NHL History: Bill Ranford records first ever career playoff shutout enroute to Stanley Cup championship, Conn Smythe Trophy

Bill Ranford never really got his break in the hockey world until he joined the Edmonton Oilers. Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round of the 1985 draft, he only played a handful of games and rode the pine until a falling out with the organization saw him on the trade market.

Queue the Edmonton Oilers, who swooped in and secured he and Geoff Courtnall’s services in exchange for Andy Moog on March 8, 1988.

After appearing in 35 games in 1987-88 and 1988-89, Ranford jumped into a starting role in 1989-90. Appearing in 56 games, Ranford posted a 24-16-9 record with a .887 save percentage and an impressive 8.9 GSAA.

And today, in 1990, Ranford secured his first career playoff shutout in a 7-0 romping of the LA Kings in the Smythe Division Finals stopping all 25 shots he faced.

Ranford’s solid goaltending continued through the playoffs as Grant Fuhr was out with a season-ending injury. By the end of the playoffs, the Oilers hoisted the Stanley Cup and Ranford was named the Conn Smythe trophy winner.

His .912 save percentage in the playoffs remains some of the best performances of his career.

Randford left Edmonton in a 1996 trade to the Boston Bruins that saw the Oilers acquire Mariusz Czerkawski, a 1996 1st round pick (Matthieu Descoteaux) and the rights to Sean Brown.

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