1984 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1984 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1983–84 season, and the culmination of the 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the defending Campbell Conference champion Edmonton Oilers and the defending Wales Conference and Cup champion New York Islanders. The upstart Oilers won the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their first Stanley Cup, becoming the third post-1967 expansion team and first former World Hockey Association team to win the Cup, and also the first team based west of Chicago to win the Cup since the WCHL's Victoria Cougars became the last non-NHL team to win it in 1925.
In the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders had swept the Oilers in four straight games. The teams met again in 1984, with the Islanders seeking their fifth consecutive Stanley Cup championship. While both teams had improved on their regular season records from the previous season, Edmonton had progressed more and finished with the best record in the NHL for the first time in their short history. However, it was New York who received home-ice advantage, as they had in 1982, since the rules in place since 1982 dictated that home-ice advantage would go to the Wales champion in even numbered years and in 1984 because the Wales Conference had more points in head-to-head play against the Campbell Conference. It was also the first time since the implementation of the 2–3–2 format the same year that a Game 5 was actually played in the same venue as Games 3 and 4, since the Islanders had swept the previous two Finals. This was the only Finals during the era that the team with the worst record actually received home-ice advantage. Home-ice advantage reverted back to the team with the better record for the following Finals, and the Finals reverted to the former 2–2–1–1–1 format in the Finals after that.
This was the fifth straight Finals of teams that joined the NHL in 1967 or later. As of 2021, the Islanders' four consecutive Cup wins (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) and their appearance in the 1984 Cup Finals is an NHL record of 19 consecutive playoff series wins that currently stands unbroken. The 1984 Finals was the third of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, second of eight contested by a team from Alberta (the Oilers appeared in six, the Calgary Flames in two, the Vancouver Canucks in one), and the first of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four times at home, the Montreal Canadiens once in Calgary).
The Oilers became the fastest Canadian-based expansion team to win a major sports title by winning a title in only their fifth NHL season. The feat was eclipsed in 2016 by the Ottawa Redblacks, who won the Grey Cup in their third CFL season.
Paths to the Finals
Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0, the Calgary Flames 4–3 and the Minnesota North Stars 4–0 to reach the Finals.
New York defeated the New York Rangers 3–2, the Washington Capitals 4–1, and the Montreal Canadiens 4–2 to reach the Finals.
Game summaries
NOTE: The 1984 Stanley Cup Finals were played in a 2–3–2 format, which the NBA Finals (1985–2013) and World Series (always) use, instead of the usual 2–2–1–1–1; however, the NHL would only use the format again the following season before going back to the 2–2–1–1–1 format for the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals.
