1986–87 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1986–87 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 8th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a heart breaking playoff loss to the Calgary Flames the year before, ending the Oilers' bid for a third-straight Stanley Cup. Edmonton would win the Presidents' Trophy, as they finished with 106 points, and win their sixth straight Smythe Division title. There was no upset this year and the Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the Final to win their third Stanley Cup in four years.
==Regular Season==
Wayne Gretzky would lead the league with 183 points, earning his 7th Art Ross Trophy and win his 8th Hart Trophy. Jari Kurri would finish with 54 goals and 108 points, while Mark Messier had a career high 107 points. Esa Tikkanen had a break out season, getting 78 points, including 34 goals, along with 120 penalty minutes. Paul Coffey missed 21 games, but still finished with 67 points to lead Oilers defensemen.
In goal, Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog would once again split time, with Moog leading the team with 28 wins, while Fuhr posted a team best 3.44 GAA.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Philadelphia Flyers 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–1–0 	2
3 	October 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–2–0 	2
4 	October 15 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2–0 	4
5 	October 17 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2–0 	6
6 	October 19 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–7 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–3–0 	6
7 	October 21 	Chicago Blackhawks 	1–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3–0 	8
8 	October 22 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Calgary Flames 	4–4–0 	8
9 	October 24 	Boston Bruins 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4–0 	10
10	October 26 	Vancouver Canucks 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4–0 	12
11	October 29 	Washington Capitals 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4–0 	14
12	October 31 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	8–4–0 	16
13	November 2 	Los Angeles Kings 	5–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–4–1 	17
14	November 5 	Calgary Flames 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–5–1 	17
15	November 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Calgary Flames 	8–6–1 	17
16	November 8 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–6–1 	19
17	November 11	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	New York Islanders 	10–6–1 	21
18	November 13	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Boston Bruins 	10–7–1 	21
19	November 15	Edmonton Oilers 	2–6 	Hartford Whalers 	10–8–1 	21
20	November 16	Edmonton Oilers 	8–6 	New York Rangers 	11–8–1 	23
21	November 19	New York Rangers 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–8–1 	25
22	November 22	Vancouver Canucks 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–8–1 	27
23	November 24	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	Calgary Flames 	13–9–1 	27
24	November 26	Winnipeg Jets 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–9–1 	29
25	November 28	Chicago Blackhawks 	6–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–10–1	29
26	December 3 	New York Islanders 	1–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–10–1	31
27	December 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	16–10–1	33
28	December 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Philadelphia Flyers 	16–11–1	33
29	December 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Minnesota North Stars	17–11–1	35
30	December 10	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	18–11–1	37
31	December 12	Winnipeg Jets 	1–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–11–1	39
32	December 14	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	20–11–1	41
33	December 17	Quebec Nordiques 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	21–11–1	43
34	December 19	Vancouver Canucks 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–11–1	45
35	December 20	Los Angeles Kings 	8–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–11–2	46
36	December 23	Winnipeg Jets 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–12–2	46
37	December 28	Philadelphia Flyers 	4–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–12–2	48
38	December 30	Edmonton Oilers 	7–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	24–12–2	50
39	January 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–1 	Los Angeles Kings 	25–12–2	52
40	January 7 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–13–2	52
41	January 9 	St. Louis Blues 	1–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–13–2	54
42	January 11 	Calgary Flames 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–13–2	56
43	January 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	28–13–2	58
44	January 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	29–13–2	60
45	January 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	30–13–2	62
46	January 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	Buffalo Sabres 	30–14–2	62
47	January 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	31–14–2	64
48	January 23 	New York Rangers 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–14–2	66
49	January 24 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–14–2	68
50	January 27 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	33–14–3	69
51	January 28 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	34–14–3	71
52	January 30 	Minnesota North Stars	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	34–14–4	72
53	February 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Chicago Blackhawks 	34–15–4	72
54	February 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues 	35–15–4	74
55	February 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–5 	Minnesota North Stars	36–15–4	76
56	February 6 	New York Islanders 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–15–5	77
57	February 8 	St. Louis Blues 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–15–5	79
58	February 15	Washington Capitals 	5–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–16–5	79
59	February 18	Toronto Maple Leafs 	2–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	38–16–5	81
60	February 22	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Winnipeg Jets 	38–17–5	81
61	February 24	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	38–18–5	81
62	February 25	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	New Jersey Devils 	38–19–5	81
63	February 27	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Washington Capitals 	38–20–5	81
64	March 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	39–20–5	83
65	March 6 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	40–20–5	85
66	March 7 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	41–20–5	87
67	March 11 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	42–20–5	89
68	March 14 	Buffalo Sabres 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	43–20–5	91
69	March 15 	Hartford Whalers 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	44–20–5	93
70	March 17 	New Jersey Devils 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	45–20–5	95
71	March 19 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Calgary Flames 	45–21–5	95
72	March 20 	Calgary Flames 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	45–22–5	95
73	March 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6 	New Jersey Devils 	46–22–5	97
74	March 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Hartford Whalers 	47–22–5	99
75	March 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Boston Bruins 	47–23–5	99
76	March 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	47–24–5	99
77	March 29 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Buffalo Sabres 	48–24–5	101
78	March 31 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	49–24–5	103
79	April 2 	Calgary Flames 	4–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	49–24–6	104
80	April 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	50–24–6	106
==Playoffs==
In the playoffs, the Oilers would get a bit of a scare in their opening game against the Los Angeles Kings, losing 5–2, but Edmonton would rebound, winning game two by a 13–3 score, and would win eight games in a row to get past the Kings, and sweep the Winnipeg Jets in the process. Edmonton would have little trouble getting past the Detroit Red Wings in the Conference Final, defeating them in five games, and would face the only other 100-point team in the NHL in the Stanley Cup Final, the Philadelphia Flyers. The series would go the full seven games, with Edmonton winning the seventh and deciding game by a 3–1 score to capture their third Stanley Cup in the past four years. No Oiler won the Conn Smythe Trophy, as Ron Hextall of the Flyers won it despite failing to win the Stanley Cup.
