Guy definitely was one of those guys that a large part of the fan base never gave enough credit to, preferring to overlook his achievements and focus on his shortcomings. Huge part of the cup team.
Not only the Cup team, but he was an Oilers killer. Oilers ran the Flames' show fully and completely until Vernon showed up and for whatever reason his arrival in Calgary just flipped the Battle of Alberta on its head immediately.
Look at the 1985-86 season as an example. Six straight defeats, Edmonton over Calgary to start the season series. Then Vernon gets called up. 4-4 tie in his third game after the call-up. Then, near the end of the season the Flames trounce the Oilers 9-3 with Vernon in net for their first win over the Oilers in 13 tries dating back two seasons.
Then Smythe Division Final. Vernon starts Game 1, Flames win in Edmonton for the first time since 1984. Game 2, Lemelin starts and allows 6 goals on 29 shots (6-5 OT loss).
Vernon then plays the rest of that series and we know the result.
86-87, Flames narrow the gap in points between themselves and Edmonton from 30 to 11. And then every season after that while Vernon was a Flame, the Flames had a better record than the Oilers with the only exception being 1991-92.
Someone mentioned how the Flames would have won the Cup in 1995 if Vernon wasn't traded. I agree. I also think if Vernon didn't get injured in 1993, they would have made a deep run. Losing 9-4 and 9-6 in Games 5 and 6 thanks to Jeff Reese were killers. Reese allowed 9 goals on 18 shots in Game 6. Just horrible.
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Vernon was unreal against Montreal too, decisively outplaying Roy. He should have won the Conn Smythe that year.
It's a good and valid argument and I'm not even sure I disagree. MacInnis was on another level that playoff year too, though. No doubt we don't get past the Canucks without Vernon's heroics, but one of my clear memories is Patrick Roy seemingly ducking for cover every time Chopper lifted his stick blade.
Usually you need great performances from several players to win a Cup. That year we had quite a few with Gilmour and Mullen also having huge roles and Otto killing penalties and Nieuwendyk giving us that secondary scoring threat throughout.
It was such a good team. Should have had more championships for sure.
Not only the Cup team, but he was an Oilers killer. Oilers ran the Flames' show fully and completely until Vernon showed up and for whatever reason his arrival in Calgary just flipped the Battle of Alberta on its head immediately.
Look at the 1985-86 season as an example. Six straight defeats, Edmonton over Calgary to start the season series. Then Vernon gets called up. 4-4 tie in his third game after the call-up. Then, near the end of the season the Flames trounce the Oilers 9-3 with Vernon in net for their first win over the Oilers in 13 tries dating back two seasons.
Then Smythe Division Final. Vernon starts Game 1, Flames win in Edmonton for the first time since 1984. Game 2, Lemelin starts and allows 6 goals on 29 shots (6-5 OT loss).
Vernon then plays the rest of that series and we know the result.
86-87, Flames narrow the gap in points between themselves and Edmonton from 30 to 11. And then every season after that while Vernon was a Flame, the Flames had a better record than the Oilers with the only exception being 1991-92.
Someone mentioned how the Flames would have won the Cup in 1995 if Vernon wasn't traded. I agree. I also think if Vernon didn't get injured in 1993, they would have made a deep run. Losing 9-4 and 9-6 in Games 5 and 6 thanks to Jeff Reese were killers. Reese allowed 9 goals on 18 shots in Game 6. Just horrible.
And people want to increase scoring.
People miss the days of 9.00 GAA and 500 sv pct?
I seriously want the Pens to lose, but there is no denying that watching Murray play out of his mind has been fun to watch this post season.
I'm too young to remember Vernon's glory days, so I never really realized how integral he was to those teams in the 80's. Pretty impressive stats compared to goalies of that era.
He did hit on my girlfriend at a bar last year though. Still got it Mikey!
28 years after watching this unfold from my living room, and I still wig out whenever I see it...
One of my favorite games of all time. There are several games where I remember the exact details of where I was watching and who I was with, and this is one of them. My friend and I were really into the game. His mom came downstairs because she thought we were fighting.
