The Edmonton Oilers arguably have the top two hockey players in the world in their current lineup in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and the supporting cast isn’t bad either in 2023 with the likes of Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane and Matias Ekholm. In fact, the team has always been loaded with talent but their overall playoff record over the past 20 years hasn’t really been anything to write home about.
The Oilers’ recent playoff history has been quite good however as the last time they won a series was just last season 2021/22 when they downed arch rivals and fellow Albertans the Calgary Flames in five games in the Western Conference Semifinals (second round).
Edmonton Oilers Playoff History (Last 20 Years)
The Oilers have made the playoffs four years running now as they finished the 2022/23 season on a strong note and earned the right to host the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round for the second straight year.
However last year’s postseason wins were the first for the team in 6 years as their previous victory came back in 2016/17 when they doubled the San Jose Sharks 4 games to 2.
In the last 20 seasons, Edmonton has won a total of just 6 playoff series in 11 attempts with half of those wins coming in 2005/06 when they made it to the Stanley Cup Final only to fall to the Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games.
2022-23 Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 109 points
- Los Angeles Kings finished 3rd in the Pacific Division with 104 points
As of the time of writing the current playoff series is not over and will be updated as soon as the series ends.
2021-22 Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings (Round 1)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 104 points
- Los Angeles Kings finished 3rd in the Pacific Division with 99 points
The Oilers and Kings met for the eighth time in the playoffs with Edmonton winning 5 of the previous 7 clashes and also winning the 2021/22 regular season series 3 games to 1. The Oilers had home-ice advantage but it didn’t last long as LA won the opener 4-3 thanks to Phillip Danault’s game-winner with just over 5 minutes to go in regulation time. Edmonton bounced back in game 2 as goaltender Mike Smith made 30 saves in a 6-0 whitewash.
Edmonton continued to pound the Kings’ net in game 3 in as Evander Kane notched a hat trick in an 8-2 drubbing. After 2 straight embarrassing losses in which they were outscored 14-2, the Kings turned things around in game 4 with Jonathan Quick saving all 31 shots in a 4-0 victory. It was the 10th playoff shutout of for Quick and he became the leading American-born netminder in postseason shutouts in NHL history.
In game 5, the Oilers fought back from a 2-goal deficit to tie the game 4-4 but Adrian Kempe won it 5-4 for LA in overtime. Facing elimination, Connor McDavid led the Oilers to a 4-2 win in game 6 with a goal and 2 assists. In the 7th and deciding contest, McDavid notched a goal and assist in a 2-0 win as Mike Smith posted his 2nd shutout of the series.
Check out every goal of this classic Oilers vs Kings playoff showdown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvuGvawU23s
2021-22 Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames (Round 2)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 104 points
- Calgary Flames finished 1st in the Pacific Division with 111 points
The Oilers faced Calgary in the Battle of Alberta in the 2nd round with the Flames having home-ice advantage while the teams split the regular-season series 2-2. This was the 6th postseason tilt between the rivals with Edmonton having a 4-1 edge in series wins.
The opener featured a scoring explosion as the Flames won 9-6 thanks to a Matthew Tkachuk hat-trick after blowing a 6-2 lead at one point. The Oilers fought back from a two-goal deficit in game 2 as Leon Draisaitl tallied a goal and 2 helpers in a 5-3 win. Evander Kane netted a hat-trick, Leon Draisaitl earned 4 assists and Connor McDavid had 3 helpers in a 4-1 Edmonton victory in game 3. The Oilers blew a 3-goal lead in game 4 but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 2nd goal of the game proved to be the winner with 3:37 remaining in regulation time for a 5-3 triumph.
The teams set an NHL record in game 5 as they combined for 4 goals in a minute and 11 seconds for the fastest 4 playoff goals ever. McDavid then scored the winner in overtime in a 5-4 win to give Edmonton the series.
The Oilers and Flames combined for 45 goals in just 5 games in this series. Check out all the goals at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpYgql6ztqs
2021-22 Edmonton Oilers vs Colorado Avalanche (Round 3)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 104 points
- Colorado Avalanche finished 1st in the Central Division with 119 points
The Oilers were in the Western Conference Final for the 1st time since 2005/06 and for the 10th time overall against Colorado, who finished the season with the 2nd most points in the league with 119 and had home-ice advantage. This was the 3rd postseason battle between them with each team winning once in the previous 2 meetings and Colorado had a 2-1 edge in the regular-season series.
