The 1986–87 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' eighth season in the National Hockey League, following a playoff loss to the Calgary Flames the season before, ending the Oilers' bid for a third-straight Stanley Cup. Edmonton won the Presidents' Trophy, as they finished with 106 points and won their sixth-straight Smythe Division title. There was no postseason upset this year, as the Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Final to win their third Stanley Cup in four years, although the Flyers did push the Final series to seven games.
As of this is the Oilers' most recent regular season division title, making it the longest such active drought in the North American major professional sports leagues.
Regular season Wayne Gretzky led the league with 183 points, earning his seventh consecutive Art Ross Trophy and his eighth straight Hart Trophy. Jari Kurri finished with 54 goals and 108 points, while Mark Messier had a career high 107 points. Esa Tikkanen had a break out season, getting 78 points, including 34 goals, along with 120 penalty minutes. Paul Coffey missed 21 games but still finished with 67 points to lead Oilers defencemen.
In goal, Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog once again split time, with Moog leading the team with 28 wins, while Fuhr posted a team best 3.44 GAA.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 2 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Fuhr || || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 4 || Montreal Canadiens || OT || Moog || || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 17 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 7 || Los Angeles Kings || || Moog || || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 21 || Chicago Blackhawks || 1 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 6 || Calgary Flames || || Moog || || 4–4–0 || 8 ||
| 9 || October 24 || Boston Bruins || 2 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 5–4–0 || 10 ||
| 10 || October 26 || Vancouver Canucks || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 || October 29 || Washington Capitals || 3 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 7–4–0 || 14 ||
| 12 || October 31 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 2 || Vancouver Canucks || || Fuhr || || 8–4–0 || 16 ||
| 13 || November 2 || Los Angeles Kings || 5 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Moog || || 8–4–1 || 17 ||
| 14 || November 5 || Calgary Flames || 3 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 8–5–1 || 17 ||
| 15 || November 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || Calgary Flames || || Fuhr || || 8–6–1 || 17 ||
| 16 || November 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 9–6–1 || 19 ||
| 17 || November 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || New York Islanders || OT || Fuhr || || 10–6–1 || 21 ||
| 18 || November 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Boston Bruins || OT || Fuhr || || 10–7–1 || 21 ||
| 19 || November 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 6 || Hartford Whalers || || Moog || || 10–8–1 || 21 ||
| 20 || November 16 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 6 || New York Rangers || || Fuhr || || 11–8–1 || 23 ||
| 21 || November 19 || New York Rangers || 4 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 12–8–1 || 25 ||
| 22 || November 22 || Vancouver Canucks || 2 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 13–8–1 || 27 ||
| 23 || November 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 6 || Calgary Flames || || Fuhr || || 13–9–1 || 27 ||
| 24 || November 26 || Winnipeg Jets || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 14–9–1 || 29 ||
| 25 || November 28 || Chicago Blackhawks || 6 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 14–10–1 || 29 ||
| 26 || December 3 || New York Islanders || 1 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 15–10–1 || 31 ||
| 27 || December 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Moog || || 16–10–1 || 33 ||
| 28 || December 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Moog || || 16–11–1 || 33 ||
| 29 || December 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Minnesota North Stars || || Fuhr || || 17–11–1 || 35 ||
| 30 || December 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 4 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || || 18–11–1 || 37 ||
| 31 || December 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 1 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 19–11–1 || 39 ||
| 32 || December 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || || 20–11–1 || 41 ||
| 33 || December 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 21–11–1 || 43 ||
| 34 || December 19 || Vancouver Canucks || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 22–11–1 || 45 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Los Angeles Kings || 8 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 22–11–2 || 46 ||
| 36 || December 23 || Winnipeg Jets || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 22–12–2 || 46 ||
| 37 || December 28 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 23–12–2 || 48 ||
| 38 || December 30 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Moog || || 24–12–2 || 50 ||
| 39 || January 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 1 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || || 25–12–2 || 52 ||
| 40 || January 7 || Los Angeles Kings || 6 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 25–13–2 || 52 ||
| 41 || January 9 || St. Louis Blues || 1 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 26–13–2 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 11 || Calgary Flames || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 27–13–2 || 56 ||
| 43 || January 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Detroit Red Wings || || Fuhr || || 28–13–2 || 58 ||
| 44 || January 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Quebec Nordiques || || Moog || || 29–13–2 || 60 ||
| 45 || January 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Moog || || 30–13–2 || 62 ||
