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1984 Stanley Cup Finals

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1984 Stanley Cup Finals
1 2 3 4 5 Total Edmonton Oilers 1 1 7 7 5 4 New York Islanders 0 6 2 2 2 1
Location(s)	Edmonton: (Northlands Coliseum (3, 4, 5) Uniondale: (Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (1, 2)
Coaches	Edmonton: Glen Sather New York: Al Arbour
Captains	Edmonton: Wayne Gretzky New York: Denis Potvin
National anthems	Edmonton: Paul Lorieau New York: Unknown
Referees	Andy Van Hellemond, Dave Newell, Bryan Lewis
Dates	May 10–19, 1984
MVP	Mark Messier (Oilers)
Series-winning goal	Ken Linseman (0:38, second, G5)
Hall of Famers	Oilers: Glenn Anderson (2008) Paul Coffey (2004) Grant Fuhr (2003) Wayne Gretzky (1999) Jari Kurri (2001) Kevin Lowe (2020) Mark Messier (2007) Islanders: Mike Bossy (1991) Clark Gillies (2002) Pat LaFontaine (2003) Denis Potvin (1991) Billy Smith (1993) Bryan Trottier (1997) Coaches: Al Arbour (1996) Glen Sather (2007)
Networks	Canada: (English): CBC (French): SRC United States: (National): USA Network (New York City area): SportsChannel New York (1–2), WOR (3–5)
Announcers	(CBC) Bob Cole, Dick Irvin Jr., Mickey Redmond (1–2), and Gary Dornhoefer (3–5) (SRC) Rene Lecavalier and Gilles Tremblay (USA Network) Dan Kelly and Gary Green (SCNY/WOR) Jiggs McDonald and Ed Westfall
← 1983 Stanley Cup Finals 1985 →

The 1984 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1983–84 season, and the culmination of the 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the defending Campbell Conference champion Edmonton Oilers and the defending Wales Conference and four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders. The upstart Oilers defeated the four-time defending champion Islanders to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, becoming the third post-1967 expansion team and first former World Hockey Association team to win the Cup, and also the first team based west of Chicago to win the Cup since the WCHL's Victoria Cougars became the last non-NHL team to win it in 1925.

In the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders had swept the Oilers in four straight games. The teams met again in 1984, with the Islanders seeking their fifth consecutive Stanley Cup championship. While both teams had improved on their regular season records from the previous season, Edmonton had progressed more and finished with the best record in the NHL for the first time in their short history. However, it was New York who received home-ice advantage, as they had in 1982 since the rules in place since 1982 dictated that home-ice advantage went to the conference that won the coin toss and in 1984 because the Wales Conference had more points in head-to-head play against the Campbell Conference. It was also the first time that the Finals was played under a 2–3–2 format.^[1] This was the third time during the era that the team with the worse record received a home-ice advantage, the other two being the 1968 and 1970. Home-ice advantage reverted to the team with the better record for the following Finals, and the Finals reverted to the former 2–2–1–1–1 format in the Finals after that.

This was the fifth straight Finals of teams that joined the NHL in 1967 or later. As of 2021^[update], the Islanders' four consecutive Cup wins (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) and their appearance in the 1984 Cup Finals is an NHL record of 19 consecutive playoff series wins that currently stands unbroken. The 1984 Finals was the third of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, second of eight contested by a team from Alberta (the Oilers appeared in six, the Calgary Flames in two, the Vancouver Canucksinone), and the first of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four times at home, the Montreal Canadiens once in Calgary).

The Oilers became the fastest Canadian-based expansion team to win a major sports title by winning a title in only their fifth NHL season. The feat was eclipsed in 2016 by the Ottawa Redblacks, who won the Grey Cup in their third CFL season.^[2]

To date, this is the last time the Islanders have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals, and they currently hold the second longest Finals appearance drought in the league at 40 years, the longest of any American-based team. The only team with a longer Finals appearance drought are the Toronto Maple Leafs, who last made the Finals in 1967.

Paths to the Finals[edit]

Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0, the Calgary Flames 4–3 and the Minnesota North Stars 4–0 to reach the Finals.

New York defeated the New York Rangers 3–2, the Washington Capitals 4–1, and the Montreal Canadiens 4–2 to reach the Finals.

Game summaries[edit]

NOTE: The 1984 Stanley Cup Finals were played in a 2–3–2 format, which the NBA Finals (1985–2013) and World Series (always) use, instead of the usual 2–2–1–1–1; however, the NHL would only use the format again the following season before going back to the 2–2–1–1–1 format for the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals.

