sawchuk1971
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- Jun 16, 2011
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Which Battle of Alberta series was the best?
- Thread starter sawchuk1971
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gretzkyoilers
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- Apr 17, 2012
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The 2022 series was pond hockey and caused the Flames to implode. Fun and painful to watch at the same time.
Staniowski
Registered User
I like both the '84 and '86 series'. Both went 7 games, and they are what I consider the best of the Battle of Alberta.
The Oilers were a powerhouse and the Flames had a lot of good players and were still ascending.
The '84 series was memorable, with the Oilers on their way to their first Cup. Messier recently moved to centre, so this was now the Oilers team that everybody remembers. Messier put three Flames out of commission in Game 7.
The '86 series was the Flames using a defensive strategy specifically devised for the Oilers.., and ending with the famous winning goal by Perry Berezan (Steve Smith).
Great memories watching those series'.
The Oilers were a powerhouse and the Flames had a lot of good players and were still ascending.
The '84 series was memorable, with the Oilers on their way to their first Cup. Messier recently moved to centre, so this was now the Oilers team that everybody remembers. Messier put three Flames out of commission in Game 7.
The '86 series was the Flames using a defensive strategy specifically devised for the Oilers.., and ending with the famous winning goal by Perry Berezan (Steve Smith).
Great memories watching those series'.
The Panther
Registered User
1983
Completely one-sided for Edmonton, which outscored Calgary 35 to 13 (that means the average score in each game was 7-2 or 7-3 Edmonton). Calgary managed to win game four at home (the final NHL game ever at the Corral)... but only barely, blowing a 6-2 lead with ten minutes left and ending 6-5.
My favorite stat of this era: In this short series, Flames' Dman Paul Reinhart scored 6 (!) goals (in five games)... and went -14.
A great series to see the peak of the cocky, young Oilers going all out and pouring on the offence to humiliate their opponent, but not great for competitive hockey.
1984
I'm not as familiar with this series as I should be and have only seen random clips of games, incl. most of game 7.
Oilers had a 3-1 series lead and probably should have wrapped it up in five, but Grant Fuhr and Gretzky / Kurri all had poor game five's at home, leading to a game six at the Saddledome. Flames had the lead in that one, too, before the Oil tied it in the third and sent it to overtime. But Lanny McDonald scored on a slapper that banked off a body and Fuhr's leg and in. So, game 7.
Back in Edmonton, the Flames enjoyed a 4-3 lead with 26 minutes left on the clock. But the Oil scored three goals in just over four minutes late in the 2nd, which pretty much put it to bed.
The significance of this series was that Calgary showed it wasn't a doormat, as in the previous two seasons, and now was going to challenge Edmonton. (Though they would still get spanked in the regular season for another two years.)
1986
This (and 1991) are the two real classics, I think. This also went to seven games, and, of course remains the only series the Flames ever won vs. Edmonton.
Very good hockey in this series, and lots of great players at their peaks or coming into them. The story of this series is Calgary's disciplined play which didn't give Edmonton the fast-break turnover chances they were accustomed to getting. The other story is how successful the Flames were at Northlands: The Oilers failed to win ANY of their four home games in regulation, losing three of them. And generally, mid-dynasty, the Oil were almost unbeatable at Northlands, so that was very shocking.
Edmonton faced elimination in game six at Calgary... but came up with a very championship-like effort, overcoming an 0-2 deficit to effectively win 3-2 (it was eventually 5-2 but the last two were final-minute goals). It was a heroic third-period Gretzky-to-Coffey-to-Anderson goal that stood up as the winner. Coffey had a strong game, which he generally didn't in this series.
Game 7... Gretzky and Coffey cross signals on the PP, leading to a Flames break that goes in for a shortie. In the 2nd, brutal coverage by Coffey-Huddy allows Peplinksi to go to the net and bang-in his own rebound. The Oil then woke up and scored twice to tie it before the intermission, including a spectacular Kurri-to-Messier breakaway in the final minute (Gretzky and Kurri were broken up as Kurri wasn't scoring).
So, we're at 2-2 heading into the third period, and the Oilers have the momentum. What could go wrong?? (We all know what went wrong.)
But I'm fairly certain that if not for that fluke winner, the Flames win this series anyway. Edmonton was behind the 8-ball from the opening minute of game one and never really recovered.
1988
This is the old-days one I remember best. I was 12, and this was big-time stuff in Alberta back then. Most people predicted a Flames (1st overall that year, and 1st in offense) victory. Calgary had home ice advantage for the first time, and had gone 10-4-2 vs. Edmonton since the 1986 series. But...
The Oilers showed their championship-mettle in this series, being extremely prepared, having a strategy that worked, and playing solid defense. Game one was basically a defensive game, but Kurri broke through (past Reinhart, who had been rushed back from injury and did not look good) to score the game winner. Gretzky clinched it on a breakaway, but this one was a goalies' battle, won by Fuhr. In game two, the Flames broke out to a 2-0 lead and seemed destined to win. They led 4-3 midway through the third period when -- again -- Kurri blew past Reinhart to score and tie it. In overtime, Messier almost won the game but then took a penalty instead in frustration. Fortunately, the second-unit PK was Gretzky-Kurri and they combined again, with Wayne racing down the wing to score on that famous slapshot heard 'round Alberta. Mike Vernon later said he had nightmares about this goal for years afterwards, as everyone knew the series was over the moment it went in. (In fact, Gretzky actually told the Flames' zamboni driver not to bother getting it ready in preparation for a game five.)
Oilers won game three at home, and in game four the fans had the brooms out for the sweep. The Oil built a 4-0 lead before the Flames battled back a bit, but it was far too late.
It was actually a closer series (three of four games were tight) than it appears as a sweep, but nevertheless the Oilers won in four.
1991
This series (along with that Toronto - NY Islanders series from 2002) is the bloodiest, most vicious / brutal hockey series I've ever seen. Just out-of-control, nastiness on almost every shift. Pure hatred between the clubs. By today's standards, nearly every player would have spent literally half the series in the penalty box, with multiple suspensions every game, and probably at least a few lawsuits. Good Lord, it was brutal.
(Examples: That famous Messier elbow to Rick Nattress' head. No penalty called on it. After a Flames' goal, Roberts celebrated a little too much in the goal-crease and was punched hard in the face by Beukeboom, in full view of the ref who was nearby and clearly watching. No penalty.)
Anyway, the Oilers won game one and later won both games at Edmonton to take a 3-1 series lead. But (like in 1984) the Flames fought back and later won game six at Northlands in overtime on the oft-remember Fleury celebration when he basically mocked the Edmonton bench... a bad move, as it turned out.
Game 7 was a classic Flames' choke from this era. A 3-0 lead in the 1st period... and they blew it. First, "Hall of Famer" (choke!) Mike Vernon let in a soft slapper from the boards by Tikkanen, and then Anderson, Tikkanen (again), and Semenov (who was quite a good player) scored. But Calgary tied it in the third and off to overtime we went.
Tikkanen was really fired up in this game, and deservedly he fired home the winner.
2022
I really enjoyed this... only had to wait 31 years. The series featured worse goaltending than any of the 1980s' series had, and there were goals galore. Flames won 9-6 in game one, but actually blew a 6-2 lead before rallying.
Flames had a 2-0 lead and a 3-1 lead in game two... but, you guessed it, they blew it. When Hyman scored shorthanded to break a 3-3 tie in the third period, I knew the Oilers were going to win this series because the look on his face was pure passionate joy, and it was clear the Oilers wanted this more than the Flames did.
The series turned for good in game three with Edmonton winning convincingly, and they won again in game four (despite Mike Smith almost blowing it by letting in a 135-foot flip shot that tied the game in the third). Oilers got a little lucky with a disallowed goal by Calgary late in game five, but in overtime McDavid put it away.
Draisaitl scored 17 points in the five games -- most in NHL history for a five game series.
Completely one-sided for Edmonton, which outscored Calgary 35 to 13 (that means the average score in each game was 7-2 or 7-3 Edmonton). Calgary managed to win game four at home (the final NHL game ever at the Corral)... but only barely, blowing a 6-2 lead with ten minutes left and ending 6-5.
My favorite stat of this era: In this short series, Flames' Dman Paul Reinhart scored 6 (!) goals (in five games)... and went -14.
A great series to see the peak of the cocky, young Oilers going all out and pouring on the offence to humiliate their opponent, but not great for competitive hockey.
1984
I'm not as familiar with this series as I should be and have only seen random clips of games, incl. most of game 7.
Oilers had a 3-1 series lead and probably should have wrapped it up in five, but Grant Fuhr and Gretzky / Kurri all had poor game five's at home, leading to a game six at the Saddledome. Flames had the lead in that one, too, before the Oil tied it in the third and sent it to overtime. But Lanny McDonald scored on a slapper that banked off a body and Fuhr's leg and in. So, game 7.
Back in Edmonton, the Flames enjoyed a 4-3 lead with 26 minutes left on the clock. But the Oil scored three goals in just over four minutes late in the 2nd, which pretty much put it to bed.
The significance of this series was that Calgary showed it wasn't a doormat, as in the previous two seasons, and now was going to challenge Edmonton. (Though they would still get spanked in the regular season for another two years.)
1986
This (and 1991) are the two real classics, I think. This also went to seven games, and, of course remains the only series the Flames ever won vs. Edmonton.
Very good hockey in this series, and lots of great players at their peaks or coming into them. The story of this series is Calgary's disciplined play which didn't give Edmonton the fast-break turnover chances they were accustomed to getting. The other story is how successful the Flames were at Northlands: The Oilers failed to win ANY of their four home games in regulation, losing three of them. And generally, mid-dynasty, the Oil were almost unbeatable at Northlands, so that was very shocking.
Edmonton faced elimination in game six at Calgary... but came up with a very championship-like effort, overcoming an 0-2 deficit to effectively win 3-2 (it was eventually 5-2 but the last two were final-minute goals). It was a heroic third-period Gretzky-to-Coffey-to-Anderson goal that stood up as the winner. Coffey had a strong game, which he generally didn't in this series.
Game 7... Gretzky and Coffey cross signals on the PP, leading to a Flames break that goes in for a shortie. In the 2nd, brutal coverage by Coffey-Huddy allows Peplinksi to go to the net and bang-in his own rebound. The Oil then woke up and scored twice to tie it before the intermission, including a spectacular Kurri-to-Messier breakaway in the final minute (Gretzky and Kurri were broken up as Kurri wasn't scoring).
So, we're at 2-2 heading into the third period, and the Oilers have the momentum. What could go wrong?? (We all know what went wrong.)
But I'm fairly certain that if not for that fluke winner, the Flames win this series anyway. Edmonton was behind the 8-ball from the opening minute of game one and never really recovered.
1988
This is the old-days one I remember best. I was 12, and this was big-time stuff in Alberta back then. Most people predicted a Flames (1st overall that year, and 1st in offense) victory. Calgary had home ice advantage for the first time, and had gone 10-4-2 vs. Edmonton since the 1986 series. But...
The Oilers showed their championship-mettle in this series, being extremely prepared, having a strategy that worked, and playing solid defense. Game one was basically a defensive game, but Kurri broke through (past Reinhart, who had been rushed back from injury and did not look good) to score the game winner. Gretzky clinched it on a breakaway, but this one was a goalies' battle, won by Fuhr. In game two, the Flames broke out to a 2-0 lead and seemed destined to win. They led 4-3 midway through the third period when -- again -- Kurri blew past Reinhart to score and tie it. In overtime, Messier almost won the game but then took a penalty instead in frustration. Fortunately, the second-unit PK was Gretzky-Kurri and they combined again, with Wayne racing down the wing to score on that famous slapshot heard 'round Alberta. Mike Vernon later said he had nightmares about this goal for years afterwards, as everyone knew the series was over the moment it went in. (In fact, Gretzky actually told the Flames' zamboni driver not to bother getting it ready in preparation for a game five.)
