Since joining the NHL in 1979-80, the Edmonton Oilers have played more regular-season games at the Saddledome than any other arena outside of their two home rinks, Rogers Place and Rexall Place, with 125 regular-season games played in Calgary.

The 2026-27 season will be the final time the Calgary Flames play at the Saddledome before their new arena is built, but it hasn’t been an easy building for the Oilers, with a record of 46-70-2, along with seven ties, at the arena.

Despite that losing record, the Saddledome has been the site of a lot of Battle of Alberta history and no shortage of memorable Oilers moments. As Calgary prepares to bid farewell to the Saddledome after the upcoming season, here are my picks for the top five Oilers moments at the Flames’ longtime rink.

Wayne Gretzky’s Game 2 OT Winner in 1988

Edmonton had eliminated Calgary in the playoffs in 1983 and 1984, with the Oilers winning their first Stanley Cup in 1984, before Calgary started to break through. By the 1987-88 season, the Flames weren’t an underdog anymore; they were the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Edmonton and Calgary both made quick work of their first-round opponents in 1988, winning their respective series in five games to set up a Battle of Alberta in the Smythe Division final.

The Flames had home-ice advantage as the Presidents’ Trophy winners, but the Oilers won Game 1 at the Saddledome by a score of 3-1, despite being outshot 27-19.

The Oilers showed their resilience in Game 2, falling behind three times but battling back each time, with Jari Kurri tying the game with just under four minutes remaining to force sudden-death overtime.

With Mark Messier in the penalty box and the Oilers shorthanded, Kurri passed the puck to Wayne Gretzky. The Great One darted down the wing and, from the top of the faceoff circle, unleashed a heavy slap shot that found the back of the net, leaving Flames netminder Mike Vernon stunned as the Oilers took Game 2 at the Saddledome by a score of 5-4.

Vintage Oilers

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April 21, 1988 Game 2 Smythe Final Wayne Gretzky’s final play as an #Oilers in Calgary is one of the greatest shots in #NHL history. Gretzky fires a 🚀 top corner for the overtime winning goal (SH). 5-4 #LetsGoOilers

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5:09 PM · Aug 22, 2026

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