Grant Fuhr's Finals Shutout Game 1 Stanley Cup Final 1984

[vardiss22]

The only game that equals this one in importance for Fuhr was his 87 final game seven preformance 3 to 1 over a AWESOME Flyers teams probably THE toughest team any Cup winning Oiler team ever had to beat...especially considering that the Flyers took a very early 1-0 lead but Fuhr basically played like he did in this clip the rest of the way ...Hextall could not (but damn he was good) could have been 4 or 5 to one without him.

[saulpaulus]

@vardiss22 Hmmm...tougher than an Islander team that had just won 4 straight Cups and 19 straight playoff series?

[vardiss22]

@saulpaulus ..from a certain perspective yeah i think.. that 87 series went seven games (after the Oilers were up 3to 1) the flyers were also missing Tim Kerr (huge minus) and Brad MCcrimmon where as the the 84 series went just five games the last three not excatly close games (granted the Islanders were slightly banged up bunch in 84) also i think the 87 Oilers were better balanced team on offense and defense out of all the teams the oilers beat to win theCup they gave the best losing effort

[vardiss22]

@vardiss22 ....however that being said the 83 Islander team was no doubt the "best" team the Oilers ever played in a finals series as the 4-0 sweep proved ....btw John Tonelli deserves to have his jersey retired (its overdue) one the most underrated two way players to ever lace up apair of skates

[saulpaulus]

@vardiss22 Agree Tonelli, but Wolfman first.

[saulpaulus]

@vardiss22 More than slightly banged up. But, as I say below, if the Oil did not win Game 1, they probably would not have won that series. Not sure I agree with your argument. I think, to begin with, the 84 Isles had to go through much tougher opposition just to get to the Finals.

[saulpaulus]

This was the game that established the Oilers. If they hadn't won this game, they probably would not have won the Cup and Pocklington might even have broken the team up then and there. It is even more amazing that it was Fuhr's first Cup Finals appearance. What a champion!

[landrykkb]

It wasn't bery often that Grant Fuhr had to bail out his Oiler teammates with a stellar performance in goal,even before their Stanley Cup dynasty began.

[landrykkb]

It was this game that established Grant Fuhr!

[DungeonMastersLair]

I think it's special how one dynasty ended and another began. The drive for 5 was stopped because the thirst for first was quenched. Those were amazing times. All those hall of fame players from the islanders and oilers. Wow!!! That was hockey.

[leafyutube]

Yea I remember that game. The Isles were all over Edmonton the entire game, but Fuhr was the difference.

Btw, this was the only time the Isles lost at home in the Finals.

[dzanier]

You're right. The Islander had never lost a finals home game. Being that their last 2 cup wins were sweeps such an achievement was rendered impossible. They lost Game 2 and 5 in 1980 and Game 4 in 81. So they were 16-3 in the Finals from 80-83. That's exactly what the Habs were in Finals games from 76-79.

[dzanier]

Tough guy Kevin McLelland scored the only goal of this game, as Edmonton won 1-0.

[saulpaulus]

This game launched the Oilers. An out of body performance by Fuhr & the only goal scored by an unknown named McClellan. The Isles had won the two previous playoff series between the teams--including a four game sweep in the Finals the year before. They followed this game up with a 6-1 drubbing of the Oilers. Even with this win, the Oilers went back to Edmonton with the local press crucifying them for the Game 2 debacle. If they had Game 1, the Oiler dynasty might have ended before it started.

[saulpaulus]

@saulpaulus should read "if they had lost Game 1, the Oiler dynasty..."

[dzanier]

This game kind of parallels the first game the Isles won in 1980 versus the Flyers. It was Game 1 in Philly, they were down late but scored to tie and then won on a PP goal in OT. It was kind of a steal although not to the degree that this one was. This may be the biggest win the history of the Oilers franchise.

[saulpaulus]

@dzanier The Isles back then were death in OT, esp at home. No doubt that is why the Oil was so desperate to get the win in reg.

[dzanier]

Your argument about how if Edmonton doesn't win one on Long Island they may not have won the series has some merit, but when you consider how badly the Oilers ripped the Isles in Games 3,4,5 it's hard to believe they'd have come back to the Coliseum and been the pushovers that they were in Game 2 when they lost 6-1. You see in the games in Edmonton they finally solved Billy Smith, & psychologically that was HUGE. People say OT is a crapshoot, but the Isles at times turned it into a certainty.

[saulpaulus]

@dzanier But, theoretically speaking, after losing what would have been at that point 6 straight Finals games and 7 straight playoff games, the Isles would likely have been even more in the Oil's heads and the games in Edmonton might have gone very differently. Certainly it would have meant going back to the Island.

[dzanier]

Your argument is a good one. For what it's worth, the home-ice advantage that year was given to the Wales Conference (Prior to and ever since it's been awarded according to regular season point totals) since that conference had a higher winning percentage than the Campbell. The Oilers had the best team in the NHL that year with over 110 points & would've had home-ice, just like in 83. It should've been 2-2-1-1-1. In that case the Oilers would not have been obligated to win one on the Island.

[dzanier]

I also want to add that the Oilers had a lot of respect for the Islanders. They may not have been outwardly reverential but that was more a reflection of Glen Sather's personality. I'm a Rangers fan but I have great respect for the Islander dynasty. They might've been the greatest dynasty ever.

[saulpaulus]

@dzanier Amazing to hear a Rangers fan say that. What I usually hear--including from my brother--is that the Isles were given their dynasty, that anybody could have built that team if they'd had the Isles' picks. What they ignore is that the Isles didn't take very long to pass the Rangers in the standings and most of the core consisted of players the Rangers passed on--in some cases more than once. Smitty, Trots, Boss, the Sutters, Tonelli, and Morrow are among those the Rangers passed over.

[saulpaulus]

@dzanier As to the Oil, Gretzky tells of passing the Isles' room after the '83 win. He was walking by with Glenn Anderson & they were both dreading hearing the Isles celebrating. Instead, they look in and see Boss, Clarkie, Trots, the Captain, & others applying linements & using whirlpool baths. Gretzky looked at Anderson & said, "Glenn, that's what it takes to win." As the Isles' charter was about to leave Edmonton the next year, the Oil sent a message. "You showed us how to do it."

[saulpaulus]

@dzanier One more aside. It has been a well known story as to how legendary Habs GM Sam Pollock offered a mysterious significant package of veterans for the Captain that Bowtie Bill wisely declined. What Bill just revealed at the recent Isles-Cats game is that Emile Francis offered him an even better package that he also turned down. Of course, you may know that Keenan tried to induce the Captain out of retirement in 1994 to now avail (THANK GOD!!!).

[vardiss22]

@dzanier ....i agree Messier himself who played against those dynasty teams twice said the Islanders dynasty gets overlooked because it was in between the Habs 4 straight team in the 70's and the Oilers five in seven yr Cup team.

[vardiss22]

@saulpaulus true.....and the fact that Fuhr got hurt and wouldn't have been available for game six or seven (i don't see Moog being as good in Long Island) it would have VERY tough for the Oilers

[aerospacer1]

Very nice! Grant Fuhr is one of my all time favorites. Too bad he had so many injuries and addictions. He probably coulda held all the records for goalies.

[canuckster24]

@mrceebees14 First off, the fact that you quote scores like you know history proves you're already on the wrong track. The Oilers lost 6-1, not 6-3. The format for the finals had already been decided and approved of by the general managers long before the 83-84 season started. Why don't you go and watch the Mets or something instead of being bitter that your team has done jack all since 1983. Islanders didn't win 5 cups in a row... boo frickin hoo.

[Scoclamor]

And all I read is that the Oilers can't play defence!

[jshkendra]

I used to love that mask.

[SwampThing429]

I really miss watching Fuhr play.

[sail027li]

This praise is surprising, considering how much of a racist you are. Parent's SO clincher against the Bruins in 1974 would probably rate higher.

[MrBarelylethal]

m not really racist to be honest. I just get pissed when people want special treatment, good old grant fuhr didn't need it.

[sail027li]

Sorry good sir, I didn't mean you. It was aimed at "ULTRA"

[MrBarelylethal]

ah i see thank you good fellow

[ULTRAPOWER1977Habs]

Greatest Stanley Cup final shutout in history. More memorable than Dirty Bill Smiths 1-0 shuouts vs. Edm in 1983 because that year the Oilers were NOT the defending champions. In 1984, the Islanders were the defending champions so it made Fuhrs shutout extra sweet.