On This Date in Sports May 12, 1986: Wick Lights a Miracle
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Down 5-2 against the Calgary Flames, with 12 minutes left in Game 6 of the Campbell Conference Finals, the St. Louis Blues appeared to be heading for the off-season. With a goal by Brian Sutter and two by Greg Paslawski, the Blues rallied to force overtime. In overtime, the Blues would complete the "Monday Night Miracle" with a goal by Doug Wickenheiser sending St. Louis Arena into a frenzy. Despite the Blues' 6-5 win, the Flames went on to win Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
It was an average season for the St. Louis Blues, who posted a record of 37-34-9 for coach Jacques Demers. The record was good enough to finish third in the Norris Divison. A division that at the time was known for being awash in mediocrity as the winner of the division's playoff tournament was a foil for the stronger Smythe Division. From 1982-1990, the Smythe Division sent nine straight teams to the Stanley Cup Finals. This was led by the Edmonton Oilers, who won the Stanley Cup five times in six trips to hockey's grand stage.
Doug Wickenheiser was born on March 30, 1961, in Regina, Saskatchewan. A star with the Regina Pats, Wickenheiser was the first pick in the NHL Draft in 1980 by the Montreal Canadiens. However, Wickenheiser was a disappointment for the Canadiens, as he developed slowly and was criticized by the Montreal media. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues during the 1983/84 season, as the Canadiens lost their patience. In St. Louis, Doug Wickenheiser did not have the pressure of high expectations and was set up to become a Blues legend.
The St. Louis Blues made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first three seasons, playing in the expansion division. However, they had not been among the Final Four teams since 1972. The Blues slipped past the Minnesota North Stars in the first round, winning the best of five series, with a hat trick by Greg Paslawski in Game 5 at the Met Center. In the Norris Division Finals, the Blues needed seven games to scape the upset-minded Toronto Maple Leafs as Greg Millen made 33 bigs saves in a 2-1 win at the Checkerdome.
The Calgary Flames were coming off their own Game 7 win, as they ended the two-year reign of the Edmonton Oilers, with the help of their own goal by Steve Smith. The Blues got off to a good start in the Campbell Conference Finals, scoring a 3-2 win in Game 1, as Mark Reeds scored twice while Mark Hunter's late third-period goal was the game-winner. Game 2 was all Calgary as the Flames fried the Blues 8-2, with Doug Risebrough netting a hat trick. The Flames also dominated Game 3 in St. Louis, winning 5-3 to take control of the series.
The Blues, however, continued to fight back, as they recorded a 5-2 win in Game 4 to even the series at two games apiece. After a 4-2 in Game 5 win at the Saddledome, the Flames were one win away from their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, as the series returned to St. Louis for Game 6. After a scoreless first period, the Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second on a pair of powerplay goals by Dan Quinn. The Blues got one goal back when Cliff Ronning scored on the power play but trailed 4-1 after two periods as Joe Peplinski and John Tonelli lit the lamp for Calgary.
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Down 4-1 in the third period, things looked bleak for the Blues. Doug Wickenheiser scored a powerplay goal to make it 4-2, but a goal by Joe Mullen made the deficit three goals as time began to run out in St. Louis. With just under 12 minutes left, the comeback began with a goal by Brian Sutter. Joe Paslawski made a one-goal game with 4:11 left. Paws would tie the game with 68 seconds left, nearly blowing the roof off of the St. Louis Arena in the process. The game would go to overtime tied 5-5 when Wickenheiser won it for the Blues at 7:20, forcing a decisive seventh game.
The Flames would recover with a 2-1 win in Game 7 as their defense clamped down on the Blues allowing just 18 shots. The Flames would lose to the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the Stanley Cup Finals. Despite the Monday Night Miracle, the Blues did not retain coach Jacques Demers.