The 2011–12 Edmonton Oilers season was the 33rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 40th season including their play in the World Hockey Association.

The Oilers failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the sixth consecutive season for the first time in franchise history. They last qualified during the 2005–06 NHL season.

Off-season The Edmonton Oilers drafted first overall in the 2011 NHL entry draft, and chose Red Deer Rebels centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. With the 19th pick overall (obtained from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade for Dustin Penner), the Oilers chose defenceman Oscar Klefbom.

Playoffs The Oilers were eliminated from playoff contentions on March 22, 2012.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2011 Pre-season Game Log: 5–3–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 2–1–0; Neutral: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 20 Minnesota Wild 4–3 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 15,653 0–1–0 2 September 20 (in Saskatoon, SK) Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Chicago Blackhawks Dubnyk 12,375 1–1–0 3 September 22 Vancouver Canucks 2–1 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 15,724 1–2–0 4 September 24 Calgary Flames 1–2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 2–2–0 5 September 25 Edmonton Oilers 3–0 Calgary Flames Dubnyk 19,289 3–2–0 6 September 27 Phoenix Coyotes 2–3 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,218 4–2–0 7 September 30 Edmonton Oilers 4–3 Minnesota Wild SO Dubnyk 14,544 5–2–0 8 October 1 Edmonton Oilers 1–4 Vancouver Canucks Khabibulin 18,860 5–3–0

Regular season 2011–12 Game Log October: 7–2–2 (Home: 6–1–1; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Dubnyk 16,839 1–0–0 2 2 October 13 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 2 Minnesota Wild SO Khabibulin 15,878 1–0–1 3 3 October 15 Vancouver Canucks 4 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 1–1–1 3 4 October 17 Nashville Predators 1 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 2–1–1 5 5 October 18 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 2 Calgary Flames Dubnyk 19,289 2–2–1 5 6 October 20 Minnesota Wild 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers SO Khabibulin 16,839 2–2–2 6 7 October 22 New York Rangers 0 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 3–2–2 8 8 October 25 Vancouver Canucks 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 4–2–2 10 9 October 27 Washington Capitals 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 5–2–2 12 10 October 28 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Colorado Avalanche Dubnyk 15,057 6–2–2 14 11 October 30 St. Louis Blues 2 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 7–2–2 16 November: 5–8–1 (Home: 1–2–1; Road: 4–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 3 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 0 Los Angeles Kings Khabibulin 18,118 8–2–2 18 13 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Phoenix Coyotes Dubnyk 13,381 8–3–2 18 14 November 8 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Montreal Canadiens Khabibulin 21,273 9–3–2 20 15 November 10 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Boston Bruins Dubnyk 17,565 9–4–2 20 16 November 11 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 3 Detroit Red Wings Khabibulin 20,066 9–5–2 20 17 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Chicago Blackhawks Khabibulin 21,110 9–6–2 20 18 November 17 Ottawa Senators 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 9–7–2 20 19 November 19 Chicago Blackhawks 2 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 10–7–2 22 20 November 21 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Dallas Stars Khabibulin 11,458 10–8–2 22 21 November 22 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 2 Nashville Predators Dubnyk 16,838 11–8–2 24 22 November 25 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 2 Minnesota Wild Khabibulin 18,092 12–8–2 26 23 November 26 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Colorado Avalanche Dubnyk 17,684 12–9–2 26 24 November 28 Nashville Predators 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 12–10–2 26 25 November 30 Minnesota Wild 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Khabibulin 16,839 12–10–3 27 December: 3–9–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 0–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 13–10–3 29 27 December 3 Calgary Flames 5 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 13–11–3 29 28 December 7 Carolina Hurricanes 5 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 13–12–3 29 29 December 9 Colorado Avalanche 1 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 14–12–3 31 30 December 10 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 3 Calgary Flames Dubnyk 19,289 14–13–3 31 31 December 15 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Phoenix Coyotes Dubnyk 9,397 14–14–3 31 32 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 San Jose Sharks Khabibulin 17,562 14–15–3 31 33 December 19 Detroit Red Wings 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 14–16–3 31 34 December 22 Minnesota Wild 1 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 15–16–3 33 35 December 26 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 5 Vancouver Canucks Khabibulin 18,890 15–17–3 33 36 December 29 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Minnesota Wild Khabibulin 19,194 15–18–3 33 37 December 31 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 New York Islanders Dubnyk 13,807 15–19–3 33 January: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 2 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 Chicago Blackhawks Dubnyk 21,216 16–19–3 35 39 January 3 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Buffalo Sabres Khabibulin 18,690 16–20–3 35 40 January 5 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 St. Louis Blues Dubnyk 18,428 16–21–3 35 41 January 7 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Dallas Stars Khabibulin 16,122 16–22–3 35 42 January 11 New Jersey Devils 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers OT Khabibulin 16,839 16–22–4 36 43 January 13 Anaheim Ducks 5 – 0 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 16–23–4 36 44 January 15 Los Angeles Kings 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers OT Dubnyk 16,839 17–23–4 38 45 January 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Columbus Blue Jackets Dubnyk 13,814 17–24–4 38 46 January 19 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 1 St. Louis Blues Khabibulin 17,432 17–25–4 38 47 January 21 Calgary Flames 6 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 17–26–4 38 48 January 23 San Jose Sharks 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Dubnyk 16,839 18–26–4 40 49 January 24 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Vancouver Canucks SO Dubnyk 18,890 18–26–5 41 50 January 31 Colorado Avalanche 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 19–26–5 43 February: 6–6–1 (Home: 3–4–1; Road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 Chicago Blackhawks 4 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 20–26–5 45 52 February 4 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 5 Edmonton Oilers SO Dubnyk 16,839 21–26–5 47 53 February 6 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Toronto Maple Leafs Dubnyk 19,581 21–27–5 47 54 February 8 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Detroit Red Wings Khabibulin 20,066 21–28–5 47 55 February 11 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 Ottawa Senators OT Khabibulin 20,085 22–28–5 49 56 February 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 3 Edmonton Oilers OT Khabibulin 16,839 22–28–6 50 57 February 17 Colorado Avalanche 3 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 22–29–6 50 58 February 19 Vancouver Canucks 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 22–30–6 50 59 February 21 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 1 Calgary Flames Dubynk 19,289 23–30–6 52 60 February 23 Philadelphia Flyers 0 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 24–30–6 54 61 February 25 Phoenix Coyotes 3 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 24–31–6 54 62 February 27 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Winnipeg Jets Dubnyk 15,004 25–31–6 56 63 February 29 St. Louis Blues 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 25–32–6 56 March: 6–6–3 (Home: 2–4–1; Road: 4–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Dallas Stars 3 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 25–33–6 56 65 March 5 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Anaheim Ducks Khabibulin 13,596 25–34–6 56 66 March 6 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 San Jose Sharks SO Dubnyk 17,562 26–34–6 58 67 March 8 Montreal Canadiens 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 26–35–6 58 68 March 10 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Colorado Avalanche SO Khabibulin 15,683 26–35–7 59 69 March 12 San Jose Sharks 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 26–36–7 59 70 March 14 Columbus Blue Jackets 0 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 27–36–7 61 71 March 16 Calgary Flames 1 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 28–36–7 63 72 March 18 Phoenix Coyotes 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers SO Dubnyk 16,839 28–36–8 64 73 March 20 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Nashville Predators Dubnyk 17,113 29–36–8 66 74 March 22 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Tampa Bay Lightning SO Khabibulin 17,893 29–36–9 67 75 March 23 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 1 Florida Panthers SO Dubnyk 16,214 30–36–9 69 76 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Columbus Blue Jackets Dubnyk 12,295 31–36–9 71 77 March 28 Dallas Stars 3 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Dubnyk 16,839 31–37–9 71 78 March 30 Los Angeles Kings 4 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Khabibulin 16,839 31–38–9 71 April: 1–2–1 (Home: 0–0–1; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 1 Anaheim Ducks Dubnyk 17,266 32–38–9 73 80 April 2 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 2 Los Angeles Kings Dubnyk 18,118 32–39–9 73 81 April 5 Anaheim Ducks 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers OT Dubnyk 16,839 32–39–10 74 82 April 7 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 3 Vancouver Canucks Dubnyk 18,890 32–40–10 74 Legend: Schedule

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 78 34 42 76 4 10 61 27 26 53 −3 36 62 18 34 52 -2 16 75 18 29 47 5 36 82 19 27 46 −5 82 69 10 26 36 −13 43 81 13 21 34 −23 24 79 17 16 33 −7 42 73 2 23 25 −7 26 62 4 17 21 −16 24 51 3 17 20 -16 16 ‡ 47 3 14 17 −4 12 78 4 12 16 −13 32 78 5 10 15 4 44 63 8 5 13 −1 107 52 3 7 10 5 80 60 4 5 9 −10 45 41 2 6 8 −7 4 56 2 4 6 −8 12 17 2 3 5 1 6 20 0 4 4 -2 10 43 1 2 3 −3 64 54 1 2 3 0 80 14 3 0 3 −5 8 7 1 1 2 −6 7 25 2 0 2 0 23 5 1 0 1 2 2 3 0 1 1 0 2 24 0 1 1 −5 25 2 0 1 1 0 0 ‡ 7 0 1 1 0 4 1 0 0 0 -1 0 3 0 0 0 −1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals against average; SA= Shots against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save percentage; SO= Shutouts Regular season Player GP TOI W L OT GA GAA SA Sv% SO G A PIM 47 2653 20 20 3 118 2.67 1380 .914 2 0 1 0 40 2261 12 20 7 100 2.65 1114 .910 2 0 0 0 1 32 0 0 0 2 3.75 12 .833 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Oilers. Stats reflect time with Oilers only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Oilers only.

Awards and records

Awards Regular Season Player Award Reached Nikolai KhabibulinPrice, Khabibulin, Jagr are NHL's Three Stars NHL Second Star of the Week October 31, 2011 Nikolai KhabibulinKessel, Lehtonen, Khabibulin are October's stars NHL Third Star of the Month October 2011 Ryan Nugent-HopkinsNugent-Hopkins earns Rookie of the Month honors NHL Rookie of the Month October 2011 Ryan Nugent-HopkinsNugent-Hopkins repeats as Rookie of the Month NHL Rookie of the Month November 2011 Sam GagnerNHL's Three Stars: Gagner, Kovalchuk, Reimer NHL First Star of the Week February 6, 2012

Records 3: On October 15, 2011, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins set: NHL record for the earliest career hat trick for a first overall pick. Oilers record for the earliest career hat trick in fewest career games. 8: Tied Oilers record for most points in a single game by Sam Gagner on February 2, 2012. 11: A new Oilers record for most consecutive points by Sam Gagner on February 4, 2012.

Milestones