Oilers' 1989-90 Playoff Run to the Stanley Cup

Lore & Background

The Oilers faced adversity early in the season: goaltender Grant Fuhr underwent an emergency appendectomy in training camp, forward Jimmy Carson left after the 4th game and was traded to Detroit for Petr Klima, Joe Murphy, Adam Graves, and Jeff Sharples, and Wayne Gretzky broke the all-time NHL points record against the Oilers. The team started 6–9–5, last in the Smythe Division. Buoyed by the line of Martin Gelinas, Graves, and Murphy, they lost only once in 13 games and overtook the Calgary Flames for first place. At the halfway point they were 21–12–7, second in the NHL behind the Buffalo Sabres. Mark Messier finished second in NHL scoring with a career-high 129 points. The Oilers were the most penalized team in the NHL for the first time in team history. In the playoffs, they trailed the Winnipeg Jets 3–1 in the first round but won three straight to advance, then swept the Los Angeles Kings in the Smythe Division Finals.

In Their Own Story

The ice at Northlands Coliseum hummed with anticipation on that June night in 1990. Mark Messier stood at center rink, the weight of the city on his shoulders, knowing this was their moment to define a legacy independent of past glories. As the final buzzer sounded against Boston, the roar wasn't just for a win; it was an affirmation of resilience. The trophy lift felt heavier, earned through sheer willpower after years of being defined by another's shadow.

Reader's Guide

The Oilers finished the regular season with a record of 38–28–14, good for 2nd place in the Smythe Division and 5th place overall in the NHL. Mark Messier led the team with 129 points (45 goals, 84 assists). Jari Kurri recorded 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists). Craig Simpson had 29 goals and 61 points. Bill Ranford won a club-high 24 games with a 3.19 GAA. Grant Fuhr had a 9–7–3 record with a 3.83 GAA. The Oilers led the league in short-handed goals scored (22) and were the most penalized team, being short-handed 417 times.

Did You Know?

• Mark Messier finished second in the NHL scoring race, 13 points behind Wayne Gretzky.
• The Oilers were the most penalized team in the NHL for the first time in team history.
• Bill Ranford recorded his first career playoff shutout in Game 1 of the Smythe Division Finals against the Kings.
• Jari Kurri scored the 1,000th point of his career on January 2 against the St. Louis Blues.