![]() ![]() I always assumed Fuhr would get the start in a game like this. Didn’t know Andy Moog was in net to start this game. A Beers vintage jersey might have to happen for me. I’m especially taken with Messier in this game so far. Edmonton’s slick and speedy criss-crossing is fun to watch, even as a rival fan. I’m in the middle of the second period so far. I also want to know more about those early 80’s Flames squads that we’re quite yet at contender status. As a die-hard Flames fan, I enjoy torturing myself with the many what-if’s from our years of playoff ineptitude. I’ve been watching Game 7 between them and the Flames. The always confident Isles felt like they could absolutely be in trouble for real when that game endedįunny you bring up this specific playoffs for the Oil. A type of playoff game the Isles would win 100% of the time when Smith plays like that. Billy Smith put on an absolute clinic at the other end too. ![]() The Isles threw everything they had at Fuhr and he was perfect. I almost feel like the Cup was truly won in Game 1. They were a complete team, the better team, and like so many of the Isles past playoff opponents they did not wilt when the Isles made their charge and started to sow those seeds of doubt Still when the Isles turned 4-0 into 4-2 early in the 3rd of game five you really did feel a sense of "here they come again". You did, they did, their opponents did.they were in their 5th consecutive final and were just as hungry as they were in 1980.īut you could see the machine sputtering. And the way they'd come back in pivotal times, in huge playoff games, you almost expected it. But at the time, it was new and exciting, and in retrospect it probably reflected the opening up of the Canadian west economically and politically, and the period when the western provinces would challenge and influence Ontario and Quebec. Western- and mid-western based franchises have won several Stanley Cups in the years since 1984. Thereafter, American franchises would win every Cup (except 1993) up to today. In the years after this historic Cup win, Alberta teams would be in the Finals repeatedly until 1990. Mark Messer was named Conn Smythe trophy winner. Players, fans, and family poured onto the ice as the third period ended. The Oilers bore down, however, and an empty-net goal by Dave Lumley sealed a 5-2 victory. But in the first 0:35 of the third, Pat Lafontaine scored twice, suddenly threatening Edmonton's lead. ![]() In the fifth and last game, Wayne Gretzky scored twice in the first period and the Oilers built a 4-0 lead after two, which appeared insurmountable. They were down 2-1 in the middle of game two at Edmonton when Mark Messier scored a spectacular goal which led to an Edmonton surge. In the end, it was the Calgary Flames who gave Edmonton the longest playoff push, as the Oilers blew a 3-1 lead in that series and needed a rally in game seven to win the Smythe division.Īgainst the Islanders, Edmonton split the first two games, but were outscored 6 to 2. the Islanders, and entered the '84 playoffs having gone 10 straight games against them without a win. Despite this, they still failed to win any of their three regular season games vs. Losing in 1983 to the Islanders, Edmonton had prepared all season for the Eastern-based teams they might face in the Cup Finals again. They scored 446 goals (most all time), including 36 short-handed. ![]() When Gretzky was in the line-up, they went 56-13-5. The Oilers finished first overall (for the first time) with 119 points. But Edmonton fell through those cracks and a perfect-storm of talent, drafting, management vision and inspiration led to the 1984 Stanley Cup champions. NHL owners and GM's had done everything in their power to make the 4 ex-WHA franchises that joined in 1979 suffer and be ultra non-competitive. In fact, it was the very first time any NHL franchise west of Chicago had ever won the Cup. 1984 was the first time since 1925 (Victoria Cougars) that the Stanley Cup had been won by any franchise west of Lake Michigan. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |