1988–89 Edmonton Oilers season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1988–89 1988 Edmonton Oilers Campbell 3rd Smythe 3rd 38–34–8 21–16–3 17–18–5 325 306 Glen Sather Glen Sather Mark Messier Glenn AndersonKevin Lowe Northlands Coliseum 17,503 (100%) Cape Breton Oilers (AHL)Denver Rangers (IHL) Jimmy Carson (49) Mark Messier (61) Jari Kurri (102) Craig Muni (+43) Kelly Buchberger (234) Grant Fuhr (23) Bill Ranford (3.50) 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. Prior to the season, the Oilers were 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.https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html 1987-88 NHL Summary May 4, 2024 September 13, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044535/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html live 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, coincidentally it was also the Kings who eliminated them in the opening round that year. Season standings EDM Record vs. opponents EDM Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#012169 5px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 5px solid; 1988–89 regular season1988-89 Edmonton Oilers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDM/1989_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 21, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- |80 || April 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–4 || Calgary Flames || 38–34–8 || 84 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#012169 5px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 5px solid; 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; 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: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Season stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMJari Kurri 76 44 58 102 69Jimmy Carson 80 49 51 100 36Mark Messier 72 33 61 94 130Esa Tikkanen 67 31 47 78 92Craig Simpson 66 35 41 76 80 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO Save % GAABill Ranford 29 1509 15 8 2 88 1 .877 3.50Grant Fuhr 59 3341 23 26 6 213 1 .875 3.83 Playoff stats Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMMark Messier 7 1 11 12 8Jari Kurri 7 3 5 8 6Steve Smith 7 2 2 4 20Esa Tikkanen 7 1 3 4 12Jimmy Carson 7 2 1 3 6Normand Lacombe 7 2 1 3 21 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L GA SO Save % GAAGrant Fuhr 7 417 3 4 24 1 .894 3.45 Awards and records 40th National Hockey League All-Star Game Glen Sather, Head Coach, Campbell Conference Kevin Lowe, Defense, Starter Jari Kurri, Right Wing, Starter Grant Fuhr, Goaltender, Starter Mark Messier, Centre, Reserve Jimmy Carson, Centre, Reserve Awards Records Milestones Regular Season Player Milestone Reached Martin Gelinas 1st NHL Game1st NHL Assist1st 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-trick3rd 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 Goal1st 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 Assist1st 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-trick2nd 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 Assist1st 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, 1988To Washington CapitalsGeoff CourtnallTo Edmonton OilersGreg Adams August 9, 1988To Los Angeles KingsWayne GretzkyMike KrushelnyskiMarty McSorleyTo Edmonton OilersJimmy CarsonMartin Gelinas1st-round pick in 19891st-round pick in 19911st-round pick in 1993($15 million) cash August 10, 1988To Los Angeles KingsJohn MinerTo Edmonton OilersCraig Redmond October 27, 1988To New York RangersRon ShudraTo Edmonton OilersJeff Crossman January 3, 1989To Detroit Red Wings10th-round pick in 1989To Edmonton OilersMiroslav Frycer January 23, 1989To Detroit Red Wings12th-round pick in 1989To Edmonton OilersDoug Halward February 7, 1989To Philadelphia FlyersKeith Acton6th-round pick in 1991To Edmonton OilersDave Brown February 15, 1989To New York Islanders5th round pick in 1989To Edmonton OilersTomas Jonsson March 7, 1989To Los Angeles KingsJim WiemerAlan MayTo Edmonton OilersBrian WilksJohn English March 7, 1989To Vancouver CanucksGreg AdamsDoug SmithTo Edmonton OilersJohn LeBlanc5th-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 Team1988 10 3 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 Sabres1988 11 1 Ken Hammond to New York Rangers Craig Redmond from New York Rangers 1988 11 7 Glen Cochrane from Chicago Blackhawks 1989 1 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)119 Francois Leroux Saint-Jean Castors (QMJHL)239 Petro Koivunen Kiekko-Espoo (Finland)353 Trevor Sim Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)361 Collin Bauer Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)482 Cam Brauer Canada Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)5103 Don Martin Canada London Knights (OHL)6124 Len Barrie Canada Victoria Cougars (WHL)7145 Mike Glover Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)8166 Shjon Podein United States University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)9187 Tom Cole United States Woburn Memorial High School (USHS-MA)10208 Vladimir Zubkov USSR CSKA Moscow (Soviet Union)11229 Darin MacDonald United States Boston University (ECAC)12250 Tim Tisdale Canada Swift Current Broncos (WHL)S24Brian DowdCanadaNortheastern University (Hockey East) References External links SHRP Sports The Internet Hockey Database National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 Edmonton Oilers season, 1988-89 Edmon Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Category:1980s in Edmonton