The 1986 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1985–86 season, and the culmination of the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Campbell Conference champion Calgary Flames and the Wales Conference champion Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens won the best-of-seven series in five games to win their 23rd Stanley Cup, and their 17th in their last 18 Finals appearances dating back to . With their 23rd championship, the Canadiens surpassed the New York Yankees to become the team with the most championships in North American sports, a distinction that they held until 1999 when the Yankees overtook them.

It was the first all-Canadian Finals since Montreal lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in , the last year of the Original Six era. This was the fifth of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, the fourth of eight contested by a team from Alberta (the Edmonton Oilers appeared in six, the Flames in two, the Vancouver Canucks in one), and the third of five consecutive finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four, the Canadiens one). This was the only time between and that neither the Oilers (four wins) nor the New York Islanders (four wins) won the Stanley Cup.

Although this was the first ever postseason meeting between the two teams, it was not the first Montreal–Calgary Finals. The first Finals between teams from Montreal and Calgary took place in when the Canadiens defeated the Western Canada Hockey League champion Calgary Tigers. The Canadiens and Flames met again in a rematch in , with Calgary winning in six games.

The Finals reverted to the 2–2–1–1–1 format after implementing the 2–3–2 format in .

Paths to the Finals

Calgary defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0, the defending champion and in-province rival Edmonton Oilers 4–3, and the St. Louis Blues 4–3 to advance to the final.

Montreal defeated rival Boston Bruins 3–0, the Hartford Whalers 4–3, and the New York Rangers 4–1 to make it to the final.

Game summaries

Game one

In game one, Jim Peplinski recorded three points, and Mike Vernon held strong in net for Calgary, making 22 saves in a 5–2 victory over Montreal to take a 1–0 series lead. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st MTL Mats Naslund (6) – pp Bobby Smith (7) and Larry Robinson (11) 06:04 1–0 MTL CGY John Tonelli (6) Al MacInnis (12) and Dan Quinn (4) 12:08 1–1 CGY Jim Peplinski (5) Paul Baxter (1) and Joel Otto (8) 19:11 2–1 CGY 2nd None 3rd CGY Dan Quinn (8) – sh Unassisted 02:14 3–1 CGY CGYLanny McDonald (10) Nick Fotiu (1) and Jim Peplinski (7) 03:33 4–1 CGY MTL Chris Chelios (2) David Maley (2) and Mats Naslund (8) 17:56 4–2 CGY CGY Doug Risebrough (8) – en Jim Peplinski (8) 19:35 5–2 CGY Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CGY Robin Bartel Misconduct 03:35 10:00 MTL Mike McPhee Hooking 03:35 2:00 CGY Joe Mullen Interference 04:14 2:00 CGY Paul Baxter Charging 10:16 2:00 MTL Larry Robinson Holding 11:57 2:00 CGY Lanny McDonald Roughing 15:10 2:00 MTL Craig Ludwig Elbowing 15:10 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Roughing 17:36 2:00 MTL Chris Nilan Roughing 17:36 2:00 MTL Patrick Roy Misconduct 19:11 10:00 2nd CGY Hakan Loob Roughing 02:51 2:00 MTL Bobby Smith Roughing 02:51 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter High-sticking 04:57 2:00 CGY Nick Fotiu Interference 09:54 2:00 CGY Jamie Macoun Roughing 18:03 2:00 MTL David Maley Roughing 18:03 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 CGY Tim Hunter Misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Roughing 20:00 2:00 MTL Craig Ludwig Roughing 20:00 2:00 MTL Chris Nilan Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 MTL Chris Nilan Misconduct 20:00 10:00 3rd CGY Steve Bozek Cross-checking 01:04 2:00 CGY Paul Reinhart Roughing 03:43 2:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Roughing 03:43 2:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Holding 06:16 2:00 MTL Brian Skrudland Tripping 14:43 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 10 9 5 24 13 7 10 30

Game two

After Calgary took a 2–0 lead in game two, Montreal tied the game early in the third period, and Brian Skrudland scored the game–winning goal just nine seconds into overtime to tie the series for Montreal. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st CGY John Tonelli (7) Joe Mullen (7) and Dan Quinn (5) 09:06 1–0 CGY 2nd CGY Paul Reinhart (5) Lanny McDonald (7) and Hakan Loob (9) 00:15 2–0 CGY MTL Gaston Gingras (1) Unassisted 03:45 2–1 CGY 3rd MTL David Maley (1) Guy Carbonneau (3) and Chris Chelios (7) 03:30 2–2 OT MTL Brian Skrudland (1) Mike McPhee (3) and Mike Lalor (1) 00:09 3–2 MTL Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CGY Al MacInnis Holding 02:22 2:00 MTL Mike McPhee Misconduct 06:08 10:00 CGY Jamie Macoun Roughing 09:19 2:00 MTL Brian Skrudland Elbowing 09:19 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Fighting – major 10:25 2:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Roughing 10:25 2:00 MTL Chris Nilan Fighting – major 10:25 5:00 MTL Bob Gainey Roughing 10:25 2:00 MTL Brian Skrudland High-sticking 15:47 2:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Roughing 16:12 2:00 MTL Bobby Smith Interference 19:21 2:00 2nd CGY Joel Otto Interference 01:07 2:00 MTL Craig Ludwig Holding 04:41 2:00 CGY Neil Sheehy Cross-checking 11:31 2:00 CGY Al MacInnis Hooking 17:01 2:00 3rd MTL Craig Ludwig Holding 01:11 2:00 CGY Joe Mullen Tripping 08:24 2:00 CGY Neil Sheehy Misconduct 10:50 10:00 MTL John Kordic Misconduct 10:50 10:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Roughing 18:30 2:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Roughing 18:30 2:00 OT None Shots by period Team 1 2 3 OT Total 14 12 8 1 35 8 9 5 0 22

Game three

The Canadiens scored four goals in the first period of game three, with Mats Naslund scoring twice, including the game winner. The game also saw multiple fights and misconducts, and both clubs accumulated for a total of 126 penalty minutes. The Canadiens went on to win the game 5–3, giving them a 2–1 lead in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st CGY Joe Mullen (11) – pp Joel Otto (9) and Hakan Loob (10) 05:45 1–0 CGY MTL Mats Naslund (7) Larry Robinson (9) and Bobby Smith (8) 06:50 1–1 CGY Joel Otto (5) – pp Al MacInnis (13) and Paul Reinhart (13) (13) 17:59 2–1 CGY MTL Bobby Smith (6) Larry Robinson (13) and Mats Naslund (9) 18:25 2–2 MTL Mats Naslund (8) – pp Ryan Walter (1) and Chris Chelios (8) 19:17 3–2 MTL MTL Bob Gainey (5) Guy Carbonneau (4) and Chris Chelios (9) 19:33 4–2 MTL 2nd CGY Lanny McDonald (11) – pp Dan Quinn (6) and Al MacInnis (14) 07:13 4–3 MTL MTL Kjell Dahlin (2) Gaston Gingras (3) and Guy Carbonneau (5) 19:22 5–3 MTL 3rd None Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st MTL Craig Ludwig High-sticking 02:18 2:00 MTL Mike Lalor Roughing 04:21 10:00 CGY Terry Johnson Misconduct 06:32 10:00 CGY Dan Quinn Hooking 07:30 2:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Roughing 11:20 2:00 CGY Dan Quinn Roughing 13:04 2:00 MTL Brian Skrudland Roughing 13:04 2:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Roughing 16:41 2:00 CGY Robin Bartel Holding 19:09 2:00 MTL Neil Sheehy Fighting – major 19:39 5:00 CGY Neil Sheehy Misconduct 19:39 10:00 CGY Lanny McDonald High-sticking 19:39 2:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Charging 19:39 2:00 MTL Craig Ludwig Holding 19:39 2:00 MTL Chris Nilan Fighting – major 19:39 5:00 MTL Chris Nilan Misconduct 19:39 10:00 2nd MTL Brian Skrudland High-sticking 05:35 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Fighting – major 08:02 5:00 MTL John Kordic Fighting – major 08:02 5:00 CGY Jim Peplinski High-sticking 09:04 2:00 CGY Al MacInnis Roughing 17:53 2:00 MTL Ryan Walter Roughing 17:53 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Roughing 18:32 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter Misconduct 18:32 10:00 CGY Joel Otto Misconduct 18:32 10:00 MTL Chris Nilan Roughing 18:32 2:00 MTL Chris Nilan Misconduct 18:32 10:00 MTL Brian Skrudland Misconduct 18:32 10:00 3rd CGY Al MacInnis High-sticking 17:11 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 10 9 7 26 16 8 5 29

