1996 – 97 Edmonton Oilers season The 1996 – 97 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers ' 18th season in the NHL , and they were coming off a 30 – 44 – 8 record , earning 68 points , in the 1995 – 96 season , failing to qualify for the post - season for the 4th straight season . The Oilers would have their best season since 1991 – 92 , as they would win 36 games , and earn 81 points , finishing in third place in the Pacific Division , and seventh in the Western Conference , earning their first playoff berth in five years . The main reason for the Oilers ' turn - around was their solid goaltending and defensive hockey , allowing 247 goals , which was 57 fewer goals than the previous season . Regular season . Offensively , Doug Weight who lead the club once again in points , earning 82 , and a club high 61 assists , while Ryan Smyth would have a breakout season , scoring a team high 39 goals and leading the team in power - play goals with 20 . Andrei Kovalenko , acquired in the off - season , would score 32 goals and 59 points , while Jason Arnott would earn 57 points in 67 games . Rookie Mike Grier had 32 points in 79 games and Mariusz Czerkawski finished third on the team in goals with 26 . Boris Mironov would anchor the defense , earning 32 points in only 55 games . Todd Marchant led the team in shorthanded goals with 4 and team captain Kelly Buchberger provided the team toughness , earning a club high 159 penalty minutes . In goal , Curtis Joseph would get the majority of playing time , winning 32 games , while posting a 2 . 93 GAA and a . 907 save percentage , and set a team record with 6 shutouts . Bob Essensa , and despite a strong GAA of 2 . 83 , he would win only 4 games . Playoffs . The Oilers would face the Central Division winning Dallas Stars in the opening round of the playoffs . After splitting the first 2 games in Dallas , the Oilers returned home for game 3 for their first home playoff game since 1992 , and found themselves losing 3 – 0 with about 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd period . Edmonton would then strike for 3 goals to tie the game , and Kelly Buchberger would provide the overtime heroics , as the Oilers would win the game 4 – 3 and take a 2 – 1 series lead . Dallas would tie the series up again in game 4 , however , the Oilers would shock the Stars , winning 1 – 0 in double overtime in the 5th game in Dallas , and return to Edmonton in a position to clinch the series . The Stars would spoil the Oilers party , winning the 6th game 3 – 2 , setting up a game 7 at Reunion Arena in Dallas . The game would be a memorable one , as the score was tied up at 3 as the teams would head into overtime . Todd Marchant would turn out to be the hero , scoring for the Oilers in the 1st overtime , as Edmonton would complete the upset , defeating the Stars in 7 games . In the 2nd round , Edmonton would face the defending Stanley Cup champions , the Colorado Avalanche , who won the Pacific Division and had 26 more points than the Oilers during the season . The Avalanche would win the opening 2 games easily in Denver , and while the Oilers would rebound to win the 3rd game , the Avs proved to be too much for Edmonton to handle , as they would win the series in 5 games , ending the Oilers season . Transactions . Draft picks . Edmonton ' s draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft