More Devastating Oilers Playoff Defeat 1986 or 1989?

[MessierII]

06 was the worst but out of these two I gotta say 86. Why does that crazy stuff have to happen against Calgary?

 

[Stoneman89]

2006 was a free roll. Nobody expected us (including Oiler fans) to even get out of the first round, so the rest was gravy.

In 86 in particular, the Oilers were far and away the best team in the league. Everybody knew it, and the expectations were to roll over everyone and hoist the cup.

It hurts to lose much more when the expectations run contrary to losing, than it does when you are expected to lose.

The fact a player on our own team scored the winning goal for the other team, and the fact that other team was Calgary, in the middle of the BOA days, made it by far the worst. No contest. People who were there and were more than five yrs old at the time would agree Im sure.

This. No arguement can be made otherwise.

 

[Ogopogo*]

1986 will forever be the most devastating loss in Oilers history.

 

[Oiler11]

1986 will forever be the most devastating loss in Oilers history.

Devastation? The very next year they won the Cup. Even after 89, they came back on top in 90.

In 06, right after the loss, it seemed like every player wanted out. We had to overpay just to keep a couple around. The team was gutted, and we are just now starting to climb out of the hole that was made. 06 was a drop-kick to the heads of the fans and the org that has had 7 years of painful consequences.

I hate losing to Calgary as much as anyone, but we got the Cup right back. 86 and 89 were blips. 06 was a cliff.

 

[nullterm]

Hmmm...

86 - Next year won Cup.

89 - Next year won Cup.

06 - Didn't make playoffs since. Lost Pronger, Peca, Spacek, Samsonov. Next season traded Smyth and we got 46 games of Pouliot.

In terms of devastation, 06 was to the Oilers as the Hindenburg was to airships.

 

[Soundwave]

'86 was probably worse, but '89 I remember more clearly and it was brutal.

Especially because we had the Kings on the ropes.

It was just surreal ... spring 1988, Gretzky IS the Oilers, we're steamrolling to another Cup, a year later we're playing against him in some weird black/silver jersey and Chris Kontos (a nobody) is lighting us up.

It was like a bad, bad dream come to life.

06 was bitter, but I have to be honest I thought we were toast when Roli went down. Basically spotted the Hurriances a 2-0 lead over a stupid Marc Andre Bergeron play. Props to the boys and Jussi for making it a series, there just was no gas left in the tank by game 7.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Devastation? The very next year they won the Cup. Even after 89, they came back on top in 90.

In 06, right after the loss, it seemed like every player wanted out. We had to overpay just to keep a couple around. The team was gutted, and we are just now starting to climb out of the hole that was made. 06 was a drop-kick to the heads of the fans and the org that has had 7 years of painful consequences.

I hate losing to Calgary as much as anyone, but we got the Cup right back. 86 and 89 were blips. 06 was a cliff.

?????????

You must be young. 86 is the answer without debate - reat IATL's post for more details.

 

[Oiler11]

?????????

You must be young. 86 is the answer without debate - reat IATL's post for more details.

Wish I was. I'm taking this thread's title literally - which loss was the most devastating, which one caused the most damage. How can there be an arguement if that's the case? The seasons after 06 are the worst in franchise history.

 

[Gord]

I must be looking at this differently than most of you. I don't call 2006 devestating at all.
the whole playoff run was magic. it didn't end up with a win, but considering we were grateful the Oilers even made the playoffs and then go on such a run? 2006 was awesome not devestating at all. rolli getting injured and blowing game one sucked, but the guys fought hard and went to game 7.
the stuff that happened after was awful, but that has nothing to do with the playoffs or the playoff loss in the 2006 season.

try 1982 if you want devestating. being a cocky, young team kicking butt, singing on the bench and blowing a 5-0 third period lead and losing the first round series. that was a lot more devestating.

 

[I am the Liquor]

Wish I was. I'm taking this thread's title literally - which loss was the most devastating, which one caused the most damage. How can there be an arguement if that's the case? The seasons after 06 are the worst in franchise history.

The team was crap before 06. We were the last seed. Barely made the playoffs. Nobody was expecting us to go past the first round.

Devastating means personally crushing or which loss ripped out your guts more, not what happened to the team after the loss.

 

[Moose Coleman]

2006 was a free roll. Nobody expected us (including Oiler fans) to even get out of the first round, so the rest was gravy.

In 86 in particular, the Oilers were far and away the best team in the league. Everybody knew it, and the expectations were to roll over everyone and hoist the cup.

It hurts to lose much more when the expectations run contrary to losing, than it does when you are expected to lose.

The fact a player on our own team scored the winning goal for the other team, and the fact that other team was Calgary, in the middle of the BOA days, made it by far the worst. No contest. People who were there and were more than five yrs old at the time would agree Im sure.

It's a personal thing, but it's 2006 for me simply because of the Cinderella nature of the run. Not to mention the fact it had been so long since the Oilers had been close and that it went down to a Game 7 in the final. I don't think old-timers who were so accustomed to winning in the '80s can grasp how much that loss hurt for a generation of fans who never had the chance to see or full appreciate the Glory Days.

 

[I am the Liquor]

It's a personal thing, but it's 2006 for me simply because of the Cinderella nature of the run. Not to mention the fact it had been so long since the Oilers had been close and that it went down to a Game 7 in the final. I don't think old-timers who were so accustomed to winning in the '80s can grasp how much that loss hurt for a generation of fans who never had the chance to see or full appreciate the Glory Days.

Younger people probably dont appreciate how intense the BOA actually was back in the day. To lose to THAT team in game seven because one of our own players banked the winning goal off of the back of our goalie's leg cannot be understated.

In fact, that loss, and that goal will continue to be talked about long after people forget about 2006.

Who scored the winning goal in game seven anyway?

I really dont recall.

Steve Smith will never be that fortunate.

 

[Moose Coleman]

Younger people probably dont appreciate how intense the BOA actually was back in the day. To lose to THAT team in game seven because one of our own players banked the winning goal off of the back of our goalie's leg cannot be understated.

In fact, that loss, and that goal will continue to be talked about long after people forget about 2006.

Who scored the winning goal in game seven anyway?

I really dont recall.

Steve Smith will never be that fortunate.

For a generation of Oilers fans, '86 and '89 are history. But we lived 2006. That's why there's no comparison.

 

[I am the Liquor]

For a generation of Oilers fans, '86 and '89 are history. But we lived 2006. That's why there's no comparison.

Maybe, but that isnt really a good reason.

If you stop and think about it, its not hard to put yourself in 1986, even if you werent alive/old enough to have lived through it.

For today's purposes, think of the Oilers, a few years down the road, having won a couple of cups, with the core of our team being the very best and envy of the entire league, and going into game seven against Vancouver, and having Jeff Petry bounce the winning goal off of Dubnyk.

How would that feel?

 

[Moose Coleman]

Maybe, but that isnt really a good reason.

If you stop and think about it, its not hard to put yourself in 1986, even if you werent alive/old enough to have lived through it.

For today's purposes, think of the Oilers, a few years down the road, having won a couple of cups, with the core of our team being the very best and envy of the entire league, and going into game seven against Vancouver, and having Jeff Petry bounce the winning goal off of Dubnyk.

How would that feel?

That would probably be pretty terrible and would eclipse 2006. But the question was what loss was most devastating to you personally. It's pretty hard to be personally bummed about something you didn't experience first hand. As an Oilers fan, I can appreciate the significance of what happened in 1986 (even if my memories are pretty dim since I was just a little kid at the time), but it doesn't resonate with me as much as 2006. That's all. Your mileage will obviously vary.

 

[fuswald]

Holy smokes, why do we have to have a thread like this!!

We are all suffering in the midst of a no hockey lockout, rumors of loosing all our awesome players to free agency including the players we sucked for years to get (more suffering) and now we have to remember the worst losses?

Thats just mean.

 

[I am the Liquor]

Holy smokes, why do we have to have a thread like this!!

We are all suffering in the midst of a no hockey lockout, rumors of loosing all our awesome players to free agency including the players we sucked for years to get (more suffering) and now we have to remember the worst losses?

Thats just mean.

Dont forget about the arena squabble.

 

[Gord]

That would probably be pretty terrible and would eclipse 2006. But the question was what loss was most devastating to you personally. It's pretty hard to be personally bummed about something you didn't experience first hand. As an Oilers fan, I can appreciate the significance of what happened in 1986 (even if my memories are pretty dim since I was just a little kid at the time), but it doesn't resonate with me as much as 2006. That's all. Your mileage will obviously vary.

yeah, but if you're going to nitpick, the question didn't mention 2006.
(or 1982, since in a previous post I mentioned that series loss)

I honestly don't see 2006 as devestating, if you seperate the playoff run, or even the final series, from the events after.
the oilers were lucky to get into the playoffs and managed a golden run. and if you look at it, desipte rolli getting hurt and the first game, the oilers took it to a final game winner take all.
they were not good enough and fell short.

it really sucked, and the pronger thing right after was a gut shot, then crappy team after crappy team, along with lousy management. but that had nothing to do with the playoff loss, which on it's own wasn't that devestating. just your regular issue bummer.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

God, when I saw this pic right after the 06 loss, I was a grown man bawling his eyes out.

 

[Oi'll say!]

Whenever I think about the 06 cup run I always think about Fernando Pisani. I never identified a playoff run or a playoff series so strongly with 1 player before or since.

Maybe 2nd place would be Georges Laraque against the Stars. The only Oiler who really had success against that team, and the knee drop on Robidas(iirc?) was perfection. Who knew that refs actually still kept track of stuff like that so recently?

 

[Roof Daddy]

Maybe, but that isnt really a good reason.

If you stop and think about it, its not hard to put yourself in 1986, even if you werent alive/old enough to have lived through it.

For today's purposes, think of the Oilers, a few years down the road, having won a couple of cups, with the core of our team being the very best and envy of the entire league, and going into game seven against Vancouver, and having Jeff Petry bounce the winning goal off of Dubnyk.

How would that feel?

Agree 100 percent. I don't recall the 86 series very well as I was only 7 and just getting into hockey. Fast forward to 89 and I was a full fledged hockey junkie, watching every second of that series. I will say the 86 one was much worse. Watching a tough as nails, full grown man (Smith) weep like an injured child puts it all in perspective. Reading Gretzky and Lowe autobiographies where they describe their overconfidence in that series, figuring they could turn on the offence (as if there were a switch) and not realizing the gravity of the situation until the deflating moment that was the Smith debacle.

Also, to the younger posters who feel they can't relate to these older moments, might I suggest tracking down those autobiographies. Both I found to be excellent reads with tons of hilarious stories. Lowe's was called "Champions" and Gretzky's was simply called "Gretzky: An Autobiography". Both were written mid 90s while they were still playing, so stories are described quite vividly. Will give the younger folk a much better idea of that era before the really big money and media started creeping into the game.

 

[harpoon]

?????????
You must be young. 86 is the answer without debate - reat IATL's post for more details.

Obviously there is some debate or nobody would have started this thread and nobody would be contributing to it.

I agree with the reasons given by nullterm and Oiler11, 2006 was the worst. And no I'm not young, and yes I watched all the games.

Add to their reasons, at least the Flames were a good team. The Hurricanes? Really? We lost to the Hurricanes?

 

[JoeMalone]

Obviously there is some debate or nobody would have started this thread and nobody would be contributing to it.

I agree with the reasons given by nullterm and Oiler11, 2006 was the worst. And no I'm not young, and yes I watched all the games.

Add to their reasons, at least the Flames were a good team. The Hurricanes? Really? We lost to the Hurricanes?

Its only been 6 years, but people seem to be forgetting that the 2006 Hurricanes were a good team. 52W and 112 pts.

