Kings–Oilers Rivalry

Lore & Background

The rivalry began in the Oilers' early NHL years, with Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne competing for the Art Ross Trophy in 1979–80. The teams first met in the playoffs in 1981–82, when the Kings staged the Miracle on Manchester comeback. The Oilers won all four playoff series between the teams in the 1980s (1985, 1987, and two earlier series) and won multiple Stanley Cups during that period. The rivalry intensified after the 1988 trade that sent Gretzky and Marty McSorley to the Kings.

In the 1989 playoffs, the Kings won a series against the Oilers for the first time, but the Oilers won the next three playoff meetings and the Stanley Cup in 1990. The rivalry cooled after 1993 as players moved and the teams did not meet in the playoffs again until 2022. From 2022 to 2025, the Oilers won all four first-round series, including a 2025 series where the Kings took a 2–0 lead before the Oilers won four straight.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry is defined by frequent playoff meetings—11 total—and the blockbuster Gretzky trade. Key moments include the Miracle on Manchester (1982), Gretzky's return to Edmonton after the trade, and the intense 2020s matchups. The Oilers have historically dominated, winning most playoff series, though the Kings won the 1989 series and have had regular-season successes.

Did You Know?

• Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne tied for the Art Ross Trophy in 1979–80 with 137 points, but Dionne won because he had more goals.
• The Miracle on Manchester occurred in 1982 when the Kings rallied from a 5–0 deficit to win 6–5 in overtime.
• The 1988 trade sending Gretzky to the Kings sparked protests in Edmonton, with fans burning team owner Peter Pocklington in effigy.
• In the 2025 playoffs, a coach's challenge by Kings head coach Jim Hiller on a goalie interference call was widely viewed as the turning point of the series.