1988–89 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1988–89 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' tenth season in the NHL, and they were coming off a Stanley Cup championship after defeating the Boston Bruins the previous season, which was their fourth Stanley Cup in the past 5 seasons. The Oilers finished third in the Smythe Division with 84 points, their lowest point total since the 1980–81 season. For the eighth consecutive season, the Oilers had five 30-goal scorers.

1988–89 Edmonton Oilers
Division	3rd Smythe
Conference	3rd Campbell
1988–89 record	38–34–8
Home record	21–16–3
Road record	17–18–5
Goals for	325 (4th)
Goals against	306 (11th)
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	Glen Sather
Captain	Mark Messier
Alternate captains	Glenn Anderson Kevin Lowe
Arena	Northlands Coliseum
Average attendance	17,503 (100%)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Cape Breton Oilers (AHL) Denver Rangers (IHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Jimmy Carson (49)
Assists	Mark Messier (61)
Points	Jari Kurri (102)
Penalty minutes	Kelly Buchberger (234)
Plus/minus	Craig Muni (+43)
Wins	Grant Fuhr (23)
Goals against average	Bill Ranford (3.50)
← 1987–88 1989–90 →

Prior to the season, the Oilers was involved in one of the biggest trades in NHL history, dealing Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, the Kings' first round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million.

Jari Kurri led the club with 102 points, while Jimmy Carson scored a team high 49 goals, and Mark Messier had a team best 61 assists. Charlie Huddy led the defense with 44 points, while Kelly Buchberger provided the team toughness, leading the Oilers with 234 penalty minutes.

In goal, Grant Fuhr got the majority of the starts, leading the team with 23 wins, while Bill Ranford had a team best 3.50 GAA.

The Oilers finished the regular season first in short-handed goals scored, with 27.^[1]

In the playoffs, the Oilers faced Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the playoffs. The heavily favored Oilers took a 3–1 series lead, however, the Kings responded by winning 3 games in a row by a combined score of 16–6 to win the series, ending the Oilers bid at winning a third straight Stanley Cup. It marked the first time since 1982 that Edmonton had lost in the first round of the playoffs, ironically it was the Kings who eliminated them in the opening round that year.

Season standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Calgary Flames	80	54	17	9	354	226	117
Los Angeles Kings	80	42	31	7	376	335	91
Edmonton Oilers	80	38	34	8	325	306	84
Vancouver Canucks	80	33	39	8	251	253	74
Winnipeg Jets	80	26	42	12	300	355	64

^[2]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Smythe Division 1988–89 NHL records[3] Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total Calgary — 5–2–1 6–2 5–1–2 5–2–1 21–8–4 Edmonton 2–5–1 — 4–4 3–5 4–3–1 13–17–2 Los Angeles 2–6 4–4 — 4–4 2–2–4 12–16–4 Vancouver 1–5–2 5–3 4–4 — 3–4–1 13–16–3 Winnipeg 2–5–1 3–4–1 2–2–4 4–3–1 — 11–14–7

Vs. Norris Division 1988–89 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total Calgary 3–0 3–0 2–0–1 3–0 0–1–2 11–1–3 Edmonton 0–2–1 1–2 1–0–2 3–0 3–0 8–4–3 Los Angeles 3–0 3–0 2–1 1–2 3–0 12–3–0 Vancouver 2–1 0–0–3 1–2 3–0 1–2 7–5–3 Winnipeg 0–3 0–2–1 1–2 1–1–1 3–0 5–8–2

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division 1988–89 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Calgary 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 8–7–0 Edmonton 0–3 2–0–1 2–1 1–2 3–0 8–6–1 Los Angeles 1–2 3–0 2–1 0–3 3–0 9–6–0 Vancouver 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 0–3 2–1 6–8–1 Winnipeg 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 5–10–0

