1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season

1985–86 Edmonton Oilers
Division	1st Smythe
Conference	1st Campbell
1985–86 record	56–17–7
Home record	32–6–2
Road record	24–11–5
Goals for	426 (1st)
Goals against	310 (13th)
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	Glen Sather
Captain	Wayne Gretzky
Alternate captains	Lee Fogolin Mark Messier
Arena	Northlands Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Jari Kurri (68)
Assists	Wayne Gretzky (163)
Points	Wayne Gretzky (215)
Penalty minutes	Kevin McClelland (266)
Plus/minus	Wayne Gretzky (+71)
Wins	Grant Fuhr (29)
Goals against average	Andy Moog (3.69)

The 1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 7th season in the NHL, and they were coming off back to back Stanley Cup Championships. Edmonton would win the Presidents Trophy, as they finished with 119 points, which was a league high and tied the franchise record which was set in the 1983–84 season. The Oilers won the Smythe Division for the 5th consecutive season, and were heavy favourites to win their third-straight Stanley Cup. It was also the 5th consecutive season in which they scored at least 400 goals. However, the Oilers were defeated by the Calgary Flames in the second round.

Regular Season

Wayne Gretzky would set an NHL record by earning 215 points and 163 assists, breaking records that he had previously set, as he won his 6th Art Ross Trophy and his 7th Hart Trophy. Jari Kurri would become the 1st Oiler other than Gretzky to lead the team in goals as he scored 68 goals, and added 63 assists to finish with 131 points. Paul Coffey would set the record for most goals (48) and points (138) by a defenceman, breaking records that Bobby Orr had previously set. He would go on to win his 2nd straight Norris Trophy.

In goal, Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog would once again split time, with Fuhr leading the team with 29 wins, while Moog posted a team best 3.69 GAA.

Final Standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Edmonton Oilers	80	56	17	7	426	310	119
Calgary Flames	80	40	31	9	354	315	89
Winnipeg Jets	80	26	47	7	295	372	59
Vancouver Canucks	80	23	44	13	282	333	59
Los Angeles Kings	80	23	49	8	284	389	54