Oilers won game three at home, and in game four the fans had the brooms out for the sweep. The Oil built a 4-0 lead before the Flames battled back a bit, but it was far too late.
It was actually a closer series (three of four games were tight) than it appears as a sweep, but nevertheless the Oilers won in four.
1991
This series (along with that Toronto - NY Islanders series from 2002) is the bloodiest, most vicious / brutal hockey series I've ever seen. Just out-of-control, nastiness on almost every shift. Pure hatred between the clubs. By today's standards, nearly every player would have spent literally half the series in the penalty box, with multiple suspensions every game, and probably at least a few lawsuits. Good Lord, it was brutal.
(Examples: That famous Messier elbow to Rick Nattress' head. No penalty called on it. After a Flames' goal, Roberts celebrated a little too much in the goal-crease and was punched hard in the face by Beukeboom, in full view of the ref who was nearby and clearly watching. No penalty.)
Anyway, the Oilers won game one and later won both games at Edmonton to take a 3-1 series lead. But (like in 1984) the Flames fought back and later won game six at Northlands in overtime on the oft-remember Fleury celebration when he basically mocked the Edmonton bench... a bad move, as it turned out.
Game 7 was a classic Flames' choke from this era. A 3-0 lead in the 1st period... and they blew it. First, "Hall of Famer" (choke!) Mike Vernon let in a soft slapper from the boards by Tikkanen, and then Anderson, Tikkanen (again), and Semenov (who was quite a good player) scored. But Calgary tied it in the third and off to overtime we went.
Tikkanen was really fired up in this game, and deservedly he fired home the winner.
2022
I really enjoyed this... only had to wait 31 years. The series featured worse goaltending than any of the 1980s' series had, and there were goals galore. Flames won 9-6 in game one, but actually blew a 6-2 lead before rallying.
Flames had a 2-0 lead and a 3-1 lead in game two... but, you guessed it, they blew it. When Hyman scored shorthanded to break a 3-3 tie in the third period, I knew the Oilers were going to win this series because the look on his face was pure passionate joy, and it was clear the Oilers wanted this more than the Flames did.
The series turned for good in game three with Edmonton winning convincingly, and they won again in game four (despite Mike Smith almost blowing it by letting in a 135-foot flip shot that tied the game in the third). Oilers got a little lucky with a disallowed goal by Calgary late in game five, but in overtime McDavid put it away.
Draisaitl scored 17 points in the five games -- most in NHL history for a five game series.
1984 for me.
Might have turned out differently if Nilsson hadn't broken his ankle late in the season.
Might have turned out differently if Nilsson hadn't broken his ankle late in the season.
Crosby2010
Registered User
- Mar 4, 2023
- 1,174
- 1,005
1991 from an entertaining point of view I think. It was missing Gretzky, which was too bad. Had that awful giveaway by Messier for the Fleury overtime winner. Then in Game 7 the opposite happens. Vernon was well off his game this night but I do have to admit he is badly screened by his own defense on the overtime winner.
As a diehard on the (mostly) wrong side of this rivalry, the notes so far pretty much cover my thoughts for each series. I'm an '87 baby, so I was either not alive or too young to appreciate any of these series, pre-2022. I've watched as much as I can on YouTube, though! From what I have learned, I would rank the series, top-to-bottom, like this.
1986 (you could really pick either '86 or '91 as the best, depending on your fandom)
1991
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1984
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2022
1988
1983
The Flames had been building for the '86 series since the arrival of "Badger" Bob Johnson as coach in the summer of '82. It took a few years of catching up and retooling the roster from the Atlanta holdovers, but by '86 it was pretty much fair game. Especially after the additions of Mullen and Tonelli during the regular season. Johnson had the infamous "Seven Point Plan" to beat the Oilers, even if we've never fully discovered all seven points. This was the year Vernon supplanted Lemelin, as the latter usually struggled against the Oilers. It sucks that it took us 7 games to beat the Blues in the next round, but I imagine the Oilers series took almost everything out of them. Shame we couldn't beat the Habs in the finals...at least that time.