Grant Fuhr shut out the Islanders in the first game, on Long Island, with Kevin McClelland scoring the game's only goal, but the Islanders won game two 6–1. The series then shifted to Edmonton for three games. In game three, the Islanders had a 2–1 lead in the second period, but Mark Messier scored on an individual effort to tie the game.[1] They proceeded to beat the Islanders 7–2. The Oilers however, lost Fuhr for games four and five after the Islanders' Pat LaFontaine crashed into Fuhr on the forecheck during game three, and Fuhr was slow to get up. Andy Moog started games four and five. The Oilers won game four by the same score, with Wayne Gretzky scoring his first goal of the Finals. The Oilers then won game five by the score of 5–2 thanks to Gretzky's two first-period goals, and two Duane Sutter penalties. They became the first former WHA team, and the first team from Edmonton, to win the Stanley Cup. Mark Messier was awarded with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
| May 10 | Edmonton Oilers | 1–0 | New York Islanders | Nassau Coliseum | Recap | |||
| No scoring | First period | No scoring | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
| Kevin McClelland (3) - 01:55 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
| Grant Fuhr 34 saves / 34 shots | Goalie stats | Billy Smith 37 saves / 38 shots, Roland Melanson 0 saves / 0 shots | ||||||
| May 12 | Edmonton Oilers | 1–6 | New York Islanders | Nassau Coliseum | Recap | |||
| Randy Gregg (3) - 15:06 | First period | 00:53 - Bryan Trottier (7) 05:48 - pp - Greg Gilbert (5) 18:31 - Clark Gillies (8) | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | 04:52 - Bryan Trottier (8) 16:48 - pp - Clark Gillies (9) | ||||||
| No scoring | Third period | 17:04 - pp - Clark Gillies (10) | ||||||
| Grant Fuhr 20 saves / 26 shots | Goalie stats | Billy Smith 22 saves / 23 shots | ||||||
| May 15 | New York Islanders | 2–7 | Edmonton Oilers | Northlands Coliseum | Recap | |||
| Clark Gillies (11) - 01:32 | First period | 13:49 - Kevin Lowe (3) | ||||||
| Clark Gillies (12) - pp - 02:54 | Second period | 08:38 - Mark Messier (6) 19:12 - Glenn Anderson (6) 19:29 - Paul Coffey (7) | ||||||
| No scoring | Third period | 05:32 - Mark Messier (7) 05:52 - Kevin McClelland (4) 09:41 - Dave Semenko (5) | ||||||
| Billy Smith 25 saves / 31 shots, Roland Melanson 8 saves / 9 shots | Goalie stats | Grant Fuhr 22 saves / 24 shots, Andy Moog 1 save / 1 shot | ||||||
| May 17 | New York Islanders | 2–7 | Edmonton Oilers | Northlands Coliseum | Recap | |||
| Brent Sutter (4) - 14:03 | First period | 01:53 - Wayne Gretzky (10) 03:22 - Willy Lindstrom (4) 17:54 - Mark Messier (8) | ||||||
| Patrick Flatley (9) - 19:44 | Second period | 05:21 - pp - Willy Lindstrom (5) 06:58 - Pat Conacher (1) 10:52 - Paul Coffey (8) | ||||||
| No scoring | Third period | 14:01 - Wayne Gretzky (11) | ||||||
| Billy Smith 31 saves / 38 shots | Goalie stats | Andy Moog 19 saves / 21 shots | ||||||
| May 19 | New York Islanders | 2–5 | Edmonton Oilers | Northlands Coliseum | Recap | |||
| No scoring | First period | 12:08 - Wayne Gretzky (12) 17:26 - Wayne Gretzky (13) | ||||||
| No scoring | Second period | 00:38 - pp - Ken Linseman (10) 04:59 - pp - Jari Kurri (14) | ||||||
| Pat LaFontaine (2) - 00:13 Pat LaFontaine (3) - 00:35 |
Third period | 19:47 - Dave Lumley (2) | ||||||
| Roland Melanson 12 saves / 14 shots, Billy Smith 7 saves / 9 shots | Goalie stats | Andy Moog 23 saves / 25 shots | ||||||
| Edmonton won series 4–1 | |
Broadcasting
The series aired on CBC in Canada and on the USA Network in the United States. USA's national coverage was blacked out in the New York area due to the local rights to Islanders games in that TV market, with SportsChannel New York airing games one and two, and WOR televising the other three games.