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record	Pts
1	October 10	Winnipeg Jets	3–4	Edmonton Oilers	1–0–0	2
2	October 13	St. Louis Blues	3–6	Edmonton Oilers	2–0–0	4
3	October 16	New York Islanders	4–6	Edmonton Oilers	3–0–0	6
4	October 18	Boston Bruins	2–3	Edmonton Oilers	4–0–0	8
5	October 20	Edmonton Oilers	8–5	Los Angeles Kings	5–0–0	10
6	October 23	Edmonton Oilers	3–9	Winnipeg Jets	5–1–0	10
7	October 25	Calgary Flames	3–5	Edmonton Oilers	6–1–0	12
8	October 28	Edmonton Oilers	6–4	Calgary Flames	7–1–0	14
9	October 30	Winnipeg Jets	3–7	Edmonton Oilers	8–1–0	16
10	November 1	Buffalo Sabres	2–0	Edmonton Oilers	8–2–0	16
11	November 3	Toronto Maple Leafs	1–7	Edmonton Oilers	9–2–0	18
12	November 5	Edmonton Oilers	6–4	Vancouver Canucks	10–2–0	20
13	November 6	Edmonton Oilers	4–4	Los Angeles Kings	10–2–1	21
14	November 8	Vancouver Canucks	0–13	Edmonton Oilers	11–2–1	23
15	November 12	Edmonton Oilers	2–5	Washington Capitals	11–3–1	23
16	November 14	Edmonton Oilers	3–5	Philadelphia Flyers	11–4–1	23
17	November 16	Edmonton Oilers	4–4	New York Islanders	11–4–2	24
18	November 17	Edmonton Oilers	3–2	New York Rangers	12–4–2	26
19	November 19	Edmonton Oilers	5–4	Quebec Nordiques	13–4–2	28
20	November 20	Edmonton Oilers	5–4	Montreal Canadiens	14–4–2	30
21	November 23	New Jersey Devils	2–3	Edmonton Oilers	15–4–2	32
22	November 27	Vancouver Canucks	5–5	Edmonton Oilers	15–4–3	33
23	November 30	Hartford Whalers	5–8	Edmonton Oilers	16–4–3	35
24	December 1	Calgary Flames	3–5	Edmonton Oilers	17–4–3	37
25	December 3	Edmonton Oilers	8–4	Los Angeles Kings	18–4–3	39
26	December 5	Los Angeles Kings	6–6	Edmonton Oilers	18–4–4	40
27	December 7	Minnesota North Stars	4–8	Edmonton Oilers	19–4–4	42
28	December 8	Chicago Black Hawks	3–4	Edmonton Oilers	20–4–4	44
29	December 10	Edmonton Oilers	3–7	St. Louis Blues	20–5–4	44
30	December 11	Edmonton Oilers	12–9	Chicago Black Hawks	21–5–4	46
31	December 13	Edmonton Oilers	6–3	Winnipeg Jets	22–5–4	48
32	December 15	Vancouver Canucks	3–5	Edmonton Oilers	23–5–4	50
33	December 18	Washington Capitals	5–2	Edmonton Oilers	23–6–4	50
34	December 20	Los Angeles Kings	4–9	Edmonton Oilers	24–6–4	52
35	December 22	Winnipeg Jets	7–5	Edmonton Oilers	24–7–4	52
36	December 29	Edmonton Oilers	5–3	Vancouver Canucks	25–7–4	54
37	December 31	Philadelphia Flyers	3–5	Edmonton Oilers	26–7–4	56
38	January 2	Edmonton Oilers	4–3	Calgary Flames	27–7–4	58
39	January 4	Hartford Whalers	3–4	Edmonton Oilers	28–7–4	60
40	January 6	Calgary Flames	3–6	Edmonton Oilers	29–7–4	62
41	January 8	Edmonton Oilers	9–11	Toronto Maple Leafs	29–8–4	62
42	January 10	Edmonton Oilers	3–5	Quebec Nordiques	29–9–4	62
43	January 11	Edmonton Oilers	6–3	Montreal Canadiens	30–9–4	64
44	January 13	Edmonton Oilers	5–3	Boston Bruins	31–9–4	66
45	January 15	Edmonton Oilers	4–1	Hartford Whalers	32–9–4	68
46	January 18	New York Rangers	5–4	Edmonton Oilers	32–10–4	68
47	January 22	Pittsburgh Penguins	7–4	Edmonton Oilers	32–11–4	68
48	January 24	New Jersey Devils	6–7	Edmonton Oilers	33–11–4	70
49	January 25	Los Angeles Kings	2–5	Edmonton Oilers	34–11–4	72
50	January 27	Edmonton Oilers	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks	35–11–4	74
51	January 29	Edmonton Oilers	5–5	St. Louis Blues]	35–11–5	75
52	January 31	Calgary Flames	4–7	Edmonton Oilers	36–11–5	77
53	February 1	Edmonton Oilers	4–4	Calgary Flames	36–11–6	78
54	February 6	Edmonton Oilers	6–4	New Jersey Devils	37–11–6	80
55	February 8	Edmonton Oilers	4–5	Washington Capitals	37–12–6	80
56	February 9	Edmonton Oilers	2–4	Buffalo Sabres	37–13–6	80
57	February 11	Edmonton Oilers	3–2	Detroit Red Wings	38–13–6	82
58	February 14	Quebec Nordiques	2–8	Edmonton Oilers	39–13–6	84
59	February 16	Buffalo Sabres	5–7	Edmonton Oilers	40–13–6	86
60	February 19	Toronto Maple Leafs	5–9	Edmonton Oilers	41–13–6	88
61	February 22	Boston Bruins	6–5	Edmonton Oilers	41–14–6	88
62	February 24	Montreal Canadiens	2–3	Edmonton Oilers	42–14–6	90
63	February 26	Edmonton Oilers	8–2	Winnipeg Jets	43–14–6	92
64	March 2	Philadelphia Flyers	1–2	Edmonton Oilers	44–14–6	94
65	March 4	Edmonton Oilers	6–2	Vancouver Canucks	45–14–6	96
66	March 5	Los Angeles Kings	3–6	Edmonton Oilers	46–14–6	98
67	March 7	Pittsburgh Penguins	3–5	Edmonton Oilers	47–14–6	100
68	March 9	Edmonton Oilers	7–3	Los Angeles Kings	48–14–6	102
69	March 11	Edmonton Oilers	0–4	Minnesota North Stars	48–15–6	102
70	March 12	Edmonton Oilers	8–5	Winnipeg Jets	49–15–6	104
71	March 14	Detroit Red Wings	3–12	Edmonton Oilers	50–15–6	106
72	March 18	Winnipeg Jets	2–6	Edmonton Oilers	51–15–6	108
73	March 21	Minnesota North Stars	4–5	Edmonton Oilers	52–15–6	110
74	March 25	Edmonton Oilers	7–2	Detroit Red Wings	53–15–6	112
75	March 26	Edmonton Oilers	8–3	Pittsburgh Penguins	54–15–6	114
76	March 28	Edmonton Oilers	2–4	New York Rangers	54–16–6	114
77	March 29	Edmonton Oilers	4–4	New York Islanders	54–16–7	115
78	April 2	Vancouver Canucks	4–8	Edmonton Oilers	55–16–7	117
79	April 4	Edmonton Oilers	3–9	Calgary Flames	55–17–7	117
80	April 6	Edmonton Oilers	3–2	Vancouver Canucks	56–17–7	119

