The 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 4, after the conclusion of the 1983–84 NHL season. The playoffs concluded on May 19 with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the four-time defending champion New York Islanders 5–2 to win the Stanley Cup Finals four games to one, the franchise's first Stanley Cup. (P1) New York Islanders vs. (P4) New York Rangers This was the sixth playoff series meeting between these two teams. The Islanders won four of the previous five meetings, including in each of the past three seasons. The Islanders won in six games in last year's Patrick Division Finals. The 1984 playoffs largely maintained the format used for the previous two seasons. The four teams with the best regular-season records from each of the four divisions secured playoff berths. The division semi-finals saw the first-place club against the fourth-place team, while the other two teams played against each other. The winning clubs then met in the division final. Home-ice advantage for these first two rounds of the playoffs were granted to the team with the better regular-season record. Division winners then met one another in the conference finals. Leaving behind the coin flip system introduced for the 1982 playoffs, the NHL changed the method by which home-ice advantage is determined for the final two rounds. The higher point total accumulated by teams within a division from contests against teams of the other division in the conference, secured home-ice advantage for the corresponding division champion. Similarly, the higher point total accumulated by teams within a conference from contests against teams of the other conference, secured home-ice advantage for the corresponding conference champion. This formula resulted in home-ice advantage for the Adams and Smythe division champions in the conference finals and resulted in home-ice advantage for the Wales Conference champion in the Stanley Cup finals. The sequence of Stanley Cup Finals games was changed for this season. The series opened with two games at the venue of the team with home-ice advantage and then shifted to the opponent's rink for the next three games, including the fifth (if necessary). The series then returned to the initial venue for the final two games (if necessary). Prince of Wales Conference Patrick Division New York Islanders, Patrick Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 104 points (50 wins) Washington Capitals – 101 points Philadelphia Flyers – 98 points New York Rangers – 93 points April 4 New York Rangers 1–4 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap April 5 New York Rangers 3–0 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap April 7 New York Islanders 2–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap April 8 New York Islanders 4–1 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap April 10 New York Rangers 2–3 OT New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap New York Islanders won series 3–2 Stanley Cup Finals This was the third playoff series meeting between these two teams. New York won both previous meetings, and was a rematch of New York's four-game sweep in last year's Stanley Cup Finals. The Islanders attempted to match the 1950s Montreal Canadiens and win the Stanley Cup five consecutive times, against the Edmonton Oilers attempting to win the franchise's first championship. The Islanders lost the first game at home 1–0, but bounced back to defeat the Oilers 6–1 in the second game. Edmonton took over the series from that point, winning the next three games, all played in Edmonton. May 10 Edmonton Oilers 1–0 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap May 12 Edmonton Oilers 1–6 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap May 15 New York Islanders 2–7 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum Recap May 17 New York Islanders 2–7 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum Recap May 19 New York Islanders 2–5 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum Recap Edmonton won series 4–1