1984 Stanley Cup Final

Background and Context

The 1984 Stanley Cup Final represented a compelling rematch of the previous year's championship, where the New York Islanders had swept the Edmonton Oilers. The Islanders entered the series seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive Stanley Cup, having established a dynasty with victories from 1980 through 1983. Their 19 consecutive playoff series wins remained an unbroken NHL record as of 2021. The Oilers, meanwhile, had dramatically improved, posting the best regular-season record in the NHL for the first time in their history. Despite Edmonton's superior record, the New York Islanders were awarded home-ice advantage due to a league rule that granted it to the conference with the better aggregate record in inter-conference play, which was the Wales Conference. This series was the first Stanley Cup Final played under a 2-3-2 format, a temporary change from the traditional 2-2-1-1-1 schedule. The matchup continued a trend of finals featuring post-1967 expansion teams, being the fifth consecutive final to do so. It was also the third instance during this era where the team with the worse regular season record received home-ice advantage in the final, following the 1968 and 1970 series.

Paths to the Final

Both teams earned their place in the championship series through demanding playoff brackets that tested their resilience. The Edmonton Oilers, representing the Campbell Conference, began their playoff run with a commanding three-game sweep of the Winnipeg Jets in the best-of-five first round. They then faced a fierce provincial rival in the second round, edging out the Calgary Flames in a tense seven-game series. In the Campbell Conference Final, the Oilers demonstrated their dominance by sweeping the Minnesota North Stars in four straight games. The New York Islanders' journey through the Wales Conference was also demanding. They opened with a five-game victory over their cross-town rivals, the New York Rangers. The Islanders then dispatched the Washington Capitals in five games before meeting the Montreal Canadiens in the Wales Conference Final, where they prevailed in six games to earn their fifth consecutive finals berth. The Oilers' overall playoff record was 11 wins and 3 losses before the final, while the Islanders had posted 11 wins and 5 losses.

Series Summary and Game-by-Game

The 1984 Stanley Cup Final was a five-game series that revealed the Oilers' explosive offence and ability to respond to adversity. Game one, played at the Nassau Coliseum, was a tight defensive battle won 1-0 by Edmonton, with goaltender Grant Fuhr stopping all 34 shots for a shutout and Kevin McClelland scoring the only goal early in the third period. The Islanders responded forcefully in game two, routing the Oilers 6-1 behind Clark Gillies' hat trick and a two-goal, one-assist performance from Bryan Trottier. The series shifted to Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum for the next three contests under the 2-3-2 format. In game three, the Islanders held a 2-1 lead in the second period before Mark Messier scored to tie the game, sparking an Oilers outburst that led to a 7-2 victory. Game four saw backup goaltender Andy Moog step in for an injured Fuhr and backstop another 7-2 Oilers win, with Wayne Gretzky and Willy Lindstrom each scoring two goals. The Oilers clinched their first championship in game five with a decisive 5-2 victory, fueled by two first-period goals from Gretzky and capitalized on penalties to Duane Sutter. Mark Messier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the entire playoffs for his leadership and critical contributions. The key turning points in the series included:

• Grant Fuhr's 34-save shutout in Game 1 on Long Island.
• Clark Gillies' three-goal hat trick for the Islanders in Game 2.
• Mark Messier's tying goal and the Oilers' offensive explosion in Game 3.
• Andy Moog replacing the injured Fuhr and winning Games 4 and 5.
• Wayne Gretzky's two first-period goals in the Cup-clinching Game 5.

The Oilers outscored the Islanders 19-6 over the final three games played in Edmonton. They won game three by a score of 7-2. They then won game four by the same 7-2 score. They clinched the series with a 5-2 victory in game five. This reversed the sweep they suffered against the Islanders in the previous year's Stanley Cup Final.

Rosters and Stanley Cup Engraving

The 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers roster engraved on the Stanley Cup featured a blend of superstar talent and pioneering international players. The team was led by captain Wayne Gretzky and Conn Smythe winner Mark Messier. The championship roster included several players who achieved historic firsts with their victory. Jari Kurri became the first Finnish-born and trained player to win the Stanley Cup. Goaltender Grant Fuhr was the first black player to have his name engraved on the trophy, and Jaroslav Pouzar was the first Czechoslovak-born player to win it. The engraving process was not without its anomalies and errors. The team owner's father, Basil Pocklington, who had no official role with the club, was initially engraved on the Cup. His name was later crossed out with X's, making it the only name so treated until 2021. On a replacement band created in 1993, the city name 'EDMONTON' was initially misspelled 'DDMONTON' before an 'E' was stamped over the first 'D' to correct the mistake. Not all players who dressed for the playoffs were engraved. Four players were omitted from the Cup but received championship rings and are in the team picture. The players left off the official engraving were:

• Goaltender Mike Zanier, dressed for two finals games but without regular NHL games that season.
• Defenceman Rick Chartraw, who played one playoff game and split the season between Edmonton and the minors.
• Defenceman Larry Melnyk, who played six playoff games but spent the regular season in the minors.
• Left winger Raimo Summanen, who played five playoff games but spent most of the season in Europe.

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

Broadcast Details and Media Coverage

The 1984 Stanley Cup Final was broadcast across North America with distinct coverage in Canada and the United States. In Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) held the national television rights. The CBC's broadcast team for the series consisted of play-by-play announcer Bob Cole alongside analysts Dick Irvin Jr. and Gary Dornhoefer. In the United States, the national cable network USA Network carried the series. However, due to local television rights agreements, the USA Network feed was blacked out in the New York metropolitan area. For viewers in that market, games one and two were televised by SportsChannel New York, while the remaining three games were broadcast on the local station WOR. This split coverage reflected the complex television rights structure of the early 1980s, where national broadcasts could be superseded by local carriers in the home team's market to honour pre-existing contracts.

Historical Significance and Records

The 1984 Stanley Cup Final holds a prominent place in NHL history for several landmark achievements that reshaped the league's narrative. The Edmonton Oilers' victory ended the New York Islanders' dynasty and began their own, which would see them win four more Cups over the next six years. The Oilers set multiple precedents with their win. They became the first former World Hockey Association franchise to capture the Stanley Cup. They were also the first team based west of Chicago to win the championship since the Victoria Cougars of the WCHL in 1925. For Canadian teams, the Oilers became the fastest Canadian-based expansion team to win a major sports title, doing so in their fifth NHL season, a record later eclipsed by the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks in their third season in 2016. The series also marked the beginning of a remarkable run for Western Canada, as it was the first of five consecutive finals that concluded with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice. The series was part of several longer NHL sequences:

1. It was the third of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada.
2. It was the second of eight Finals contested by a team from Alberta.
3. It was the fifth straight Finals featuring a team that joined the NHL in 1967 or later.
4. The Islanders' four consecutive Cups (1980 to 1983) and 1984 Final appearance set the record of 19 straight playoff series wins.

This was the first time that the Finals was played under a 2-3-2 format. Home-ice advantage reverted to the team with the better record for the following Final. The Final reverted to the former 2-2-1-1-1 format after that. This change happened starting in 1985.

Series Results and Statistics

The following table details the results, locations, and key notes for each game in the 1984 Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers' offensive prowess was on full display in the three games at Northlands Coliseum, where they outscored the Islanders 19-6. Key individual performances included Wayne Gretzky's crucial goals in the clinching game and Mark Messier's all-around play that earned him playoff MVP honours. The series also featured a significant goaltending change, with Andy Moog taking over after Grant Fuhr's injury in game three and performing effectively to secure the final two victories.

The Oilers became the third post-1967 expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. They were the first former World Hockey Association team to win the Cup. They were also the first team based west of Chicago to win the Cup since 1925. The win marked their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Questions about 1984 Stanley Cup Final

Who won the 1984 Stanley Cup Final?

The Edmonton Oilers won the 1984 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the defending champion New York Islanders four games to one. The Oilers clinched the championship with a 5-2 victory in game five at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton. This victory marked the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's history and ended the Islanders' run of four consecutive championships. Wayne Gretzky accepted the Cup from NHL President John Ziegler following the final game.

Why did the New York Islanders have home-ice advantage in the 1984 Final?

Despite the Edmonton Oilers having a better regular-season record, the New York Islanders were granted home-ice advantage due to a specific NHL rule in effect at the time. The rule awarded home ice to the conference that had the better aggregate record in head-to-head play against the other conference during the regular season. In 1984, the Wales Conference, which included the Islanders, held that advantage over the Campbell Conference. This was the third time under such rules that the team with the inferior record received home ice in the final.

Who was the MVP of the 1984 playoffs?

Edmonton Oilers centre Mark Messier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs. Messier was a dominant force throughout the postseason, contributing key goals, physical play, and leadership. His performance was particularly instrumental in the final series against the Islanders. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the entire NHL playoffs.

What was significant about the 1984 Stanley Cup win for international players?

The 1984 Oilers championship was historically significant for several international players. Right winger Jari Kurri became the first Finnish-born and trained player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Goaltender Grant Fuhr, who recorded a shutout in game one, was the first black player to win the Cup. Left winger Jaroslav Pouzar was the first Czechoslovak-born player to achieve this milestone. Their victories highlighted the increasing globalization of the NHL in the 1980s.

How did the broadcast coverage work for the 1984 Final?

In Canada, the series was televised nationally by the CBC, with Bob Cole, Dick Irvin Jr., and Gary Dornhoefer on the broadcast team. In the United States, the USA Network carried the series as the national cable broadcaster. However, due to local television rights, the USA Network feed was blacked out in the New York area. For viewers in that market, games one and two were shown on SportsChannel New York, and games three through five were broadcast on the local station WOR.

What format was used for the 1984 Stanley Cup Final?

The 1984 Stanley Cup Final was played under a 2-3-2 format. This format was used from 1981 through 1984. The team with home-ice advantage hosted games one and two. The other team hosted games three, four, and five. If necessary, the series would return to the first team's arena for games six and seven. The league reverted to the 2-2-1-1-1 format starting in 1985.

Sources and further reading

• 1984 Stanley Cup Final (Wikipedia)
• 1984 NHL Stanley Cup Final: EDM vs. NYI (hockey-reference.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.