Vs. Patrick Division 1988–89 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Calgary 3–0 2–0–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 2–0–1 14–2–2 Edmonton 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–0–2 2–1 1–2 9–7–2 Los Angeles 1–0–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–1–1 9–6–3 Vancouver 1–1–1 1–2 0–3 3–0 1–2 1–2 7–10–1 Winnipeg 1–0–2 1–2 1–2 0–2–1 1–2 1–2 5–10–3

Schedule and results

1988–89 regular season[4]
October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 1 October 7 New York Islanders 1–5 Edmonton Oilers 1–0–0 2 2 October 9 Winnipeg Jets 4–5 Edmonton Oilers 2–0–0 4 3 October 12 Vancouver Canucks 6–2 Edmonton Oilers 2–1–0 4 4 October 14 Edmonton Oilers 1–6 Calgary Flames 2–2–0 4 5 October 16 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 Winnipeg Jets 2–2–1 5 6 October 17 Minnesota North Stars 3–3 Edmonton Oilers 2–2–2 6 7 October 19 Los Angeles Kings 6–8 Edmonton Oilers 3–2–2 8 8 October 23 Edmonton Oilers 5–6 Vancouver Canucks 3–3–2 8 9 October 25 Edmonton Oilers 5–4 Los Angeles Kings 4–3–2 10 10 October 29 Washington Capitals 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 5–3–2 12 11 October 30 Chicago Blackhawks 5–2 Edmonton Oilers 5–4–2 12
November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 12 November 2 St. Louis Blues 4–5 Edmonton Oilers 6–4–2 14 13 November 4 Buffalo Sabres 3–7 Edmonton Oilers 7–4–2 16 14 November 6 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Detroit Red Wings 7–5–2 16 15 November 8 Edmonton Oilers 7–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–5–2 18 16 November 9 Edmonton Oilers 3–2 New Jersey Devils 9–5–2 20 17 November 12 Edmonton Oilers 6–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 10–5–2 22 18 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 5–4 Buffalo Sabres 11–5–2 24 19 November 16 Winnipeg Jets 2–1 Edmonton Oilers 11–6–2 24 20 November 19 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–9 Edmonton Oilers 12–6–2 26 21 November 20 Edmonton Oilers 4–7 Winnipeg Jets 12–7–2 26 22 November 23 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 Minnesota North Stars 12–7–3 27 23 November 24 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 St. Louis Blues 13–7–3 29 24 November 26 Edmonton Oilers 5–7 Montreal Canadiens 13–8–3 29 25 November 28 Edmonton Oilers 7–4 Quebec Nordiques 14–8–3 31 26 November 30 Vancouver Canucks 2–4 Edmonton Oilers 15–8–3 33
December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 27 December 2 Calgary Flames 7–4 Edmonton Oilers 15–9–3 33 28 December 4 New York Rangers 6–10 Edmonton Oilers 16–9–3 35 29 December 7 Quebec Nordiques 3–8 Edmonton Oilers 17–9–3 37 30 December 8 Edmonton Oilers 3–5 Calgary Flames 17–10–3 37 31 December 10 Winnipeg Jets 7–6 Edmonton Oilers 17–11–3 37 32 December 14 Edmonton Oilers 8–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 18–11–3 39 33 December 15 Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Boston Bruins 18–12–3 39 34 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Hartford Whalers 19–12–3 41 35 December 19 Edmonton Oilers 5–5 Buffalo Sabres 19–12–4 42 36 December 21 Vancouver Canucks 2–1 Edmonton Oilers 19–13–4 42 37 December 23 Calgary Flames 1–4 Edmonton Oilers 20–13–4 44 38 December 31 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Edmonton Oilers 20–14–4 44
