2000–01 Edmonton Oilers season

The 2000–01 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 22nd season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 32–26–16–8 record in 1999–2000, earning 88 points, their highest point total since 1989–90, and making the playoffs for the 5th straight season. The Oilers would lose to the Dallas Stars in 5 games in the 1st round.
==Off-season==
During the off-season, GM Glen Sather announced he was leaving the club to become the general manager of the New York Rangers. Sather had been the Oilers general manager since the 1980–81 season, and helped build the teams dynasty of the 1980s, when Edmonton won 5 Stanley Cups in 7 years. Edmonton would replace Sather with Kevin Lowe, who was the teams head coach in 1999–2000, and they would name former Oilers player Craig MacTavish as the head coach of the team.
==Regular season==
Early in the season, the Oilers would trade Bill Guerin to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Anson Carter, and the Bruins 1st and 2nd round draft picks in the 2001 Draft. Guerin had earned 22 points in 21 games with Edmonton at the time, however, Carter would fit in nicely with the Oilers, earning 42 points in 61 games.
The highlight of the Oilers season was a 9 game winning streak in mid-February, which helped ensure the team make the playoffs for the 5th straight season. Edmonton would finish the year with 39 wins and 93 points, their highest totals since the 1987–88 season. They would finish in 6th spot in the Western Conference.
Offensively, Doug Weight would lead the club with 90 points, as he scored 25 goals and added 65 assist. Ryan Smyth would score a team high 31 goals, and added 39 assists to finish the year with 70 points. Janne Niinimaa would lead the defense with 12 goals and 46 points, while fellow blueliner Tom Poti would also score 12 goals, and finish with 32 points. Georges Laraque led the Oilers in penalty mintues with 148.
In goal, Tommy Salo would get the majority of action, winning a career high 36 games, along with a 2.46 GAA, and earning 8 shutouts.
The Oilers would open the playoffs against the Dallas Stars, making it the 5th straight year that the 2 clubs would face each other, including the 3rd straight time in the 1st round. The teams would split the first 2 games in Dallas, and then split the 2 games in Edmonton, with both games in Edmonton being decided in overtime. Game 5 also went into overtime, with Dallas winning the game 4–3, and taking a 3–2 series lead. Game 6 would return to Edmonton, and the Stars would hold off the Oilers and win the game 3–1 and the series 4–2, eliminating the Oilers for the 4th straight season.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 6 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0–0–0 	2
2 	October 7 	Colorado Avalanche 	1–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0–1–0 	3
3 	October 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	1–1–1–0 	3
4 	October 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	2–1–1–0 	5
5 	October 13 	Buffalo Sabres 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1–1–0 	7
6 	October 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Minnesota Wild 	4–1–1–0 	9
7 	October 17 	Boston Bruins 	1–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–1–1–0 	11
8 	October 19 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2–1–0 	11
9 	October 22 	Phoenix Coyotes 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2–2–0 	12
10	October 25 	Atlanta Thrashers 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3–2–0 	12
11	October 27 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	5–4–2–0 	12
12	October 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Colorado Avalanche 	5–5–2–0 	12
13	October 30 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–5–2–0 	14
14	November 1 	Calgary Flames 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–5–2–0 	16
15	November 3 	Minnesota Wild 	0–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–5–2–0 	18
16	November 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–5–2–0 	20
17	November 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	New York Rangers 	9–6–2–0 	20
18	November 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Philadelphia Flyers 	9–7–2–0 	20
19	November 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	9–8–2–0 	20
20	November 12	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Minnesota Wild 	10–8–2–0 	22
21	November 14	St. Louis Blues 	0–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–8–2–0 	24
22	November 17	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–8–3–0 	25
23	November 19	Calgary Flames 	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–8–3–0 	27
24	November 22	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	12–9–3–0 	27
25	November 23	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Ottawa Senators 	13–9–3–0 	29
26	November 25	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–9–3–0 	31
27	November 29	Montreal Canadiens 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–10–3–0 	31
28	December 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	14–11–3–0 	31
29	December 3 	San Jose Sharks 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–11–4–0 	32
30	December 6 	Nashville Predators 	0–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–11–4–0 	34
31	December 9 	Los Angeles Kings 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–12–4–0 	34
32	December 13	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Dallas Stars 	15–13–4–0 	34
33	December 14	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2 	Nashville Predators 	16–13–4–0 	36
34	December 16	Edmonton Oilers 	0–4 	Washington Capitals 	16–14–4–0 	36
35	December 18	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	16–14–4–1 	37
36	December 20	Vancouver Canucks 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–14–4–1 	39
37	December 22	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1 	Calgary Flames 	17–14–5–1 	40
38	December 27	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Colorado Avalanche 	17–15–5–1 	40
39	December 28	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	San Jose Sharks 	17–15–6–1 	41
40	December 30	Montreal Canadiens 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–15–6–1 	43
41	January 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	St. Louis Blues 	18–16–6–1 	43
42	January 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	18–17–6–1 	43
43	January 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1 	Chicago Blackhawks 	19–17–6–1 	45
44	January 7 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–17–6–1 	47
45	January 10 	Nashville Predators 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–18–6–1 	47
46	January 12 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–19–6–1 	47
