Oilers vs Rangers
Five-time Stanley Cup champions and a dynasty of the 1980s.
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The team was established in 1972 and originally played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) before joining the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. The Oilers have won the Stanley Cup five times: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990.
Quick Facts
- Key opponents
- Wayne Gretzky vs. Mike Richter; Mark Messier
- Notable series
- 1983 Smythe Division Finals, 2006 Conference Semifinals
- Cultural significance
- Dynasty vs. Tradition
- Playoff meetings
- Multiple high-stakes series across decades
Lore & Background
The Oilers were one of 12 founding franchises of the WHA. They were originally supposed to be one of two WHA teams in Alberta, but when the Calgary Broncos folded before the first season, the Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers. They returned to the Edmonton Oilers name for the 1973–74 season. The team played its first game in WHA history, losing 7–4 to the Ottawa Nationals. In 1978, the Oilers acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Indianapolis Racers. Gretzky's first and only WHA season was 1978–79. The Oilers finished first in the WHA that season but lost the Avco World Trophy Final to the Winnipeg Jets. Dave Semenko scored the last goal in WHA history in that final game, which the Oilers lost 7–3.
Reader's Guide
The Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 along with the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets. Of these four teams, only Edmonton has avoided relocation and renaming. The team played at Northlands Coliseum from 1974 to 2016. Key figures in Oilers history include Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr, Andy Moog, and Glen Sather, who served as head coach and/or general manager for 23 years.
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