January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 39 January 2 Edmonton Oilers 3–2 Minnesota North Stars 21–14–4 46 40 January 4 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Edmonton Oilers 22–14–4 48 41 January 7 Edmonton Oilers 2–7 Calgary Flames 22–15–4 48 42 January 8 Calgary Flames 0–6 Edmonton Oilers 23–15–4 50 43 January 10 Edmonton Oilers 4–5 Los Angeles Kings 23–16–4 50 44 January 13 Edmonton Oilers 3–5 Washington Capitals 23–17–4 50 45 January 15 Edmonton Oilers 0–1 New Jersey Devils 23–18–4 50 46 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 2–2 Chicago Blackhawks 23–18–5 51 47 January 18 Edmonton Oilers 9–4 Winnipeg Jets 24–18–5 53 48 January 20 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Edmonton Oilers 24–18–6 54 49 January 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 Edmonton Oilers 24–19–6 54 50 January 23 New York Rangers 3–2 Edmonton Oilers 24–20–6 54 51 January 25 Chicago Blackhawks 6–3 Edmonton Oilers 24–21–6 54 52 January 28 Edmonton Oilers 7–6 Los Angeles Kings 25–21–6 56 53 January 31 Edmonton Oilers 2–6 Vancouver Canucks 25–22–6 56
February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 54 February 1 Vancouver Canucks 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 26–22–6 58 55 February 3 Detroit Red Wings 5–8 Edmonton Oilers 27–22–6 60 56 February 5 New Jersey Devils 4–2 Edmonton Oilers 27–23–6 60 57 February 9 Edmonton Oilers 3–1 Philadelphia Flyers 28–23–6 62 58 February 11 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Boston Bruins 28–24–6 62 59 February 12 Edmonton Oilers 3–1 New York Rangers 29–24–6 64 60 February 14 Edmonton Oilers 3–5 New York Islanders 29–25–6 64 61 February 17 Washington Capitals 8–2 Edmonton Oilers 29–26–6 64 62 February 19 Boston Bruins 4–2 Edmonton Oilers 29–27–6 64 63 February 21 Hartford Whalers 4–7 Edmonton Oilers 30–27–6 66 64 February 24 Los Angeles Kings 1–4 Edmonton Oilers 31–27–6 68 65 February 25 St. Louis Blues 3–5 Edmonton Oilers 32–27–6 70
March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 66 March 1 Montreal Canadiens 0–3 Edmonton Oilers 33–27–6 72 67 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 7–4 Winnipeg Jets 34–27–6 74 68 March 5 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 35–27–6 76 69 March 7 Edmonton Oilers 4–4 Philadelphia Flyers 35–27–7 77 70 March 8 Edmonton Oilers 3–7 Hartford Whalers 35–28–7 77 71 March 11 Calgary Flames 5–5 Edmonton Oilers 35–28–8 78 72 March 12 Los Angeles Kings 6–3 Edmonton Oilers 35–29–8 78 73 March 15 Detroit Red Wings 8–6 Edmonton Oilers 35–30–8 78 74 March 16 Edmonton Oilers 0–3 Vancouver Canucks 35–31–8 78 75 March 19 New York Islanders 2–3 Edmonton Oilers 36–31–8 80 76 March 21 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Edmonton Oilers 36–32–8 80 77 March 23 Winnipeg Jets 4–5 Edmonton Oilers 37–32–8 82 78 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Los Angeles Kings 37–33–8 82 79 March 29 Edmonton Oilers 5–2 Vancouver Canucks 38–33–8 84
April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts 80 April 2 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Calgary Flames 38–34–8 84
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1989 Stanley Cup playoffs[4]
Smythe Division Semifinals vs. (S2) Los Angeles Kings – Kings win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home Serie 1 April 5 Edmonton Oilers 4–3 Los Angeles Kings 1–0 2 April 6 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Los Angeles Kings 1–1 3 April 8 Los Angeles Kings 0–4 Edmonton Oilers 2–1 4 April 9 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 3–1 5 April 11 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 6 April 13 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 Edmonton Oilers 3–3 7 April 15 Edmonton Oilers 3–6 Los Angeles Kings 3–4
Legend:   Win   Loss

