2023–24 Edmonton Oilers season
| ← Previous revision | Revision as of 05:16, 25 April 2026 | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
Throughout the duration of the regular season, the Oilers only managed to tally an abysmal 3–9–1 record in their opening games, resulting in them being in joint last place in the league standings alongside the San Jose Sharks. Consequently, the decision was made to terminate the contract of head coach [[Jay Woodcroft]]. Nevertheless, their lackluster beginning was soon eclipsed by the Oilers' remarkable achievement of a 16-game winning streak, setting a new Canadian and franchise record, which started on December 21, 2023, and ended on February 6, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Van Diest |first=Derek |date=2024-02-07 |title=Oilers moving on after winning streak ends at 16 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-insider/edmonton-oilers-winning-streak-ends-at-16 |website=NHL.com |access-date=February 21, 2024 }} The Oilers eventually finished the regular season with 104 points via a {{win-loss record|w=49|l=27|otl=6}} record, which gave them second place in the [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific Division]]. Moreover, team captain [[Connor McDavid]] led the team in scoring with 132 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/m/mcdavco01.html|title=Connor McDavid Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|website=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=May 31, 2024}} 100 of those points were assists, making him the first NHL player in over three decades and the fourth player (alongside [[Wayne Gretzky]], [[Mario Lemieux]] and [[Bobby Orr]]) in NHL history to record at least 100 assists in a single NHL season, with the most recent being [[Wayne Gretzky]] dating back to the [[1990–91 NHL season#Player statistics|1990–91 NHL season]].{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-becomes-fourth-player-in-nhl-history-to-tally-100-assists-in-a-single-season/|title=Oilers' Connor McDavid becomes fourth player in NHL history to tally 100 assists in a single season|last=Bengel|first=Chris|publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc.|date=April 16, 2024|website=CBSSports.com|accessdate=May 31, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-mcdavid-gets-100-assists-in-season-for-edmonton-oilers |title=McDavid becomes 4th player in NHL history to get 100 assists in season |author=National Hockey League |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=April 16, 2024}} Fellow Oilers teammate [[Zach Hyman]] would net a personal-best of 54 goals and 77 points for the first time in his career.{{cite web |title=Hyman Shines for Cup-Hungry Edmonton |url=https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/hyman-shines-for-cup-hungry-edmonton |author=David Ostrowsky |publisher=Atlanta Jewish Times |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=June 26, 2024}} |
Throughout the duration of the regular season, the Oilers only managed to tally an abysmal 3–9–1 record in their opening games, resulting in them being in joint last place in the league standings alongside the San Jose Sharks. Consequently, the decision was made to terminate the contract of head coach [[Jay Woodcroft]]. Nevertheless, their lackluster beginning was soon eclipsed by the Oilers' remarkable achievement of a 16-game winning streak, setting a new Canadian and franchise record, which started on December 21, 2023, and ended on February 6, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Van Diest |first=Derek |date=2024-02-07 |title=Oilers moving on after winning streak ends at 16 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/nhl-insider/edmonton-oilers-winning-streak-ends-at-16 |website=NHL.com |access-date=February 21, 2024 }} The Oilers eventually finished the regular season with 104 points via a {{win-loss record|w=49|l=27|otl=6}} record, which gave them second place in the [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific Division]]. Moreover, team captain [[Connor McDavid]] led the team in scoring with 132 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/m/mcdavco01.html|title=Connor McDavid Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|website=hockey-reference.com|accessdate=May 31, 2024}} 100 of those points were assists, making him the first NHL player in over three decades and the fourth player (alongside [[Wayne Gretzky]], [[Mario Lemieux]] and [[Bobby Orr]]) in NHL history to record at least 100 assists in a single NHL season, with the most recent being [[Wayne Gretzky]] dating back to the [[1990–91 NHL season#Player statistics|1990–91 NHL season]].{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-becomes-fourth-player-in-nhl-history-to-tally-100-assists-in-a-single-season/|title=Oilers' Connor McDavid becomes fourth player in NHL history to tally 100 assists in a single season|last=Bengel|first=Chris|publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc.|date=April 16, 2024|website=CBSSports.com|accessdate=May 31, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/connor-mcdavid-gets-100-assists-in-season-for-edmonton-oilers |title=McDavid becomes 4th player in NHL history to get 100 assists in season |author=National Hockey League |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=April 16, 2024}} Fellow Oilers teammate [[Zach Hyman]] would net a personal-best of 54 goals and 77 points for the first time in his career.{{cite web |title=Hyman Shines for Cup-Hungry Edmonton |url=https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/hyman-shines-for-cup-hungry-edmonton |author=David Ostrowsky |publisher=Atlanta Jewish Times |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=June 26, 2024}} |
||
On April 5, the Oilers clinched their fifth consecutive playoff spot after a 6–2 win over the [[2023–24 Colorado Avalanche season|Colorado Avalanche]].{{cite web |last1=Moddejonge |first1=Gerry |title=Oilers surge past Avalanche, clinch playoff berth |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-edmonton-oilers-game-recap-april-5 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 6, 2024 |date=April 5, 2024}} In the first round, they eliminated the [[2023–24 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] for the third consecutive season, this time in five games.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Kevin |title=Draisaitl, Oilers eliminate Kings with win in Game 5 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-edmonton-oilers-game-5-recap-may-1 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 20, 2024 |date=May 1, 2024}} In the second round, they dispatched the [[2023–24 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] in seven games.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Kevin |title=Oilers hold off Canucks in Game 7, advance to Western Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-vancouver-canucks-game-7-recap-may-20 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 20, 2024 |date=May 20, 2024}} In the Western Conference finals, they ousted the [[2023–24 Dallas Stars season|Dallas Stars]] in six games, advancing to the [[2024 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]] for the first time since [[2006 Stanley Cup Final|2006]], where they faced the [[2023–24 Florida Panthers season|Florida Panthers]].{{cite web |last1=Moddejonge |first1=Gerry |title=Oilers withstand late Stars rally in Game 6, advance to Stanley Cup Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-edmonton-oilers-game-6-recap-june-2 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 2, 2024 |date=June 2, 2024}} During the [[2024 Stanley Cup Final]], the Oilers found themselves trailing 3-0 in the series before staging an unforeseen comeback by winning the following three games to push the series to force a seventh game. This dramatic turn of events could have potentially marked the first [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits#Unsuccessful comebacks|reverse sweep]] in recent memory, a feat not witnessed in the NHL since the [[1942 Stanley Cup Final]]. However, despite the team's valiant efforts, the Oilers were unable to sustain their momentum and ultimately succumbed to the Panthers in the crucial final game seven of the series.{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Dan |title=Panthers recover, defeat Oilers in Game 7 of Stanley Cup Final for 1st title |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-7-recap-june-24 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 24, 2024 |date=June 24, 2024}} |
On April 5, the Oilers clinched their fifth consecutive playoff spot after a 6–2 win over the [[2023–24 Colorado Avalanche season|Colorado Avalanche]].{{cite web |last1=Moddejonge |first1=Gerry |title=Oilers surge past Avalanche, clinch playoff berth |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-edmonton-oilers-game-recap-april-5 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 6, 2024 |date=April 5, 2024}} In the first round, they eliminated the [[2023–24 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles Kings]] for the third consecutive season, this time in five games.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Kevin |title=Draisaitl, Oilers eliminate Kings with win in Game 5 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-edmonton-oilers-game-5-recap-may-1 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 20, 2024 |date=May 1, 2024}} In the second round, they dispatched the [[2023–24 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] in seven games.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Kevin |title=Oilers hold off Canucks in Game 7, advance to Western Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-vancouver-canucks-game-7-recap-may-20 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 20, 2024 |date=May 20, 2024}} In the Western Conference finals, they ousted the [[2023–24 Dallas Stars season|Dallas Stars]] in six games, advancing to the [[2024 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]] for the first time since [[2006 Stanley Cup Final|2006]], where they faced the [[2023–24 Florida Panthers season|Florida Panthers]].{{cite web |last1=Moddejonge |first1=Gerry |title=Oilers withstand late Stars rally in Game 6, advance to Stanley Cup Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-edmonton-oilers-game-6-recap-june-2 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 2, 2024 |date=June 2, 2024}} During the [[2024 Stanley Cup Final]], the Oilers found themselves trailing 3-0 in the series before staging an unforeseen comeback by winning the following three games to push the series to force a seventh game. This dramatic turn of events could have potentially marked the first [[List of teams that have overcome 3–0 series deficits#Unsuccessful comebacks|reverse sweep]] in recent memory, a feat not witnessed in the NHL since [[2014 Stanley Cup playoffs#(P2) San Jose Sharks vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings|2014]] and the Stanley Cup Final since [[1942 Stanley Cup Final|1942]]. However, despite the team's valiant efforts, the Oilers were unable to sustain their momentum and ultimately succumbed to the Panthers in the crucial final game seven of the series.{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Dan |title=Panthers recover, defeat Oilers in Game 7 of Stanley Cup Final for 1st title |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-florida-panthers-game-7-recap-june-24 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 24, 2024 |date=June 24, 2024}} |
||
Although the Oilers fell short in the Stanley Cup Final, they did not come away empty-handed; for his outstanding performance throughout the entire playoff and Final run, team captain [[Connor McDavid]] was awarded the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] as the most valuable player (MVP) of the playoffs. McDavid became the first player since [[Jean-Sébastien Giguère|Jean-Sebastien Giguere]] in {{scfy|2003}} and the sixth overall in NHL history to be bestowed with the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing team.{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2024-06-24 |title=Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-wins-conn-smythe-trophy-1.2139646 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}} |
Although the Oilers fell short in the Stanley Cup Final, they did not come away empty-handed; for his outstanding performance throughout the entire playoff and Final run, team captain [[Connor McDavid]] was awarded the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] as the most valuable player (MVP) of the playoffs. McDavid became the first player since [[Jean-Sébastien Giguère|Jean-Sebastien Giguere]] in {{scfy|2003}} and the sixth overall in NHL history to be bestowed with the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing team.{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2024-06-24 |title=Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-wins-conn-smythe-trophy-1.2139646 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}} |
||
