April 13, 1989 : Canucks vs Flames, Part I

NHL Playoffs Round 1, Game 6 (Source: CBC/CFTK-Terrace, Original Broadcast)

Host: Steve Armitage / Color: John Garrett / Play-by-Play: Bob Cole

By the middle of the 1988-89 season, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves struggling and only maintained hope of a playoff spot due to an unexpectedly poor season by the Winnipeg Jets.

However, a club-record seven-game winning streak in February would change everything.

The team would delight the hometown fans in the late stages of the season, putting together a 12-game home unbeaten streak. The Canucks finished with 74 points, and went on to secure a playoff position on March 23. They were to face the NHL’s number one team in the regular season, the Calgary Flames, whom everybody expected to be settled in five games or less.

Game 1: In the first game, the Canucks’ Paul Reinhart, an ex-Flame, sought revenge by sending a wrist shot through traffic over Mike Vernon’s left shoulder to break a tie late in the third period. The Canucks had won 4-3 and struck first blood in the series.

Games 2 and 3: The Flames showed everybody how they managed 117 points during the regular season, dominating the Canucks in all facets of the game in scoring 5-2 and 4-0 victories.

Game 4: The Vancouver Canucks bothered and pestered the talented Flames into taking bad penalties, resulting in four power-play goals and a shocking 5-0 lead, which chased Vernon from the game. The Canucks hung on for a 5-3 win and tied the series.

Game 5: The overworked Canucks were no match for the depth of the Flames in game five. The Calgarians cruised to another 4-0 win.

This sets the stage for Game 6, which took place on April 13, 1989. Here’s the Hockey Night in Canada intro: