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It is also the most recent time that the Finals series was played entirely in Canada, and was the second time in the decade that the Canadiens and Flames met in the Finals. Crisp That was one of the classiest things I’ve seen in sports.

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Gilmour The excitement on the ice. All through that entire year the expectation among the fans in Calgary was this was going to be our year to win the Cup. McDonald I remember their coach yelling at (Jim) Wiemer to take me on. I think it was an awakening for them. It was an even matchup. Crisp I don’t even remember what the penalty was, but at the time I’m thinking our job is, “How are we going to kill it?” We had great penalty killers. C … 1 centre into the mix and you already have Joe Nieuwendyk, it’s a pretty good start.

The lady right there … jumped up the same time and I just gave her a big kiss. Vernon We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and it wasn’t with Vancouver.

It was so emotional. Four years later, Gilmour’s Leafs would be victimized by Kerry Fraser in the decisive game of the conference final when the controversial ref missed a Wayne Gretzky high stick to Gilmour’s face. The Flames opened the series with a 3–2 victory, with Fleury scoring the game-winning goal midway through the second period. But a few Flames didn’t get the memo. Otto I’m getting goosebumps thinking about it right now. The Flames successfully stifled the Habs’ power play, allowing just a single shot on goal that Vernon easily turned away. Murphy We’d been down three games to two and I thought, “Okay, this is going to be really hard because the guys can see the finish line … [but] if we finish here it’s not going to be a disgrace.” But we beat them fairly easy. But it wasn’t a kick.
McDonald We put the Cup in the washroom and we put an out-of-order sign on the door. This was the Flames second appearance in the Finals, while Montreal was making their thirty-third appearance in the Finals. George Johnson, Calgary Sun beat reporter Rick Wamsley, the backup goalie, referred to him as the final piece of a real good pot of stew. McDonald I knew I had to find a way to do something, play a great team game, maybe get a big assist, or a goal, or a big hit. They went on to win another Presidents’ Trophy, finishing with a whopping 54 wins, including 32 at home. McDonald That building was phenomenal as a player. You’re fighting for your teammates. He actually says, “You know how the power play works?” At that moment, I know I’m in. We go into the training room and he tells the trainers, “You’re out of here.”. I see a movement at the far end of the training room. Vernon The plane was pulling out, and the airline rep who flew with us got up and goes to the pilot. Now, 15-year-old Aito Iguchi has his sights set on a bigger goal — making it to the NHL and inspiring a nation. There’s always one challenge along the way. Murzyn You take all 30 of us to the back of the plane and all of a sudden the seat belt lights are on. [With] the history of the Oilers and the Flames, it would have been a tough series for us, I believe. Whenever you go into a new church, you’re supposed to light a candle. To the end we kept holding hands. Murphy Right away, panic starts to set in a little bit on the other side.

The Flames and Habs, in that order, were the two best teams in the regular season, separated by just two points.