Battle of Alberta & NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

For the past four decades, the province of Alberta has hosted two NHL teams, the Edmonton Oilers (emigrating from the WHL in 1979) and the Calgary Flames (relocating from Atlanta in 1980). Separated by a mere 175 miles, these two franchises have forged one of the most intense rivalries in the game, playing hundreds of regular season games and six playoff series against each other, in what's known as the "Battle of Alberta". The Oilers have qualified for the postseason 25 times, skating in the Cup Final seven times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2006) and winning the Stanley Cup five times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990). The Flames have skated in the playoffs 24 times, cracking the Cup Final three times (1986, 1989, 2004) and hoisting once (1989).

To put the early years of these fierce provincial foes in perspective, both teams made the playoffs each year from their inauguration through 1991, with one of them skating in the Stanley Cup Final for eight consecutive years (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) and winning it six times during that span, spilling oceans of blood en route.

There were dark times too. Edmonton missed the postseason 18 times (1993-1996, 2002, 2004, 2007-2016, 2018, 2019), including a NHL record 10 consecutive postseason absences (2007-2016). Calgary failed to qualify for the playoffs 17 times (1992, 1997-2003, 2010-2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023). 

Both missed the same postseason eight times (2002, 2010-2014, 2016, 2018), including seven of the past fourteen playoffs. On the other hand, both qualified for the same postseason 15 times (1981-1991, 2006, 2017, 2020, 2022), though it's only happened four times in the past 31 seasons (2006, 2017, 2020, 2022).

In terms of head-to-head playoff matchups, the Alberta teams have locked horns six times (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 2022). Edmonton has won all but one such series (1986), owing to a spectacular Steve Smith own goal, with the winner reaching the Stanley Cup Final four times (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988) and hoisting twice (1984, 1988) after such affairs.

Regarding other NHL teams facing both Alberta squads in the same postseason, only the Winnipeg Jets (1985, 1987), Los Angeles Kings (1989, 1990) and Anaheim Ducks (2006, 2017) have done it. To date, only the 2017 Anaheim Ducks have won series against both Alberta teams in the same postseason. 

Interestingly, when both Alberta sides have played the same opponent in a postseason, the victor has advanced to the Stanley Cup Final every time (1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2006) but once (2017), hoisting the Cup all but twice (2006, 2017).

Connor McDavid's Game 5 overtime goal last night clinched the series win for Edmonton in the first Battle of Alberta in 32 years. Unfortunately, the Oilers can uphold history and reach the Stanley Cup Final as every victor of such series has in the past.