1986 Stanley Cup Final
The 1986 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's 1985-86 season, contested between the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal defeated Calgary in five games to win their 23rd Stanley Cup championship. This victory gave the Canadiens the distinction of having the most championships of any team in North American professional sports at the time, surpassing the New York Yankees. The series marked the first all-Canadian Final since 1967 and was the only championship between 1980 and 1988 not won by either the Edmonton Oilers or New York Islanders.
Paths to the Final
The Calgary Flames, champions of the Campbell Conference, reached the Final after three playoff rounds. They began by sweeping the Winnipeg Jets in three games, a best-of-five division semifinal. In the second round, the Smythe Division final, they faced the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers. The Flames won this series four games to three, defeating their in-province rivals. Calgary then advanced to the Final by winning the Campbell Conference final against the St. Louis Blues, also in seven games. The Montreal Canadiens, champions of the Wales Conference, began their playoff run against the Boston Bruins. Montreal swept Boston in three games in the Adams Division semifinal. The Canadiens then faced the Hartford Whalers in the Adams Division final, winning that series four games to three. Montreal secured their place in the Stanley Cup Final by defeating the New York Rangers four games to one in the Wales Conference final.
Series Format and Historical Context
The 1986 Stanley Cup Final reverted to the 2-2-1-1-1 home-ice format after the league had implemented a 2-3-2 format for the 1984 Final. This meant the team with home-ice advantage, Montreal, hosted Games One, Two, Five, and Seven, while Calgary hosted Games Three, Four, and Six. The series was the first all-Canadian Final since 1967, when the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Montreal in the last season of the Original Six era. It was the fifth of nine consecutive Finals to include a team from Western Canada. This Final was also the third of five consecutive championships to conclude with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice, following Edmonton's wins in 1984 and 1985. The 1986 championship was the only time between 1980 and 1988 that neither the Oilers, who won four times, nor the New York Islanders, who also won four times, captured the Stanley Cup.
Game-by-Game Results and Details
The 1986 Stanley Cup Final was a five-game series that included offensive outbursts, tight defensive struggles, and record-setting physical play. Game One saw the Flames take control early with a 5-2 road victory, with Jim Peplinski recording three points and goaltender Mike Vernon making 22 saves. Game Two featured a dramatic Montreal comeback, with Brian Skrudland scoring the game-winning goal nine seconds into overtime after the Canadiens erased a 2-0 deficit. Game Three was defined by Montreal's four-goal first period, which included two goals from Mats Naslund, and a total of 126 penalty minutes between the two clubs. Game Four was a 1-0 shutout for Montreal's Patrick Roy, with the only goal scored by Claude Lemieux, and it ended with a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in 176 combined penalty minutes, a Stanley Cup Final record. Montreal clinched the Cup with a 4-3 win in Game Five at the Olympic Saddledome.
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Series | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | May 18 | Calgary | 2-3 (OT) | Montreal | Tied 1-1 | Skrudland OT goal at 0:09 |
| 3 | May 20 | Montreal | 5-3 | Calgary | MTL 2-1 | 126 total PIM. Naslund 2 goals |
| 4 | May 22 | Montreal | 1-0 | Calgary | MTL 3-1 | Roy shutout. 176 PIM, Final record |
| 5 | May 24 | Montreal | 4-3 | Calgary | MTL 4-1 | Canadiens win 23rd Stanley Cup |
Conn Smythe Trophy and Key Players
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 1986 playoffs. At 20 years old, Roy became the youngest player in NHL history to receive the award. He recorded his first career playoff shutout in Game Four of the Final, stopping all 15 shots he faced. Roy made 30 saves in the Cup-clinching Game Five victory. For Calgary, goaltender Mike Vernon was a central figure, backstopping the team through three playoff rounds. Flames forward Jim Peplinski had a strong Game One with three points. Montreal's offensive contributors included Mats Naslund, who scored twice in Game Three, and Claude Lemieux, who scored the only goal in Game Four. The Canadiens' playoff run was marked by contributions from numerous rookies, a defining characteristic of the team.