The Avalanche had a 4 -goal lead in game 1 but didn’t wrap it up until scoring an empty-netter in an 8-6 win. Pavel Francouz made 24 saves in Game 2 for a 4-0 Colorado win and the visitors took game 3 in Edmonton by a score of 4-2. The Oilers were facing a do-or-die situation in game 4 at home but blew a 2-goal lead and were edged 6-5 in overtime with Artturi Lehkonen netting the winner.
The Avalanche then went on to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in 6 games to win the Stanley Cup. On the bright side, Connor McDavid led the league in playoff scoring with 33 points in 16 games from 10 goals and 23 assists while Leon Draisaitl came in second with 7 goals and 25 assists for 32 points in 16 outings. Goalkeeper Mike Smith led the playoffs in shutouts with 2 and finished fifth in save percentage at 91.3.
Watch the Avalanche complete the 4-game sweep at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIbZnczhu5M
2020-21 Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets (Round 1)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the North Division with 72 points
- Winnipeg Jets finished 3rd in the North Division with 63 points
The 2020/21 NHL season was a strange affair thanks to the Covid-19 Pandemic as each team played a 56-game schedule. The Oilers and Jets competed in the North Division, which was made up of the league’s 7 Canadian franchises.
This was the 1st playoff meeting between the Oilers and the newest version of the Jets and Edmonton had home-ice advantage. The teams met 9 times during the regular season with the Oilers winning 7 of them. It was the Jets who made team history though as they swept a playoff series in 4 games for the very first time.
Winnipeg won the opener 4-1 with Connor Hellebuyck making 38 saves in the 2nd contest for a 1-0 overtime win. Edmonton blew a 4-1 lead in the 3rd period in game 3 as the Jets scored 3 times in just over 3 minutes to force overtime. Nikolaj Ehlers then scored the winner to give the Jets a commanding 3-0 series lead. Game 4 was a nail-biter as it wasn’t decided until Kyle Connor scored at the 6:52 mark of the 3rd overtime period for a 4-3 win and 4-0 series sweep.
See how the Jets dismantled the Oilers in 4 games at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUNJI3PZZGg
2019-20 Edmonton Oilers vs Chicago Blackhawks (Qualifying Round)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 83 points
- Chicago Blackhawks finished 7th in the Central Division with 72 points
The 2019/20 NHL season was the first to be affected by Covid-19 as all teams played between 69 and 71 regular-season games and the campaign was suspended in March. The league tinkered with the postseason format after resuming play in August with a 24-team playoff tournament held behind closed doors.
The teams were seeded based on their points percentage during the regular season. The top 4 teams in each conference earned a bye to the playoffs while the next 8 clubs in each conference were matched up in best-of-5 series with the winners going to the playoffs.
Edmonton and Chicago were meeting in the play-in qualifying round for the playoffs and this was the 5th postseason between them with the Oilers holding a 3-1 series edge. The Oilers had home-ice advantage but the Blackhawks won 2 of the 3 regular-season games.
Chicago rookie Dominik Kubalik netted 2 goals and 3 assists in the opening game for a 6-4 win but Connor McDavid scored a hat-trick in game 2 as the Oilers bounced back with a 6-3 victory. Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews notched the winner with 1:16 left in regulation time for a 4-3 triumph in game 3 and Chicago followed up with a 3-2 win in game 4 to take the series.
The Oilers fail to advance against the Blackhawks, check out the deciding game at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCufSYP1vk
2016-17 Edmonton Oilers vs San Jose Sharks (Round 1)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 103 points
- San Jose Sharks finished 3rd in the Pacific Division with 99 points
This was the first playoff appearance for the Oilers since 2005/06 and they had home-ice advantage for the first time since 1990/91. The teams had met just once before in the playoffs with Edmonton taking the Western Conference Semifinal in 6 games in 2005/06.