28 years after watching this unfold from my living room, and I still wig out whenever I see it...
Holy crap, now I know why the Flames have such crappy luck. They used it all up in that one overtime.
What an exciting game to watch, even so many years later. There's no doubt todays players are better, but there was an entertainment factor back then that just doesn't seem to be quite the same these days.
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Lanny's 66 goal season will be one.
Nilsson's 131 points will be another.
Iggy's scoring title will be one.
Nieuwendyk's rookie year with 51 goals.
Al MacInnis getting 100 points.
Kipper's Vezina Trophy winning season
I'd think Gilmour, Mullen, and Fleury will get in somewhere. Maybe Suter.
Loob as first Swede with 50 goals will be there too
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I’m always amazed these sportscasters and announcers can call the game with McDavid’s **** in their mouths all the time.
I'm still very puzzled why Vernon doesn't get much HOF support...he's not even mentioned as one of the top 10-15 candidates whenever I see an article about it.
He was absolutely one of best 2-3 goalies of his generation, won cups for 2 different teams. He should be there in my opinion.
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It's a good and valid argument and I'm not even sure I disagree. MacInnis was on another level that playoff year too, though. No doubt we don't get past the Canucks without Vernon's heroics, but one of my clear memories is Patrick Roy seemingly ducking for cover every time Chopper lifted his stick blade.
Usually you need great performances from several players to win a Cup. That year we had quite a few with Gilmour and Mullen also having huge roles and Otto killing penalties and Nieuwendyk giving us that secondary scoring threat throughout.
It was such a good team. Should have had more championships for sure.
Roy was legitimately afraid of Chopper's shot. I don't think anyone else in the league ever did that to him.
Oh man! I remember this like yesterday. Later that week at school I drew a picture of this very save. I wish I had it still, it would be cool see my grade 5 artwork again.
I'm still very puzzled why Vernon doesn't get much HOF support...he's not even mentioned as one of the top 10-15 candidates whenever I see an article about it. He was absolutely one of best 2-3 goalies of his generation, won cups for 2 different teams. He should be there in my opinion.
Plus a Conn Smythe trophy after Flames fans ran him out of town.
I'm still very puzzled why Vernon doesn't get much HOF support...he's not even mentioned as one of the top 10-15 candidates whenever I see an article about it.
He was absolutely one of best 2-3 goalies of his generation, won cups for 2 different teams. He should be there in my opinion.
This is embarrassing, but I thought Vernon was already in the Hall of Fame. I just assumed that with his track record, he got in a long time ago.
Thanks for giving me another thing to get fired up over. The HOF seems to have pretty high standards for goalies for some reason.
After walking away with the win in that OT, and a 4-3 record in the first round, he finished with a 12-3 record over the next 3 series.
One of my faves was when they swept the Kings (with Gretzky) in 4 straight, right after the Kings had beaten the Oilers in 7 games. God, that demolishment tasted so sweet.
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I'm still very puzzled why Vernon doesn't get much HOF support...he's not even mentioned as one of the top 10-15 candidates whenever I see an article about it.
He was absolutely one of best 2-3 goalies of his generation, won cups for 2 different teams. He should be there in my opinion.
Here's a bit from Kevin Weekes last year:
Quote:
Mike Vernon -- You can make the case for Vernon based on longevity; he played in the NHL for 20 seasons. He helped the Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup in 1989 and then the Red Wings in 1997. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1997 (16-4, 1.76 goals-against average, .927 save percentage). That Red Wings team was loaded; the top five scorers are in the Hockey Hall of Fame (Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom and Igor Larionov). So it must tell you something that he was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner on that team; it shows how much they leaned on him.
Vernon was a smaller goalie (5-foot-9) but that never bothered him and he always raised his game in the playoffs. He made the playoffs 14 of 15 seasons between 1985-2000. And lastly, his 385 wins are 13th all-time.
28 years after watching this unfold from my living room, and I still wig out whenever I see it...
Good lord. Looks like we were outchanced about 6-1.
Watching that I wonder if either of those teams could have beaten, say, this year's London Knights. And we were the best team in the NHL. Man hockey has changed a lot.