| 46 || January 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 6 || Buffalo Sabres || OT || Moog || || 30–14–2 || 62 ||
| 47 || January 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Winnipeg Jets || || Moog || || 31–14–2 || 64 ||
| 48 || January 23 || New York Rangers || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 32–14–2 || 66 ||
| 49 || January 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 33–14–2 || 68 ||
| 50 || January 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Vancouver Canucks || OT || Moog || || 33–14–3 || 69 ||
| 51 || January 28 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 34–14–3 || 71 ||
| 52 || January 30 || Minnesota North Stars || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Moog || || 34–14–4 || 72 ||
| 53 || February 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || Chicago Blackhawks || || Moog || || 34–15–4 || 72 ||
| 54 || February 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || St. Louis Blues || || Fuhr || || 35–15–4 || 74 ||
| 55 || February 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 5 || Minnesota North Stars || OT || Fuhr || || 36–15–4 || 76 ||
| 56 || February 6 || New York Islanders || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 36–15–5 || 77 ||
| 57 || February 8 || St. Louis Blues || 2 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 37–15–5 || 79 ||
| 58 || February 15 || Washington Capitals || 5 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 37–16–5 || 79 ||
| 59 || February 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 38–16–5 || 81 ||
| 60 || February 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || || 38–17–5 || 81 ||
| 61 || February 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Moog || || 38–18–5 || 81 ||
| 62 || February 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || New Jersey Devils || || Fuhr || || 38–19–5 || 81 ||
| 63 || February 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 5 || Washington Capitals || || Fuhr || || 38–20–5 || 81 ||
| 64 || March 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 5 || Vancouver Canucks || || Moog || || 39–20–5 || 83 ||
| 65 || March 6 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 40–20–5 || 85 ||
| 66 || March 7 || Montreal Canadiens || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 41–20–5 || 87 ||
| 67 || March 11 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 42–20–5 || 89 ||
| 68 || March 14 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 43–20–5 || 91 ||
| 69 || March 15 || Hartford Whalers || 1 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 44–20–5 || 93 ||
| 70 || March 17 || New Jersey Devils || 4 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 45–20–5 || 95 ||
| 71 || March 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 5 || Calgary Flames || || Moog || || 45–21–5 || 95 ||
| 72 || March 20 || Calgary Flames || 6 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 45–22–5 || 95 ||
| 73 || March 23 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 6 || New Jersey Devils || || Moog || || 46–22–5 || 97 ||
| 74 || March 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Hartford Whalers || || Fuhr || || 47–22–5 || 99 ||
| 75 || March 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 4 || Boston Bruins || || Fuhr || || 47–23–5 || 99 ||
| 76 || March 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Moog || || 47–24–5 || 99 ||
| 77 || March 29 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Buffalo Sabres || || Fuhr || || 48–24–5 || 101 ||
| 78 || March 31 || Winnipeg Jets || 4 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Moog || || 49–24–5 || 103 ||
| 79 || April 2 || Calgary Flames || 4 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 49–24–6 || 104 ||
| 80 || April 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || || Moog || || 50–24–6 || 106 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
In the playoffs, the Oilers got a bit of a scare in their opening game against the Los Angeles Kings, losing 5–2, but Edmonton rebounded, winning game two by a 13–3 score and won eight games in a row to get past the Kings and sweep the Winnipeg Jets in the process. Edmonton had little trouble getting past the Detroit Red Wings in the Conference Finals, defeating them in five games and faced the only other 100-point team in the NHL in the Stanley Cup Final, the Philadelphia Flyers. The series went the full seven games, with Edmonton winning the seventh and deciding game by a 3–1 score to capture their third Stanley Cup in the past four years. No Oiler won the Conn Smythe Trophy, as Ron Hextall of the Flyers won it despite failing to win the Stanley Cup.
| 1 || April 8 || Los Angeles Kings || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 0–1 ||
| 2 || April 9 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 13 || Edmonton Oilers || || Moog || || 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 5 || Los Angeles Kings || || Moog || || 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || || Fuhr || || 3–1 ||
| 5 || April 14 || Los Angeles Kings || 4 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 4–1 ||
| 1 || April 21 || Winnipeg Jets || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 23 || Winnipeg Jets || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || || 3–0 ||
| 4 || April 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || Winnipeg Jets || || Fuhr || || 4–0 ||
| 1 || May 5 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 0–1 ||
| 2 || May 7 || Detroit Red Wings || 1 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 1 || Detroit Red Wings || || Fuhr || || 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Detroit Red Wings || || Fuhr || || 3–1 ||
| 5 || May 13 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 4–1 ||
| 1 || May 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Fuhr || || 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 20 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Fuhr || || 2–0 ||
| 3 || May 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Fuhr || || 2–1 ||