In the hockey world of the late 1980s, the province of Alberta was the undisputed center of the universe. As the 1988-89 season came to a close, the Stanley Cup was sitting comfortably in Wild Rose Country, but it was tucked away in the south. The Calgary Flames had finally kicked the door down, leaving fans in Edmonton to wonder if the glory days had moved down the QEII for good.

But 1989-90 wasn’t about watching the Flames celebrate. It was about a reclamation project. For the Edmonton Oilers, this wasn’t just another season; it was the year they proved that the “City of Champions” wasn’t just a nickname—it was an identity.

Time for Captain Mark Messier

The narrative heading into the 1989-90 season was heavy. The Oilers were again navigating life entirely without Wayne Gretzky. When “The Great One” was traded to Los Angeles in 1988, many critics thought the dynasty died with the deal.

‘89 Stanley Cup Playoffs: In Round 1, Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3.

After losing Round 1 to the Kings in ‘89, the ‘90 Stanley Cup playoffs became the ultimate stage for the remaining roster to find their own voice. Under the fierce, unflinching leadership of Captain Mark Messier, the Oilers set out to show the world that while Gretzky was the greatest, the Oilers were still the best team.

The Gritty Road to Five

The journey back to the top was a test of will. They nearly blinked in the first round. After falling into a 3-1 hole against the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton rallied to win three straight. And after exorcising the ghost of Gretzky by sweeping the Kings, they took down Chicago to set up a clash with the Boston Bruins.

The ‘90 Stanley Cup Final kicked off with a marathon that most likely still haunt Boston fans. Game 1 went into triple overtime—the longest game in Finals history. It ended when Petr Klima, who had been benched for much of the game, hopped off the pine to beat Andy Moog. That goal broke the series open. With Bill Ranford standing on his head, the Oilers were relentless.

A Legacy Cemented

On May 24, 1990, the Edmonton Oilers silenced the Boston Garden with a 4-1 win in Game 5. As Mark Messier hoisted the Stanley Cup, the message was clear: the Stanley Cup was coming back north. It was their fifth title in seven years, a feat that felt even sweeter because they did it their way. The ’89 run belonged to Calgary, but ‘90 proved the dynasty in Edmonton still had one more masterpiece left in the tank.