The 1987 Stanley Cup Final was played between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers….as the Oilers won the series 4–3, for their third Stanley Cup Championships….for this would be the fifth of eight consecutive Finals contested by a team from Alberta….when the Oilers appeared in six and the Calgary Flames in two)….while being the fourth of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice….with the Oilers winnning four times and the Montreal Canadiens once. Additionally, for the third straight year….the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers finished the regular season with the two best records in the NHL….when In 1984–85, the Flyers were first in NHL standings and the Oilers second; in both 1985–86 and 1986–87…when their positions were reversed…..while the Oilers’ success came from their vaunted offense with Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Wanye Gretzky et al….and, the Flyers relied on grit, defensive play, and solid goaltending from Vezina Trophy winner Ron Hextall.
The Oilers cruised into the Finals with relative ease….while losing only two games in the process….as they beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games….then swept the Winnipeg Jets….and then beat the Detroit Red Wings in five to win the Campbell Bowl for the fourth time in five years. The Flyers, meanwhile, had a much harder road….taking them six games to knock off the New York Rangers….followed by a full seven game series against the New York Islanders….and then beat reigning champ Montreal in six to claim their second Prince of Wales Trophy in three years. The Oilers and Flyers met in the Finals for the second time in three years….and this time they were the regular-season champion with 50 wins and 106 points….while the Flyers were second with 46 wins and 100 points.
This was a rematch of the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals….where the Oilers beat the Flyers in five games….but unlike then, this series went to seven games….as Edmonton took the first two games at home….then split in Philadelphia….but surprisingly the Flyers won the next two games….with one in being Edmonton and with one being back in Philadelphia to force a deciding seventh game. Edmonton won game seven to earn its third Stanley Cup in four seasons. During the Stanley Cup presentation, Oilers captain Wayne Gretzky would give the Cup to Steve Smith….who one year earlier scored on his own net that led to the the Oilers downfall against the Calgary Flames….their in-province rivals….in the Smythe Division Final. Flyers G Ron Hextall would receive the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts in this 1987 Stanley Cup Finals.
Many people consider this to be one of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals of all time….which makes this must see TV for any NHL fan…..any Sportsphile….and most sports fans.
