1989–90 Edmonton Oilers season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1989–90
Team=Edmonton Oilers
Conference=Campbell
ConferenceRank=2nd
Division=Smythe
DivisionRank=2nd
Record=38–28–14
HomeRecord=23–11–6
RoadRecord=15–17–8
GoalsFor=315 (6th)
GoalsAgainst=283 (9th)
GeneralManager=Glen Sather
Coach=John Muckler
Captain=Mark Messier
AltCaptain=Jari Kurri
Kevin Lowe
Arena=Northlands Coliseum
Attendance=17,008
GoalsLeader=Mark Messier (45)
AssistsLeader=Mark Messier (84)
PointsLeader=Mark Messier (129)
PlusMinusLeader=Randy Gregg (+24)
PIMLeader=Craig Simpson (180)
WinsLeader=Bill Ranford (24)
GAALeader=Bill Ranford (3.19)
DivisionWin=Yes
ConferenceWin=Yes
StanleyCup=yes

The 1989–90 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers 11th season in the NHL, and they were coming off their shortest playoff run in 7 years when the Los Angeles Kings defeated Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs. Edmonton would improve their point total from 84 to 90, and finish in 2nd place in the Smythe Division.

The early part of the season was hard on the Oilers, as they finished October with an under .500 record, traded away Jimmy Carson to the Detroit Red Wings after he felt he could not take the pressure of replacing Wayne Gretzky and not liking to live in the city of Edmonton. The Oilers would receive Petr Klima, Joe Murphy and Adam Graves from Detroit in the deal. Also, Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr was suspended by the NHL for substance abuse, so Edmonton would use Bill Ranford in his place.

Mark Messier would get a career high 129 points, scoring 45 goals and adding on 84 assists, and be the lone Oiler to break the 100 point barrier. Jari Kurri would have a strong season, recording 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists). Craig Simpson provided some scoring, getting 29 goals and 61 points, and provide some toughness, leading the club with 180 penalty mintues.

In goal, Bill Ranford would get the majority of starts, winning a club high 24 games and have a 3.19 GAA. Grant Fuhr put together a 9–7–3 record with a 3.83 GAA before being suspended by the NHL for substance abuse.

In the playoffs, the Oilers would face the Winnipeg Jets for the 6th time in club history, and for the 6th time, Edmonton would defeat Winnipeg, this time in a tough series that went the full 7 games. In the Smythe Division finals, the Oilers would face the Los Angeles Kings, who knocked out Edmonton the previous year. The Oilers would get their revenge, sweeping the Kings in 4 games and advance to the Campbell Conference finals. Edmonton would face the Norris Division champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, and after Chicago took a 2–1 series lead, the Oilers would step it up and win 3 in a row and advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the 6th time in 8 seasons, and face the Boston Bruins, whom they swept to win the 1988 Stanley Cup. After a stunning triple OT victory in game 1 at the Boston Garden, the Oilers would take full control of the series by winning game 2 in Boston. The Bruins would get a win in Edmonton in game 3, but the Oilers would then win 2 games in a row, to defeat the Bruins and win their 5th Stanley Cup in the last 7 years. Goaltender Bill Ranford, a former Bruin, won the Conn Smythe Trophy after he tied an NHL record by winning all 16 playoff games.

eason standings

Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 0

eason stats

coring leaders

Goaltending

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Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft

References

* [http://www.shrpsports.com SHRP Sports]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com The Internet Hockey Database]
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007