Team rosters
Edmonton Oilers
| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  |
Lee Jr. Fogolin | D | R | 29 | 1979 | Chicago, Illinois |
| 4 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} |
Kevin Lowe | D | L | 25 | 1979 | Lachute, Quebec |
| 7 | |
Paul Coffey | D | L | 22 | 1980 | Weston, Ontario |
| 9 | |
Glenn Anderson | RW | L | 23 | 1979 | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 10 |  |
Jaroslav Pouzar | LW | L | 32 | 1982 | Cakovec, Czechoslovakia |
| 11 | |
Mark Messier | C | L | 23 | 1979 | St. Albert, Alberta |
| 12 | |
Dave Hunter | LW | L | 26 | 1979 | Petrolia, Ontario |
| 13 | |
Ken Linseman | C | L | 25 | 1983 | Kingston, Ontario |
| 15 | |
Pat Conacher | C | L | 25 | 1983 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 16 | |
Pat Hughes | RW | R | 29 | 1981 | Calgary, Alberta |
| 17 |  |
Jari Kurri | RW | R | 24 | 1980 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 19 |  |
Willy Lindstrom | RW | L | 33 | 1983 | Grums, Sweden |
| 20 | |
Dave Lumley | RW | R | 29 | 1979 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 21 | |
Randy Gregg | D | L | 28 | 1982 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 22 | |
Charlie Huddy | D | L | 24 | 1979 | Oshawa, Ontario |
| 24 | |
Kevin McClelland | C | R | 21 | 1983 | Oshawa, Ontario |
| 27 | |
Dave Semenko | LW | L | 26 | 1979 | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| 29 | |
Donald Jackson | D | L | 25 | 1981 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 31 | |
Grant Fuhr | G | R | 21 | 1981 | Spruce Grove, Alberta |
| 33 | |
Mike Zanier | G | L | 21 | 1984 | Trail, British Columbia |
| 35 | |
Andy Moog | G | L | 24 | 1980 | Penticton, British Columbia |
| 99 | |
Wayne Gretzky (C) | C | L | 23 | 1979 | Brantford, Ontario |
New York Islanders
| No. | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Roland Melanson | G | L | 23 | 1979 | Moncton, New Brunswick |
| 2 | |
Gord Dineen | D | R | 21 | 1981 | Quebec City, Quebec |
| 3 | |
Tomas Jonsson | D | L | 24 | 1979 | Falun, Sweden |
| 4 | |
Paul Boutilier | D | L | 21 | 1981 | Sydney, Nova Scotia |
| 5 | |
Denis Potvin (C) | D | L | 30 | 1973 | Vanier, Ontario |
| 6 | |
Ken Morrow | D | R | 27 | 1976 | Davison, Michigan |
| 7 | |
Stefan Persson | D | L | 29 | 1974 | Bjurholm, Sweden |
| 8 | |
Patrick Flatley | RW | R | 20 | 1982 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 9 | |
Clark Gillies | LW | L | 30 | 1974 | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan |
| 11 | |
Wayne Merrick | C | L | 32 | 1977 | Sarnia, Ontario |
| 12 | |
Duane Sutter | RW | R | 24 | 1979 | Viking, Alberta |
| 14 | |
Bob Bourne | LW | L | 29 | 1974 | Kindersley, Saskatchewan |
| 16 | |
Pat LaFontaine | C | R | 19 | 1983 | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 17 | |
Greg Gilbert | LW | L | 22 | 1980 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 19 | |
Bryan Trottier | C | L | 27 | 1974 | Val Marie, Saskatchewan |
| 20 | |
Mats Hallin | LW | L | 26 | 1982 | Eskilstuna, Sweden |
| 21 | |
Brent Sutter | C | R | 21 | 1980 | Viking, Alberta |
| 22 | |
Mike Bossy | RW | R | 27 | 1977 | Montreal, Quebec |
| 23 | |
Bob Nystrom | RW | R | 31 | 1981 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 24 | |
Gord Lane | D | L | 31 | 1979 | Brandon, Manitoba |
| 25 | |
Billy Carroll | C | L | 25 | 1979 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 26 | |
Dave Langevin | D | L | 30 | 1974 | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| 27 | |
John Tonelli | LW | L | 27 | 1977 | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 28 | |
Anders Kallur | RW | L | 31 | 1979 | Ludvika, Sweden |
| 31 | |
Billy Smith | G | L | 33 | 1972 | Perth, Ontario |
| 91 | |
Butch Goring | C | L | 34 | 1980 | St. Boniface, Manitoba |
Stanley Cup engraving
The 1984 Stanley Cup was presented to Oilers captain Wayne Gretzky by NHL President John Ziegler following the Oilers 5–2 win over the Islanders in game five.
