1980's Oilers 4v4 stats

TheStatican · Oct 25, 2023

Oilers goal totals by game situation(in Gretzky's games):

Regular Season

	Gm	Total	5v5	PP	4v4	SH
1979-80	79	300	223	61	5	11
1980-81	80	328	221	77	20	13
1981-82	80	417	301	87	17	12
1982-83	80	424	290	86	26	22
1983-84	74	427	289	76	29	35
1984-85	80	401	275	74	27	25
1985-86	80	426	315	78	6	27
1986-87	79	372	266	69	3	27

Playoffs

	Gm	Total	5v5	PP	4v4	SH
1979-80	3	6	4	1	0	1
1980-81	9	35	20	9	3	1
1981-82	5	23	13	4	3	3
1982-83	16	80	48	14	8	10
1983-84	19	94	57	17	12	4
1984-85	18	98	57	15	14	6
1985-86	10	41	28	8	0	4
1986-87	21	87	58	17	2	5

Based on the numbers I have during the 4v4 era of Gretzky's peak seasons the Oilers scored 101 4v4 goals in 320 games, which is an average of 0.32 per game. Over the next two seasons the team scored just 9 4v4 goals in 160 games, an average of 0.06

Here's the TOI break down of 4v4 time for each season. The numbers were rounded to the nearest 5 second interval for each opportunity, adding up exactly every second was a bit too time consuming. I didn't go through and add up the minutes for the 79-80 or 80-81 seasons either, as I was more interested in the other seasons. "CM" means Coincidental minors:

Regular Season

Year	Gm	CM	CM 4v4 G	Other 4v4 G	Total 4v4	Against	4v4 mins	'Actual' 4v4 Opp	O/gm
79-80	80	101	5	0	5	9			1.3
80-81	80	108	17	3	20	7			1.4
81-82	80	98	13	4	17	14	221:05	= 110.5	1.4
82-83	80	144	24	2	26	21	313:05	= 156.5	2.0
83-84	74	103	25	4	29	14	224:50	= 112	1.4
84-85	80	120	2	4	27	19	241:00	= 120.5	1.5
85-86	80	na	na	6	6	5	59:55	= 30	0.4
86-87	79	na	na	3	3	1	33:45	= 17	0.2

Playoffs

Year	Gm	CM	4v4 For	4v4 Against	4v4 mins	Actual 4v4 Opp	4v4 O/gm
1979-80	3	4	0	1		4*	1.3
1980-81	9	17	3	2		17*	1.9
1981-82	5	13	3	3	27:25	=13.7	2.7
1982-83	16	32	8	3	90:15	= 45.1	2.8
1983-84	19	46	12	5	98:25	= 49.2	2.6
1984-85	18	40	14	3	97:00	= 48.5	2.7
1985-86	10	na	0	0	4:10	= 2.1	0.2
1986-87	21	na	2	2	14:05	= 7.0	0.3

* total number of coincidental minors, did not add up the actual mins for 80 & 81 but the number of 4v4 mins closely correlates to the total number of CM's

4 on 4 opportunities is simply total 4v4 minutes divided by 120 seconds(2 minutes). A 120 second 4 on 4 opportunities is essentially equal to a powerplay opportunity because even though the average powerplay only lasts about 100 seconds(give or take a couple seconds at about 20% efficiency) it ends after a goal is scored where as four on four play does not end after a goal is scored. Approximately 86% of 4v4 goals came during coincidental minors; 87 of the Oilers 101 (85 of 99 in Gretzky's games). These are the type of goals that were no longer being scored between 1985 and 1992.

Here are the individual season by season game logs of their coincidental minors and 4 on 4 ice time(TOI #'s from 1981 to 87)

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp
1	1979-10-10	CBH	L			2
2	1979-10-13	DET	T			1
3	1979-10-14	VAN	T			1
4	1979-10-19	QUE	W
5	1979-10-21	MNS	T
6	1979-10-23	NYI	T			5
7	1979-10-24	NYR	L		2	1
8	1979-10-26	ATL	L			1
9	1979-10-28	WSH	L
10	1979-10-30	SLB	L			1
11	1979-11-02	NYI	W			1
12	1979-11-04	BOS	L
13	1979-11-07	DET	L			2
14	1979-11-08	BOS	L			1
15	1979-11-11	TOR	L			1
16	1979-11-13	WSH	W
17	1979-11-15	PHI	L			1
18	1979-11-17	HAR	L			1
19	1979-11-18	BUF	L
20	1979-11-21	TOR	T			1
21	1979-11-24	PHI	T			4
22	1979-11-28	CBH	W			1
23	1979-11-30	NYI	W		1	2
24	1979-12-05	MNS	L			1
25	1979-12-07	WIN	L
26	1979-12-09	HAR	W
27	1979-12-12	ATL	T			1
28	1979-12-14	MTL	W			1
29	1979-12-16	WIN	L			4
30	1979-12-19	DET	L
31	1979-12-21	CLR	L			1
32	1979-12-22	LAK	L		1
33	1979-12-26	CLR	W
34	1979-12-28	VAN	W		1	1
35	1979-12-30	QUE	L			1
36	1980-01-02	HAR	T			1
37	1980-01-05	LAK	T
38	1980-01-07	MTL	L			3
39	1980-01-09	QUE	L
40	1980-01-11	NYR	L
41	1980-01-13	BUF	W	1	1	5
42	1980-01-16	WSH	W
43	1980-01-17	BOS	L
44	1980-01-19	PIT	W			2
45	1980-01-20	BUF	T		1	3
46	1980-01-23	PIT	W			2
47	1980-01-26	TOR	W
48	1980-01-27	PHI	L			2
49	1980-01-29	STL	L		1	1
50	1980-01-30	LAK	W	1		1
51	1980-02-01	WIN	W
52	1980-02-03	LAK	W			1
53	1980-02-06	STL	L			3
54	1980-02-08	ATL	L			2
55	1980-02-10	WIN	T			2
56	1980-02-13	MNS	W			3
57	1980-02-15	WSH	W			3
58	1980-02-17	STL	T
59	1980-02-19	HAR	L			1
60	1980-02-20	NYR	L
61	1980-02-22	CLR	L			2
62	1980-02-24	BOS	L
63	1980-02-27	CBH	W			1
64	1980-02-29	BUF	L			1
65	1980-03-01	VAN	L
66	1980-03-04	NYI	L		1	2
67	1980-03-06	MTL	L			1
68	1980-03-08	PIT	L			5
69	1980-03-09	PHI	L			3
70	1980-03-12	QUE	W
71	1980-03-14	CBH	W			1
72	1980-03-15	MTL	L			2
73	1980-03-19	NYR	W	1		1
74	1980-03-21	PIT	W	1		4
75	1980-03-25	ATL	W	1		1
76	1980-03-26	DET	W
77	1980-03-29	TOR	W
78	1980-04-01	VAN	L			3
79	1980-04-02	MNS	T			1
80	1980-04-04	CLR	W			1
		RS Totals	5%	5	9	101

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp
1	1980-04-08	PHI	L		1	2
2	1980-04-09	PHI	L			2
3	1980-04-11	PHI	L
		PO Totals	0%	0	1	4

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp
1	1980-10-10	Nordiques	L			1
2	1980-10-12	Rockies	L			1
3	1980-10-15	Sabres	L			2
4	1980-10-18	Islanders	T	1		2
5	1980-10-19	Rangers	W			1
6	1980-10-22	Flames	W
7	1980-10-24	North Stars	L			2
8	1980-10-26	Kings	T
9	1980-10-29	Leafs	T
10	1980-11-01	Capitals	T	1		2
11	1980-11-03	Penguins	T			2
12	1980-11-05	Canucks	L			1
13	1980-11-07	Jets	W			1
14	1980-11-09	Blues	L
15	1980-11-13	Flyers	L
16	1980-11-15	Leafs	L			1
17	1980-11-16	Hawk	W			1
18	1980-11-19	Canucks	L			1
19	1980-11-23	Sabres	W
20	1980-11-25	Rockies	L
21	1980-11-26	Hawks	W			1
22	1980-11-28	Whalers	L			1
23	1980-11-29	Bruins	L			1
24	1980-12-05	Rangers	L			1
25	1980-12-07	Whalers	W			2
26	1980-12-10	Islanders	L
27	1980-12-13	Canadiens	L	1		2
28	1980-12-14	Nordiques	L			1
29	1980-12-16	Wings	L			1
30	1980-12-17	Capitals	L			3
31	1980-12-20	Canadiens	W
32	1980-12-23	Kings	L
33	1980-12-27	Wings	T	1		3
34	1980-12-28	Flyers	L		1	2
35	1980-12-30	Flames	L	1		2
36	1981-01-02	Bruins	W			1
37	1981-01-03	Leafs	W	1		3
38	1981-01-07	Capitals	W			1
39	1981-01-09	Whalers	T
40	1981-01-11	Nordiques	W	1		6
41	1981-01-12	Canadiens	L			3
42	1981-01-14	Leafs	W			3
43	1981-01-16	Sabres	T		1	1
44	1981-01-17	Blues	L
45	1981-01-21	Canucks	W			2
46	1981-01-23	Rangers	L		1	2
47	1981-01-24	North Stars	L			2
48	1981-01-28	Canadiens	W			1
49	1981-01-30	Hawks	W	1		2
50	1981-02-01	Capitals	L
51	1981-02-03	Blues	T	2		3
52	1981-02-04	Hawks	L		1	1
53	1981-02-06	Jets	W
54	1981-02-08	Flames	L
55	1981-02-13	Nordiques	L			1
56	1981-02-15	Sabres	T			2
57	1981-02-18	Blues	W	2		3
58	1981-02-20	Bruins	L			3
59	1981-02-21	Jets	W			1
60	1981-02-24	Kings	L
61	1981-02-25	Flyer	W	2		2
62	1981-02-27	Wings	W			2
63	1981-02-28	Rockies	L			4
64	1981-03-03	Islanders	T
65	1981-03-04	Rangers	T	1		1
66	1981-03-07	Flyers	W		1	3
67	1981-03-08	Penguins	L	1
68	1981-03-12	Islanders	L			1
69	1981-03-15	Flames	T		1	3
70	1981-03-16	Penguins	W			1
71	1981-03-18	North Stars	W
72	1981-03-20	North Stars	T			1
73	1981-03-21	Kings	T			1
74	1981-03-23	Bruins	L
75	1981-03-25	Whalers	W
76	1981-03-28	Wings	W	2		4
77	1981-03-29	Penguins	W			1
78	1981-04-01	Rockies	T	1	1	2
79	1981-04-03	Canucks	W			2
80	1981-04-04	Jets	W	1		1
		RS Totals	18.5%	20	7	108

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp
1	1981-04-08	Canadiens	W	2		5
2	1981-04-09	Canadiens	W			1
3	1981-04-11	Canadiens	W	1		2
4	1981-04-16	Islanders	L			3
5	1981-04-17	Islanders	L			1
6	1981-04-19	Islanders	W			1
7	1981-04-20	Islanders	L			1
8	1981-04-22	Islanders	W		1	2
9	1981-04-24	Islanders	L		1	1
		PO Totals	17.6%	3	2	17

Apparently "too many characters" to post all the seasons in one post

TheStatican · Oct 25, 2023

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1981-10-07	CLR	W				0
2	1981-10-09	VAN	L	1		3	04:20
3	1981-10-10	LAK	W			1	04:55
4	1981-10-14	WIN	L				0
5	1981-10-16	CGY	W				0
6	1981-10-18	CBH	L				01:10
7	1981-10-20	CGY	W				02:00
8	1981-10-21	HAR	W			1	03:10
9	1981-10-23	PIT	W				00:50
10	1981-10-24	CLR	W				01:40
11	1981-10-27	NYI	L			1	02:00
12	1981-10-28	NYR	W			1	03:30
13	1981-10-31	QUE	W		1	1	02:20
14	1981-11-04	TOR	W		1	1	02:00
15	1981-11-07	CLR	L				0
16	1981-11-11	HAR	T			1	03:00
17	1981-11-12	BOS	L			1	02:50
18	1981-11-14	NYI	T				00:35
19	1981-11-15	NYR	W			2	06:35
20	1981-11-17	STL	W			1	01:10
21	1981-11-19	MNS	T				0
22	1981-11-21	VAN	W	1		2	04:25
23	1981-11-23	DET	W				0
24	1981-11-25	LAK	W			1	01:20
25	1981-11-27	CBH	W	1		1	02:35
26	1981-11-29	WIN	W			1	00:55
27	1981-12-01	MTL	T	1	1	4	06:15
28	1981-12-02	QUE	L	1		2	02:10
29	1981-12-04	VAN	W			1	02:00
30	1981-12-05	VAN	T	1		1	03:20
31	1981-12-09	LAK	T		1	2	03:35
32	1981-12-13	NYI	W			1	02:00
33	1981-12-16	CLR	W				0
34	1981-12-17	CGY	W			2	02:05
35	1981-12-19	MNS	W			1	02:00
36	1981-12-20	CGY	L			1	03:25
37	1981-12-23	VAN	W			1	01:10
38	1981-12-27	LAK	W			1	03:20
39	1981-12-30	PHI	W				00:35
40	1981-12-31	VAN	L		1	3	05:40
41	1982-01-02	BOS	T	1		2	02:35
42	1982-01-06	CLR	W				01:20
43	1982-01-09	CGY	W	1		2	03:15
44	1982-01-10	CGY	L			1	02:05
45	1982-01-13	WSH	T			1	02:00
46	1982-01-14	PHI	L			2	03:10
47	1982-01-16	TOR	L		1		02:25
48	1982-01-17	DET	T			1	02:30
49	1982-01-20	STL	W	1		2	04:00
50	1982-01-22	VAN	W				0
51	1982-01-24	CLR	W				0
52	1982-01-26	STL	W				00:55
53	1982-01-27	CBH	T	1		4	06:15
54	1982-01-29	BUF	W		1	1	02:20
55	1982-01-31	PHI	W				0
56	1982-02-03	MTL	L			1	02:00
57	1982-02-06	TOR	W			2	04:00
58	1982-02-07	NYR	W	1	1	4	09:35
59	1982-02-12	WSH	W			1	02:00
60	1982-02-14	BOS	T			1	02:55
61	1982-02-17	MNS	W	1		2	02:25
62	1982-02-19	HAR	W	1	1		01:35
63	1982-02-21	DET	W				0
64	1982-02-24	BUF	W			1	02:00
65	1982-02-27	PIT	W				0
66	1982-02-28	WSH	W			1	04:10
67	1982-03-02	MTL	T		1	4	07:00
68	1982-03-03	QUE	L			1	02:00
69	1982-03-06	CLR	L			4	06:10
70	1982-03-10	LAK	L		1	2	03:40
71	1982-03-12	BUF	L	1		3	06:00
72	1982-03-13	VAN	W			1	02:00
73	1982-03-15	LAK	T			1	03:00
74	1982-03-17	PIT	W	1		1	01:20
75	1982-03-19	CGY	T			3	05:55
76	1982-03-25	CGY	W		1	3	08:20
77	1982-03-26	CLR	T		1	2	07:50
78	1982-03-28	LAK	W	1	1	1	03:50
79	1982-03-31	LAK	W	1		4	06:40
80	1982-04-04	WIN	W				0
		RS Totals	17.3%	17	14	98	221:05

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1982-04-07	LAK	L	1		1	01:45
2	1982-04-08	LAK	W				03:25
3	1982-04-10	LAK	L	1	1	6	11:50
4	1982-04-12	LAK	W	1		4	06:25
5	1982-04-13	LAK	L		2	2	04:00
		PO Totals	23.1%	3	3	13	27:25

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1982-10-05	CGY	W		1	2	04:00
2	1982-10-08	NYI	L	1		1	02:10
3	1982-10-09	VAN	W	1	1	2	06:00
4	1982-10-12	CGY	L		1	2	03:50
5	1982-10-14	HAR	T		1	1	04:00
6	1982-10-16	BOS	T	1	1	3	07:35
7	1982-10-17	BUF	L		1	2	04:40
8	1982-10-20	HAR	W	1		4	06:25
9	1982-10-21	BOS	L	1		5	08:35
10	1982-10-24	WIN	L	1		3	07:45
11	1982-10-27	CBH	T		1	1	02:00
12	1982-10-29	LAK	W			1	01:10
13	1982-10-31	VAN	L				02:00
14	1982-11-03	WIN	W			1	00:55
15	1982-11-05	NYR	W				02:30
16	1982-11-08	QUE	T			1	02:05
17	1982-11-10	PIT	L		2		03:50
18	1982-11-11	NJD	W				01:35
19	1982-11-13	PHI	W			1	02:00
20	1982-11-14	NYR	W			3	06:30
21	1982-11-16	NYI	L	1	1	1	03:20
22	1982-11-20	VAN	T				00:55
23	1982-11-21	QUE	L	1	1	3	04:55
24	1982-11-24	WSH	T			1	02:00
25	1982-11-26	WIN	W	2		5	09:25
26	1982-11-28	DET	W		1	1	02:50
27	1982-12-01	PHI	L			3	04:20
28	1982-12-04	CGY	W			3	07:30
29	1982-12-05	LAK	W			3	04:25
30	1982-12-07	STL	W			1	02:00
31	1982-12-09	LAK	T	1		3	04:45
32	1982-12-11	MNS	L			2	04:00
33	1982-12-17	NJD	W				01:00
34	1982-12-19	MTL	W				0
35	1982-12-22	MNS	W	2		2	05:35
36	1982-12-23	LAK	W		1	3	06:15
37	1982-12-26	CGY	T			1	00:35
38	1982-12-29	CBH	L			2	04:00
39	1982-12-31	VAN	W			1	02:00
40	1983-01-01	WIN	W				0
41	1983-01-04	CGY	W	1		3	06:40
42	1983-01-05	WIN	W				01:40
43	1983-01-07	PIT	W		1		02:45
44	1983-01-09	DET	L				01:40
45	1983-01-11	STL	W				00:40
46	1983-01-12	CBH	W		1	2	04:00
47	1983-01-15	MNS	W		1	3	06:00
48	1983-01-18	LAK	T		1	2	05:25
49	1983-01-19	VAN	W			1	02:00
50	1983-01-22	VAN	L			5	07:10
51	1983-01-23	LAK	W	1		3	03:45
52	1983-01-26	TOR	T			1	02:00
53	1983-01-29	CGY	W	1		1	03:10
54	1983-01-30	NYI	L			1	05:10
55	1983-02-03	LAK	L			5	10:15
56	1983-02-04	MTL	W	1		1	02:00
57	1983-02-11	QUE	W	1		1	03:30
58	1983-02-14	MTL	L			1	02:00
59	1983-02-17	PHI	L		2	3	05:00
60	1983-02-19	PIT	W	3	1	8	17:00
61	1983-02-20	BUF	W				01:10
62	1983-02-22	CGY	L	1		4	05:25
63	1983-02-23	WSH	W			2	03:00
64	1983-02-25	STL	T			1	03:30
65	1983-02-27	WIN	W				01:30
66	1983-03-01	NJD	W			4	08:00
67	1983-03-02	WSH	W		1	3	05:45
68	1983-03-05	TOR	W	1		2	06:05
69	1983-03-06	BOS	L	1		2	02:25
70	1983-03-08	HAR	W				0
71	1983-03-11	NYR	W				0
72	1983-03-13	BUF	W				0
73	1983-03-16	VAN	W			6	09:15
74	1983-03-19	DET	W				0
75	1983-03-21	TOR	W			4	10:40
76	1983-03-23	WIN	L	1		2	04:00
77	1983-03-26	LAK	W			2	04:15
78	1983-03-29	VAN	W	1		3	05:50
79	1983-04-01	WIN	W				01:00
80	1983-04-03	CGY	T				0
		RS Totals	18.1%	26	21	144	313:05

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1983-04-06	WIN	W	1		6	12:10
2	1983-04-07	WIN	W			5	10:55
3	1983-04-09	WIN	W	1		2	05:30
4	1983-04-14	CGY	W	3		2	08:25
5	1983-04-15	CGY	W	1	1	5	14:30
6	1983-04-17	CGY	W	1		2	04:00
7	1983-04-18	CGY	L			2	05:05
8	1983-04-20	CGY	W				01:25
9	1983-04-24	CBH	W		1	1	05:15
10	1983-04-26	CBH	W				01:20
11	1983-05-01	CBH	W	1		1	02:00
12	1983-05-03	CBH	W			2	04:00
13	1983-05-10	NYI	L			2	05:25
14	1983-05-12	NYI	L		1		03:50
15	1983-05-14	NYI	L			1	01:10
16	1983-05-17	NYI	L			1	05:15
		PO Totals	25.0%	8	3	32	90:15

Rk	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1983-10-05	TOR	W			1	03:20
2	1983-10-07	WIN	W				00:50
3	1983-10-09	MNS	W			1	02:00
4	1983-10-12	DET	W				01:05
5	1983-10-15	CGY	W			3	05:05
6	1983-10-16	CGY	W			2	04:00
7	1983-10-19	VAN	W	1	1		02:45
8	1983-10-20	LAK	L				0
9	1983-10-22	VAN	T				01:30
10	1983-10-26	TOR	L	1		3	06:00
11	1983-10-29	MTL	W			1	03:20
12	1983-10-30	NYR	W				0
13	1983-11-02	WSH	W			1	01:10
14	1983-11-05	PIT	W			1	00:55
15	1983-11-06	WIN	W	1	1	5	07:05
16	1983-11-08	QUE	W	1		2	03:20
17	1983-11-09	WSH	W			1	04:10
18	1983-11-12	DET	W				0
19	1983-11-13	CBH	L			1	02:00
20	1983-11-18	BUF	W			2	04:00
21	1983-11-19	NJD	W				0
22	1983-11-21	WIN	W			3	03:55
23	1983-11-23	LAK	W		1	4	06:20
24	1983-11-25	MNS	T		1	3	04:20
25	1983-11-26	STL	L	2		1	03:00
26	1983-11-30	PHI	T		1	2	02:35
27	1983-12-03	LAK	W	1			01:10
28	1983-12-04	NYI	L				01:45
29	1983-12-07	VAN	W				01:40
30	1983-12-10	VAN	L			3	04:20
31	1983-12-13	NYI	L		1	3	07:30
32	1983-12-14	NYR	W				0
33	1983-12-17	QUE	W			1	02:40
34	1983-12-18	WIN	W		1	5	06:05
35	1983-12-21	WIN	W				00:40
36	1983-12-23	CGY	T	1		1	03:55
37	1983-12-26	CGY	W				0
38	1983-12-28	VAN	W				00:50
39	1983-12-30	BOS	W			1	04:50
40	1984-01-03	CGY	W	2		1	02:35
41	1984-01-04	MNS	W	2	1	2	03:05
42	1984-01-07	HAR	W			1	02:00
43	1984-01-09	DET	W	1		2	03:40
44	1984-01-11	CBH	W	2		1	02:00
45	1984-01-13	BUF	L			3	06:10
46	1984-01-15	NJD	W			2	07:05
47	1984-01-18	VAN	W	3	1	6	11:15
48	1984-01-20	LAK	W		1	1	02:00
49	1984-01-21	LAK	W	1		2	04:35
50	1984-01-25	VAN	W				03:40
51	1984-01-27	NJD	T				0
52	1984-01-28	LAK	L			2	02:55
				*1	*1	*5	12:15
				*1		*2	04:10
						*3	05:00
							00:05
					*1	*2	05:20
						*3	03:20
53	1984-02-15	WIN	W			1	02:00
54	1984-02-17	BOS	W			3	05:10
55	1984-02-19	PIT	W	1		2	05:55
56	1984-02-21	STL	W		1	2	03:35
57	1984-02-22	PIT	W	2		2	04:00
58	1984-02-24	CGY	W			1	02:00
59	1984-02-25	TOR	W			1	02:00
60	1984-02-27	WIN	W		1	4	08:25
61	1984-02-29	PHI	L				0
62	1984-03-04	MTL	W				01:45
63	1984-03-07	CBH	W	2		2	04:00
64	1984-03-10	NYR	L			1	02:00
65	1984-03-11	VAN	W				0
66	1984-03-13	QUE	W				00:10
67	1984-03-15	MTL	L				00:20
68	1984-03-17	LAK	W	1		3	04:45
69	1984-03-18	BUF	W	1		2	05:10
70	1984-03-21	HAR	W				0
71	1984-03-24	STL	L		1	1	03:35
72	1984-03-25	WIN	W	3		2	07:25
73	1984-03-27	CGY	W		1	1	02:00
74	1984-03-31	LAK	W			1	02:00
		RS Totals	28.2%	29	14	103	224:50

