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.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 4 	Buffalo Sabres 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 6 	Vancouver Canucks 	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–0–0 	4
3 	October 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	3–0–0 	6
4 	October 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–1–0 	6
5 	October 11 	St. Louis Blues 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2–0 	6
6 	October 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–3 	Phoenix Coyotes 	4–2–0 	8
7 	October 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–7 	Colorado Avalanche 	4–3–0 	8
8 	October 20 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Calgary Flames 	4–4–0 	8
9 	October 22 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4–0 	10
10	October 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–4–0 	12
11	October 26 	Colorado Avalanche 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–5–0 	12
12	October 30 	Phoenix Coyotes 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–5–0 	14
13	November 1 	Vancouver Canucks 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6–0 	14
14	November 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Chicago Blackhawks 	7–7–0 	14
15	November 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	7–8–0 	14
16	November 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–0 	Boston Bruins 	8–8–0 	16
17	November 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–7 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	8–9–0 	16
18	November 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	8–10–0 	16
19	November 13	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	Ottawa Senators 	9–10–0 	18
20	November 17	Dallas Stars 	7–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–11–0 	18
21	November 19	Chicago Blackhawks 	4–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–11–1 	19
22	November 21	New York Rangers 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	10–11–1	21
23	November 23	Calgary Flames 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–11–1	23
24	November 26	Edmonton Oilers 	10–1 	Calgary Flames 	12–11–1	25
25	November 27	Los Angeles Kings 	5–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–12–1	25
26	November 29	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	San Jose Sharks 	13–12–1	27
27	December 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	13–13–1	27
28	December 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Colorado Avalanche 	13–14–1	27
29	December 6 	Ottawa Senators 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–14–1	29
30	December 8 	St. Louis Blues 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–15–1	29
31	December 10	Edmonton Oilers 	0–0 	Detroit Red Wings 	14–15–2	30
32	December 12	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	14–15–3	31
33	December 15	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Florida Panthers 	14–16–3	31
34	December 18	Colorado Avalanche 	4–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–16–4	32
35	December 20	New Jersey Devils 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–17–4	32
36	December 22	Detroit Red Wings 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–18–4	32
37	December 23	Edmonton Oilers 	7–0 	Vancouver Canucks 	15–18–4	34
38	December 27	Philadelphia Flyers 	6–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–19–4	34
39	December 28	San Jose Sharks 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–19–4	36
40	December 30	Los Angeles Kings 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–19–4	38
41	January 3 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–19–4	40
42	January 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	St. Louis Blues 	19–19–4	42
43	January 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Chicago Blackhawks 	19–20–4	42
44	January 11 	San Jose Sharks 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–21–4	42
45	January 12 	Hartford Whalers 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–21–4	44
46	January 15 	Florida Panthers 	0–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	21–21–4	46
47	January 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	New York Rangers 	21–21–5	47
48	January 22 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–8 	New York Islanders 	21–22–5	47
49	January 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Buffalo Sabres 	22–22–5	49
50	January 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Washington Capitals 	23–22–5	51
51	January 29 	San Jose Sharks 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	24–22–5	53
52	January 31 	New York Islanders 	0–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–22–5	55
53	February 5 	Calgary Flames 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–22–5	57
54	February 8 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–23–5	57
55	February 9 	Washington Capitals 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–23–5	59
56	February 12	Boston Bruins 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–23–5	61
57	February 13	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Calgary Flames 	28–24–5	61
58	February 15	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	28–24–6	62
59	February 17	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	28–25–6	62
60	February 19	Toronto Maple Leafs 	5–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–25–6	64
61	February 21	Colorado Avalanche 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–26–6	64
62	February 23	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	Dallas Stars 	29–27–6	64
63	February 26	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	29–27–7	65
64	February 27	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Los Angeles Kings 	29–28–7	65
65	March 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–29–7	65
66	March 4 	Los Angeles Kings 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–29–7	67
67	March 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Dallas Stars 	30–30–7	67
68	March 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	St. Louis Blues 	31–30–7	69
69	March 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	New Jersey Devils 	31–31–7	69
70	March 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Philadelphia Flyers 	31–32–7	69
71	March 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Hartford Whalers 	32–32–7	71
72	March 19 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–32–7	73
73	March 23 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–33–7	73
74	March 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–1 	San Jose Sharks 	34–33–7	75
75	March 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	San Jose Sharks 	34–34–7	75
76	March 29 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Phoenix Coyotes 	35–34–7	77
77	March 31 	Dallas Stars 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–35–7	77
78	April 3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–35–7	79
79	April 5 	Vancouver Canucks 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–35–8	80
80	April 9 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–35–9	81
81	April 11 	Phoenix Coyotes 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–36–9	81
82	April 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	36–37–9	81
==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.
===Edmonton Oilers 4, Dallas Stars 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 16	Edmonton Oilers	3–5 	Dallas Stars 	0–1
2	April 18	Edmonton Oilers	4–0 	Dallas Stars 	1–1
3	April 20	Dallas Stars 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers	2–1
4	April 22	Dallas Stars 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers	2–2
5	April 25	Edmonton Oilers	1–0 	Dallas Stars 	3–2
6	April 27	Dallas Stars 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	3–3
7	April 29	Edmonton Oilers	4–3 	Dallas Stars 	4–3 *
* Curtis Joseph's 30th Birthday and he played.
===Colorado Avalanche 4, Edmonton Oilers 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Colorado Avalanche	0–1
2	May 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Colorado Avalanche	0–2
3	May 7 	Colorado Avalanche	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2
4	May 9 	Colorado Avalanche	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3
5	May 11	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Colorado Avalanche	1–4
==Season stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Doug Weight 	80	21	61	82 	80
Ryan Smyth 	82	39	22	61 	76
Andrei Kovalenko 	74	32	27	59 	81
Jason Arnott 	67	19	38	57 	92
Mariusz Czerkawski	76	26	21	47 	16
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Bob Essensa 	19	868 	4 	8 	0	41 	1 	.899 	2.83
Curtis Joseph	72	4200	32	29	9	200	6 	.907 	2.93
==Playoff stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Doug Weight 	12	3	8	11 	8
Ryan Smyth 	12	5	5	10 	12
Boris Mironov 	12	2	8	10 	16
Jason Arnott 	12	3	6	9 	18
Kelly Buchberger	12	5	2	7 	16
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Curtis Joseph	12	767	5	7	36	1 	.911 	2.82
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 14, 1996 	To Detroit Red WingsFuture considerations	To Edmonton OilersBob Essensa
June 22, 1996 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsTyler Wright 	To Edmonton Oilers7th round pick in 1996 - Brandon Lafrance
September 6, 1996	To Montreal CanadiensScott Thornton 	To Edmonton OilersAndrei Kovalenko
March 18, 1997 	To Buffalo SabresMiroslav Satan 	To Edmonton OilersBarrie MooreCraig Millar
March 18, 1997 	To Tampa Bay LightningJeff Norton 	To Edmonton OilersDrew Bannister6th round pick in 1997 - Peter Sarno
====Free agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
F Jesse Belanger	Vancouver Canucks
D Kevin Lowe 	New York Rangers
D Michel Petit 	Tampa Bay Lightning
F Petr Klima 	Pittsburgh Penguins
====Draft picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	6 	Boyd Devereaux 	 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
1 	19 	Matthieu Descoteaux	 	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
2 	32 	Chris Hajt 	 	Guelph Storm (OHL)
3 	59 	Tom Poti 	 	Cushing Academy (USHS)
5 	114	Brian Urick 	 	Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
6 	141	Bryan Randall 	 	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
7 	168	David Bernier 	 	St-Hyacinthe Lasers (QMJHL)
7 	170	Brandon Lafrance 	 	Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA)
8 	195	Fernando Pisani 	 	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
9 	221	John Hultberg 	 	Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers season, 1996–97
Edmonton Oilers season, 1996–97