1983 Stanley Cup Final

1983 ice hockey championship series August 2023 1983 New York Islanders New York Denis Potvin Al Arbour Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Glen Sather Lee Fogolin Wally Harris, Bryan Lewis, Andy Van Hellemond Mike Bossy (12:39, first) Islanders:Mike Bossy (1991)Clark Gillies (2002)Denis Potvin (1991)Billy Smith (1993)Bryan Trottier (1997)Oilers:Glenn Anderson (2008)Paul Coffey (2004)Grant Fuhr (2003)Wayne Gretzky (1999)Jari Kurri (2001)Kevin Lowe (2020)Mark Messier (2007)Coaches:Al Arbour (1996)Glen Sather (1997)Officials:Ray Scapinello (2008)Andy Van Hellemond (1999) May 10–17, 1983 Edmonton: Northlands Coliseum (1, 2) Uniondale: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (3, 4) Billy Smith (Islanders) 2 6 5 4 4 0 3 1 2 0 Canada:(English): CBC(French): SRCUnited States:(National): USA Network(New York City area): WOR (1–2), SportsChannel New York (3–4) (CBC) Jim Robson and Gary Dornhoefer (1–2); Bob Cole and Mickey Redmond (3–4)(SRC) Rene Lecavalier and Gilles Tremblay(USA Network) Dan Kelly and Gary Green(WOR/SCNY) Jiggs McDonald and Ed Westfall The 1983 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1982–83 season, and the culmination of the 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Campbell Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in their first-ever Finals appearance and the defending Wales Conference and Cup champion New York Islanders, in their fourth consecutive and overall Finals appearance. The Islanders swept the Oilers to win their fourth consecutive and overall Stanley Cup championship. The Islanders became the second team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup four straight times, joining the Montreal Canadiens. This was the fourth straight Finals of post-1967 expansion teams. The Oilers, a former World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise, stunned NHL loyalists by reaching the Finals just four years after the NHL-WHA merger. The Oilers even had the better record of the two teams, although under the format in place since the previous Final, Edmonton received home ice advantage on account of being the Campbell champion, which at the time received that advantage in odd numbered years. This is also the most recent time that an NHL team has won the Cup four years in a row, and also the first (and, to date, only) time a North American professional sports team has won four consecutive titles in any league competition with more than twenty teams. Even if this standard is lowered to encompass league competitions of at least sixteen teams, the Islanders are still only the third and most recent franchise to accomplish such a dynasty after the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (who have forged two such World Series dynasties - the first in the 1930s and the second in the 1950s) and the Montreal Canadiens (whose own such dynasty immediately preceded the Islanders' prior to the merger with the WHA). Since 1983, no professional sports team on the continent has won four consecutive championships and no NHL team has won more than two consecutive championships (most recently the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025). This was the second of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada and was the first of eight consecutive Finals contested by a team from Alberta (of which the Oilers played in six and the Calgary Flames in two). Although it was not the first Stanley Cup Final to be contested by an Albertan team (the 1923 and 1924 Finals had been contested by teams from Edmonton and Calgary respectively), 1983 saw the first Finals games played in Alberta. The Oilers would credit the Islanders' subdued post-series locker room celebration—focused more on putting ice packs on their various injuries—as teaching them the level of sacrifice and dedication needed to be champions. The Oilers would go on to win four Stanley Cups in the next five seasons—and five overall by 1990. The 1983 Final was the only time between 1982 and 1988 that the Stanley Cup wasn't presented in Western Canada. Paths to the Final 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs 1982–83 Edmonton Oilers season 1982–83 New York Islanders season Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0, the Calgary Flames 4–1, and the Chicago Black Hawks 4–0 to advance to the Final. In eliminating Winnipeg, Calgary, and Chicago, the Oilers had won 11 of 12 games and had outscored their opponents 74–33, averaging over six goals a game and setting 16 scoring records in these three rounds. The 1983 Final marked sixty years since an Edmonton team had last contested the Stanley Cup. The 1923 Edmonton Eskimos WCHL team played the NHL's Ottawa Senators in the 1923 Stanley Cup Final, held in Vancouver. Ottawa won the two-game, total-goals series. New York defeated the Washington Capitals 3–1, the New York Rangers 4–2, and the Boston Bruins 4–2 to reach the Final. Game summaries Billy Smith limited the Oilers to just six goals in the four games, and shut them out in seven out of twelve periods. Smith was also noted for his slashes and feigned injuries in that series, which made him unpopular with the Edmonton Journal, which named him "PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1", "Mr. Obnoxious", "Samaurai [sic] Billy", "Jack the Ripper" and "a creep".Swift E. M. May 23, 1983 The Islanders Go Four It All https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/05/23/the-islanders-go-four-it-all dead https://web.archive.org/web/20210804162609/https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/05/23/the-islanders-go-four-it-all August 4, 2021 2021-08-04 Sports Illustrated Vault Si.com en-usSwift E.M. May 23, 1983 The Islanders Go Four It All https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/05/23/the-islanders-go-four-it-all https://web.archive.org/web/20201026022657/https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/05/23/the-islanders-go-four-it-all dead October 26, 2020 September 22, 2024 Sports Illustrated After a slash on Glenn Anderson's knee prevented him from practicing the next day, Oilers manager and coach Glen Sather unsuccessfully complained to the NHL that Smith deserved an attempt-to-injure match penalty, and then took his case to the press, suggesting that the Oilers could take out Smith. Smith responded, "Let's face it. If Semenko runs at me and hurts me, anything could happen, and the victim could be Gretzky. If they want blood...." Smith did, however, earn a five-minute penalty for slashing Wayne Gretzky. In his first appearance in the Final, Gretzky assisted on four of the Oilers' six goals but failed to score himself. While no Islander was assigned to mark Gretzky, the Oilers superstar found himself checked as soon as he got the puck. The Islanders' tactics were described as a "rope-a-dope", using their experience and patience to hang on in the face of the Oilers' furious attack. The Islanders permitted Edmonton to take long shots from poor angles, but cleared the rebounds and kept the front of the net open so Smith could see.http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=The+Drive+For+Five+-+10.10.83+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=416083927&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1121350%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881 The Drive For Five October 10, 1983 Jack Falla Sports Illustratedhttp://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Hockey+-+02.16.83+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=425297198&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1120528%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881 Hockey February 16, 1983 Sports Illustrated The Sutter brothers, Duane and Brent, led with seven and five points, respectively in the first three games. Duane played a particularly important role in the absence of Bossy in game one. Bossy netted his second Stanley Cup-winning goal. After game four, the Oilers players walked past the Islanders' dressing room and noticed many of the Islanders players exhausted and covered in ice packs rather than wildly celebrating, with Wayne Gretzky suggesting that this gave the Oilers inspiration that they needed in order to win next year.Swift E.M. May 23, 1983 The Islanders Go Four It All http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=420394232&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1120847%2F2%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881 Sports Illustratedhttp://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=424157 https://web.archive.org/web/20110604062050/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=424157 dead June 4, 2011 Messier relates to Penguins in their Cup rematch May 28, 2009 Dan Rosen NHL.com Game one New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum May 10 2–0 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-edm/1983/05/10/1982030411#game=1982030411,game_state=final The Oilers heavily outshot the Islanders in game one, but could not get anything past Billy Smith, who made 35 saves for his third shutout of the postseason. The Islanders won the game 2–0, giving them a 1–0 lead in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Duane Sutter (8) Bob Bourne (19) and Stefan Persson (4) 05:36 1–0 NYI 2nd None 3rd NYI Ken Morrow (3) – en Denis Potvin (10) 19:48 2–0 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYI Ken Morrow Hooking 01:15 2:00 EDM Dave Hunter Elbowing 03:21 2:00 NYI Stefan Persson Tripping 09:44 2:00 NYI Billy Smith (served by Dave Langevin) Slashing 11:10 2:00 EDM Glenn Anderson Interference 11:19 2:00 EDM Dave Hunter Elbowing 14:57 2:00 NYI Denis Potvin Hooking 15:07 2:00 EDM Ken Linseman Hooking 15:34 2:00 2nd NYI Tomas Jonsson Holding 00:39 2:00 NYI Bob Nystrom Charging 09:27 2:00 3rd NYI Tomas Jonsson Hooking 00:51 2:00 EDM Dave Lumley Slashing 03:18 2:00 NYI Clark Gillies Slashing 03:18 2:00 EDM Glenn Anderson Elbowing 04:27 2:00 NYI Brent Sutter Hooking 04:27 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total New York 13 5 6 24 Edmonton 14 12 9 35 Game two New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum May 12 6–3 1 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-edm/1983/05/12/1982030412/summary Both Sutter brothers dominated in game two, Duane recording 4 points, and Brent recording 2 goals and an assist. The Islanders would win the game 6–3, going up 2–0 in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st EDM Dave Semenko (1) Tom Roulston (2) and Charlie Huddy (6) 08:39 1–0 EDM NYI Tomas Jonsson (2) Duane Sutter (8) and Brent Sutter (10) 14:21 1–1 NYI Bob Nystrom (2) Bryan Trottier (10) 14:21 2–1 NYI NYI Mike Bossy (16) Denis Potvin (11) 19:17 3–1 NYI 2nd EDM Jari Kurri (6) Glenn Anderson (10) and Wayne Gretzky (23) 05:07 3–2 NYI NYI Bob Bourne (7) Duane Sutter (9) 08:03 4–2 NYI NYI Brent Sutter (8) Ken Morrow (6) and Duane Sutter (10) 08:41 5–2 NYI 3rd EDM Glenn Anderson (10) Lee Fogolin (4) and Wayne Gretzky (24) 04:48 5–3 NYI NYI Brent Sutter (9) Duane Sutter (11) and Tomas Jonsson (10) 14:11 6–3 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYI Brent Sutter Tripping 02:36 2:00 EDM Ken Linseman Interference 04:44 2:00 EDM Pat Hughes Cross-checking 05:17 2:00 NYI Anders Kallur Holding 05:51 2:00 2nd NYI Tomas Jonsson Interference 14:50 2:00 3rd NYI Stefan Persson Holding 11:22 2:00 EDM Jari Kurri Slashing 13:14 2:00 EDM Bryan Trottier Hooking 13:27 2:00 NYI Billy Smith (served by Bob Nystrom) Slashing – major 17:56 5:00 EDM Dave Lumley Spearing – major 19:24 5:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total New York 9 11 5 25 Edmonton 10 9 14 33 Game three Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum May 14 1–5 2 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-nyi/1983/05/14/1982030413 After the teams were tied 1–1 at the end of the second, the Islanders scored four goals in the third, and Billy Smith made 33 saves in net for New York, and the Islanders won the game 5–1 and take a commanding 3–0 lead in the series. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Anders Kallur (3) Mike Bossy (8) and Ken Morrow (7) 19:41 1–0 NYI 2nd EDM Jari Kurri (7) – pp Wayne Gretzky (25) 01:05 1–1 3rd NYI Bob Bourne (8) Stefan Persson (5) and Dave Langevin (2) 05:11 2–1 NYI NYI Ken Morrow (4) Bryan Trottier (11) and Anders Kallur (12) 06:21 3–1 NYI NYI Duane Sutter (9) Brent Sutter (11) and Bob Bourne (20) 16:43 4–1 NYI NYI Brent Sutter (10) – pp Denis Potvin (12) and Duane Sutter (12) 19:02 5–1 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st EDM Mark Messier Elbowing 04:01 2:00 NYI Brent Sutter High-sticking 04:01 2:00 EDM Glenn Anderson Holding 05:10 2:00 2nd NYI Bob Bourne Hooking 00:54 2:00 EDM Denis Potvin Holding 03:42 2:00 NYI Gord Lane Elbowing 07:31 2:00 NYI Dave Hunter Elbowing 10:32 2:00 3rd NYI Bob Bourne Tripping 08:39 2:00 EDM Dave Hunter Holding 18:33 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Edmonton 11 16 7 34 New York 11 5 12 28 Game four Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum May 17 2–4 2 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/edm-vs-nyi/1983/05/17/1982030414 The Islanders defeated the Oilers in game four by a score of 4–2, completing the sweep and winning