47	January 14 	Ottawa Senators 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	21–19–6–1 	49
48	January 16 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1 	Nashville Predators 	22–19–6–1 	51
49	January 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	St. Louis Blues 	22–20–6–1 	51
50	January 20 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–20–6–1 	53
51	January 22 	San Jose Sharks 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–20–7–1 	54
52	January 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	San Jose Sharks 	23–21–7–1 	54
53	January 26 	Phoenix Coyotes 	1–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–21–8–1 	55
54	January 30 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Calgary Flames 	24–21–8–1 	57
55	January 31 	Chicago Blackhawks 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–21–8–1 	59
56	February 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Dallas Stars 	25–22–8–1 	59
57	February 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Phoenix Coyotes 	25–23–8–1 	59
58	February 12	Edmonton Oilers 	6–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	26–23–8–1 	61
59	February 14	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	26–23–9–1 	62
60	February 16	New York Islanders 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–24–9–1 	62
61	February 17	Vancouver Canucks 	6–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–24–9–2 	63
62	February 20	Los Angeles Kings 	0–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–24–9–2 	65
63	February 24	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Calgary Flames 	28–24–9–2 	67
64	February 25	Dallas Stars 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–24–9–2 	69
65	February 28	St. Louis Blues 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–24–9–2 	71
66	March 2 	Minnesota Wild 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	31–24–9–2 	73
67	March 7 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	0–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–24–9–2 	75
68	March 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	Buffalo Sabres 	33–24–9–2 	77
69	March 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Carolina Hurricanes 	34–24–9–2 	79
70	March 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	35–24–9–2 	81
71	March 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Florida Panthers 	35–24–10–2	82
72	March 17 	New Jersey Devils 	6–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–24–10–3	83
73	March 19 	Philadelphia Flyers 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–25–10–3	83
74	March 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–0 	Los Angeles Kings 	36–25–10–3	85
75	March 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Phoenix Coyotes 	36–26–10–3	85
76	March 26 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–26–10–3	87
77	March 28 	Colorado Avalanche 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	38–26–10–3	89
78	March 30 	Dallas Stars 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	38–27–10–3	89
79	April 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	38–27–11–3	90
80	April 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Colorado Avalanche 	38–28–11–3	90
81	April 4 	Minnesota Wild 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	38–28–12–3	91
82	April 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	39–28–12–3	93
==Playoffs==
===Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 11	Edmonton Oilers	1–2 	Dallas Stars 	0–1
2	April 14	Edmonton Oilers	4–3 	Dallas Stars 	1–1
3	April 15	Dallas Stars 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	1–2
4	April 17	Dallas Stars 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers	2–2
5	April 19	Edmonton Oilers	3–4 	Dallas Stars 	2–3
6	April 21	Dallas Stars 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers	2–4
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring leaders
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Doug Weight 	82	25	65	90 	91
Ryan Smyth 	82	31	39	70 	58
Janne Niinimaa	82	12	34	46 	90
Anson Carter 	61	16	26	42 	23
Todd Marchant 	71	13	26	39 	51
;Goaltending
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T 	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Tommy Salo 	73	4364	36	25	12	179	8 	.904 	2.46
Joaquin Gage 	5 	260 	2 	2 	0 	15 	0 	.880 	3.46
Dominic Roussel	8 	348 	1 	4 	0 	21 	0 	.861 	3.62
===Playoffs===
;Scoring leaders
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Ryan Smyth 	6 	3	4	7 	4
Doug Weight 	6 	1	5	6 	17
Eric Brewer 	6 	1	5	6 	2
Anson Carter	6 	3	1	4 	4
Mike Comrie 	6 	1	2	3 	0
;Goaltending
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Tommy Salo	6 	406	2	4	15	0 	.920 	2.22
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 12, 2000 	To Nashville Predators5th round pick in 2000 - Matt Koalska 	To Edmonton OilersPatrick Cote
June 24, 2000 	To New York IslandersRoman Hamrlik 	To Edmonton OilersEric BrewerJosh Green2nd round pick in 2000 - Brad Winchester
July 20, 2000 	To Boston BruinsKay Whitmore 	To Edmonton OilersFuture considerations
November 15, 2000	To Boston BruinsBill Guerin1st round pick in 2001 - Shaone Morrisonn	To Edmonton OilersAnson Carter1st round pick in 2001 - Ales Hemsky2nd round pick in 2001 - Doug LynchFuture considerations
December 18, 2000	To Montreal CanadiensChad Kilger 	To Edmonton OilersSergei Zholtok
January 12, 2001 	To Nashville PredatorsFuture considerations 	To Edmonton OilersRory Fitzpatrick
March 13, 2001 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsDan LaCouture 	To Edmonton OilersSven Butenschon
====Free agents====
{|class="wikitable"	 	
Player 	Former Team 	Contract Terms
D Scott Ferguson 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2 years, $0.77 million
D Terran Sandwith	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1 year,
F Domenic Pittis 	Buffalo Sabres 	2 years, $0.65 million
F Paul Healey 	Nashville Predators 	1 year,
====Draft picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	17 	Alexei Mikhnov 	 	Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
2 	35 	Brad Winchester 	 	University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers (NCAA)
3 	83 	Alexander Lyubimov	 	Samara CSK VVS (Russia)
4 	113	Lou Dickenson 	 	Mississauga IceDogs (OHL)
5 	152	Paul Flache 	 	Brampton Battalion (OHL)
6 	184	Shaun Norrie 	 	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
7 	211	Joe Cullen 	 	Colorado College Tigers (NCAA)
7 	215	Matthew Lombardi 	 	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
8 	247	Jason Platt 	 	Omaha Lancers (USHL)
9 	274	Evgeny Muratov 	 	Ak Bars Kazan (Russia)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
;Notes
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Category:2000 in hockey
Category:2001 in hockey