Rk	Date	Opp
1	1984-04-04	WIN	W	3		3	06:00
2	1984-04-05	WIN	W	1	1	4	05:15
3	1984-04-07	WIN	W			2	04:00
4	1984-04-12	CGY	W	1		1	02:00
5	1984-04-13	CGY	L				00:30
6	1984-04-15	CGY	W	1	1	3	08:40
7	1984-04-16	CGY	W			3	04:30
8	1984-04-18	CGY	L	1		1	02:00
9	1984-04-20	CGY	L				0
10	1984-04-22	CGY	W	2	1	3	07:00
11	1984-04-24	MNS	W			2	06:15
12	1984-04-26	MNS	W			2	03:45
13	1984-04-28	MNS	W		1	5	13:20
14	1984-05-01	MNS	W			3	05:20
15	1984-05-10	NYI	W				02:25
16	1984-05-12	NYI	L		1	4	10:25
17	1984-05-15	NYI	W	2		8	13:50
18	1984-05-17	NYI	W	1		2	03:10
19	1984-05-19	NYI	W				0
		PO Totals	26.1%	12	5	46	98:25

TheStatican · Oct 25, 2023

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1984-10-11	LAK	T			1	03:40
2	1984-10-12	STL	W				01:05
3	1984-10-14	QUE	W		1	4	07:45
4	1984-10-16	BOS	W	1		3	04:25
5	1984-10-18	MNS	W		1	1	01:55
6	1984-10-19	WIN	W	1	1	4	09:45
7	1984-10-21	CGY	W			2	02:55
8	1984-10-24	WSH	T				01:05
9	1984-10-26	LAK	W				0
10	1984-10-30	VAN	W			2	03:45
11	1984-11-02	CBH	W			2	03:45
12	1984-11-04	WIN	W				00:00
13	1984-11-06	PIT	T			2	02:55
14	1984-11-08	NJD	W				0
15	1984-11-09	WSH	W				0
16	1984-11-11	PHI	L		1	3	04:25
17	1984-11-14	MTL	L			1	02:30
18	1984-11-15	CGY	L	1		2	05:10
19	1984-11-17	VAN	W			1	03:40
20	1984-11-21	WIN	W			1	00:55
21	1984-11-24	STL	W				01:05
22	1984-11-27	TOR	W				00:00
23	1984-11-29	BOS	W	1		1	02:00
24	1984-11-30	HAR	W	1		1	02:00
25	1984-12-05	NYI	W	1			01:05
26	1984-12-07	MNS	W	2		1	03:55
27	1984-12-08	VAN	L		1	1	02:00
28	1984-12-13	LAK	L	1		3	07:25
29	1984-12-15	STL	W	2		2	05:05
30	1984-12-17	NJD	L			2	02:05
31	1984-12-19	LAK	W		2	3	03:35
32	1984-12-21	VAN	L	1		2	06:50
33	1984-12-22	CGY	W				01:05
34	1984-12-26	CGY	W			3	05:50
35	1984-12-29	DET	W			4	05:20
36	1984-12-30	VAN	T	2		3	05:15
37	1985-01-02	PHI	L		1	3	04:55
38	1985-01-04	WIN	W			2	03:40
39	1985-01-06	WIN	W				00:00
40	1985-01-08	QUE	W			1	02:00
41	1985-01-10	MTL	W			1	00:40
42	1985-01-12	PIT	L				00:20
43	1985-01-13	BUF	W				0
44	1985-01-16	NYI	T		1	3	04:15
45	1985-01-18	VAN	T			2	03:40
46	1985-01-19	VAN	W		1	2	04:00
47	1985-01-21	LAK	W	4	2	3	06:00
48	1985-01-25	NJD	W				0
49	1985-01-26	PIT	W				00:30
50	1985-01-28	CGY	W				01:10
51	1985-01-29	CGY	W			1	04:25
52	1985-02-02	NYR	W			1	01:50
53	1985-02-03	HAR	W				0
54	1985-02-06	WIN	L			1	02:00
55	1985-02-08	MNS	W			4	05:40
56	1985-02-09	DET	W	1		2	02:50
57	1985-02-15	NYR	L	1	1	3	07:40
58	1985-02-16	PHI	L	2	1	2	05:00
59	1985-02-18	BUF	W	1		2	05:05
60	1985-02-19	TOR	W		1	2	06:25
61	1985-02-22	QUE	W		1	3	05:40
62	1985-02-23	WSH	T			2	04:00
63	1985-02-27	MTL	L			1	02:00
64	1985-03-01	LAK	L		1	5	08:50
65	1985-03-03	WIN	L			1	02:00
66	1985-03-05	CGY	W		1	1	02:45
67	1985-03-09	NYR	T			1	00:25
68	1985-03-10	VAN	L				0
69	1985-03-13	DET	W			1	00:30
70	1985-03-15	BUF	T	1		1	01:10
71	1985-03-17	LAK	L			1	02:00
72	1985-03-20	CBH	W	1		1	02:00
73	1985-03-22	TOR	T			3	03:05
74	1985-03-26	NYI	W			1	02:00
75	1985-03-28	BOS	L		1	4	07:15
76	1985-03-29	HAR	L	1		1	04:30
77	1985-03-31	CBH	W			2	02:25
78	1985-04-02	LAK	W				01:10
79	1985-04-05	CGY	T	1		1	02:00
80	1985-04-06	WIN	L				00:55
		RS Totals	22.5%	27	19	120	241:00

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1985-04-10	LAK	W	1	1	2	04:00
2	1985-04-11	LAK	W	1		3	04:40
3	1985-04-13	LAK	W	1		3	06:10
4	1985-04-18	WIN	W			1	03:35
5	1985-04-20	WIN	W			2	01:55
6	1985-04-23	WIN	W				01:20
7	1985-04-25	WIN	W			1	03:25
8	1985-05-04	CBH	W				01:35
9	1985-05-07	CBH	W	1		1	03:20
10	1985-05-09	CBH	L				00:15
11	1985-05-12	CBH	L	2		3	07:50
12	1985-05-14	CBH	W	2		4	08:35
13	1985-05-16	CBH	W			3	06:00
14	1985-05-21	PHI	L		1	2	05:20
15	1985-05-23	PHI	W	1		4	08:55
16	1985-05-25	PHI	W	3	1	3	08:55
17	1985-05-28	PHI	W			1	04:10
18	1985-05-30	PHI	W	2		7	17:00
		PO Totals	35.0%	14	3	40	97:00

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1985-10-10	WIN	W		1		00:25
2	1985-10-13	STL	W				0
3	1985-10-16	NYI	W				01:40
4	1985-10-18	BOS	W				02:20
5	1985-10-20	LAK	W				00:50
6	1985-10-23	WIN	L				0
7	1985-10-25	CGY	W				00:50
8	1985-10-28	CGY	W				0
9	1985-10-30	WIN	W				0
10	1985-11-01	BUF	L				00:55
11	1985-11-03	TOR	W				0
12	1985-11-05	VAN	W				01:35
13	1985-11-06	LAK	T				01:00
14	1985-11-08	VAN	W				0
15	1985-11-12	WSH	L				00:15
16	1985-11-14	PHI	L				00:10
17	1985-11-16	NYI	T				01:30
18	1985-11-17	NYR	W				01:30
19	1985-11-19	QUE	W	1			01:55
20	1985-11-20	MTL	W				0
21	1985-11-23	NJD	W				00:20
22	1985-11-27	VAN	T				0
23	1985-11-30	HAR	W				0
24	1985-12-01	CGY	W				00:15
25	1985-12-03	LAK	W				03:50
26	1985-12-05	LAK	T				0
27	1985-12-07	MNS	W				00:35
28	1985-12-08	CBH	W				01:10
29	1985-12-10	STL	L				0
30	1985-12-11	CBH	W				01:45
31	1985-12-13	WIN	W				0
32	1985-12-15	VAN	W	1			01:40
33	1985-12-18	WSH	L		1		02:25
34	1985-12-20	LAK	W	1	1		02:00
35	1985-12-22	WIN	L				0
36	1985-12-29	VAN	W				0
37	1985-12-31	PHI	W				04:45
38	1986-01-02	CGY	W				0
39	1986-01-04	HAR	W				0
40	1986-01-05	CGY	W				03:15
41	1986-01-08	TOR	L				0
42	1986-01-10	QUE	L				0
43	1986-01-11	MTL	W				0
44	1986-01-13	BOS	W				0
45	1986-01-15	HAR	W				00:30
46	1986-01-18	NYR	L				0
47	1986-01-22	PIT	L	1			01:30
48	1986-01-24	NJD	W		1		02:05
49	1986-01-25	LAK	W				02:20
50	1986-01-27	CBH	W				0
51	1986-01-29	STL	T				01:40
52	1986-01-31	CGY	W				00:15
53	1986-02-01	CGY	T				0
54	1986-02-06	NJD	W				0
55	1986-02-08	WSH	L				00:30
56	1986-02-09	BUF	L				0
57	1986-02-11	DET	W				0
58	1986-02-14	QUE	W				01:20
59	1986-02-16	BUF	W	1			01:00
60	1986-02-19	TOR	W				0
61	1986-02-22	BOS	L				00:30
62	1986-02-24	MTL	W				01:10
63	1986-02-26	WIN	W	1			00:40
64	1986-03-02	PHI	W				00:15
65	1986-03-04	VAN	W				0
66	1986-03-05	LAK	W				0
67	1986-03-07	PIT	W				00:30
68	1986-03-09	LAK	W				0
69	1986-03-11	MNS	L				01:00
70	1986-03-12	WIN	W				0
71	1986-03-14	DET	W				0
72	1986-03-18	WIN	W				00:35
73	1986-03-21	MNS	W				00:40
74	1986-03-25	DET	W				0
75	1986-03-26	PIT	W				01:20
76	1986-03-28	NYR	L				02:40
77	1986-03-29	NYI	T				0
78	1986-04-02	VAN	W		1		01:20
79	1986-04-04	CGY	L				01:10
80	1986-04-06	VAN	W				0
		RS Totals		6	5		59:55

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1986-04-09	VAN	W				0
2	1986-04-10	VAN	W				0
3	1986-04-12	VAN	W				00:50
4	1986-04-18	CGY	L				01:45
5	1986-04-20	CGY	W				0
6	1986-04-22	CGY	L				0
7	1986-04-24	CGY	W				01:35
8	1986-04-26	CGY	L				0
9	1986-04-28	CGY	W				0
10	1986-04-30	CGY	L				0
		PO Totals		0	0		4:10

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1986-10-09	PHI	L				00:10
2	1986-10-11	MTL	W				0
3	1986-10-12	WIN	L				0
4	1986-10-15	QUE	W				0
5	1986-10-17	DET	W				01:40
6	1986-10-19	LAK	L				0
7	1986-10-21	CHI	W				0
8	1986-10-22	CGY	L				00:10
9	1986-10-24	BOS	W				01:40
10	1986-10-26	VAN	W				00:25
11	1986-10-29	WSH	W				0
12	1986-10-31	VAN	W				01:10
13	1986-11-02	LAK	T				01:20
14	1986-11-05	CGY	L				0
15	1986-11-07	CGY	L				01:20
16	1986-11-08	MTL	W				00:30
17	1986-11-11	NYI	W				00:50
18	1986-11-13	BOS	L				00:20
19	1986-11-15	HAR	L				01:00
20	1986-11-16	NYR	W				0
21	1986-11-19	NYR	W				0
22	1986-11-22	VAN	W				0
23	1986-11-24	CGY	L	1			00:50
24	1986-11-26	WIN	W				00:40
25	1986-11-28	CHI	L				0
26	1986-12-03	NYI	W				0
27	1986-12-05	PIT	W				0
28	1986-12-07	PHI	L				01:20
29	1986-12-09	MNS	W				00:25
30	1986-12-10	WIN	W				02:30
31	1986-12-12	WIN	W				01:20
32	1986-12-14	LAK	W				01:15
33	1986-12-17	QUE	W				0
34	1986-12-19	VAN	W				01:25
35	1986-12-20	LAK	T				00:05
36	1986-12-23	WIN	L				01:05
37	1986-12-28	PHI	W				0
38	1986-12-30	VAN	W				0
39	1987-01-03	LAK	W				00:10
40	1987-01-07	LAK	L				00:30
41	1987-01-09	STL	W				0
42	1987-01-11	CGY	W				0
43	1987-01-13	DET	W				0
44	1987-01-15	QUE	W		1?		00:50
45	1987-01-17	TOR	W				01:40
46	1987-01-18	BUF	L				0
47	1987-01-21	WIN	W				01:35
48	1987-01-23	NYR	W				0
49	1987-01-24	PIT	W				0
50	1987-01-27	VAN	T				0
51	1987-01-28	VAN	W				0
52	1987-01-30	MNS	T				0
53	1987-02-01	CHI	L				0
54	1987-02-03	STL	W				0
55	1987-02-04	MNS	W	1			00:50
56	1987-02-06	NYI	T				00:40
57	1987-02-08	STL	W				0
58	1987-02-15	WSH	L				0
59	1987-02-18	TOR	W				0
60	1987-02-22	WIN	L				0
61	1987-02-24	PIT	L				0
62	1987-02-25	NJD	L				0
63	1987-02-27	WSH	L				01:25
64	1987-03-04	VAN	W				01:35
65	1987-03-06	LAK	W				0
66	1987-03-07	MTL	W				00:25
67	1987-03-11	DET	W				0
68	1987-03-14	BUF	W	1			00:30
69	1987-03-15	HAR	W				0
70	1987-03-17	NJD	W				0
71	1987-03-19	CGY	L				0
72	1987-03-20	CGY	L				00:15
73	1987-03-23	NJD	W				0
74	1987-03-25	HAR	W				0
75	1987-03-26	BOS	L				0
76	1987-03-28	TOR	L				01:00
77	1987-03-29	BUF	W				00:50
78	1987-03-31	WIN	W				0
79	1987-04-02	CGY	T				0
		RS Totals		3	1		33:45

Gm	Date			For	Against	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1	1987-04-08	LAK	L				01:40
2	1987-04-09	LAK	W				00:10
3	1987-04-11	LAK	W	1			04:40
4	1987-04-12	LAK	W				01:05
5	1987-04-14	LAK	W				0
6	1987-04-21	WIN	W				0
7	1987-04-23	WIN	W		1		02:50
8	1987-04-25	WIN	W	1			02:00
9	1987-04-27	WIN	W				0
10	1987-05-05	DET	L		1		00:30
11	1987-05-07	DET	W				0
12	1987-05-09	DET	W				0
13	1987-05-11	DET	W				0
14	1987-05-13	DET	W				01:10
15	1987-05-17	PHI	W				0
16	1987-05-20	PHI	W				0
17	1987-05-22	PHI	L				0
18	1987-05-24	PHI	W				0
19	1987-05-26	PHI	L				0
20	1987-05-28	PHI	L				0
21	1987-05-31	PHI	W				0
		PO Totals		2	2		14:05

overpass · Oct 25, 2023

It’s interesting that the Oilers doubled their 4-on-4 scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. From 81-82 through 84-85, 0.32 4-on-4 goals per game in the regular season, and 0.64 4-on-4 goals per game in the playoffs. How often do you find a playoff stat that is double the regular season rate over 50+ GP?

It looks like they increased their 4-on-4 ice time by 60%, from 3+ minutes/game to 5+ minutes/game, and then increased their scoring rate at 4-on-4 by about 25%, to a level rivalling their 5-on-4 scoring.

You can see why the league changed the rules in 1985. It certainly looks like the Oilers were exploiting coincidental minors at every opportunity in the playoffs.

TheStatican · Oct 26, 2023

overpass said:
It’s interesting that the Oilers doubled their 4-on-4 scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. From 81-82 through 84-85, 0.32 4-on-4 goals per game in the regular season, and 0.64 4-on-4 goals per game in the playoffs. How often do you find a playoff stat that is double the regular season rate over 50+ GP?