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 1 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 8 	Los Angeles Kings	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1
2	April 9 	Los Angeles Kings	3–13 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1
3	April 11	Edmonton Oilers 	6–5 	Los Angeles Kings	2–1
4	April 12	Edmonton Oilers 	6–3 	Los Angeles Kings	3–1
5	April 14	Los Angeles Kings	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 0 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 21	Winnipeg Jets 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers	1–0
2	April 23	Winnipeg Jets 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers	2–0
3	April 25	Edmonton Oilers	5–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–0
4	April 27	Edmonton Oilers	4–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–0
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Detroit Red Wings 1 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 5 	Detroit Red Wings	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1
2	May 7 	Detroit Red Wings	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1
3	May 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1 	Detroit Red Wings	2–1
4	May 11	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Detroit Red Wings	3–1
5	May 13	Detroit Red Wings	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 17	Philadelphia Flyers	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0
2	May 20	Philadelphia Flyers	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–0
3	May 22	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Philadelphia Flyers	2–1
4	May 24	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Philadelphia Flyers	3–1
5	May 26	Philadelphia Flyers	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2
6	May 28	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Philadelphia Flyers	3–3
3	May 31	Philadelphia Flyers	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring leaders
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky 	79	62	121	183	28
Jari Kurri 	79	54	54 	108	41
Mark Messier 	77	37	70 	107	73
Esa Tikkanen 	76	34	44 	78 	120
Glenn Anderson	80	35	38 	73 	65
;Goaltending
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	44	2388	22	13	3	137	0 	.881 	3.44
Andy Moog 	46	2461	28	11	3	144	0 	.882 	3.51
===Playoffs===
;Scoring leaders
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky 	21	5 	29	34 	6
Mark Messier 	21	12	16	28 	16
Glenn Anderson	21	14	13	27 	59
Jari Kurri 	21	15	10	25 	20
Kent Nilsson 	21	6 	13	19 	6
;Goaltending
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	19	1148	14	5	47	0 	.908 	2.46
Andy Moog 	2 	120 	2 	0	8 	0 	.784 	4.00
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 25, 1986 	To Montreal CanadiensFuture considerations 	To Edmonton OilersAlfie Turcotte
July 3, 1986 	To Winnipeg JetsFuture considerations 	To Edmonton OilersMurray Eaves
October 2, 1986 	To Buffalo SabresCraig Muni 	To Edmonton OilersCash
October 15, 1986 	To St. LouisTodd Ewen 	To Edmonton OilersShawn Evans
October 23, 1986 	To New York RangersDon JacksonStu KulakMiloslav HoravaMike Golden 	To Edmonton OilersReijo RuotsalainenJim WiemerVille KentalaClark Donatelli
December 11, 1986	To Vancouver CanucksCash 	To Edmonton OilersStu Kulak
December 12, 1986	To Hartford WhalersDave Semenko 	To Edmonton Oilers3rd round pick in 1988 - Trevor Sim
March 2, 1987 	To Minnesota North Stars2nd round pick in 1988 - Link Gaetz 	To Edmonton OilersKent Nilsson
March 6, 1987 	To Buffalo SabresLee FogolinMark Napier4th round pick in 1987 - John Bradley	To Edmonton OilersNormand LacombeWayne Van Dorp4th round in 1987 - Peter Eriksson
March 9, 1987 	To Philadelphia FlyersJeff Brubaker 	To Edmonton OilersDom Campedelli
March 10, 1987 	To Vancouver CanucksRaimo Summanen 	To Edmonton OilersMoe Lemay
May 14, 1987 	To Montreal CanadiensAlfie Turcotte 	To Edmonton OilersCash
====Free Agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
F Tom McMurchy	Calgary Flames
D Craig Muni 	Toronto Maple Leafs
D Al Tuer 	Los Angeles Kings
F Danny Gare 	Detroit Red Wings
==Draft Picks==
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	21 	Kim Issel 	 	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
2 	42 	Jamie Nicolls	 	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
3 	63 	Ron Shudra 	 	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
4 	84 	Dan Currie 	 	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
5 	105	David Haas 	 	London Knights (OHL)
6 	126	Jim Ennis 	 	Boston University (NCAA)
7 	147	Ivan Matulik 	 	Bratislava Slovan Harvard (Czech.)
8 	168	Nick Beaulieu	 	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
9 	189	Mike Greenlay	 	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
10 	210	Matt Lanza 	 	Winthrop High School (USHS)
11 	231	Mojmir Bozik 	 	HC Kosice (Czech.)
12 	252	Tony Hand 	 	Murrayfield Racers (BHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers season, 1986–87
Edmonton Oilers season, 1986–87