The 1981–82 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' third season in the NHL. The Oilers dramatically improved on their previous two seasons, as they finished with a franchise record 48 wins and 111 points, winning the Smythe Division for the first time in team history. The Oilers set an NHL record with 417 goals, the first time in NHL history that a team finished with over 400 goals.
Wayne Gretzky continued rewriting the record books, scoring an NHL record 92 goals, which included 50 goals in 39 games, also an NHL record. Gretzky's 212 points was also a record, and it was the first time in NHL history that a player had over 200 points, as he won his third Hart Memorial Trophy and his second Art Ross Trophy.
Mark Messier broke the 50 goal plateau for the first time in his career, while Glenn Anderson got 105 points. Paul Coffey led the defense with 89 points.
In goal, Grant Fuhr became the starting goalie, and would break the Oilers franchise record for wins in a season with 28. He also led the club with a 3.31 GAA and a .898 save percentage.
For the first time in their short NHL history, the Oilers entered the Stanley Cup playoffs as a clear favorite to make a deep postseason run. Going into the playoffs, the Oilers faced the Los Angeles Kings, and after splitting the first two games, the Oilers held a 5–0 lead on the Kings heading into the third period of game three. Los Angeles came back to tie the game at 5–5, before completing the comeback with an overtime goal, taking a 2–1 series lead. The game came to be known as the Miracle on Manchester. Edmonton came back to tie the series in game four, but the Kings eliminated Edmonton in game five, shocking the hockey world, and ending the Oilers season a lot sooner than expected.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 7 || Colorado Rockies || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || 17,490 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 6 || Vancouver Canucks || || Moog || 13,122 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 4 || Los Angeles Kings || || Low || 8,839 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 14 || Winnipeg Jets || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,430 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 16 || Calgary Flames || 4 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || 17,490 || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Moog || 12,395 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 4 || Calgary Flames || || Low || 7,226 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 21 || Hartford Whalers || 2 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 6–3–0 || 12 ||
| 10 || October 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 1 || Colorado Rockies || || Low || 9,283 || 7–3–0 || 14 ||
| 11 || October 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || New York Islanders || || Moog || 14,594 || 7–4–0 || 14 ||
| 12 || October 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || New York Rangers || || Fuhr || 17,322 || 8–4–0 || 16 ||
| 13 || October 31 || Quebec Nordiques || 4 – 11 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 9–4–0 || 18 ||
| 14 || November 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 10–4–0 || 20 ||
| 15 || November 7 || Colorado Rockies || 5 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || 17,490 || 10–5–0 || 20 ||
| 16 || November 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Hartford Whalers || || Fuhr || 11,101 || 10–5–1 || 21 ||
| 17 || November 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Boston Bruins || || Low || 10,666 || 10–6–1 || 21 ||
| 18 || November 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 5 || New York Islanders || || Fuhr || 15,143 || 10–6–2 || 22 ||
| 19 || November 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || New York Rangers || || Fuhr || 17,418 || 11–6–2 || 24 ||
| 20 || November 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 1 || St. Louis Blues || || Low || 15,229 || 12–6–2 || 26 ||
| 21 || November 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 2 || Minnesota North Stars || || Fuhr || 15,784 || 12–6–3 || 27 ||
| 22 || November 21 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 13–6–3 || 29 ||
| 23 || November 23 || Detroit Red Wings || 4 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 14–6–3 || 31 ||
| 24 || November 25 || Los Angeles Kings || 4 – 11 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 15–6–3 || 33 ||
| 25 || November 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 16–6–3 || 35 ||
| 26 || November 29 || Edmonton Oilers || 10 – 2 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || 15,756 || 17–6–3 || 37 ||
| 27 || December 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Montreal Canadiens || || Fuhr || 18,094 || 17–6–4 || 38 ||
| 28 || December 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 9 || Quebec Nordiques || || Low || 15,230 || 17–7–4 || 38 ||
| 29 || December 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 18–7–4 || 40 ||
| 30 || December 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Fuhr || 15,271 || 18–7–5 || 41 ||
| 31 || December 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 5 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || 11,259 || 18–7–6 || 42 ||
| 32 || December 13 || New York Islanders || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 19–7–6 || 44 ||
| 33 || December 16 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 4 || Colorado Rockies || || Low || 6,168 || 20–7–6 || 46 ||
| 34 || December 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 4 || Calgary Flames || || Low || 7,226 || 21–7–6 || 48 ||
| 35 || December 19 || Minnesota North Stars || 6 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || 17,490 || 22–7–6 || 50 ||
| 36 || December 20 || Calgary Flames || 7 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || 17,490 || 22–8–6 || 50 ||
| 37 || December 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 1 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 23–8–6 || 52 ||
| 38 || December 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 10 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 24–8–6 || 54 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 25–8–6 || 56 ||
| 40 || December 31 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Low || 16,413 || 25–9–6 || 56 ||
| 41 || January 2 || Boston Bruins || 4 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 25–9–7 || 57 ||
| 42 || January 6 || Colorado Rockies || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 26–9–7 || 59 ||
| 43 || January 9 || Calgary Flames || 2 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 27–9–7 || 61 ||
| 44 || January 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 5 || Calgary Flames || || Low || 7,234 || 27–10–7 || 61 ||
| 45 || January 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 6 || Washington Capitals || || Fuhr || 3,284 || 27–10–8 || 62 ||
| 46 || January 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 8 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Low || 17,147 || 27–11–8 || 62 ||
| 47 || January 16 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Fuhr || 16,360 || 27–12–8 || 62 ||
| 48 || January 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Detroit Red Wings || || Fuhr || 20,628 || 27–12–9 || 63 ||
| 49 || January 20 || St. Louis Blues || 6 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 28–12–9 || 65 ||
| 50 || January 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Low || 16,413 || 29–12–9 || 67 ||
| 51 || January 24 || Colorado Rockies || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 30–12–9 || 69 ||
| 52 || January 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 4 || St. Louis Blues || || Low || 17,533 || 31–12–9 || 71 ||
| 53 || January 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Fuhr || 17,401 || 31–12–10 || 72 ||
| 54 || January 29 || Buffalo Sabres || 1 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 32–12–10 || 74 ||
| 55 || January 31 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 33–12–10 || 76 ||
| 56 || February 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 6 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 33–13–10 || 76 ||
| 57 || February 6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 34–13–10 || 78 ||
| 58 || February 7 || New York Rangers || 4 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 35–13–10 || 80 ||
| 59 || February 12 || Washington Capitals || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 36–13–10 || 82 ||
| 60 || February 14 || Boston Bruins || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 36–13–11 || 83 ||
| 61 || February 17 || Minnesota North Stars || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 37–13–11 || 85 ||
| 62 || February 19 || Hartford Whalers || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 38–13–11 || 87 ||
| 63 || February 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 3 || Detroit Red Wings || || Low || 20,270 || 39–13–11 || 89 ||
| 64 || February 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 3 || Buffalo Sabres || || Fuhr || 16,433 || 40–13–11 || 91 ||
| 65 || February 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Low || 16,033 || 41–13–11 || 93 ||
| 66 || February 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Washington Capitals || || Fuhr || 18,130 || 42–13–11 || 95 ||
| 67 || March 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Montreal Canadiens || || Fuhr || 18,101 || 42–13–12 || 96 ||
| 68 || March 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || Quebec Nordiques || || Low || 15,290 || 42–14–12 || 96 ||
| 69 || March 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Colorado Rockies || || Fuhr || 16,384 || 42–15–12 || 96 ||
| 70 || March 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || 16,005 || 42–16–12 || 96 ||
| 71 || March 12 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 42–17–12 || 96 ||
| 72 || March 13 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 43–17–12 || 98 ||
| 73 || March 15 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 43–17–13 || 99 ||
| 74 || March 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4 – 10 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 17,490 || 44–17–13 || 101 ||
| 75 || March 19 || Calgary Flames || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 44–17–14 || 102 ||
| 76 || March 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 2 || Calgary Flames || || Fuhr || 7,234 || 45–17–14 || 104 ||
| 77 || March 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 6 || Colorado Rockies || || Low || 16,384 || 45–17–15 || 105 ||
| 78 || March 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 2 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || 16,005 || 46–17–15 || 107 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 47–17–15 || 109 ||
| 80 || April 4 || Winnipeg Jets || 1 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 48–17–15 || 111 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 10 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 0–1 ||
| 2 || April 8 || Los Angeles Kings || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || 17,490 || 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles Kings || OT || Fuhr || 16,005 || 1–2 ||
| 4 || April 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || 16,005 || 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 13 || Los Angeles Kings || 7 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || 17,490 || 2–3 ||
Legend:
Season stats
Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMWayne Gretzky 80 92 120 212 26Glenn Anderson 80 38 67 105 71Paul Coffey 80 29 60 89 106Mark Messier 78 50 38 88 119Jari Kurri 71 32 54 86 32
Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO Save % GAAGrant Fuhr 48 2847 28 5 14 157 0 .898 3.31Ron Low 29 1554 17 7 1 100 0 .874 3.86Andy Moog 8 399 3 5 0 32 0 .842 4.81
Playoff stats
Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMWayne Gretzky 5 5 7 12 8Glenn Anderson 5 2 5 7 8Jari Kurri 5 2 5 7 10Risto Siltanen 5 3 2 5 10Dave Lumley 5 2 1 3 21
Goaltending Player GP TOI W L GA SO Save % GAAGrant Fuhr 5 309 2 3 26 0 N/A 5.05
Awards and records
Awards Art Ross Trophy: Wayne Gretzky Associated Press Athlete of the Year: Wayne GretzkyAssociated Press Athlete of the Year (male) Note: He would win that award on January 12, 1983 Hart Memorial Trophy: Wayne Gretzky Lou Marsh Trophy: Wayne Gretzky Lester B. Pearson Award: Wayne Gretzky