1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' fifth season in the NHL. After an outstanding regular season, the Oilers won their first Stanley Cup.

Regular season

It was another record breaking season for the club. The Oilers set club records in wins (57) and points (119), as they won the Smythe Division for the 3rd straight season. Edmonton broke the NHL record for goals in a season, set by the Oilers the previous season, by scoring 446 times.

The Oilers got off to a strong start, winning 39 of their first 53 games. Wayne Gretzky started strong too, scoring a point or more in the first fifty-one games. After failing to score in the fifty-second, he missed six straight games along with Jari Kurri. After winning their first game without Gretzky and Kurri, the Oilers lost five in a row, including an 11–0 loss to the Hartford Whalers on Sunday, February 12, 1984. It was the first time in 230 consecutive regular-season games that the Oilers were shut out; the last time Edmonton had been shut out was on Thursday, March 12, 1981, when they lost at home, 5–0, to the New York Islanders. But, after a lecture from coach Glen Sather, and the return of Gretzky and Kurri, the Oilers won eight in a row and finished the season first overall in the NHL.

Wayne Gretzky broke the 200 point barrier for the second time in his career, as he won the Art Ross Trophy for the 4th straight year with 205 points. Gretzky scored an NHL high 87 goals and 118 assists. Paul Coffey would put up 126 points, the 2nd highest point total ever by a defenceman, while Jari Kurri (113) and Mark Messier (101) each broke the 100 point mark for the club. Glenn Anderson had a solid season, getting 54 goals, behind only Gretzky, and just miss the 100-point club as he finished with 99.

Grant Fuhr led the club with 30 victories, while Andy Moog put up a team best GAA of 3.77.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- | 1 || October 5, 1983 || Toronto || 4–5 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- | 2 || October 7, 1983 || Edmonton || 8–6 || Winnipeg || || Moog || Winnipeg Arena<br>11,073 || 2–0–0 || 4 || |- | 3 || October 9, 1983 || Minnesota || 3–4 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 3–0–0 || 6 || |- | 4 || October 12, 1983 || Detroit || 3–8 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 4–0–0 || 8 || |- | 5 || October 15, 1983 || Edmonton || 4–3 || Calgary || || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,764 || 5–0–0 || 10 || |- | 6 || October 16, 1983 || Calgary || 1–5 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 6–0–0 || 12 || |- | 7 || October 19, 1983 || Edmonton || 10–7 || Vancouver || || Moog || Pacific Coliseum<br>14,701 || 7–0–0 || 14 || |- | 8 || October 20, 1983 || Edmonton || 2–7 || Los Angeles || || Moog || The Forum<br>9,413 || 7–1–0 || 14 || |- | 9 || October 22, 1983 || Vancouver || 5–5 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 7–1–1 || 15 || |- | 10 || October 26, 1983 || Edmonton || 3–8 || Toronto || || Moog || Maple Leaf Gardens<br>16,382 || 7–2–1 || 15 || |- | 11 || October 29, 1983 || Edmonton || 3–1 || Montreal || || Fuhr || Montreal Forum<br>17,781 || 8–2–1 || 17 || |- | 12 || October 30, 1983 || Edmonton || 5–4 || NY Rangers || OT || Fuhr || Madison Square Garden<br>17,412 || 9–2–1 || 19 || |-

