Do you want to see a fight at an Edmonton Oilers game?
If you do, go to a game in February…in Calgary… make sure you're in your seats during the second period… have Kelly Buchberger in the Oilers' lineup… put Ian Laperriere on the other team… and have it be the 1987-1988 season.
If you could attend such a game, you'd have some pretty awesome Edmonton Oilers tickets.
Since entering the National Hockey League, 217 different Oilers have fought 1,982 times.
Of those nearly 2,000 fights, 957 occurred at home and 1,025 occurred on the road.
That's not the only nugget of puck pugilism we want to share.
Below, we look at the Edmonton Oilers and their rich history of dropping the gloves.
Thanks to our friends at hockeyfights.com, we've compiled lists highlighting the history of the Oilers and their hockey fights.
With the NHL's recent rule changes, it's no surprise that the 1980s and 1990s dominate the list of seasons with the most Oilers fights. Only one campaign from the 21st century makes the rundown.
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Derek Boogaard vs. Steve MacIntyre. Photo credit: Matthew D. Britt
Labor strife canceled the 2004-2005 season and truncated the 1994-1995 and 2012-2013 crusades to 48 games.
That explains why the Oilers duked it out just 13 times in 2012-2013. In the other lock-out shortened season, the Oilers turned up their aggression. They averaged nearly a fight a night.
Season |
# of Fights |
2012-2013* |
13 |
2015-2016 |
26 |
2011-2012 |
27 |
2005-2006 |
28 |
2014-2015 |
30 |
1981-1982 |
33 |
2016-2017 |
35 |
2013-2014 |
36 |
1996-1997 |
41 |
1994-1995* |
41 |
The NHL officially recognizes the Edmonton Oilers of 1983 through 1990 as a dynasty. During that era, the franchise won five Stanley Cups. Besides winning sports' toughest trophy, the Oilers also posted a franchise-best 94 fights.
The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals at the end of the 1982-1983 and 2005-2006 seasons. They didn't skate away with the cup, but they did post 61 and 28 fights, respectively, during those regular seasons.
Stanley Cup Championship |
# of Fights |
Franchise Rank |
1983-1984 |
48 |
25th |
1984-1985 |
57 |
16th |
1986-1987 |
65 |
7th |
1987-1988 |
94 |
1st |
1989-1990 |
67 |
6th |
Luke Gazdic vs Brian McGrattan. Photo courtesy of YouTube
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Edmonton Oilers like to fight in the middle of the season—December, January, and February. They seem to keep their gloves on in autumn and spring.
It's completely understandable that April has a low number brawls. The regular season ends in the middle of April.
Month |
Total # of Fights |
October |
277 |
November |
298 |
December |
333 |
January |
333 |
February |
341 |
March |
301 |
April |
99 |
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The 1980s are responsible for six months with the most Edmonton Oilers fights. The 1990s were responsible for five, and the 21st century has two entries including one of four months where the Oilers tussled twenty or more times.
Remember, the Oilers first NHL season was 1979-1980.
Month/Year |
# of Fights |
January 1980 |
28 |
December 1985 |
26 |
March 1988 |
22 |
February 2008 |
20 |
January 1988 |
19 |
January 1992 |
19 |
December 1992 |
18 |
February 1994 |
18 |
November 1980 |
17 |
March 1987 |
17 |
October 1991 |
17 |
December 1993 |
17 |
December 2009 |
17 |
Oilers vs. Wild. Photo courtesy of Flickr
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Surprisingly, Oilers tend to resort to fisticuffs in the middle of the game instead of the end.
You'd think the waning moments of a contest, when the outcome has been decided, is when Oilers would throw down the most, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Period |
# of Fights |
1 |
707 |
2 |
712 |
3 |
561 |
4 |
2 |
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On Jan. 19, 1980 the Edmonton Oilers fought the Pittsburgh Penguins nine times during a single regular season game. Oilers hit Penguins and the back of the net. They picked up the win, 5-2.
The two games where the Oilers fought eight times were both losses. The Oilers fell 2-4 to the Kings and 2-5 to the Flames.
Date |
Opponent |
# of Fights |
Jan. 19, 1980 |
@ Pittsburgh |
9 |
Feb. 28, 1990 |
@ Los Angeles |
8 |
March 20, 1995 |
Calgary |
8 |
Dec. 20, 1985 |
Los Angeles |
7 |
March 20, 1987 |
Calgary |
7 |
Feb. 11, 2004 |
Atlanta |
7 |
Feb. 16, 2008 |
@ Vancouver |
7 |
Oct. 14, 1988 |
@ Calgary |
6 |
Oct. 25, 2003 |
Calgary |
6 |
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Kelly Buchberger played for the Edmonton Oilers from 1987 to 1999. He, and another member of the top ten, Marty McSorley, were the last players remaining from the Oilers five Stanley Cup Championship teams.
