In the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders had swept the Oilers in four straight games.

The teams met again in 1984, with the Islanders seeking their fifth consecutive Stanley Cup championship.

The 1984 Finals was the third of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, second of eight contested by a team from Alberta (the Oilers appeared in six, the Calgary Flames in two, the Vancouver Canucks in one), and the first of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four times at home, the Montreal Canadiens once in Calgary).

The feat was eclipsed in 2016 by the Ottawa Redblacks, who won the Grey Cup in their third CFL season.

Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0, the Calgary Flames 4–3 and the Minnesota North Stars 4–0 to reach the Finals.

The Oilers then won game five by the score of 5–2 thanks to Gretzky's two first-period goals, and two Duane Sutter penalties.

CBC's broadcast team consisted of Bob Cole, Dick Irvin Jr., and Gary Dornhoefer.