|- | 13 || November 2, 1983 || Washington || 3–11 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 10–2–1 || 21 || |- | 14 || November 5, 1983 || Pittsburgh || 3–7 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 11–2–1 || 23 || |- | 15 || November 6, 1983 || Edmonton || 8–5 || Winnipeg || || Fuhr || Winnipeg Arena<br>13,376 || 12–2–1 || 25 || |- | 16 || November 8, 1983 || Edmonton || 7–4 || Quebec || || Fuhr || Quebec Coliseum<br>15,272 || 13–2–1 || 27 || |- | 17 || November 9, 1983 || Edmonton || 7–4 || Washington || || Fuhr || Capital Centre<br>11,495 || 14–2–1 || 29 || |- | 18 || November 12, 1983 || Edmonton || 7–3 || Detroit || || Moog || Joe Louis Arena<br>20,088 || 15–2–1 || 31 || |- | 19 || November 13, 1983 || Edmonton || 3–5 || Chicago || || Fuhr || Chicago Stadium<br>17,534 || 15–3–1 || 31 || |- | 20 || November 18, 1983 || Buffalo || 0–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr|| Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 16–3–1 || 33 || |- | 21 || November 19, 1983 || New Jersey || 4–13 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 17–3–1 || 35 || |- | 22 || November 21, 1983 || Winnipeg || 6–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 18–3–1 || 37 || |- | 23 || November 23, 1983 || Edmonton || 7–3 || Los Angeles || || Fuhr || The Forum<br>14,578 || 19–3–1 || 39 || |- | 24 || November 25, 1983 || Edmonton || 2–2 || Minnesota || OT || Fuhr || Met Center<br>15,784 || 19–3–2 || 40 || |- | 25 || November 26, 1983 || Edmonton || 6–8 || St. Louis || || Moog || St. Louis Arena<br>17,720 || 19–4–2 || 40 || |- | 26 || November 30, 1983 || Philadelphia || 3–3 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 19–4–3 || 41 || |-

|- | 27 || December 3, 1983 || Los Angeles || 3–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 20–4–3 || 43 || |- | 28 || December 4, 1983 || NY Islanders || 4–2 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 20–5–3 || 43 || |- | 29 || December 7, 1983 || Vancouver || 4–5 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 21–5–3 || 45 || |- | 30 || December 10, 1983 || Edmonton || 2–3 || Vancouver || || Moog || Pacific Coliseum<br>15,399 || 21–6–3 || 45 || |- | 31 || December 13, 1983 || Edmonton || 5–8 || NY Islanders || || Fuhr || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>15,850 || 21–7–3 || 45 || |- | 32 || December 14, 1983 || Edmonton || 9–4 || NY Rangers || || Moog || Madison Square Garden<br>17,408 || 22–7–3 || 47 || |- | 33 || December 17, 1983 || Quebec || 1–8 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 23–7–3 || 49 || |- | 34 || December 18, 1983 || Edmonton || 7–5 || Winnipeg || || Moog || Winnipeg Arena<br>15,107 || 24–7–3 || 51 || |- | 35 || December 21, 1983 || Winnipeg || 4 – 7 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 25–7–3 || 53 || |- | 36 || December 23, 1983 || Calgary || 5–5 || Edmonton || OT || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 25–7–4 || 54 || |- | 37 || December 26, 1983 || Edmonton || 6–3 || Calgary || || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,764 || 26–7–4 || 56 || |- | 38 || December 28, 1983 || Edmonton || 4–2 || Vancouver || || Moog || Pacific Coliseum<br>16,543 || 27–7–4 || 58 || |- | 39 || December 30, 1983 || Boston || 0–2 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 28–7–4 || 60 || |-

|- | 40 || January 3, 1984 || Edmonton || 9–6 || Calgary || || Moog || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,764 || 29–7–4 || 62 || |- | 41 || January 4, 1984 || Minnesota || 8–12 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 30–7–4 || 64 || |- | 42 || January 7, 1984 || Hartford || 3–5 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 31–7–4 || 66 || |- | 43 || January 9, 1984 || Edmonton || 7–3 || Detroit || || Fuhr || Joe Louis Arena<br>19,557 || 32–7–4 || 68 || |- | 44 || January 11, 1984 || Edmonton || 5–3 || Chicago || || Moog || Chicago Stadium<br>17,792 || 33–7–4 || 70 || |- | 45 || January 13, 1984 || Edmonton || 1–3 || Buffalo || || Fuhr || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>16,433 || 33–8–4 || 70 || |- | 46 || January 15, 1984 || Edmonton || 5–4 || New Jersey || || Moog || Brendan Byrne Arena<br>19,023 || 34–8–4 || 72 || |- | 47 || January 18, 1984 || Vancouver || 5–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 35–8–4 || 74 || |- | 48 || January 20, 1984 || Los Angeles || 5–7 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 36–8–4 || 76 || |- | 49 || January 21, 1984 || Edmonton || 6–3 || Los Angeles || || Fuhr || The Forum<br>16,005 || 37–8–4 || 78 || |- | 50 || January 25, 1984 || Edmonton || 6–4 || Vancouver || || Moog || Pacific Coliseum<br>6,853 || 38–8–4 || 80 || |- | 51 || January 27, 1984 || New Jersey || 3–3 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 38–8–5 || 81 || |- | 52 || January 28, 1984 || Los Angeles || 4–2 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 38–9–5 || 81 || |-