- Patrick Roy won the Conn Smythe Trophy at age 20, the youngest ever.
- Roy recorded a 15-save shutout in Game Four, his first playoff shutout.
- Mike Vernon was Calgary's starting goaltender for all three playoff series.
- Jim Peplinski had three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in Calgary's Game One win.
- Mats Naslund scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Montreal's Game Three victory.
- Claude Lemieux scored the game-winning goal in Montreal's 1-0 Game Four win.
The Championship Montreal Canadiens Roster
The 1986 Montreal Canadiens were led by rookie head coach Jean Perron, who became the 12th rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup and the last to do so after coaching his team for the entire season. Captain Bob Gainey accepted the Stanley Cup from NHL President John Ziegler. The team's roster included ten rookies who played during the playoffs: Stéphane Richer, Brian Skrudland, Mike Lalor, Patrick Roy, Steve Rooney, John Kordic, Claude Lemieux, David Maley, Kjell Dahlin, and Randy Bucyk. Three other rookies played in the regular season but not the playoffs: Sergio Momesso, Shayne Corson, and Dominic Campedelli. Many of these players, including Roy, Skrudland, Richer, and Lalor, had won the American Hockey League's Calder Cup with the Sherbrooke Canadiens in 1985. The team made only one trade during the season, sending Kent Carlson to St. Louis for Graham Herring and a draft pick on January 31, 1986. All other lineup changes were achieved through promotions from the Sherbrooke Canadiens.
The names engraved on the Stanley Cup followed specific NHL rules. Tom Kurvers, who missed the end of the regular season and all playoffs due to injury but played 62 regular-season games, was included. Mario Tremblay, who played 56 regular-season games before an injury, also qualified. Steve Penney and Sergio Momesso received injury exemptions to be included on the Cup despite not meeting the standard games-played threshold. Randy Bucyk, who played 17 regular-season games and two playoff games but not in the Final, did not qualify. Some team executives, including Chairman of the Board Morgan McCammon and Senior Vice President of Operations Gerry Gundman, were not engraved on the Cup but received Stanley Cup rings. Starting in the 1985-86 season, NHL teams were required to designate two alternate captains for each game.
Physical Play and Notable Incidents
The 1986 Final was noted for its intense physical play and several notable on-ice incidents. Game Three saw multiple fights and misconducts, with the two clubs combining for 126 penalty minutes. The most severe incident occurred at the conclusion of Game Four. After the final buzzer, a bench-clearing brawl erupted. During this altercation, Montreal's Claude Lemieux bit the finger of Calgary's Jim Peplinski. Peplinski commented after the incident, "I didn't know they allowed cannibalism in the NHL." The brawl resulted in a combined 176 penalty minutes, which set a record for the most penalty minutes in a single Stanley Cup Final game. This physical style was characteristic of the era and added a layer of intense rivalry to the series beyond the competition for the championship.
Broadcast Arrangements in Canada and the United States
The television broadcast rights for the Final in Canada were shared in a complex arrangement between the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and CTV. This was the second and final year of this two-network agreement. For Games One and Two, CBC only held the rights to air the games locally in Montreal and Calgary. CTV broadcast those two games to the rest of Canada. CBC then held the exclusive national rights to televise Games Three, Four, and Five. The agreement stipulated that if the series had reached a seventh game, both CBC and CTV would have televised it simultaneously using their separate production facilities and crews. After the season, CTV ended its two-year venture with the NHL. Their national broadcast rights package was eventually acquired by a consortium involving Global Television Network and Canwest. In the United States, the 1986 Final was the first of three consecutive Stanley Cup championships to be televised by ESPN.