Grant Fuhr shut out the Islanders in the first game, on Long Island, with Kevin McClelland scoring the game's only goal, but the Islanders won game two 6–1. The series then shifted to Edmonton for three games. In game three, the Islanders had a 2–1 lead in the second period, but Mark Messier scored on an individual effort to tie the game.^[3] They proceeded to beat the Islanders 7–2. The Oilers, however, lost Fuhr for games four and five after the Islanders' Pat LaFontaine crashed into Fuhr on the forecheck during game three, and Fuhr was slow to get up. Andy Moog started games four and five. The Oilers won game four by the same score, with Wayne Gretzky scoring his first goal of the Finals. The Oilers then won game five by the score of 5–2 thanks to Gretzky's two first-period goals, and two Duane Sutter penalties. They became the first former WHA team, and the first team from Edmonton, to win the Stanley Cup. Mark Messier was awarded with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Broadcasting[edit]

The series aired on CBC in Canada and on the USA Network in the United States. CBC's broadcast team consisted of Bob Cole, Dick Irvin Jr., and Gary Dornhoefer. USA's national coverage was blacked out in the New York area due to the local rights to Islanders games in that TV market, with SportsChannel New York airing games one and two, and WOR televising the other three games.

Team rosters[edit]

Edmonton Oilers[edit]

No.	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
2		Lee Jr. Fogolin	D	R	29	1979	Chicago, Illinois
4		Kevin Lowe	D	L	25	1979	Lachute, Quebec
7		Paul Coffey	D	L	22	1980	Weston, Ontario
9		Glenn Anderson	RW	L	23	1979	Vancouver, British Columbia
10		Jaroslav Pouzar	LW	L	32	1982	Cakovec, Czechoslovakia
11		Mark Messier	C	L	23	1979	St. Albert, Alberta
12		Dave Hunter	LW	L	26	1979	Petrolia, Ontario
13		Ken Linseman	C	L	25	1983	Kingston, Ontario
15		Pat Conacher	C	L	25	1983	Edmonton, Alberta
16		Pat Hughes	RW	R	29	1981	Calgary, Alberta
17		Jari Kurri	RW	R	24	1980	Helsinki, Finland
19		Willy Lindstrom	RW	L	33	1983	Grums, Sweden
20		Dave Lumley	RW	R	29	1979	Toronto, Ontario
21		Randy Gregg	D	L	28	1982	Edmonton, Alberta
22		Charlie Huddy	D	L	24	1979	Oshawa, Ontario
24		Kevin McClelland	C	R	21	1983	Oshawa, Ontario
27		Dave Semenko	LW	L	26	1979	Winnipeg, Manitoba
29		Donald Jackson	D	L	25	1981	Minneapolis, Minnesota
31		Grant Fuhr	G	R	21	1981	Spruce Grove, Alberta
33		Mike Zanier	G	L	21	1984	Trail, British Columbia
35		Andy Moog	G	L	24	1980	Penticton, British Columbia
99		Wayne Gretzky (C)	C	L	23	1979	Brantford, Ontario

New York Islanders[edit]

No.	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
1		Roland Melanson	G	L	23	1979	Moncton, New Brunswick
2		Gord Dineen	D	R	21	1981	Quebec City, Quebec
3		Tomas Jonsson	D	L	24	1979	Falun, Sweden
4		Paul Boutilier	D	L	21	1981	Sydney, Nova Scotia
5		Denis Potvin (C)	D	L	30	1973	Vanier, Ontario
6		Ken Morrow	D	R	27	1976	Davison, Michigan
7		Stefan Persson	D	L	29	1974	Bjurholm, Sweden
8		Patrick Flatley	RW	R	20	1982	Toronto, Ontario
9		Clark Gillies	LW	L	30	1974	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
11		Wayne Merrick	C	L	32	1977	Sarnia, Ontario
12		Duane Sutter	RW	R	24	1979	Viking, Alberta
14		Bob Bourne	LW	L	29	1974	Kindersley, Saskatchewan
16		Pat LaFontaine	C	R	19	1983	St. Louis, Missouri
17		Greg Gilbert	LW	L	22	1980	Mississauga, Ontario
19		Bryan Trottier	C	L	27	1974	Val Marie, Saskatchewan
20		Mats Hallin	LW	L	26	1982	Eskilstuna, Sweden
21		Brent Sutter	C	R	21	1980	Viking, Alberta
22		Mike Bossy	RW	R	27	1977	Montreal, Quebec
23		Bob Nystrom	RW	R	31	1981	Stockholm, Sweden
24		Gord Lane	D	L	31	1979	Brandon, Manitoba
25		Billy Carroll	C	L	25	1979	Toronto, Ontario
26		Dave Langevin	D	L	30	1974	Saint Paul, Minnesota
27		John Tonelli	LW	L	27	1977	Hamilton, Ontario
28		Anders Kallur	RW	L	31	1979	Ludvika, Sweden
31		Billy Smith	G	L	33	1972	Perth, Ontario
91		Butch Goring	C	L	34	1980	St. Boniface, Manitoba

Stanley Cup engraving[edit]

The 1984 Stanley Cup was presented to Oilers captain Wayne Gretzky by NHL President John Ziegler following the Oilers 5–2 win over the Islanders in game five.

The following Oilers players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup:

1983–84 Edmonton Oilers

Players

  Centres

• 99Wayne Gretzky (Captain)
• 24Kevin McClelland
• 13Ken Linseman
• 11Mark Messier

(played left wing during the regular season)

  Wingers

• 9Glenn Anderson
• 10Jaroslav Pouzar
• 12Dave Hunter
• 16Pat Hughes
• 17Jari Kurri
• 19Willy Lindstrom
• 20Dave Lumley
• 27Dave Semenko
• 15Pat Conacher

(played Centre during the regular season)

  Defencemen

• 2Lee Fogolin Jr.
• 4Kevin Lowe
• 7Paul Coffey
• 21Randy Gregg
• 22Charlie Huddy
• 29Don Jackson

  Goaltenders

• 31Grant Fuhr
• 35Andy Moog
• 33Mike Zanier (dressed for last two games of the Finals)^

Coaching and administrative staff

• Peter Pocklington (Owner)
• Glen Sather (President/General Manager/Head Coach)
• Bruce MacGregor (Asst General Manager)
• John Muckler (Asst. Coach), Edward Ted Green (Asst. Coach)
• Barry Fraser (Director of Player Personnel/Chief Scout)
• Peter Millar (Athletic Therapist), Barrie Stafford (Trainer)
• Lyle Kulchisky (Asst Trainer)

Stanley Cup engraving

Each team was required to play 20 players out of a 24-man roster. The Oilers engraved 21 players' names on the Cup, leaving off four players who were dressed in the playoffs. All four players left off the Stanley Cup were awarded a Stanley Cup ring, and are included in the team picture.

• #33 Mike Zanier was dressed for two games in the final. He qualified to be engraved on the Stanley Cup. Edmonton did not include his name because he had not played in the NHL. The only NHL season for Zanier was three games in 1985 with Oilers.
• #6 Rick Chartraw played four games for NY Rangers, 24 for Edmonton, and one playoff game, spending half of the regular season playing in the minors. (He is on the Stanley Cup with Montreal 1976-77-78-79.)
• #28 Larry Melnyk played six playoff games (4 in the Conference Finals), but spent the regular season playing in the minors.
• #25 Raimo Summanen played two games in the regular season and five playoff games. He spent the rest of the season playing in Europe.
• Jari Kurri was the first Finnish born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
• Grant Fuhr was the first black player to win the Stanley Cup.
• Jaroslav Pouzar was the first Czechoslovakia born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
• Additionally, the name "Basil Pocklington" was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1984. Basil was the father of Oilers owner Peter Pocklington and was not directly associated with the team. The NHL subsequently marked out Basil's name on the trophy with X's. A new ring for the Cup was created in 1993, with winners from 1979 to 1991, Basil Pocklington's name was not on it. When the Cup returned to the Hockey Hall of Fame the abandoned ring had been damaged and could not be put back on the Stanley Cup. The Hockey Hall of Fame had Basil Pocklington's name put on the newly created Stanley Cup ring, then XXX'd out his name again. His was now listed beside his son Peter Pocklington, Owner. On the original rings, he was listed on a line between Peter Pocklington and Glen Sather. Basil's name was not added to the replica Stanley Cup also created in 1993. This main way people can tell the Presentation Stanley Cup and Replica Stanley Cup. See 2004 Stanley Cup Finals for the other way to tell the cups apart.

On the new ring, EDMONTON was misspelt DDMONTON. An "E" was stamped twice over the first "D" to correct the mistake.

See also[edit]

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 1983–84 NHL season

References[edit]

External videos
1984 Islanders vs. Oilers, Stanley Cup Final, Game 5onYouTube

Inline citations

Bibliography

• Diamond, Dan (2000). Total Stanley Cup. Toronto: Total Sports Canada. ISBN 978-1-892129-07-9.
• Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7