The Vancouver Canucks win their first NHL playoff series in team history after beating the Calgary Flames 3-1 in the Smythe Division semifinal to sweep the best-of-five series in three games. Both teams scored on power plays in a hard-hitting first period. Jim Peplinski put Calgary on the board first but Thomas Gradin soon knotted it after deflecting an Ivan Hlinka shot with Flames star Lanny McDonald in the penalty box.

Canucks goalie Richard “King” Brodeur had to be sharp in the first two periods, fending off a total of 30 shots, including a dramatic stick save on a shot by Kent Nilsson from the faceoff circle rim. Dave Williams fired a tiebreaking wrist shot through the fivehole of goaltender Pat Riggin at eight minutes and 17 seconds into the third period. Williams, who scored 17 goals in the regular season, beat Riggin from 20 feet after taking a Gary Lupul pass at the blue line and deking out Flames defenseman Charles Bourgeois for his second winning goal of the series. Gradin then scored his second goal of the game with two minutes remaining to assure the win, combining with Jim Nill on a two-on-one break.

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The Canucks went on defeat the L.A. Kings, who had managed a surprise upset of the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers, in the division final before making their very first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, where they were swept by the New York Islanders.

The Canucks will once again face the Flames in the first round of this year’s Western Conference playoff series.

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