Speaking of champions, Mark Messier's 39 fights makes him the first Oiler cut from the following list. If the following list included all 217 Oilers who threw fists, near the bottom, you'd find Wayne Gretzky. While an Oiler, “The Great One” fought twice.
Oiler |
# of Fights |
Kelly Buchberger |
138 |
Georges Laraque |
97 |
Kevin McClelland |
92 |
Zack Stortini |
80 |
Louie Debrusk |
71 |
Marty McSorley |
59 |
Steve Smith |
47 |
Dave Semenko |
46 |
Sean Brown |
44 |
Jeff Beukeboom |
40 |
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Marty McSorley played 160 games for the Edmonton Oilers between 1985 to 1988 and then played another 46 games in 1998-99. During those 201 games, McSorley fought 59 times.
He battled his former teammates ten times as a member of the Los Angeles Kings, twice as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and once as a San Jose Shark.
Opposing Player |
# of Fights |
Ian Laperriere |
21 |
Gino Odjick |
18 |
Joel Otto |
16 |
Jim Peplinski |
15 |
Stu Grimson |
14 |
Jay Miller |
13 |
Marty McSorley* |
13 |
Matt Johnson |
13 |
Chris Nilan |
12 |
Jeff Odgers |
12 |
Tim Hunter |
24 |
*= Also played with Edmonton Oilers
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During the 2007-2008 campaign, Zack Stortini appeared in 66 games, spent 201 minutes in the sin bin, and fought 23 times. The following season, he appeared in fewer games (52), and spent less time in the penalty box (181 PIM), but mixed it up two more times.
In 1985-1986, McSorley fought 25 times in 59 games. He spent 265 minutes off the ice thinking about the penalties he committed and finished the regular season with two more fights than points.
Oiler |
# of Fights |
Season |
Zack Stortini |
25 |
2008-2009 |
Marty McSorley |
25 |
1985-1986 |
Zack Stortini |
23 |
2007-2008 |
Kevin McClelland |
22 |
1987-1988 |
Kelly Buchberger |
20 |
1988-1989 |
Louie Debrusk |
19 |
1992-1993 |
Kelly Buchberger |
19 |
1989-1990 |
Georges Laraque |
18 |
2001-2002 |
Louie Debrusk |
18 |
1993-1994 |
Marty McSorley |
18 |
1987-1988 |
Kevin McClelland |
18 |
1985-1986 |
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The Calgary Flames are rude guests. When they visit Rogers Place, they like to turn the ice rink into a boxing ring. One of their 122 fights in Edmonton came when the franchise was based in Atlanta.
Edmonton Oilers' Home Opponents |
# of Fights |
Calgary Flames |
122 |
Vancouver Canucks |
85 |
Los Angeles Kings |
78 |
Arizona Coyotes |
72 |
Chicago Blackhawks |
43 |
Colorado Avalanche |
42 |
Dallas Stars |
42 |
San Jose Sharks |
40 |
St. Louis Blues |
39 |
Boston Bruins |
34 |
Anaheim Ducks |
31 |
Buffalo Sabres |
30 |
Detroit Red Wings |
27 |
New York Islanders |
27 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
27 |
New Jersey Devils |
25 |
Minnesota Wild |
22 |
Montreal Canadiens |
22 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
22 |
Carolina Hurricanes |
20 |
Washington Capitals |
18 |
New York Rangers |
16 |
Florida Panthers |
15 |
Winnipeg Jets |
15 |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
13 |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
11 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
10 |
Nashville Predators |
6 |
Ottawa Senators |
3 |
James Vandermeer vs. Tim Jackman, Calgary vs. Oilers
About 300 kilometers separate Edmonton and Calgary. This proximity breeds contempt. Since 1979, the two franchises have duked it out more than 250 times. One-hundred and thirty of those fracases happened in Calgary.
Most of the Oilers' melees with the Arizona Coyotes came when the franchise was in Winnipeg. The franchise that's currently in Winnipeg used to be in Atlanta and nicknamed the “Thrashers.” Edmonton has clashed with that franchise just four times.
Edmonton Oilers' Away Opponents |
# of Fights |
Calgary Flames |
130 |
Los Angeles Kings |
103 |
Vancouver Canucks |
91 |
Arizona Coyotes |
64 |
St. Louis Blues |
52 |
Colorado Avalanche |
51 |
Dallas Stars |
51 |
Detroit Red Wings |
46 |
Chicago Blackhawks |
42 |
Boston Bruins |
35 |
San Jose Sharks |
35 |
New York Islanders |
29 |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
29 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
26 |
Anaheim Ducks |
25 |
Minnesota Wild |
23 |
Nashville Predators |
23 |
New Jersey Devils |
23 |
Columbus Blue Jackets |
21 |
New York Rangers |
21 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
21 |
Buffalo Sabres |
16 |
Montreal Canadiens |
15 |
Carolina Hurricanes |
14 |
Washington Capitals |
14 |
Ottawa Senators |
10 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
7 |
Florida Panthers |
4 |
Winnipeg Jets |
4 |
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