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Jari Kurri	76	44	58	102	69
Jimmy Carson	80	49	51	100	36
Mark Messier	72	33	61	94	130
Esa Tikkanen	67	31	47	78	92
Craig Simpson	66	35	41	76	80

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Bill Ranford	29	1509	15	8	2	88	1	.877	3.50
Grant Fuhr	59	3341	23	26	6	213	1	.875	3.83

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Mark Messier	7	1	11	12	8
Jari Kurri	7	3	5	8	6
Steve Smith	7	2	2	4	20
Esa Tikkanen	7	1	3	4	12
Jimmy Carson	7	2	1	3	6
Normand Lacombe	7	2	1	3	21

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	7	417	3	4	24	1	.894	3.45

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Martin Gelinas	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 7, 1988
Steve Smith	200th NHL Game	October 9, 1988
Charlie Huddy	500th NHL Game	October 16, 1988
Kelly Buchberger	100th NHL PIM	October 17, 1988
Martin Gelinas	1st NHL Goal
Greg Adams	200th NHL Point	October 19, 1988
Chris Joseph	1st NHL Goal
Mark Messier	900th NHL PIM
Jari Kurri	400th NHL Goal	October 23, 1988
Esa Tikkanen	200th NHL Game	October 25, 1988
Keith Acton	600th NHL Game	October 29, 1988
Jimmy Carson	100th NHL Assist
Craig Simpson	100th NHL Goal	October 30, 1988
Jimmy Carson	200th NHL Point	November 4, 1988
Mark Messier	3rd NHL Gordie Howe hat trick
Glen Cochrane	400th NHL Game	November 8, 1988
Jari Kurri	18th NHL Hat-trick
Esa Tikkanen	4th NHL Hat-trick	November 12, 1988
Jimmy Carson	100th NHL Goal	November 13, 1988
Kevin Lowe	700th NHL Game	November 16, 1988
Glenn Anderson	19th NHL Hat-trick 3rd Four-Goal NHL Game	November 19, 1988
Kevin McClelland	1,300th NHL PIM
Normand Lacombe	100th NHL PIM	November 26, 1988
Craig Simpson	200th NHL Point	December 2, 1988
Steve Smith	700th NHL PIM	December 4, 1988
Jimmy Carson	6th NHL Hat-trick	December 6, 1988
Kelly Buchberger	1st NHL Assist	December 7, 1988
Jari Kurri	19th NHL Hat-trick
Esa Tikkanen	200th NHL Point
Craig Muni	200th NHL PIM	December 8, 1988
Craig Muni	200th NHL Game	December 10, 1988
Jari Kurri	900th NHL Point	December 14, 1988
Kim Issel	1st NHL Game	December 23, 1988
Kevin Lowe	300th NHL Point
Alan May	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Jimmy Carson	200th NHL Game	January 4, 1989
Kelly Buchberger	200th NHL PIM	January 8, 1989
Kevin McClelland	100th NHL Assist
Jeff Beukeboom	400th NHL PIM	January 10, 1989
Craig Simpson	100th NHL Assist
Dave Hunter	900th NHL PIM	January 16, 1989
Charlie Huddy	300th NHL Point	January 20, 1989
Francois Leroux	1st NHL Game	January 21, 1989
Mark Messier	800th NHL Point
Craig MacTavish	500th NHL Game	January 23, 1989
Glenn Anderson	400th NHL Assist	January 25, 1989
Grant Fuhr	200th NHL Win	January 28, 1989
Mike Ware	1st NHL Game
Mike Ware	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	January 31, 1989
Jari Kurri	500th NHL Assist	February 3, 1989
Craig Simpson	300th NHL PIM
Greg Adams	1,100th NHL PIM	February 12, 1989
Mark Messier	700th NHL Game
Mark Messier	10th NHL Hat-trick 2nd Four-Goal NHL Game	February 21, 1989
Craig Simpson	2nd NHL Hat-trick	February 25, 1989
Normand Lacombe	200th NHL Game	March 1, 1989
Mark Messier	1,000th NHL PIM	March 3, 1989
Keith Acton	700th NHL PIM	March 4, 1989
Randy Gregg	400th NHL Game	March 11, 1989
Kelly Buchberger	300th NHL PIM	March 15, 1989
Charlie Huddy	400th NHL PIM	March 19, 1989
Mark Messier	500th NHL Assist	March 21, 1989
Kevin Lowe	800th NHL PIM	March 23, 1989
Kevin McClelland	1,400th NHL PIM	March 25, 1989
Jimmy Carson	100th NHL PIM	March 29, 1989
Craig MacTavish	300th NHL PIM
Jari Kurri	300th NHL PIM	April 2, 1989

