The 1986–87 Calgary Flames season was the seventh

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

and 15th for the Flames franchise. The Flames posted their best record in franchise history to that time, as Calgary's 95 points was the third best total in the league. The Flames' defence of their 1986

Campbell Conference Campbell may refer to: People Surname * Campbell (surname), includes a list of people with surname Campbell Given name * Campbell Brown (footballer), an Australian rules footballer * Campbell Brown (journalist) (born 1968), American television n ...

championship was quickly snuffed out by the

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

, as the Flames were upset in the first round of the playoffs in six games by their Manitoba rivals.

Joe Mullen Joseph Patrick Mullen (born February 26, 1957) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins betwe ...

captured his first

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard ...

for gentlemanly conduct, while

Al MacInnis Allan MacInnis (born July 11, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames (1981–1994) and St. Louis Blues (1994–2004). A first round selection ...

was named a Second Team All-star. The Flames had no player representatives at

Rendez-vous '87 Rendez-vous '87 was a two-game international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet Union national ice hockey team and a team of All-Stars from the National Hockey League, held in Quebec City. It replaced the NHL's All-Star festivities ...

, which replaced the

All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...

for this season, though head coach Bob Johnson served as an assistant coach for the NHL all-stars. Tragedy struck the Flames in the summer of 1986, as their first round draft pick,

George Pelawa George Dale Pelawa (February 22, 1968 – August 30, 1986) was a high school hockey right winger from Bemidji, Minnesota. He was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 1986 as the top high-school player in the state and was selected in the first round ...

, died in an automobile crash over the

Labour Day Labour Day is an annual day of celebration of the labour movement and its labor rights, achievements. It has its origins in the trade union, labour union movement, specifically the Eight-hour day movement, eight-hour day movement, which advoca ...

weekend. Pelawa's death is commonly rumoured to be an inspiration for the 1988

Tom Cochrane Thomas William Cochrane ( ; born May 14, 1953) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician best known as the frontman for the rock band Red Rider and for his work as a solo singer-songwriter. Cochrane has won eight Juno Awards. He is a member ...

song "Big League", but has never been confirmed as true. Following the season, the Flames released a music video to benefit charity. The "Red Hot" video featured many players, including

Lanny McDonald Lanny King McDonald (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year ...

, Gary Roberts, Mike Vernon, Al MacInnis and

Joel Otto Joel Stuart Otto (born October 29, 1961) is an American former professional ice hockey center in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. An undrafted player, Otto signed with the Flames as a free agent ...

, among others, lipsynching and pretending to play instruments. It was released on VHS and on vinyl. It enjoyed popularity then but was forgotten until the video surfaced on the internet in 2005.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 9 , , Calgary , , 5 – 3 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, , , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , - , 2 , , October 11 , , Calgary , , 5 – 6 , ,

Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

, , , , 1–1–0 , , 2 , - , 3 , , October 12 , , Calgary , , 4 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , 2–1–0 , , 4 , - , 4 , , October 16 , ,

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, , 4 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 2–2–0 , , 4 , - , 5 , , October 18 , ,

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, , 5 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 2–3–0 , , 4 , - , 6 , , October 22 , ,

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, , 3 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 3–3–0 , , 6 , - , 7 , , October 24 , , Calgary , , 2 – 5 , ,

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, , , , 3–4–0 , , 6 , - , 8 , , October 26 , , Boston , , 6 – 0 , , Calgary , , , , 3–5–0 , , 6 , - , 9 , , October 28 , , Calgary , , 4 – 7 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, , , , 3–6–0 , , 6 , - , 10 , , October 29 , , Calgary , , 2 – 6 , , Winnipeg , , , , 3–7–0 , , 6 , - , 11 , , November 1 , ,

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

, , 1 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 4–7–0 , , 8 , - , 12 , , November 3 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, , 2 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 5–7–0 , , 10 , - , 13 , , November 5 , , Calgary , , 3 – 1 , , Edmonton , , , , 6–7–0 , , 12 , - , 14 , , November 7 , , Edmonton , , 4 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 7–7–0 , , 14 , - , 15 , , November 9 , ,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, , 0 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 8–7–0 , , 16 , - , 16 , , November 11 , ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 9–7–0 , , 18 , - , 17 , , November 13 , , Hartford , , 3 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 10–7–0 , , 20 , - , 18 , , November 15 , , Calgary , , 1 – 4 , , Los Angeles , , , , 10–8–0 , , 20 , - , 19 , , November 18 , , Calgary , , 0 – 5 , , Vancouver , , , , 10–9–0 , , 20 , - , 20 , , November 20 , ,

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, , 5 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 10–10–0 , , 20 , - , 21 , , November 22 , , NY Rangers , , 5 – 8 , , Calgary , , , , 11–10–0 , , 22 , - , 22 , , November 24 , , Edmonton , , 5 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 12–10–0 , , 24 , - , 23 , , November 27 , , Winnipeg , , 4 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 12–11–0 , , 24 , - , 24 , , November 29 , ,

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, , 4 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 13–11–0 , , 26 , - , 25 , , December 2 , , NY Islanders , , 3 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 13–11–1 , , 27 , - , 26 , , December 4 , , Chicago , , 1 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 14–11–1 , , 29 , - , 27 , , December 6 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Quebec , , , , 15–11–1 , , 31 , - , 28 , , December 8 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , , Montreal , , , , 15–12–1 , , 31 , - , 29 , , December 10 , , Calgary , , 6 – 4 , , Pittsburgh , , , , 16–12–1 , , 33 , - , 30 , , December 11 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, , , , 16–13–1 , , 33 , - , 31 , , December 13 , , Calgary , , 6 – 3 , , Los Angeles , , , , 17–13–1 , , 35 , - , 32 , , December 16 , , Detroit , , 3 – 8 , , Calgary , , , , 18–13–1 , , 37 , - , 33 , , December 18 , , Quebec , , 2 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 19–13–1 , , 39 , - , 34 , , December 20 , , Calgary , , 5 – 3 , , Vancouver , , , , 20–13–1 , , 41 , - , 35 , , December 22 , , Los Angeles , , 5 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 20–14–1 , , 41 , - , 36 , , December 28 , , Calgary , , 4 – 1 , , Buffalo , , , , 21–14–1 , , 43 , - , 37 , , December 30 , , Calgary , , 4 – 3 , ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, , , , 22–14–1 , , 45 , - , 38 , , December 31 , , Calgary , , 4 – 6 , , Detroit , , , , 22–15–1 , , 45 , - , 39 , , January 3 , , Calgary , , 4 – 7 , ,