Aftermath: Celebrations and Consequences
The Canadiens' victory triggered widespread celebrations in Montreal that escalated into a destructive riot. An estimated 5,000 fans rampaged through the city's downtown core, causing over one million dollars in property damage. The event marred the championship celebration and prompted discussions about public safety during major sporting events. For the Calgary Flames, the loss was a setback, but the core of their team would return to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup just three years later in 1989, in a rematch against the Canadiens. The 1986 championship cemented Montreal's record 23rd title and highlighted the success of their player development system, which produced ten playoff rookies. Patrick Roy's Conn Smythe win at age 20 signalled the arrival of a goaltender who would define an era for the Canadiens and the NHL.
Historical Connections and Series Legacy
The 1986 series was not the first Stanley Cup Final between teams from Montreal and Calgary. The first occurred in 1924 when the NHL's Montreal Canadiens defeated the Western Canada Hockey League champion Calgary Tigers. The 1986 meeting was, however, the first postseason encounter between the Montreal Canadiens and the modern Calgary Flames franchise. The two teams met again in a rematch in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final, which Calgary won in six games. The 1986 Canadiens championship roster included several individuals who had won the AHL's Calder Cup in 1985 with Sherbrooke, including Serge Boisvert, Gaston Gingras, and Serge Savard as manager. Calgary defenceman Ric Nattress also won the Calder Cup with Sherbrooke in 1985 before winning the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. The series remains a memorable chapter in Canadian hockey history, representing a peak for the Canadiens' dynasty and a stepping stone for the Flames.
Questions about 1986 Stanley Cup Final
Who won the 1986 Stanley Cup Final?
The Montreal Canadiens won the 1986 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Calgary Flames four games to one in the best-of-seven series. The Canadiens clinched their 23rd championship with a 4-3 victory in Game Five at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary. This title gave Montreal the record for the most championships by any North American professional sports team at that time. Captain Bob Gainey accepted the Stanley Cup from NHL President John Ziegler.
Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1986?
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. Roy was just 20 years old at the time, making him the youngest player in NHL history to receive the award. His performance was instrumental in Montreal's championship run, including a shutout in Game Four of the Final. He made 30 saves in the Cup-clinching Game Five victory.
What was significant about Brian Skrudland's goal in Game Two?
Brian Skrudland's goal for Montreal in Game Two was significant because it was scored just nine seconds into overtime, tying the series at one game apiece. At the time, it set a record for the fastest overtime goal scored in Stanley Cup Final history. The goal came after Montreal had rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the game late in the third period. This dramatic victory shifted the series momentum firmly in favour of the Canadiens.
Why was the 1986 Final historically significant for Montreal?
The 1986 Final was historically significant for Montreal as it marked the Canadiens' 23rd Stanley Cup championship. This victory moved them past the New York Yankees to claim the record for the most championships by a team in North American professional sports, a distinction they held until 1999. It was also the franchise's 17th championship in their last 18 appearances in the Stanley Cup Final, dating back to 1956. The series was also the first all-Canadian Final since 1967.
How many rookies played for Montreal in the 1986 playoffs?
The Montreal Canadiens had ten rookies on their roster who played during the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. This group included goaltender Patrick Roy, forwards Stéphane Richer, Brian Skrudland, Claude Lemieux, Steve Rooney, Kjell Dahlin, and Randy Bucyk, and defencemen Mike Lalor, John Kordic, and David Maley. Many of these players had won the AHL's Calder Cup with the Sherbrooke Canadiens the previous season. Their contributions were vital to the team's success.
Which networks broadcast the 1986 Final in Canada?
In Canada, the television broadcast rights for the 1986 Stanley Cup Final were shared between CBC and CTV in a unique arrangement. For Games One and Two, CTV broadcast to the national audience while CBC aired the games only in the local markets of Montreal and Calgary. CBC held the exclusive national broadcast rights for Games Three, Four, and Five. This was the final year of this two-network sharing agreement before CTV ended its NHL broadcasting partnership.
Sources and further reading
- 1986 Stanley Cup Final (Wikipedia)
- 1986 NHL Stanley Cup Final: CGY vs. MTL (hockey-reference.com)
Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.