Playoffs
Player	Milestone	Reached
Dave Hunter	100th NHL Game	April 5, 1989
Craig Muni	50th NHL PIM
Randy Gregg	100th NHL PIM	April 6, 1989
Mark Lamb	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	April 8, 1989
Normand Lacombe	1st NHL Assist	April 9, 1989
Glenn Anderson	250th NHL PIM	April 11, 1989
John LeBlanc	1st NHL Game	April 15, 1989
Mark Messier	100th NHL Assist

Transactions

Trades

July 22, 1988	To Washington Capitals Geoff Courtnall	To Edmonton Oilers Greg Adams
August 9, 1988	To Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky Mike Krushelnyski Marty McSorley	To Edmonton Oilers Jimmy Carson Martin Gelinas 1st-round pick in 1989 1st-round pick in 1991 1st-round pick in 1993 ($15 million) cash
August 10, 1988	To Los Angeles Kings John Miner	To Edmonton Oilers Craig Redmond
October 27, 1988	To New York Rangers Ron Shudra	To Edmonton Oilers Jeff Crossman
January 3, 1989	To Detroit Red Wings 10th-round pick in 1989	To Edmonton Oilers Miroslav Frycer
January 23, 1989	To Detroit Red Wings 12th-round pick in 1989	To Edmonton Oilers Doug Halward
February 7, 1989	To Philadelphia Flyers Keith Acton 6th-round pick in 1991	To Edmonton Oilers Dave Brown
February 15, 1989	To New York Islanders 5th round pick in 1989	To Edmonton Oilers Tomas Jonsson
March 7, 1989	To Los Angeles Kings Jim Wiemer Alan May	To Edmonton Oilers Brian Wilks John English
March 7, 1989	To Vancouver Canucks Greg Adams Doug Smith	To Edmonton Oilers John LeBlanc 5th-round pick in 1989

Free agents

Player Former team D Reed Larson Boston Bruins F Stan Drulia Pittsburgh Penguins F Nick Fotiu Philadelphia Flyers

Player New team F Shawn Evans New York Islanders F Dean Hopkins Quebec Nordiques D Reed Larson New York Islanders

Waivers

Date	Player	Team
October 3, 1988 (1988-10-03)	Steve Dykstra	to Pittsburgh Penguins
	Dave Hannan
	Ken Hammond	from Los Angeles Kings
	Dave Hunter	to Winnipeg Jets
	Craig Redmond	to New York Rangers
	Doug Smith	Buffalo Sabres
November 1, 1988 (1988-11-01)	Ken Hammond	to New York Rangers
	Craig Redmond	from New York Rangers
November 7, 1988 (1988-11-07)	Glen Cochrane	from Chicago Blackhawks
January 14, 1989 (1989-01-14)	Dave Hunter	from Winnipeg Jets

Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1988 NHL entry draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	19	Francois Leroux	Canada	Saint-Jean Castors (QMJHL)
2	39	Petro Koivunen	Finland	Kiekko-Espoo (Finland)
3	53	Trevor Sim	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
3	61	Collin Bauer	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
4	82	Cam Brauer	Canada	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
5	103	Don Martin	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
6	124	Len Barrie	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
7	145	Mike Glover	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
8	166	Shjon Podein	United States	University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)
9	187	Tom Cole	United States	Woburn Memorial High School (USHS-MA)
10	208	Vladimir Zubkov	Soviet Union	CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union)
11	229	Darin MacDonald	United States	Boston University (ECAC)
12	250	Tim Tisdale	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
S	24	Brian Dowd	Canada	Northeastern University (Hockey East)