It looks like they increased their 4-on-4 ice time by 60%, from 3+ minutes/game to 5+ minutes/game, and then increased their scoring rate at 4-on-4 by about 25%, to a level rivalling their 5-on-4 scoring.

You can see why the league changed the rules in 1985. It certainly looks like the Oilers were exploiting coincidental minors at every opportunity in the playoffs.

Pretty much all that. The regular season numbers aren't hugely disproportional, but the playoffs are another matter. 81-82 was probably just a small sample size 'accident', but by 82-83 I'd say they definitely figured out a little loophole that they could exploit there. Now it didn't matter to them that penalties get called less often in the playoffs, not when getting to play on 4 on 4 was just as good.

The 84-85 finals must've been particularly alarming for the NHL and the other teams

Date			For	4v4 Opp	4v4 Time
1985-05-21	PHI	L		2	05:20
1985-05-23	PHI	W	1	4	08:55
1985-05-25	PHI	W	3	3	08:55
1985-05-28	PHI	W		1	04:10
1985-05-30	PHI	W	2	7	17:00
			6	17	44:20

That's closed to 9 minutes 4v4 time of 4v4 time and even before game 5's penalty fest they were at almost 7 a game. Game 5 was a blowout, but their 4 on 4 scoring directly aided their victories in game 2 & 3. Two of those goals in game 2 were during 4 on 4 time that was not a coincidental minor so one could argue those would have happened regardless, but their 3rd goal was and they only won the game by one, and their first goal in game 2 was as well. Even when they don't score they're likely controlling the play during that time.

On the surface they seemed to handle the Flyers fairly easily overall but if they happen to lose game 2 or 3 and are down 1-2 in the series and don't have the benefit of 4v4 ice time for the entire series who knows how everything else plays out. It's little wonder the rule change was made after that series.

CDN24 · Oct 26, 2023

No imagine they had 4-4 overtime or 2-2 even back them. Oilers had 12 ties in 82-83, 8 in 83-84 and 11 in 84-85. How many of those do they score in.

Interesting they were giving up a lot 4-4 too in regular season but not playoffs. Game score effects maybe, they were blowing out a lot of teams in reg season and did not put too much effort in defending 4-4 but in playoffs they did?

Jussi · Oct 28, 2023

overpass said:
It’s interesting that the Oilers doubled their 4-on-4 scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. From 81-82 through 84-85, 0.32 4-on-4 goals per game in the regular season, and 0.64 4-on-4 goals per game in the playoffs. How often do you find a playoff stat that is double the regular season rate over 50+ GP?

It looks like they increased their 4-on-4 ice time by 60%, from 3+ minutes/game to 5+ minutes/game, and then increased their scoring rate at 4-on-4 by about 25%, to a level rivalling their 5-on-4 scoring.

You can see why the league changed the rules in 1985. It certainly looks like the Oilers were exploiting coincidental minors at every opportunity in the playoffs.

I mean they were deliberately trying to create 4 on 4 situations, so they could put Gretzky, Kurri, Coffey and Messier on the ice.

The Panther · Nov 5, 2023

I've never understood this idea that the 80s' Oilers were "exploiting", "taking advantage", or "deliberately trying" to create four-on-four situations. The only way they were exploiting anything is because they were better than other teams at it.

Literally no hockey team in history has preferred a four-on-four to a five-on-four. And equally, all hockey teams (esp. in the days of coincidental minors) would prefer to take another player with them to the penalty box rather than go alone. This isn't rocket science.

How exactly do you "try" to get a four-on-four situation, anyway?

In retrospect, it's amazing that the team's overall offense went from 401 to 426 goals for in the first season without the coincidental minors resulting in four-on-four, so it certainly didn't slow them down in the regular season. It may, however, have had some impact in the Calgary series in the playoffs.

Fourier · Nov 6, 2023

The Panther said:
I've never understood this idea that the 80s' Oilers were "exploiting", "taking advantage", or "deliberately trying" to create four-on-four situations. The only way they were exploiting anything is because they were better than other teams at it.

Literally no hockey team in history has preferred a four-on-four to a five-on-four. And equally, all hockey teams (esp. in the days of coincidental minors) would prefer to take another player with them to the penalty box rather than go alone. This isn't rocket science.

How exactly do you "try" to get a four-on-four situation, anyway?

In retrospect, it's amazing that the team's overall offense went from 401 to 426 goals for in the first season without the coincidental minors resulting in four-on-four, so it certainly didn't slow them down in the regular season. It may, however, have had some impact in the Calgary series in the playoffs.

Interestingly enough for such a great offensive team the Oilers pp was not as exceptional as one might think it should have been. The pp was more static than the team might have been 4 vs 4 where a lot of goals were scored off of odd man rushes. Two on one with Gretzky was about as dangerous as it gets. But in the end I agree with what you say. Though frankly the league made a mistake in getting rid of the 4-4 play from an entertainment perspective. It was very exciting.

The Panther · Nov 7, 2023

Fourier said:
Interestingly enough for such a great offensive team the Oilers pp was not as exceptional as one might think it should have been. The pp was more static than the team might have been 4 vs 4 where a lot of goals were scored off of odd man rushes. Two on one with Gretzky was about as dangerous as it gets. But in the end I agree with what you say. Though frankly the league made a mistake in getting rid of the 4-4 play from an entertainment perspective. It was very exciting.

I remember watching them around 1985-1988, as a kid, and I was often annoyed when the ref gave them a power play because it often seemed to end their offensive attack. On the power play, they seemed to kind of lie back and take it slow.

Basically, in summer 1985, Cliff Fletcher (Flames' G.M.) called in a few favors with cronies among GMs to get them to vote out the four-on-four. Purely a tactic to limit Edmonton. The League, being idiots (then as now), went along with it... for a few years.

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