Oh, but its the Southeast! Doesn't matter. They still won those games. They had a 40 goal and 100 point player, 3 30 goal men, and 2 others with 20. They had a goalie who was strong in the regular season, and a rookie who got red hot. The defence had no real stars, but was solid up and down the roster. They added the vets they needed and were just good.

What is surprising is not that the Oilers lost to them, but that a very good Hurricanes team let an 8th seed take them to 7 games.

 

[oilinblood]

Without a doubt for me it was 1986 when Steve Smith's own goal killed us. Then I had to do my tax return. One of the worst nights of my life.

great reply. lol

i wasnt around for 86 but ive watched alot of videos and to be honest that looked like a cozey season and then an easier 1st round. When they met a tough opponent they didnt embrace adaptation and felt that if they stuck with the play of the regular season they would get through. They lost.
The light at the end of the tunnel though is the hunger and chip on the shoulder it created.

In 89 i think i remember yelling at the tv at some rediculous delay of game penalty against Fuhr for covering the puck. That whole series stunk.

2006 i had my first multiple year gf and she hated hockey. Slowly i got her to adopt it so i wouldnt have to always run off and be with my buds to watch games. She started getting excited about the games and learning the rules and lingo. It was cool to enjoy the run with her.
I remember game 1 and we had dominated for a good half of the game but (i still watch these games and my feelings havent changed) Staios was still driving me mad and i was seeing more and more proof that we might be better with Tarny or Ulanov back there -even thought they arent RHDs--Spacek could play either side though AND Roli looked off his game. I remember after the second goal i was so convinced that Roli was off his game that i was yelling at my friends that they need to change the goalie and give Roli the rest of the night off. Coincidentally that would have saved Roli from injury.
Jussi played awesome in game 2 and through the rest of the playoffs... but losing game 1 and then the team not showing up for game 2 put us in too much of a hole for a 7 game finals.
ALSO, my predictions to a flames fan friend of mine(i actually made the same prediction in 04 for him... that the conference was weak and if they beat the wings they could take it all) was that if we beat the Wings i could see us compete and beat any team in our conference that was left. Then when Buff was playing Carolina i said their 4th line is better than ours and we need to dress Ulanov instead of Bergeron and get on their Recchi Weights and Whitney veterans every chance we can to win it, also Brindamour -Staal was the first time we had our Horcoff - Stoll pivots beaten on paper. Weight got his shoulder popped by Torres but the other 2 vets continued to be huge factors. Sucks but they were the better team and for the first time we were matched down the middle and beaten, losing puck possession and draws all over the ice.
And despite all the flack they got for not scoring... rem murray and dvorak actually had solid series but couldnt offensively match their opponents finish and clutch skills. If we had picked up Weight instead of Carolina...

 

[oilinblood]

Holy smokes, why do we have to have a thread like this!!

We are all suffering in the midst of a no hockey lockout, rumors of loosing all our awesome players to free agency including the players we sucked for years to get (more suffering) and now we have to remember the worst losses?

Thats just mean.

Katz should sign Hall, RNH,Justin Schultz and Eberle to personal service contracts lol

Dont worry, if the Union dissolves the league will immediately centralize contracts and have a court make a clear verdict on the voiding of all NHL contracts. then headquarters will hire players and assign them. i am pretty certain each team will get most of its players back. The owners have been very interested in central contracting since it was brought up in a formal offer to purchase the league (but not the "branches", franchises) in 05. According to clear writing in the SPC the contracts dissolve without a Union/CB/CBA. With no union and noexisting labor contracts the league re-structures like all businesses. Then Gary goes...ok players please fill out this application form and bring in your resume if you want to apply for a position in the National Hocikey League. Oh...Jordan...Eberle. Hi. Well it looks like we have one opening for you in edmonton, here is our offer.3 million. i think you will find it more than fair based on the market place. i heard siberia is looking for...oh great welcome aboard.

Hmmm...shawn...horcoff? did i say that right? you look familiar. I have a position of toilet specialist. It requires travel, salary is 25 k a year. No? ok. dont let the door hit you in the ***