Stanley Cup Final : Flames’ Coach Makes Them a Winner

Bob Johnson, coach of the Calgary Flames, has been a winner wherever he’s gone.

He began his career in 1956 as a high school coach in Warroad, Minn. He moved on to Colorado College in 1963 and then took over at Wisconsin three years later.

The Badgers won three NCAA titles in Johnson’s 15 seasons, and he was named NCAA coach of the year in 1977.

Johnson moved on to the National Hockey League when he was named coach of the Flames in May of 1982.

Now, he has guided the Flames to the Stanley Cup final for the first time in the 14-year history of the franchise. And this year, for the first time since 1967, the Stanley Cup series will feature two Canadian teams.

The Flames will open the best-of-seven series against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the Olympic Saddledome. Game 2 will be played here Sunday, then the series will shift to Montreal next week.

The Flames had just one day to prepare for the final after beating the St. Louis Blues Wednesday night in the seventh game of the Campbell Conference final, 2-1.

Johnson may be the only Calgary resident who didn’t have a hangover from celebrating the win over the Blues. Johnson said he hasn’t had a drink since the playoffs began and that he won’t celebrate until after the Flames win the cup.

The Canadiens have been off since last Friday, when they clinched the Wales Conference title with a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers.

This final matches the most successful team in the NHL against a club that has never gotten past the semifinals.

The Canadiens have won a league-record 22 Stanley Cup titles and are making their 28th appearance in the NHL final. But when the playoffs began last month, the Canadiens weren’t expected to get this far.

Hockey observers considered the Canadiens too inexperienced to get very far in the playoffs. Montreal has eight rookies, among them goaltender Patrick Roy, who psychs himself up during games by talking to the goalposts.

The Canadiens also have a rookie coach, Jean Peron, a former Montreal assistant coach who became the head man last summer when Jacques Lemaire resigned.

The last time Montreal appeared in the final was in 1979, when the Canadiens won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Only two players remain from that team, defenseman Larry Robinson and left wing Bob Gainey.

“I feel the same as when I was 19 or 20,” said Robinson, 34. “I don’t think age has anything to do with it. I think if you’re 18 or 34, you’re very fortunate to be playing in the Stanley Cup final.”

Said Gainey: “I appreciate being in the final more after six years. When you win it every year, some of the luster wears off. We’ve had some disappointments in the last six years so I’m very excited to be here.”

The Flames, who moved here from Atlanta six years ago, have had their ups and downs, mostly downs.

Until this season, they had to take a back seat to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.

However, the Flames stunned the Oilers in the seventh game of the Smythe Division final.

“Beating Edmonton was a thrill,” Johnson said. “But we haven’t climbed the mountain yet.”

The Flames, as Johnson is quick to remind, weren’t even picked to finish as high as second in the Smythe Division when the season began.

“The only thing you can expect during the playoffs this year is the unexpected,” Robinson said. “This final typifies it.”