They also won the year’s regular-season series 3-2. The Oilers got off to a shaky start as they blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in overtime with Melker Karlsson notching the winner. Edmonton rebounded in game 2 with a pair of shorthanded goals and a shutout by Cam Talbot in a 2-0 win. Talbot was perfect again the next game in a 1-0 victory with 23 saves while Zack Kassian scored the lone goal.
It was then the Shark’s turn to earn a shutout as Martin Jones made 23 saves in a 7-0 beat down in game 4 to tie the series 2-2. The Oilers fought back from a 2-goal deficit in game 5 to force overtime with David Desharnais scoring the winner in a 4-3 victory. They then captured the series in game 5 with a 3-1 win conquest.
See all the goals of this Oilers’ playoff conquest at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p8YX3Qm2rM
2016-17 Edmonton Oilers vs Anaheim Ducks (Round 2)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 103 points
- Anaheim Ducks finished 1st in the Pacific Division with 105 points
Next up for the Oilers were the Anaheim Ducks, who had home ice-advantage while the Oilers won 3 of the 5 regular-season meetings that season. The franchises had met just once before in the playoffs with Edmonton downing Anaheim in 5 games in the 2005/06 Western Conference Final.
Leon Draisaitl tallied a goal and 3 helpers in the opener as they blew a 3-1 lead in the 3rd period but rebounded for a 5-3 win. Patrick Maroon netted the winner in game 2 for a 2-1 Edmonton victory. The Oilers fought back from a 3-0 deficit in game 3 but ended up losing 6-3 then blew a 2-0 lead in the next outing to lose just 45 seconds into overtime.
Edmonton held a 3-0 lead with just 3:16 remaining in game 5 but collapsed as Anaheim tied the game and won it 4-3 at 6:57 of the 2nd overtime period thanks to a goal by Corey Perry. Edmonton netted 5 goals the 1st period of game 6 and won 7-1 with Leon Draisaitl scoring a hat-trick and 2 assists. It all came down to game 7 with the Ducks winning 2-1 at home.
Re-live the highlights of this Edmonton vs Anaheim clash at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo5FrIedhUg
2005-06 Edmonton Oilers vs Detroit Red Wings (Round 1)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 3rd in the Northwest Division with 95 points
- Detroit Red Wings finished 1st in the Central Division with 124 points
The Oilers were huge underdogs as they entered the playoffs as the 8th seed in the Western Conference while the Red Wings won the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season squad with 124 points. Detroit also had home-ice advantage and took 6 of a possible 8 points in the season series.
It was the 3rd postseason meeting between them with the Oilers winning both previous tilts. Detroit took game 1 by a 3-2 score in double overtime thanks to Kirk Maltby’s winner with Edmonton bouncing back with a 4-2 win in game 2.
Game 3 also went to double overtime but this time the Oilers celebrated thanks to a goal by Jarret Stoll in a 4-3 victory. The Red Wings were 4-2 winners in game 4 while the Oilers edged them 3-2 in game 5. Edmonton then erased a 2-goal deficit in game 6 and scored 4 times in the 3rd period with Ales Hemsky bagging the winner in a 4-3 victory with just 1:06 left in regulation time to pull off the upset.
Watch the Oilers upset the league’s top team at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjojPX1SCjQ
2005-06 Edmonton Oilers vs San Jose Sharks (Round 2)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 3rd in the Northwest Division with 95 points
- San Jose Sharks finished 2nd in the Pacific Division with 99 points
Next up for was San Jose as the teams were meeting for the first time in the playoffs. The Sharks had home-ice advantage but Edmonton won 3 of the 4 regular-season games. The Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 series lead by winning 2-1 in their first 2 home games.
The Oilers took game 3 when Shawn Horcoff scored at 2:24 of triple overtime in a 3-2 win then came back from a 3–1 deficit to win game 4 by a score of 6-3. Edmonton tallied 3 straight goals in the 3rd period of game 5 for another 6-3 triumph and then wrapped up the series in game 6 as Dwayne Roloson made 24 saves in a 2-0 shutout.