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Oilers swept the Vancouver Canucks in the opening round, and set up a matchup with the Calgary Flames for another Battle of Alberta. The Oilers could never seem to get on a roll against the Flames, as the series was pushed to the limit as they would meet for a 7th game in Edmonton. With the score tied up at 2 late in the 3rd period, Oilers defenceman Steve Smith was playing the puck behind the Edmonton goal, and attempted to make a pass, however it hit goalie Grant Fuhr and the puck ended up in the Oilers goal, giving the Flames a 3–2 lead. Edmonton could not come back, as the Flames ended up winning the game, and the series, and ending the Oilers chance at winning a 3rd Stanley Cup in a row.

Edmonton Oilers 3, Vancouver Canucks 0

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 9	Vancouver Canucks	3–7	Edmonton Oilers	1–0
2	April 10	Vancouver Canucks	1–5	Edmonton Oilers	2–0
3	April 12	Edmonton Oilers	5–1	Vancouver Canucks	3–0

Calgary Flames 4, Edmonton Oilers 3

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 18	Calgary Flames	4–1	Edmonton Oilers	0–1
2	April 20	Calgary Flames	5–6	Edmonton Oilers	1–1
3	April 22	Edmonton Oilers	2–3	Calgary Flames	1–2
4	April 24	Edmonton Oilers	7–4	Calgary Flames	2–2
5	April 26	Calgary Flames	4–1	Edmonton Oilers	2–3
6	April 28	Edmonton Oilers	5–2	Calgary Flames	3–3
7	April 30	Calgary Flames	3–2	Edmonton Oilers	3–4

Player Stats

Regular Season

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	80	52	163	215	46
Paul Coffey	79	48	90	138	120
Jari Kurri	78	68	63	131	22
Glenn Anderson	72	54	48	102	90
Mark Messier	63	35	49	84	68

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Andy Moog	47	2664	27	9	7	164	1	.889	3.69
Grant Fuhr	40	2184	29	8	0	143	0	.890	3.93

Playoffs

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	10	8	11	19	2
Jari Kurri	10	2	10	12	4
Glenn Anderson	10	8	3	11	14
Mark Messier	10	4	6	10	18
Paul Coffey	10	1	9	10	30

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Andy Moog	1	60	1	0	1	0	.963	1.00
Grant Fuhr	9	541	5	4	28	0	.897	3.11

Awards and Records

• Presidents' Trophy: Edmonton Oilers
• Art Ross Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
• Hart Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
• Norris Trophy: Paul Coffey
• Jack Adams Trophy: Glen Sather
• Wayne Gretzky, Center, NHL First Team All-Star
• Paul Coffey, Defense, NHL First Team All-Star
• Jari Kurri, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star

Transactions

Trades

May 31, 1985	To Minnesota North Stars Paul Houck	To Edmonton Oilers Gilles Meloche
September 11, 1985	To Pittsburgh Penguins Gilles Meloche	To Edmonton Oilers Marty McSorley Tim Hrynewich Craig Muni
October 4, 1985	To Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Hughes	To Edmonton Oilers Mike Moller
December 20, 1985	To Minnesota North Stars Marc Habscheid Don Barber Emanuel Viveiros	To Edmonton Oilers Gord Sherven Don Biggs
December 20, 1985	To New York Rangers Larry Melnyk Todd Strueby	To Edmonton Oilers Mike Rogers
December 28, 1985	To Detroit Red Wings Billy Carroll	To Edmonton Oilers Bruce Eakin

Free Agents

Player Former team F Ken Solheim Minnesota North Stars F Dean Hopkins Los Angeles Kings

Player New team D Rejean Cloutier Montreal Canadiens F Pat Conacher New Jersey Devils D Tony Currie Quebec Nordiques F Simon Wheeldon New York Rangers

Draft Picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	20	Scott Metcalfe	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OHL)
2	41	Todd Carnelley	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
3	62	Mike Ware	Canada	Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
5	104	Tomas Kapusta	Czechoslovakia	Gottwaldov (Czech.)
6	125	Brian Tessier	Canada	North Bay Centennials (OHL)
7	146	Shawn Tyers	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8	167	Tony Fairfield	Canada	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
9	188	Kelly Buchberger	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
10	209	Mario Barbe	Canada	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
11	230	Peter Headon	Canada	Notre Dame High School (Canada)
12	251	John Haley	United States	Hull High School (USHS)

References

• SHRP Sports
• The Internet Hockey Database
• National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007