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

, , , , 22–16–1 , , 45 , - , 40 , , January 4 , , Calgary , , 4 – 1 , , Chicago , , , , 23–16–1 , , 47 , - , 41 , , January 8 , , Los Angeles , , 4 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 24–16–1 , , 49 , - , 42 , , January 10 , , St. Louis , , 2 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 25–16–1 , , 51 , - , 43 , , January 11 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , , Edmonton , , , , 25–17–1 , , 51 , - , 44 , , January 14 , , NY Rangers , , 8 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 25–18–1 , , 51 , - , 45 , , January 16 , , Calgary , , 5 – 9 , , Vancouver , , , , 25–19–1 , , 51 , - , 46 , , January 17 , , Vancouver , , 4 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 25–20–1 , , 51 , - , 47 , , January 20 , , Calgary , , 3 – 1 , , NY Islanders , , , , 26–20–1 , , 53 , - , 48 , , January 22 , , Calgary , , 5 – 7 , , New Jersey , , , , 26–21–1 , , 53 , - , 49 , , January 24 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , , Boston , , , , 26–22–1 , , 53 , - , 50 , , January 26 , , Calgary , , 6 – 5 , , Toronto , , OT , , 27–22–1 , , 55 , - , 51 , , January 29 , , Minnesota , , 3 – 3 , , Calgary , , OT , , 27–22–2 , , 56 , - , 52 , , January 31 , , New Jersey , , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 28–22–2 , , 58 , - , 53 , , February 3 , , Vancouver , , 4 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 28–23–2 , , 58 , - , 54 , , February 5 , , St. Louis , , 2 – 1 , , Calgary , , , , 28–24–2 , , 58 , - , 55 , , February 7 , , NY Islanders , , 1 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 29–24–2 , , 60 , - , 56 , , February 8 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Vancouver , , , , 30–24–2 , , 62 , - , 57 , , February 14 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Minnesota , , , , 31–24–2 , , 64 , - , 58 , , February 16 , , Calgary , , 5 – 0 , , Philadelphia , , , , 32–24–2 , , 66 , - , 59 , , February 17 , , Calgary , , 3 – 1 , , Pittsburgh , , , , 33–24–2 , , 68 , - , 60 , , February 20 , , Toronto , , 2 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 34–24–2 , , 70 , - , 61 , , February 22 , , Washington , , 5 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 34–25–2 , , 70 , - , 62 , , February 24 , , Vancouver , , 0 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 35–25–2 , , 72 , - , 63 , , February 26 , , Philadelphia , , 3 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 36–25–2 , , 74 , - , 64 , , February 28 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 37–25–2 , , 76 , - , 65 , , March 1 , , Calgary , , 3 – 6 , , Winnipeg , , , , 37–26–2 , , 76 , - , 66 , , March 3 , , Montreal , , 4 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 37–27–2 , , 76 , - , 67 , , March 5 , , Los Angeles , , 2 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 38–27–2 , , 78 , - , 68 , , March 8 , , Calgary , , 7 – 4 , , NY Rangers , , , , 39–27–2 , , 80 , - , 69 , , March 10 , , Calgary , , 6 – 3 , , Washington , , , , 40–27–2 , , 82 , - , 70 , , March 11 , , Calgary , , 6 – 1 , , Hartford , , , , 41–27–2 , , 84 , - , 71 , , March 14 , , Calgary , , 4 – 6 , , Toronto , , , , 41–28–2 , , 84 , - , 72 , , March 17 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 42–28–2 , , 86 , - , 73 , , March 19 , , Edmonton , , 4 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 43–28–2 , , 88 , - , 74 , , March 20 , , Calgary , , 6 – 3 , , Edmonton , , , , 44–28–2 , , 90 , - , 75 , , March 25 , , Calgary , , 1 – 10 , , Winnipeg , , , , 44–29–2 , , 90 , - , 76 , , March 26 , , Winnipeg , , 1 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 45–29–2 , , 92 , - , 77 , , March 28 , , Calgary , , 4 – 3 , , Los Angeles , , , , 46–29–2 , , 94 , - , 78 , , March 30 , , Calgary , , 4 – 5 , , Los Angeles , , , , 46–30–2 , , 94 , - , 79 , , April 2 , , Calgary , , 4 – 4 , , Edmonton , , OT , , 46–30–3 , , 95 , - , 80 , , April 5 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 1 , , Calgary , , , , 46–31–3 , , 95 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 8 , , Winnipeg , , 4 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , Winnipeg leads 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 9 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , Winnipeg leads 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 11 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Winnipeg , , OT , , Winnipeg leads 2–1 , - , 4 , , April 12 , , Calgary , , 3 – 4 , , Winnipeg , , , , Winnipeg leads 3–1 , - , 5 , , April 14 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , Winnipeg leads 3–2 , - , 6 , , April 16 , , Calgary , , 1 – 6 , , Winnipeg , , , , Winnipeg wins 4–2 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes'' ^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
^‡Traded mid-season.

Goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average''

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1986–87 season.

Trades

Free agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1986 NHL entry draft, held in

.Calgary Flames draft history
hockeydb.com, accessed October 10, 2007.

References

*Player stats: ''2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide'', pg 125 *Game log: ''2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide'', pg 141 *Team standings:
1986–87 NHL standings
@hockeydb.com *Trades: Individual player pages a
hockeydb.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 Calgary Flames season Calgary Flames seasons Calgary Flames season, 1986-87 Calg

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

1980s in Calgary