The Oilers were a very powerful team when at their best. They adapted and improved their game through the '80s. They learned from their defeats to the Islanders in '83 (who played a very strong defensive game for that era; the players gave each other very good support on the ice) and to the Flames in '86 (who played a trap-type defense).
The '95 Devils shocked everybody they played in the playoffs....it was the play of their forwards that led that team. They gave up very few scoring chances.
The '95 playoff Devils would've beaten almost any version of the '80s Oilers. Perhaps any version.
But teams can react to good defense, and can adapt their own games. The Oilers could skate like hell, and that would've been a big plus for them.
After an initial defeat, the Oilers could come back....but they would need to play defense.....very strong defense, late '90s defense.