Edmonton shuts out San Jose to advance in game 6. Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t25qIRmSVss
2005-06 Edmonton Oilers vs Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (Round 3)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 3rd in the Northwest Division with 95 points
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim finished 3rd in the Pacific Division with 98 points
The Western Conference Final was contested between the Oilers and Ducks and it was also their first playoff clash. Anaheim had home-ice advantage but Edmonton took all 4 games in the season series. The Oilers won 3-1 in the opening 2 games on the road and then hung on for a 5-4 win in game 3 after the teams combined for 8 goals in the 3rd period.
Anaheim led 3-0 in the 1st period of game 4 and won it 6-3 but Edmonton clinched the series in game 5 with a 2-1 victory. This meant they became the first 8th -seeded team in a conference to reach a Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup Final with this series win over Anaheim. See how they did it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFphTF8gtYU
2005-06 Edmonton Oilers vs Carolina Hurricanes (Stanley Cup Final)
- Edmonton Oilers finished 3rd in the Northwest Division with 95 points
- Carolina Hurricanes finished 1st in the Southeast Division with 112 points
The Oilers and Hurricanes were meeting in the postseason for the first time with Carolina having home-ice advantage. The teams didn’t meet in the regular season so there was no apparent animosity between them. This was the 7th Stanley Cup Final for Edmonton and it was the first time two former WHA franchises battled for the Cup.
It was also the first Final between teams which failed to make the postseason the previous year. The Oilers blew a 3-goal lead in the opener to lose 5-4 with just 32 seconds remaining in regulation time. Edmonton’s Chris Pronger scored the very first penalty-shot goal in the history of the Stanley Cup Final in the contest and Oilers’ goalie Dwayne Roloson suffered a series-ending injury. Jussi Markkanen was in net for game 2 but Edmonton was drilled 5-0.
The Oilers rebounded in game 3 with a 2-1 win when Ryan Smyth netted the winner with 2:15 left in the game. Carolina earned a 2-1 victory in game 4 while the Oilers earned a 4-3 overtime win in game 5 when Fernando Pisani scored the winner with the first-ever shorthanded overtime goal in Stanley Cup Final history. Edmonton won 4-0 in game 6 but lost game 7 by a 3-1 margin as Justin Williams clinched the Cup for Carolina with an empty-netter.
The Oilers and Hurricanes went the distance in the 2006/06 Stanley Cup Final. Re-live every goal at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02Yc6UBD0o
What Years Did the Edmonton Oilers Miss Playoffs?
| Years Oilers Missed Playoffs | Season Record |
| 2018-19 | 35-38-9 (79 points) |
| 2017-18 | 36-40-6 (78 points) |
| 2015-16 | 31-43-8 (70 points) |
| 2014-15 | 24-44-14 (62 points) |
| 2013-14 | 29-44-9 (67 points) |
| 2012-13 | 19-22-7 (45 points) |
| 2011-12 | 32-40-10 (74 points) |
| 2010-11 | 25-25-12 (62 points) |
| 2009-10 | 27-47-8 (62 points) |
| 2008-09 | 38-35-9 (85 points) |
| 2007-08 | 41-35-6 (88 points) |
| 2006-07 | 32-43-7 (71 points) |
| 2004-05 | NHL Lockout/season cancelled |
| 2003-03 | 36-28-12-5 (89 points) |
When was the Last time the Edmonton Oilers Won a Stanley Cup?
The last time the Edmonton Oilers hoisted the Stanley Cup was in the 1989/90 season when they downed the Boston Bruins in 5 games. It was the team’s 7th Cup victory as they also won it in 1983/84, 1984/85, 1986/87 and 1987/88.
For more information on Edmonton’s Stanley Cup conquests please visit https://hockeyresponse.com/how-many-stanley-cups-have-the-edmonton-oilers-won/
Final Thoughts
This is the 8th season for Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid as he broke into the NHL in 2015/16. However, the team has won just 2 playoff series since. Even though McDavid may very well be the world’s best hockey player at the moment, the Oilers’ relative lack of playoff success proves that hockey is a team game and all hands need to be on deck to win a Stanley Cup.
Edmonton needs to solidify their goaltending and defence before they’re likely to lift the Cup for an 8th time.
Read our related post of When Was the Last Time the Maple Leafs Won A Playoff Series? here.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.