|- | 53 || February 3, 1984 || Calgary || 5–10 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 39–9–5 || 83 || |- | 54 || February 5, 1984 || Edmonton || 2–9 || Washington || || Fuhr || Capital Centre<br>18,130 || 39–10–5 || 83 || |- | 55 || February 7, 1984 || Edmonton || 3–5 || NY Islanders || || Moog || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>15,806 || 39–11–5 || 83 || |- | 56 || February 9, 1984 || Edmonton || 3–4 || Philadelphia || || Fuhr || The Spectrum<br>17,191 || 39–12–5 || 83 || |- | 57 || February 11, 1984 || Edmonton || 1–4 || Boston || || Moog || Boston Garden<br>14,451 || 39–13–5 || 83 || |- | 58 || February 12, 1984 || Edmonton || 0–11 || Hartford || || Fuhr || Hartford Civic Center<br>14,817 || 39–14–5 || 83 || |- | 59 || February 15, 1984 || Winnipeg || 4–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 40–14–5 || 85 || |- | 60 || February 17, 1984 || Boston || 2–5 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 41–14–5 || 87 || |- | 61 || February 19, 1984 || Pittsburgh || 3–7 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 42–14–5 || 89 || |- | 62 || February 21, 1984 || Edmonton || 6–5 || St. Louis || || Fuhr || St. Louis Arena<br>16,145 || 43–14–5 || 91 || |- | 63 || February 22, 1984 || Edmonton || 9–2 || Pittsburgh || || Moog || Pittsburgh Civic Arena<br>15,838 || 44–14–5 || 93 || |- | 64 || February 24, 1984 || Calgary || 3–5 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 45–14–5 || 95 || |- | 65 || February 25, 1984 || Toronto || 3–8 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 46–14–5 || 97 || |- | 66 || February 27, 1984 || Edmonton || 6–5 || Winnipeg || OT || Fuhr || Winnipeg Arena<br>15,736 || 47–14–5 || 99 || |- | 67 || February 29, 1984 || Philadelphia || 5–3 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 47–15–5 || 99 || |-

|- | 68 || March 4, 1984 || Montreal || 1–6 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 48–15–5 || 101 || |- | 69 || March 7, 1984 || Chicago || 4–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 49–15–5 || 103 || |- | 70 || March 10, 1984 || NY Rangers || 3–2 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 49–16–5 || 103 || |- | 71 || March 11, 1984 || Vancouver || 2–12 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 50–16–5 || 105 || |- | 72 || March 13, 1984 || Edmonton || 6–5 || Quebec || OT || Moog || Quebec Coliseum<br>15,326 || 51–16–5 || 107 || |- | 73 || March 15, 1984 || Edmonton || 2–3 || Montreal || || Fuhr || Montreal Forum<br>18,076 || 51–17–5 || 107 || |- | 74 || March 17, 1984 || Los Angeles || 1–9 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 52–17–5 || 109 || |- | 75 || March 18, 1984 || Buffalo || 3–4 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 53–17–5 || 111 || |- | 76 || March 21, 1984 || Hartford || 3–5 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 54–17–5 || 113 || |- | 77 || March 24, 1984 || St. Louis || 7–1 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 54–18–5 || 113 || |- | 78 || March 25, 1984 || Winnipeg || 2–3 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 55–18–5 || 115 || |- | 79 || March 27, 1984 || Edmonton || 9–2 || Calgary || || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,764 || 56–18–5 || 117 || |- | 80 || March 31, 1984 || Edmonton || 4–3 || Los Angeles || || Moog || The Forum<br>15,007 || 57–18–5 || 119 || |-

|- | Legend:

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Oilers made short work of the Winnipeg Jets, sweeping them in 3 games, and then faced their Battle of Alberta rivals, the Calgary Flames for the Smythe Division finals. The Flames pushed the Oilers to 7 games before Edmonton defeated them for the 2nd straight year. The Oilers swept the Minnesota North Stars in the Campbell Conference final, setting up a Stanley Cup rematch against the New York Islanders. The Islanders, who swept the Oilers the previous year, were looking to win their 5th straight Stanley Cup. Edmonton, however, had other plans, and after the teams split the first 2 games in New York, the Oilers won 3 in a row at home to win the series in 5 games, becoming the first team from the WHA to win the Stanley Cup. Mark Messier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

|- | 1 || April 4, 1984 || Winnipeg || 2–9 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,197 || 1–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017174333/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840007 |- | 2 || April 5, 1984 || Winnipeg || 4–5 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,390 || 2–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017174337/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840015 |- | 3 || April 7, 1984 || Edmonton || 4–1 || Winnipeg || || Fuhr || Winnipeg Arena<br>12,497 || 3–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017174340/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840021 |-

|- | 1 || April 12, 1984 || Calgary || 2–5 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 1–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017183228/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840034 |- | 2 || April 13, 1984 || Calgary || 6–5 || Edmonton || OT || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 1–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181447/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840038 |- | 3 || April 15, 1984 || Edmonton || 3–2 || Calgary || || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,706 || 2–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017183221/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840041 |- | 4 || April 16, 1984 || Edmonton || 5–3 || Calgary || || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,706 || 3–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181251/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840045 |- | 5 || April 18, 1984 || Calgary || 5–4 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 3–2 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181442/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840050 |- | 6 || April 20, 1984 || Edmonton || 4–5 || Calgary || OT || Fuhr || Olympic Saddledome<br>16,764 || 3–3 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181143/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840052 |- | 7 || April 22, 1984 || Calgary || 4–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 4–3 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181444/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840055 |-

|- | 1 || April 24, 1984 || Minnesota || 1–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 1–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181139/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840057 |- | 2 || April 26, 1984 || Minnesota || 3–4 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 2–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017183233/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840059 |- | 3 || April 28, 1984 || Edmonton || 8–5 || Minnesota || || Moog || Met Center<br>15,784 || 3–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017181550/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840060 |- | 4 || May 1, 1984 || Edmonton || 3–1 || Minnesota || || Fuhr || Met Center<br>15,507 || 4–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141017183230/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840062 |-

|- | 1 || May 10, 1984 || Edmonton || 1–0 || NY Islanders || || Fuhr || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>15,861 || 1–0 || https://web.archive.org/web/20130310221841/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840066 |- | 2 || May 12, 1984 || Edmonton || 1–6 || NY Islanders || || Fuhr || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>15,861 || 1–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141006151739/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840067 |- | 3 || May 15, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–7 || Edmonton || || Fuhr || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 2–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141006144929/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840068 |- | 4 || May 17, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–7 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 3–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20141006075516/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840069 |- | 5 || May 19, 1984 || NY Islanders || 2–5 || Edmonton || || Moog || Northlands Coliseum<br>17,498 || 4–1 || https://web.archive.org/web/20130310221853/http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/poboxscore.cgi?O19840070 |-

|- | Legend:

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

Playoffs

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Records

• 446: An NHL team record for most goals in a single season.

:*425: A new NHL team record for most goals in a single season on March 21, 1984.

• 12: An NHL record for most short-handed goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

:*11: A new NHL record for most short-handed goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on February 15, 1984.

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Waivers

Signings

Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1983 NHL entry draft

References

External links

• SHRP Sports
• National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007