Game four

Game four remained scoreless until Claude Lemieux scored with 9:50 remaining in regulation, and Patrick Roy stopped all 15 shots he faced to record his first career playoff shutout, giving the Canadiens a 1–0 victory, and a commanding 3–1 series lead. The game ended in a bench-clearing brawl, during which Claude Lemieux bit the finger of Jim Peplinski. In response, Peplinski said following the incident, "I didn't know they allowed cannibalism in the NHL." Both teams combined for a total of 176 penalty minutes; the most combined penalty minutes ever recorded in a Stanley Cup Final game. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score1stNone2ndNone3rd MTL Claude Lemieux (10) Unassisted 09:50 1–0 MTL Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CGY Terry Johnson Roughing 01:31 2:00 MTL Chris Chelios Roughing 01:31 2:00 MTL Mike McPhee Roughing 01:31 2:00 CGY Perry Berezan Hooking 06:13 2:00 CGY Neil Sheehy Roughing – double minor 08:25 4:00 MTL Bobby Smith Roughing – double minor 08:25 4:00 CGY Perry Berezan Slashing 19:34 2:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Slashing 19:34 2:00 2nd CGY Steve Bozek Holding 07:55 2:00 CGY Mike Eaves Holding 15:23 2:00 3rd MTL Mike McPhee Misconduct 17:38 10:00 CGY Steve Bozek Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 CGY Steve Bozek Misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY John Tonelli Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 CGY John Tonelli Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY Paul Baxter Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 CGY Paul Baxter Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY Jim Peplinski Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 CGY Doug Risebrough High-sticking 20:00 2:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 MTL Guy Carbonneau Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 MTL Chris Chelios Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 MTL Chris Chelios Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 MTL Mike Lalor Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 MTL Mike Lalor Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Fighting – major 20:00 5:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Misconduct 20:00 10:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Game misconduct 20:00 10:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 7 2 6 15 6 8 10 24

Game five

In game five, Montreal defeated Calgary at the Olympic Saddledome by a score of 4-3 to clinch the series 4-1, winning their 23rd Stanley Cup. Patrick Roy, who made 30 saves in the victory, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. At just 20 years old, Roy became the youngest player in NHL history to receive the award. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st MTL Gaston Gingras (2) – pp Claude Lemieux (5) and Mats Naslund (10) 06:53 1–0 MTL 2nd CGY Steve Bozek (1) Tim Hunter (3) and Jim Peplinski (9) 07:17 1–1 MTL Brian Skrudland (2) Mike McPhee (4) and Claude Lemieux (6) 10:49 2–1 MTL 3rd MTL Rick Green (1) David Maley (3) and Mike Lalor (2) 10:11 3–1 MTL MTL Bobby Smith (7) Mats Naslund (11) 10:30 4–1 MTL CGY Steve Bozek (2) Jamie Macoun (6) 16:46 4–2 MTL CGY Joe Mullen (12) Dan Quinn (7) and Al MacInnis (15) 19:14 4–3 MTL Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st CGY Nick Fotiu Roughing 02:43 2:00 CGY Lanny McDonald Hooking 05:53 2:00 MTL Brian Skrudland High-sticking 07:15 2:00 CGY Doug Risebrough Misconduct 15:21 10:00 MTL Brian Skrudland Misconduct 15:21 10:00 CGY Nick Fotiu Slashing 18:26 2:00 2nd MTL Mike Lalor Roughing 01:28 2:00 MTL Chris Chelios Slashing 03:26 2:00 CGY Nick Fotiu High-sticking 14:40 2:00 3rd CGY Nick Fotiu Roughing 06:31 2:00 MTL Craig Ludwig Roughing 06:31 2:00 CGY Tim Hunter High-sticking 13:01 2:00 MTL Claude Lemieux Interference 15:21 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 12 10 11 33 7 12 14 33

Team rosters Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Stanley Cup in the given year.

Calgary Flames