their third consecutive Stanley Cup. Goaltender Billy Smith was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. During the third period, Edmonton forward Glenn Anderson collided with Smith and Smith dove upon the ice, resulting in referee Andy Van Hellemond handing a major penalty to Anderson.Falla Jack May 28, 1984 The Oilers Were The Spoilers https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/05/28/contents https://web.archive.org/web/20210926220151/https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/05/28/contents dead September 26, 2021 Sports IllustratedMifflin Laurie May 18, 1983 SMITH GETS THE LAST WORD https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/18/sports/smith-gets-the-last-word.html September 22, 2024 New York Times Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYI Bryan Trottier (8) – pp Clark Gillies (2) and Mike Bossy (9) 11:02 1–0 NYI NYI John Tonelli (7) Bob Nystrom (6) 11:45 2–0 NYI NYI Mike Bossy (17) Bryan Trottier (12) 12:39 3–0 NYI 2nd EDM Jari Kurri (8) Wayne Gretzky (26) 00:35 3–1 NYI EDM Mark Messier (15) Lee Fogolin (5) and Paul Coffey (7) 19:39 3–2 NYI 3rd NYI Ken Morrow (5) – en Unassisted 18:51 4–2 NYI Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st EDM Paul Coffey Roughing – double minor 02:16 4:00 NYI Brent Sutter Roughing – double minor 02:16 4:00 NYI Clark Gillies Tripping 07:40 2:00 EDM Dave Lumley Interference 09:54 2:00 2nd NYI Bob Bourne Interference 02:44 2:00 EDM Kevin Lowe Interference 11:34 2:00 EDM Don Jackson High-sticking 11:41 2:00 NYI Clark Gillies High-sticking 11:41 2:00 NYI Anders Kallur High-sticking 12:19 2:00 3rd EDM Don Jackson Roughing 05:10 2:00 NYI Tomas Jonsson Holding 08:16 2:00 EDM Glenn Anderson Slashing – major 08:26 5:00 NYI Bryan Trottier Interference 10:18 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total Edmonton 5 14 7 26 New York 8 12 6 26 Broadcasting The series aired on CBC in Canada and on the USA Network in the United States. 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 WOR televising games one and two, and SportsChannel New York airing games three and four. Team rosters Edmonton Oilers #NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance 9 CANGlenn Anderson RW L 22–20222 1979Vancouver, British Columbia first 7 CANPaul Coffey D L 21–06121 1980Weston, Ontario first 14 CANRay Cote C R 21–15321 1981Pincher Creek, Alberta first 2 USALee Fogolin – C D R 28–02728 1979Chicago, Illinois first 31 CANGrant Fuhr G R 20–05220 1981Spruce Grove, Alberta first 21 CANRandy Gregg Randy Gregg (ice hockey) D L 27–21927 1981Edmonton, Alberta first 99 CANWayne Gretzky C L 22–04622 1979Brantford, Ontario first 22 CANCharlie Huddy D L 23–27223 1980Oshawa, Ontario first 16 CANPat Hughes ice hockey RW R 28–02528 1980Calgary, Alberta second (1979) 12 CANDave Hunter LW L 25–01125 1979Petrolia, Ontario first 29 USADon Jackson ice hockey D L 26–19226 1981Minneapolis, Minnesota first 17 FINJari Kurri RW R 22–33122 1980Helsinki, Finland first 6 CANGarry Lariviere D R 28–12628 1980St. Catharines, Ontario first (did not play) 19 SWEWilly Lindstrom Willy Lindström RW L 32–05532 1982Grums, Sweden first 13 CANKen Linseman C L 24–18124 1982Kingston, Ontario second (1980) 4 CANKevin Lowe D L 24–04124 1979Lachute, Quebec first 20 CANDave Lumley RW R 28–29128 1979Toronto, Ontario first 11 CANMark Messier C L 22–05822 1979Edmonton, Alberta first 35 CANAndy Moog G L 23–16823 1980Penticton, British Columbia first 26 CANDon Nachbaur C L 24–07024 1982Kitimat, British Columbia first (did not play) 10 TCHJaroslav Pouzar LW L 31–12331 1982Cakov, Czechoslovakia first (did not play) 24 CANTom Roulston RW R 25–05825 1979Winnipeg, Manitoba first 27 CANDave Semenko LW L 25–07125 1979Winnipeg, Manitoba first New York Islanders #NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance 22 CANMike Bossy RW R 26–11226 1977Montreal, Quebec fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 14 CANBob Bourne LW L 28–16228 1974Kindersley, Saskatchewan fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 4 CANPaul Boutilier D L 20–03320 1981Sydney, Nova Scotia first (did not play) 25 CANBilly Carroll C L 24–11924 1979Toronto, Ontario third (1981, 1982) 17 CANGreg Gilbert LW L 21–12221 1980Mississauga, Ontario second (1982) 9 CANClark Gillies LW L 29–07729 1974Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 91 CANButch Goring C L 33–12233 1979Winnipeg, Manitoba fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 20 SWEMats Hallin LW L 25–03925 1981Akers styckebruk, Sweden first (did not play) 3 SWETomas Jonsson D R 23–07123 1979Falun, Sweden second (1982) 28 SWEAnders Kallur RW L 30–27630 1979Ludvika, Sweden fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 24 CANGord Lane D L 30–03130 1979Brandon, Manitoba fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 26 USADave Langevin D L 29–03129 1974Saint Paul, Minnesota fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 2 CANMike McEwen ice hockey D L 26–18126 1980Hornepayne, Ontario fourth (1979, 1981, 1982, did not play) 1 CANRoland Melanson G L 22–03222 1979Shediac, New Brunswick third (1981, 1982) 11 CANWayne Merrick C L 31–04231 1977Sarnia, Ontario fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 6 USAKen Morrow D R 26–13726 1976Flint, Michigan fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 23 SWEBob Nystrom RW R 30–21030 1972Stockholm, Sweden fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 7 SWEStefan Persson ice hockey D L 28–02228 1974Bjurholm, Sweden fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 5 CANDenis Potvin – C D L 29–12929 1973Vanier, Ontario fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 31 CANBilly Smith ice hockey G L 32–12132 1972Perth, Ontario fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 21 CANBrent Sutter C R 20–08120 1980Viking, Alberta second (1982) 12 CANDuane Sutter RW R 23–31623 1979Viking, Alberta fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 27 CANJohn Tonelli LW L 26–02326 1977Hamilton, Ontario fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) 19 CANBryan Trottier C L 26–27126 1974Val Marie, Saskatchewan fourth (1980, 1981, 1982) Stanley Cup engraving The 1983 Stanley Cup was presented to Islanders captain Denis Potvin by NHL President John Ziegler following the Islanders 4–2 win over the Oilers in game four. The following Islanders players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup 1982–83 New York Islanders *11 Wayne Merrick 19 Bryan Trottier 21 Brent Sutter 25 Billy Carroll* 91 Butch Goring *2 Mike McEwen 3 Tomas Jonsson 4 Paul Boutilier 5 Denis Potvin (Captain) 6 Ken Morrow 7 Stefan Persson 24 Gord Lane 26 Dave Langevin *1 Roland Melanson 31 Billy Smith *9 Clark Gillies 12 Duane Sutter 14 Bob Bourne 17 Greg Gilbert 20 Mats Hallin 22 Mike Bossy 23 Bob Nystrom 27 John Tonelli 28 Anders Kallur * Played both centre and wing. John Pickett (Chairman/Owner) Bill Torrey (President/General Manager) Gerry Ehman (Asst. General Manager/Director of Scouting) Al Arbour (Head Coach) Lorne Henning (Asst, Coach) Ron Waske (Trainer), Jim Pickard (Asst. Trainer) Members of New York Islanders 1980 to 1983 Dynasty These players and personnel (22 in all) won four Stanley Cups as members of the Islanders, and would also be a part of the Islanders in the 1984 Stanley Cup Final. The Islanders amassed an NHL record of 19 straight playoff series wins and again reach the Stanley Cup Final, but lost the 1984 Final to the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of the 1983 series. Players: Mike Bossy, Bob Bourne, Clark Gillies, Butch Goring, Lorne Henning †, Anders Kallur, Gord Lane, Dave Langevin, Wayne Merrick, Ken Morrow, Bob Nystrom, Stefan Persson, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Duane Sutter, John Tonelli, Bryan Trottier Non-playing personnel: John Pickett (owner), Bill Torrey (general manager), Al Arbour (head coach), Gerry Ehman (Scout/later Assistant Manager), Jim Pickard, Ron Waske (Trainers) Lorne Henning † † Henning was a player on the 1980 team, a player-assistant coach on the 1981 team, and an assistant coach on the 1982 and 1983 teams. Henning assisted on 1980 Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime. See also List of Stanley Cup champions 1982–83 NHL season References Total Stanley Cup 2000 NHL Podnieks Andrew Hockey Hall of Fame 2004 Lord Stanley's Cup Triumph Books 978-1-55168-261-7 Andrew Podnieks New York Islanders1982 Edmonton Oilers1984 New York IslandersStanley Cup champions 1983 Stanley Category:Stanley Cup Finals Category:Edmonton Oilers games Category:New York Islanders games Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final Category:Ice hockey competitions in Edmonton Stanley Cup Final, 1983 Category:Ice hockey competitions in New York (state) Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final Stanley Cup Final