I have it on DVD and will probably watch it today. 20 years ago the Edmonton Oilers won their 5th Stanley. It was a delightful experience, because (unlike the other 4) it didn't feel inevitable.The first Stanley was about a young team coming together and using their talent for the greater good. Less 99 cheating at the Yellow pages sign (I don't remember if it was there in 1984 but you get the point) and more about positioning and finishing your checks. It was a wonderful series because the Oilers defeated the Islanders to stop their drive for 5 (and shove it up Fischler's ass, an added bonus).
The second Stanley was about destiny, with the Oilers losing G1 and then riding Gretzky, Coffey and Fuhr (stopped two penalty shots) to a 5 game victory.
The third one was about really worrying. The Oilers won the Stanley, but Ron Hextall damn near stole the thing and that's the truth. 7 games and the Flyers scored early in that one, but Messier answered a little later and then Jari Kurri scored in the middle period and we started to breathe.
The fourth one was a sweep over Boston. In 5 games. You could look it up.
The fifth one is the one I cherish more than any save the first one. Why? You have to remember this was not the dynasty team. Here are the names on the Stanley from 1990:
- G: Ranford, Fuhr, Reddick
- D: Lowe, S Smith, Beukeboom, Gregg, Huddy, G Smith, Ruotsalainen, Muni
- C: Messier, Lamb, Murphy, MacTavish, Ruzicka
- L: Simpson, Gelinas, Tikkanen, Klima, Semenov
- R: Anderson, Graves, Kurri, Buchberger, Dave Brown
I think that's right. Anyway, Gretzky and Coffey aren't on this team and there are many others who contributed to the dynasty that were long gone. It was an unusual run in that many of the impact players (Ranford, Simpson, in one game Klima) were not Boys on the Bus.
My most vivid memory of 1990 isn't even part of the finals. It was Mark Messier's performance in Chicago earlier in the playoffs (he was on this day exactly as I'd read Rocket Richard was another glorious time in hockey history--wild eyed, the other side of crazy and possibly not thinking clearly) that sealed the season. From Legends of Hockey:
- In the playoffs, with the Oilers down 2-1 in games to the Chicago Blackhawks in the semifinals, Messier took over in the fourth game, scoring two goals and collecting two assists in Edmonton's 4-2 road win. His one-man display impressed everyone who watched, Chicago players, coaches and fans included, and his all-time performance spurred the Oilers. Edmonton swept the remaining games from Chicago and easily handled Bourque and the Bruins in the finals to give Messier his fifth Stanley Cup ring with Edmonton.
Mike Keenan (Chicago's coach) said he knew the Blackhawks were up shit creek when he saw Messier's face in the pre-game skate. He was a beauty.
I don't think it is possible for an older Oiler fan to impress upon a younger fan just how unlikely the 1990 run was when placed in context.
- August 9, 1988: After the Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky, John Muckler (who would win the 1990 Stanley as head coach) said "thank God I believe in life after death."
- The Oilers point totals dropped from 99 to 84, and they entered the 89-90 season well outside the NHL's elite teams.
- They finished third in the Smythe in 88-89.
- They lost in the first round in 1989's playoffs.
- Major playoff disappointments spring 1989 included Jimmy Carson, Esa Tikkanen, Craig Simpson and Glenn Anderson.
- Jimmy Carson requested a trade, or he would play out his option and sign as a free agent summer 1990.
- Esa Tikkanen and his agent (Rich Winter) were rumbling about heading out of town.
- Grant Fuhr retired on June 8, saying he would sell cars in Wetaskiwin and citing Sather's lack of respect for him as a leading cause for the retirement. (it was about salary).
- They had a veteran group and they had a terrific goalie tandem (Fuhr and Ranford who would win the Smythe after starting the playoffs very badly).
And they won. The Boys On The Bus were still the heart of the team, but a major part of the 1990 story comes from names like Ranford, Simpson, Gelinas, Murphy, Reijo Ruotsalainen. Lordy Reijo Ruotsalainen. His playoff totals spring 1990? 22gp, 2-11-13 +13.
I'll never forget spring 1990.
Somewhat like Lowe's trades for Roloson and company in 2006, the 1990 run was spurred on by a brilliant mid-season trade of Jimmy Carson for Murphy, Graves and Klima. One of Sather's best trades ever.
ReplyDeleteAnd didn't Messier also guarantee that Chicago game in the press beforehand?
I was in grade ten that year, living in Spruce Grove. I couldn't get a ride to participate in the downtown Stanley Cup celebrations (since shifted to Whyte). I remember thinking "that's okay, I'll make sure to be there the next time they win." Which of course would be in a year or two right?
Finns.
ReplyDeleteOilers have never won a cup without a Finn.
Oilers have never been to a cup final without a Finn.
Draft more Finns.
And the first series we were down 3-1 to Winnipeg right? Then Mark Lamb scored a huge goal in game seven? Damn, that was awesome.
ReplyDeleteConan: Yeah, I remember thinking Ranford was a goner early in that series against Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteHow come Carson asked for a trade? Seems like he a dynamyte season in 88-89.
ReplyDeleteWho won the Conn Smythe? Bill Ranford i think?
Blogger's buggered again.
ReplyDeleteThe game i remember was the shellacking they handed the Hawks in game 6 of that series.
ReplyDeleteAnd coming back from the dead against the Jets.
And the kid line of Graves, Murphy, and Gelinas.
And Slats shouting from the tarmac that the best part of all was whipping Calgary, LOL.
It might not have had Gretzky, but that team had a lot going for it toward the future, or so my tiny little brain at the time thought.
LT,
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about 1990. I recall seeing an interview with Wayne Gretzky, and I believe Peter Gzowski. At some stage in the interview, Gretzky made the point that the Oilers won the Cup without him. The host responded - true, the Oilers won the Cup... but the magic and majesty was gone. I don't recall Wayne having a response to that comment. For me, 1990 was an exciting run, and the Oilers did grit out a win in true Champion fashion. But 1990 was always foreshadowed with the events of August, 1988, and I always wondered if the people of Edmonton felt that the magic was gone. It was hard to watch the celebrations in the old Gardens locker room. Kurri was being interviewed by CBC and you could almost see it in Kurri's eyes that this was it.
I remember that game against Chicago very clearly.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen, before or since, any one player own a game like Messier did that night.
It was the epitome of "willing a team to win"
At one point Messier absolutely pasted Denis Savard into the end boards. (from behind, standard)
Savard was concussed on the play.
In a total daze he gets guided back to the bench and was floating in and out of consciousness.
They camera zooms in on him and you see him with his eyes closing and his head bobbling around like "baby head" when you are so tired you can't keep your head up.
As was the standard procedure at the time, some smelling salts were placed under Savard's nose and he awoke with a jolt.
The announcers laugh and make the requisite "bell rung", and "did Savard get the number of that bus" remarks.
They sent him back over the boards for his next shift.
Crazy.
Ranford was average during the regular season, but that cup run he was unreal. That and his performance in the '91 Canada Cup made him my all-time favorite Oiler goalie.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ranford. He was amazing after a slow start against Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteCarson didn't fit in and I'll leave it at that.
Didn't the Winnipeg head coach say Messier had lost a step and he proceeded to shove it up their behinds?
ReplyDeleteBut 1990 was always foreshadowed with the events of August, 1988, and I always wondered if the people of Edmonton felt that the magic was gone.
ReplyDelete1990 had all kinds of magic. Messier showing off with Gretzky gone, Kurri and Tikkanen flying around the ice, dragging Simpson along with them (I've never seen anyone get more gifted points since). Ruotsalainen rediscovered.
And Ranford deciding that for just two months out of his entire career he was going to play like Ken Dryden.
I remember feeling sorry for the Hawks in a way they were slaughtered in 1990, so much that when they next met and whipped us in the playoffs, I didn't even mind. Such is the magnanimity of fans of winning teams.
ReplyDeleteThat '89 loss was to Gretzky's Kings. The Oil blew a 3-1 series lead. Wayne put the Kings on his back and carried them past. Hockey Gods indeed.
ReplyDeleteThis opened the door for the Flames to get to the final and win in 1988-89 w/o having to beat the Oilers on the way.
The Oil were still a dangerous team in 89, but as you outline - the 'culture' was foul.
As unexpected as the 1990 victory was, it equals all of the championships the Flames have ever had.
Blogger's goofy again today.
ReplyDeleteIn 1990, I was young and optimistic and I was confident that the Oilers would have a short downturn for a couple of years and then be back in the finals. In Sather we trusted...
ReplyDeleteOOPS!
Less 99 cheating at the Yellow pages sign (I don't remember if it was there in 1984
ReplyDeleteIt was not - after reviewing some video on Youtube it looks like it was 1989 that advertisements on the boards were put in place. prior to that - pure white. I remember the debates about how it was going to wreck the game.
In 1984, you probably saw about 3-4 advertisements in the entire arena bowl area (scoreclock and out of town scoreboard) and they were probably for Coke or something like that.
As per Fuhr here is the other reason why he and Sather were battling around this period of time.
I remember those early 90's teams well and what I remember most about the night they won the Cup was my father was a reformed drinker who really hated to see anyone tipping and that night he let me have a beer in his presence.
ReplyDeleteI was 15 at the time and had already been drinking for about a year or so - and had came home a couple of times in conditions that tipped off said reality - so it was a big deal that we had a beer together.
If this thread keeps going I'll come back with a couple of more memories but it's nice that Oilers fans talk about 11's show in G4 in Chi because everyone likes to talk about Messier's called shot with the Rangers in '04 but I believe he called this one too and was no less dominant; plus he was the bully Messier which was always a pleasure to watch and an absolute comfort to have on your side.
Can't remember from the time if it was that precise game, but in the highlights package from that year they always include a Messier goal where he picks up a loose puck on the left wing boards in the neutral zone and carries in for a break in on the goal to ice the game (empty net, maybe?).
ReplyDeleteDoug Wilson is the last guy back, pursuing him -- and though Wilson by all rights should have been able to catch him, he makes the most half-hearted effort at it you'd ever expect from a premier defenseman. It looked like he had zero interest in getting in Messier's way.
Dominik: I think no one can beat Gonchar's half assed play on the 4th goal of Game 7. Most lazy thing i ever saw.
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ReplyDeleteAlways have thought the Conn Smythe should have went to Messier that year. Then again I would have given it to Coffey for Stanley 2.
ReplyDeleteFor an occasion like this, it's when YouTube is at it's best:
ReplyDeleteItem 1: yes, more Finns would help, especially a couple as good as these guys.
Item 2: 1990 playoffs recap video from the end of the CBC broadcast that night, cool enough that one can look past the Tina Turner music selection.
Actually, it's not a bad choice of music at all - "Simply the Best" is the song Glenn Anderson was singing in a legendary film clip taken during the flight home from Boston that night - let's just say that it appeared that he and "The Moose" were leading the celebration in fine fashion (I'm guessing Mess didn't sleep for about a week after it was over).
That late 80's/early 90's Bruins team was pretty solid - like the mid-80's Flyers, they probably deserved to have a championship to validate how good they were, but they timed it really badly (end of the Oiler dynasty plus a Pittsburgh mini-dynasty in 1991-92).
the 1990 run was spurred on by a brilliant mid-season trade of Jimmy Carson for Murphy, Graves and Klima. One of Sather's best trades ever.
ReplyDeleteActually two of Sather's best trades ever. The fourth guy we got from Detroit was Jeff Sharples, a 21-year-old defender with 105 NHL games under his belt. Sharples never played a game for the Oil, in fact he never played another NHL game, but in March of 1990 Sather flipped him for ... Reijo Ruotsalainen.
Kurri and Tikkanen flying around the ice, dragging Simpson along with them (I've never seen anyone get more gifted points since).
Beg to differ on that one, Coach. Other than the PP, Simpson played almost exclusively with Messier and Anderson. Simpson wound up as the playoffs leading scorer with 16 goals, and 31 points (tied with Messier). His winning goal in the final game, in which he took an incredible behind-the-back pass from Anderson, then deked the goalie to score while being clobbered right into the net, may have been the most sensational Stanley Cup winning goal since Bobby Orr's classic in the same arena 20 years earlier.
Good memories of that spring. Couple of good friends (Gretzky fans and not Oiler fans as it turned out...I felt cheated on at the time...haha) jumped ship to LA in August '88, and to see the Oil win that year was sweet.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, if you look up Jimmy Carson online, it seems he had a real interest in business world and apparently still involved with investing company or something.
“In a weird way, I knew Jimmy’s heart was not as much into it,” says McNall of his friend, who neither smoked, drank nor partied with teammates. “He was an intellectual, multidimensional guy, read the Wall Street Journal, and so many other players just don’t have his opportunities and interests. So I always thought, deep down, that maybe long-term hockey wouldn’t be for him.” Bruce McNall quoted in The Hockey Writers.com
It is interesting that the Oilers lost in the 1991 and 1992 semifinals (Campbell conference final)....imagine wining 3 cups sans Gretzky...
* all of this is remembered through a cloud of hazy memory
ReplyDeleteSimpson played almost exclusively with Messier and Anderson
Agreed.
Simpson was LW for 11 and 9, and stood in front of the net on the powerplay.
The hundreds of crosschecks wrecked his back and he had to retire at 28 years old.
I think 17 and 10 had a rotation of Lamb and Kilma as playing mates. When Petr Hockeyhair played I think 17 went to center with Klima on the left.
Simpson-Messier-Anderson
Kurri-Lamb-Tikkanen (hmmmm, kurried lamb)
Klima-MacTavish-Buchberger
Gelinas-Graves-Murphy
Klima and Lamb would get switched around ocassionally, and often Klima was benched.
Now can someone explain me what happened to Zdeno Ciger?
ReplyDeleteBenching Klima the entire game then putting him out in triple OT was an act of genius.
ReplyDeleteThere was a really sensational looking chick in the crowd that night, all dolled up for the big night she expected but after 5 and a half periods of hockey stretching until the early hours of the morning you could tell she knew she wasn't going anywhere, and looked so pissed off it was hilarious - while her yuppie BF enjoyed the game.
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ReplyDeleteNo ads on boards in 84. I know because I watched replay of 84 final game at Northlands on TV the other night. So no Yellowpages ad. Great article on 90 team. It was a sweet cup. I still remember Klima's goal most of all. I saw the opening game in that series live. The Bruins won at Northlands. The Bruins guys next to me were convinced Boston would win. When I said Oilers in five, they looked at me disdainfully and said "good luck." Hah. I was right.
ReplyDeleteMeant Bruins fans in last post, not Bruins guys.
ReplyDeleteI think of how much I loved Simpson and then I think of how much he loved the Dys this spring and I wonder where the time went?
ReplyDeleteThen again to hear Glenn Healty talking about what Cuntreal needed to do to beat Philly and phrasing it as "what We want to see" sort of drove home just how pathetic CBC becomes when they cover a Canadian team in the playoffs.
My first memory of the '90 Cup was Dave Ellett scoring an OT goal for the Jets during the trip to Winnipeg and I had to see that on an update because we couldn't get the game back home. I couldn't see G5 either but G6 was a Sat night game and Kurri scored the winner off a slapper and G7 was a Monday night and i was sick all day waiting and anticipating but the Oilers pretty much owned the game from the drop and off we went.
As a young Jet fan in those days it would seem that this period of time was the beginning of the end. Ducky's last season, I think? Man I hated the Oilers back then, reading this makes me feel weird, knowing that I'm now a fan of the team I despised in those days.
ReplyDeleteI remember Messier's game against Chicago LT and you've described it perfectly - the most dominant performance in one game I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall if it was during this cup run - but wasn't there also a game where Tikkanen dominated a playoff game? I recall something where Tikkanen was on a partial breakwaway which the goalie saved, then Tikkanen made a face at the goalie, and winked/pointed at him. Tikk then went and grabbed the puck from the corner and then came back to the net and scored.
But I can't recall if that was during the 90 cup run or not.