. By the time they arrived in Calgary in May 1980, the team was starting to get pretty good.

By the mid-1980s, the team was starting to get really good. On May 14, 1986, they hit a major milestone on home ice, as they managed to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the very first time in franchise history.

The lead up

When the Flames arrived in Calgary in 1980-81, they ended up having their best playoff performance ever. They rode some strong performances to get past Chicago and Philadelphia to reach the Stanley Cup Semi-Final round, before beating eliminated by the Minnesota North Stars in six games.

The Flames made the post-season in the next four seasons but couldn’t repeat that breakthrough. Well, until 1985-86, when they managed to get past Winnipeg and Edmonton to reach the third round for the second time. (The series-deciding goal against Edmonton was the infamous Steve Smith own goal.) And so the Flames faced St. Louis in the Campbell Conference Final with a trip to the Final series on the line.

The clubs split the first four games evenly. The Flames beat the Blues at home in Game 5 to give themselves a chance to advance in St. Louis, but lost 6-5 in overtime. They returned to the Saddledome with a second chance to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

The box score

Calgary (1-0) – Al MacInnis (4) (Tim Hunter, Jamie Macoun) – 5:42, first period
Peplinski Cgy (elbowing), Ramage StL (holding) – 12:37, first period
Bartel Cgy (cross-checking) – 17:23, first period

Calgary (2-0) – Colin Patterson (6) (Paul Reinhart) – 1:42, second period
Baxter Cgy (charging) – 1:53, second period
Nattress StL (hooking) – 5:47, second period
Beers StL (elbowing) – 8:52, second period
Ramage StL (tripping) – 14:28, second period
Hunter Cgy (fighting, misconduct), Norwood StL (fighting) – 17:37, second period

Bartel Cgy (holding) – 3:36, third period
Tonelli Cgy (hooking) – 15:40, third period
Macoun Cgy (hooking) – 16:52, third period
St. Louis (2-1) – Eddy Beers (3) (Ric Nattress, Bernie Federko) PP – 18:02, third period

Final Score: Calgary 2, St. Louis 1

W: Mike Vernon (1 goal against on 18 shots); L: Rick Wamsley (2 goals against on 25 shots)

The aftermath

The Flames faced the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens in the 1986 Stanley Cup Final. It didn’t go great, with the Flames winning Game 1 (woo-hoo!) and then suffering four consecutive losses in what’s known as “the gentleman’s sweep.” (But we’ll get to that later.)

To file under “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”: five members of the 1986 Blues roster ended up joining the enemy, and were part of the 1989 Flames lineup that won the Stanley Cup: Doug Gilmour, Mark Hunter, Ric Nattress, Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley.

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