The following Oilers players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup:
1983–84 Edmonton Oilers
Players
- 99 Wayne Gretzky (Captain)
- 24 Kevin McClelland
- 13 Ken Linseman
- 11 Mark Messier
(played left wing during the regular season)
- 9 Glenn Anderson
- 10 Jaroslav Pouzar
- 12 Dave Hunter
- 16 Pat Hughes
- 17 Jari Kurri
- 19 Willy Lindstrom
- 20 Dave Lumley
- 27 Dave Semenko
- 15 Pat Conacher
(played Centre during the regular season)
- 2 Lee Fogolin Jr.
- 4 Kevin Lowe
- 7 Paul Coffey
- 21 Randy Gregg
- 22 Charlie Huddy
- 29 Don Jackson
- 31 Grant Fuhr
- 35 Andy Moog
- 33 Mike Zanier (dressed for last two games of the Finals)^
Coaching and administrative staff
- Peter Pocklington (Owner)
- Glen Sather (President/General Manager/Head Coach)
- Bruce MacGregor (Asst General Manager)
- John Muckler (Asst. Coach), Edward Ted Green (Asst. Coach)
- Barry Fraser (Director of Player Personnel/Chief Scout)
- Peter Millar (Athletic Therapist), Barrie Stafford (Trainer)
- Lyle Kulchisky (Asst Trainer)
Stanley Cup engraving
Each team was required to play 20 players out of a 24-man roster. The Oilers engraved 21 players' names on the Cup, leaving off four players who were dressed in the playoffs. All four players left off the Stanley Cup were awarded a Stanley Cup ring, and are included in the team picture.
- #33 Mike Zanier was dressed for two games in the final. He qualified to be engraved on the Stanley Cup. Edmonton did not include his name because he had not played in the NHL. The only NHL season for Zanier was three games in 1985 with Oilers.
- #6 Rick Chartraw played four games for NY Rangers, 24 for Edmonton, and one playoff game, spending half of the regular season playing in the minors. (He is on the Stanley Cup with Montreal 1976-77-78-79.)
- #28 Larry Melnyk played six playoff games (4 in the Conference Finals), but spent the regular season playing in the minors.
- #25 Raimo Summanen played two games in the regular season and five playoff games. He spent the rest of the season playing in Europe.
- Jari Kurri was the first Finnish born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
- Grant Fuhr was the first black player to win the Stanley Cup.
- Jaroslav Pouzar was the first Czechoslovakia born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
- Additionally, the name "Basil Pocklington" was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1984. Basil was the father of Oilers owner Peter Pocklington and was not directly associated with the team. The NHL subsequently marked out Basil's name on the trophy with X's. A new ring for the Cup was created in 1993, with winners from 1979 to 1991, Basil Pocklington's name was not on it. When the Cup returned to the Hockey Hall of Fame the abandoned ring had been damaged and could not be put back on the Stanley Cup. The Hockey Hall of Fame had Basil Pocklington's name put on the newly created Stanley Cup ring, then XXX'd out his name again. His was now listed beside his son Peter Pocklington, Owner. On the original rings, he was listed on a line between Peter Pocklington and Glen Sather. Basil's name was not added to the replica Stanley Cup also created in 1993. This main way people can tell the Presentation Stanley Cup and Replica Stanley Cup. See 2004 Stanley Cup Finals for the other way to tell the cups apart.
On the new ring, EDMONTON was misspelt DDMONTON. An "E" was stamped twice over the first "D" to correct the mistake.
References
| External video | |
|---|---|
 1984 Islanders vs. Oilers, Stanley Cup Final, Game 5 on YouTube |
- Inline citations
- Bibliography
- Diamond, Dan (2000). Total Stanley Cup. Toronto: Total Sports Canada. ISBN 978-1-892129-07-9.
- Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7
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