[lawrence97]

1985/1986 Season

First game is against Lemieux's Oilers, and we get shut out 3-0. Not a good start. But we win our next six before we trade Tippet and Broten our 1st Rnd pick for Damphousse who will go into the minors. Damphousse will go into minors this year, but is exactly the player we needed for our depth at Centre, With Nieuqendyk and him at 1-2 i feel we willl compete into the 90's.

12 games in and we are 11-1. However story of the season is Mario Lemieux, he has gone turbo charged. 38 points in 12 games. Having Robitaille and Hull on your wings is having quite the effect. Gretzky is on 24, Only man close is Buffalo's duo of Rogers and Middleton who have put up 32 and 26(which is still stunning) Gretzky lagging behind on 24. Is the the first season in which he doesn't win the Hart and Art Ross? He is on 6 straight so far. Detroit with Hasek and Fetisov are 1st in west with 4 teams including Edmonton within 2. We are already 7 clear of the next best Devils and Sabres in the east.

24 game in and Detroit are 19-2-3, we are 19-3-0. We are both clear in our conferences. Minnesota are on 26 points in 25 games, a real shock for them. They've gone 1-1-5 in last 7 games. Edmonton are challenging for the lead in their division. In the scoring race Gretzky is on 51, Lemieux on 66 on pace for 178 and 221 respectively. For context our top line is heading for 110 points, and our top scorers are 39, 41 42, 44 and 56 in the league! We have 4 lines who can score and thats why we keep winning. We also keep them out.

Half way through the season, and in the 3 game series with Detroit, we got 2-1, all games are decided by 1 goal. In the league we are on 67 points Bruins Sabres and Devils on 51, 50 and 49 in the conference. In the west, Detroit are on 63, just behind us in the league, with everyone else in their division around .500. In the other division Edm are just ahead of the kings 51-50, with everyone else in the 30's. Lemieux and Gretzky are on top teams and hoping they meet and we can meet the winner in the final.

Scoring Race, Gretzky is catching Lemieux, Mario on course for exactly 200, and Gretzky 180. For Gls, Wayne is on 44, Paul Stastny on 42, Mario 37 and Bossy 35. Hull and Robitaille are on 29 each. Would be something if Edmonton had 3 60 goal scorers in one season! Best defence is now Detroit at 3.4 per game, we are 7th at 3.79, but its now our scoring thats the difference at 5.76 per game, Buff 5.02. Edm only at 4.64. their top line is the difference, Ron Francis doing well, but they could do with another sniper to play with him, and they'd be up their with us and Detroit. We've called up Duchense to cover for Patrick's 2 months out. I've played with the lines after we went on a 4 game winless streak. Unger who had been dropped for S. Turgeon, came in for Ronning who was struggling. Ronning will come back in for Thomas in the last quarter of the season.

64 Games in. Rangers suddenly hit a bad patch losing 7 games in 11, inclduing a 6-2 pasting at Edmonton. We are on 94 points Dtetroit on 88 and Edmonton 83 as comfortably the top three teams in the league. Lemieux has put distance to Gretzky now, 165 plays 143, on course for 216 and 190 pts respectively. Gretkzy trying to break the 101 sesason record by Bobby Hull. Mikita interestingly has assist record of 146. Lemieux has a chance at that one. Gretzky is the teams scoring as he has no one to assist unlike the twin cannons that Lemieux has.

In terms of Game records Derek Sanderons has most goals in a game with 7, Dionne most assists with 9, and he's tied with Brad Park for 9 pts in a game.

End of regular season. We finish top on 130 points, Edmonton catch and pass Detroit who had a stuttering final 20 games. but those are still top 3. Stl had a strong end getting to within 4 of detroit despite being 10+ behind at the mid point. Gretzky ended up with 81, the main reason Detroit slumped, but stil ended up on 186 points, Lemieux hit 218, with 141 assists so both Goal and Assists season are not broken. The Points record is 221 set by Gretzky in 79/80. Mario was just 3 short of that with one game to play. and he does it with a four point haul! Two goals in that game means he also beats Gretzky 82-81 in the top goalscorer race. 5 players have hit 200; Lemiuex, Gretzky, Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull and Yvan Cournoyer. Next closest is Mickey Redmond with 174.

Onto the playoffs where all eyes will be on the Gretzky Lemieux battle, but will Stl or someone else spoil the party. 38 players get 100, 14 50 goal scorers. Our depth in scoring with 9 players at 80 or better is why we top the league. Our goals against though is a worry. Last year we were a plus 263, this year its a 143. The leagues is a lot closer We score 471 goals, close to where i was expecting. Defence not where i was expecting.