6th-seeded ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers

• Glenn Anderson (RW)
  • 33 GP   17 G   9 A   26 P   -4   117 S   2 GWG   4 PIM   8 Stars
• Paul Coffey (D)
  • 33 GP   13 G   62* A   75 P   +17   202* S   3 GWG   32 PIM   24 Stars
• Lee Fogolin Jr. (D)
  • 33 GP   3 G   6 A   9 P   +4   35 S   0 GWG   10 PIM   0 Stars
• Grant Fuhr (G)
  • 33 GP   33 GS   19-8-4   3.67 GAA   .901 SV%   1 SO   12 Stars
• Randy Gregg (D)
  • 1 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   Even   0 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Wayne Gretzky (C)
  • 33 GP   38* G   41 A   79* P   +38*   150 S   4* GWG   12 PIM   34* Stars
• Charlie Huddy (D)
  • 33 GP   6 G   27 A   33 P   +19   124 S   1 GWG   4 PIM   10 Stars
• Pat Hughes (RW)
  • 18 GP   0 G   0 A   0 P   Even   0 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   0 Stars
• Dave Hunter (LW)
  • 33 GP   13 G   12 A   25 P   +4   80 S   2 GWG   16 PIM   3 Stars
• Don Jackson (D)
  • 33 GP   0 G   3 A   3 P   +2   20 S   0 GWG   22 PIM   0 Stars
• Mike Krushelnyski (LW)
  • 33 GP   17 G   32 A   49 P   +35   77 S   2 GWG   6 PIM   9 Stars
• Jari Kurri (RW)
  • 33 GP   30 G   34 A   64 P   +36   97 S   1 GWG   0 PIM   21 Stars
• Kevin Lowe (D)
  • 33 GP   0 G   1 A   1 P   -1   3 S   0 GWG   2 PIM   0 Stars
• Kevin McClelland (RW)
  • 33 GP   1 G   4 A   5 P   -18   30 S   1 GWG   67* PIM   0 Stars
• Mark Messier (C)
  • 33 GP   7 G   17 A   24 P   -15   112 S   1 GWG   10 PIM   5 Stars
• Andy Moog (D)
  • 5 GP   0 GS   0-2-0   1.60 GAA   .932 SV%   0 SO   0 Stars
• Mark Napier (RW)
  • 33 GP   10 G   12 A   22 P   +3   81 S   2 GWG   0 PIM   4 Stars
• Jaroslav Pouzar (LW)
  • 33 GP   1 G   8 A   9 P   -2   18 S   0 GWG   12 PIM   0 Stars
• Dave Semenko (LW)
  • 33 GP   1 G   3 A   4 P   -17   20 S   45 PIM   0 Stars
• Gord Sherven (C)
  • 33 GP   4 G   6 A   10 P   -3   44 S   0 GWG   0 PIM   1 Stars

* – Team Best

Bold – Tournament Best

Team Stats:

• Record: 19-10-4
• Goals Scored: 161 – Most in tournament
• Goals/Game: 4.88
• Goals Allowed: 128 – Most in tournament
• Goals Allowed/Game: 3.88
• Shots: 1212 – Most in tournament
• Shots Allowed: 1338 – Most in tournament
• Shots/Game: 36.7
• Shots Allowed/Game: 40.5
• # of PP’s: 55 – Most in tournament
• PPG’s: 25 – Most in tournament
• PP%: 45.5% – Best in tournament
• TSH: 70 – 2nd most in tournament
• PPGA: 13 – 2nd most in tournament
• PK%: 81.4%
• Penalties in minutes: 171 – 2nd most in tournament

Yeah, the ’80s Oilers were good. I don’t need to tell you. However, the 6th-seeded ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers were not quite good enough in this tournament. Here is how the finished as the runners up:

First Round:

Bye

Second Round:

Came back from down 2-1 and 3-2 to defeat 27th-seeded ’82-’83 Minnesota North Stars in seven games

Third Round:

Came back from down 3-2 to defeat 22nd-seeded ’10-’11 Vancouver Canucks in seven games

Quarterfinal:

Came back from down 2-0 to defeat 3rd-seeded ’07-’08 Detroit Red Wings in six games

Semifinal:

Defeated 15th-seeded ’00-’01 Colorado Avalanche in six games

Final

Blew 3-0 series lead to lose in seven games to top-seeded ’78-’79 Montreal Canadiens

The ’84-’85 Edmonton Oilers, led by head coach Glen Sather, posted a record of 49-20-11 in the regular season, which was good for their fourth straight Smythe Division championship. It wouldn’t be their last either. They scored 401 goals during the regular season, which was a league best, and averaged just over five goals per game. They allowed 298 goals (3.73 per game), which was only good for 8th in the league, out of 21 teams. Their strength of schedule ranked 13th in the league according to Hockey Reference, but their SRS rating on Hockey Reference (1.25) was good for top of the league that year. That 1.25 SRS rating is tied for fourth-best in Oilers history, along with the ’85-’86 Oilers. The ’84-’85 Oilers had an easy go to start the playoffs. They swept the Los Angeles Kings in the Division Semifinal before sweeping the Winnipeg Jets in the Division Final. In the Conference Final, they dispatched of the Chicago Black Hawks in six games. Then, in the Stanley Cup Final, they matched up against the Philadelphia Flyers and after dropping the opening game, took the next four to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, it would not be their last.

This edition of the Oilers also won some individual silverware. Although, most of it belong to one player and I’m pretty sure you know who. Wayne Gretzky won five individual awards for his performance in the ’84-’85 season. He won the Art Ross, with 208 points. He won the Conn Smythe by setting new NHL records for most assists (30) and points (47) in a single playoffs. He also won the Hart for MVP of the regular season, with 73 goals and 135 assists, which was a new league record, in 80 games played for those 208 points. Finally, he won the Lester B. Pearson for most outstanding player and the NHL Plus/Minus Award. Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri also won an award each, the James Norris and Lady Byng, respectively. Kurri also set a new league record during their Cup run with 19 goals, most for a single playoff at the time. Meanwhile, Kevin McClelland set a new franchise record for most penalty minutes in a single regular season with 205. The next year, the Oilers would take a bit of a step back, despite posting an even better record than in ’84-’85, but would not make it past the Division Final.

Well, now that we got our champions and runners up out of the way, its time to start at the bottom and work our way to the top. Up next in team recaps, the 48th-seeded ’30-’31 Philadelphia Quakers!