In 1981, the Calgary Flames managed to advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs’ semi-final round before running out of gas and being eliminated by the Minnesota North Stars. In 1986, the Flames managed to get themselves into the Stanley Cup Final, but were bested in five games by the Montreal Canadiens.

Well, in 1989, the Flames managed to finish the job, making it to the Stanley Cup Final and winning. Their final home game at the Olympic Saddledome in 1989, Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, set the table for their championship win a couple days later.

The Flames had themselves a heck of a year in 1988-89. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the prior season and losing in the second round, they came back and were really, really good. They won the Presidents’ Trophy again, and then beat Vancouver (in seven games), Los Angeles (in four games) and Chicago (in five games) to earn themselves a rematch with the Habitants in the Final round.

Montreal won two of the first three games of the series, but the Flames won Game 4 in Montreal to tie the series at 2-2 heading back to Calgary. Whoever won Game 5 would have a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup at the Forum a couple nights later.

The series moved back to the Montreal Forum for Game 6 two days later. The Flames beat the Canadiens by a score of 4-2 to capture their first – and to date, only – Stanley Cup championship.

The disassembly of the Flames’ powerhouse 1980s core began soon afterwards: Lanny McDonald retired, Hakan Loob went back to Sweden, and Rob Ramage was traded to Toronto. More moves would soon follow that would diminish a strong Flames club for the long run.