I somehow only just started reading "The Battle of Alberta" by Mark Spector, and it goes into great detail about this whole rivalry. I highly recommend it if you want more behind the scenes details. I wish I had been around for the 80's rivalry as it just sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime situation with all the right variables lining up. *sigh*
A few notes/questions:
- The series I want to know more about is '84. I've watched the Game 7 but I'm curious if anyone thought the Flames had a shot heading into the series. Watching Messier injure three Flames in the game...what a force of nature. It's incredible to me that we had a decent lead so late into the game. I do wonder if Nilsson makes any difference. I doubt it, but ya never know.
- I started a thread on this awhile back, but the big "what if?" for me is 1987 (followed closely by the potential 2006 series). I think the Oilers are winning no matter what that year, but man, it would have been an incredible series after the drama of '86. Of course, we were probably looking ahead and had to choke to the Jets in round 1. Sensing a theme yet? What do we think here- can the Flames do it two years in a row?
Thanks for the great shares, pals!
1986 (you could really pick either '86 or '91 as the best, depending on your fandom)
1991
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1984
-----
2022
1988
1983
The Flames had been building for the '86 series since the arrival of "Badger" Bob Johnson as coach in the summer of '82. It took a few years of catching up and retooling the roster from the Atlanta holdovers, but by '86 it was pretty much fair game. Especially after the additions of Mullen and Tonelli during the regular season. Johnson had the infamous "Seven Point Plan" to beat the Oilers, even if we've never fully discovered all seven points. This was the year Vernon supplanted Lemelin, as the latter usually struggled against the Oilers. It sucks that it took us 7 games to beat the Blues in the next round, but I imagine the Oilers series took almost everything out of them. Shame we couldn't beat the Habs in the finals...at least that time.
I somehow only just started reading "The Battle of Alberta" by Mark Spector, and it goes into great detail about this whole rivalry. I highly recommend it if you want more behind the scenes details. I wish I had been around for the 80's rivalry as it just sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime situation with all the right variables lining up. *sigh*
A few notes/questions:
- The series I want to know more about is '84. I've watched the Game 7 but I'm curious if anyone thought the Flames had a shot heading into the series. Watching Messier injure three Flames in the game...what a force of nature. It's incredible to me that we had a decent lead so late into the game. I do wonder if Nilsson makes any difference. I doubt it, but ya never know.
- I started a thread on this awhile back, but the big "what if?" for me is 1987 (followed closely by the potential 2006 series). I think the Oilers are winning no matter what that year, but man, it would have been an incredible series after the drama of '86. Of course, we were probably looking ahead and had to choke to the Jets in round 1. Sensing a theme yet? What do we think here- can the Flames do it two years in a row?
Thanks for the great shares, pals!
The Panther
Registered User
vadim sharifijanov
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2007
- 29,253
- 17,128
the one that began with matt tkachuk scoring a hat trick to put away one of the wildest games i’ve ever seen and his dad, who hates the playoffs, refusing to chuck his hat
come to think of it, what calgary did that game is basically what florida did in the finals: jump out to a huge seemingly insurmountable lead, then letting mcdavid do mcdavid things to tie it up, before dashing his hopes at the end. matt tkachuk finishing the job he started in calgary last night, although not literally because he flubbed that EN because of course he did he’s a tkachuk.
come to think of it, what calgary did that game is basically what florida did in the finals: jump out to a huge seemingly insurmountable lead, then letting mcdavid do mcdavid things to tie it up, before dashing his hopes at the end. matt tkachuk finishing the job he started in calgary last night, although not literally because he flubbed that EN because of course he did he’s a tkachuk.
