1987–88 NHL season

The 1987–88 NHL season was the 71st season of the National Hockey League. It was an 80-game season with the top four teams in each division advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL introduced a new trophy, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which was to be awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Montreal Canadiens 80 45 22 13 103 298 238 1830
Boston Bruins 80 44 30 6 94 300 251 2443
Buffalo Sabres 80 37 32 11 85 283 305 2277
Hartford Whalers 80 35 38 7 77 249 267 2046
Quebec Nordiques 80 32 43 5 69 271 306 2042
Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
New York Islanders 80 39 31 10 88 308 267 1732
Washington Capitals 80 38 33 9 85 281 249 1680
Philadelphia Flyers 80 38 33 9 85 292 292 2194
New Jersey Devils 80 38 36 6 82 295 296 2315
New York Rangers 80 36 34 10 82 300 283 1775
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 36 35 9 81 319 316 2211

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Detroit Red Wings 80 41 28 11 93 322 269 2391
St. Louis Blues 80 34 38 8 76 278 294 1919
Chicago Blackhawks 80 30 41 9 69 284 328 2228
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 21 49 10 52 273 345 1782
Minnesota North Stars 80 19 48 13 51 242 349 2313
Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Calgary Flames 80 48 23 9 105 397 305 2431
Edmonton Oilers 80 44 25 11 99 363 288 2173
Winnipeg Jets 80 33 36 11 77 292 310 2278
Los Angeles Kings 80 30 42 8 68 318 359 2124
Vancouver Canucks 80 25 46 9 59 272 320 2196

Scoring leaders

Player Team GP G A PTS
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins 77 70 98 168
Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 64 40 109 149
Denis Savard Chicago Blackhawks 80 44 87 131
Dale Hawerchuk Winnipeg Jets 80 44 77 121
Luc Robitaille Los Angeles Kings 80 53 58 111
Peter Stastny Quebec Nordiques 76 46 65 111
Mark Messier Edmonton Oilers 77 37 74 111
Jimmy Carson Los Angeles Kings 80 55 52 107
Michel Goulet Quebec Nordiques 80 48 58 106
Hakan Loob Calgary Flames 80 50 56 106

Stanley Cup playoffs

Note: all dates in 1988

Adams Division semi-finals

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Buffalo 3 Boston 7
April 7 Buffalo 1 Boston 4
April 9 Boston 2 Buffalo 6
April 10 Boston 5 Buffalo 6
April 12 Buffalo 4 Boston 5
April 14 Boston 5 Buffalo 2

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Hartford 3 Montreal 4
April 7 Hartford 3 Montreal 7
April 9 Montreal 4 Hartford 3
April 10 Montreal 5 Hartford 7
April 12 Hartford 5 Montreal 3
April 14 Montreal 4 Hartford 2

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Patrick Division semi-finals

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Philadelphia 4 Washington 2
April 7 Philadelphia 4 Washington 5
April 9 Washington 3 Philadelphia 4
April 10 Washington 4 Philadelphia 5
April 12 Philadelphia 2 Washington 5
April 14 Washington 7 Philadelphia 2
April 16 Philadelphia 3 Washington 4 OT

Washington wins best-of-seven series 4–3

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 New Jersey 4 New York 3
April 7 New Jersey 2 New York 3
April 9 New York 0 New Jersey 3
April 10 New York 5 New Jersey 4
April 12 New Jersey 4 New York 2
April 14 New York 5 New Jersey 6

New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Norris Division semi-finals

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Chicago 1 St. Louis 5
April 7 Chicago 2 St. Louis 3
April 9 St. Louis 3 Chicago 6
April 10 St. Louis 6 Chicago 5
April 12 Chicago 3 St. Louis 5

St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Toronto 6 Detroit 2
April 7 Toronto 2 Detroit 6
April 9 Detroit 6 Toronto 3
April 10 Detroit 8 Toronto 0
April 12 Toronto 6 Detroit 5
April 14 Detroit 5 Toronto 3

Detroit wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Smythe Division semi-finals

Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Winnipeg 4 Edmonton 7
April 7 Winnipeg 2 Edmonton 3
April 9 Edmonton 4 Winnipeg 6
April 10 Edmonton 5 Winnipeg 3
April 12 Winnipeg 2 Edmonton 6

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6 Los Angeles 2 Calgary 9
April 7 Los Angeles 4 Calgary 6
April 9 Calgary 2 Los Angeles 5
April 10 Calgary 7 Los Angeles 3
April 12 Los Angeles 4 Calgary 6

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Divisional finals

Adams Division

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 18 Boston 1 Montreal 5
April 20 Boston 4 Montreal 3
April 22 Montreal 1 Boston 3
April 24 Montreal 0 Boston 2
April 26 Boston 4 Montreal 1

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Patrick Division

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 18 New Jersey 1 Washington 3
April 20 New Jersey 5 Washington 2
April 22 Washington 4 New Jersey 10
April 24 Washington 4 New Jersey 1
April 26 New Jersey 3 Washington 1
April 28 Washington 7 New Jersey 2
April 30 New Jersey 3 Washington 2

New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–3

Norris Division

St. Louis Blues vs. Detroit Red Wings

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 19 St. Louis 4 Detroit 5
April 21 St. Louis 0 Detroit 6
April 23 Detroit 3 St. Louis 6
April 25 Detroit 3 St. Louis 1
April 27 St. Louis 3 Detroit 4

Detroit wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Smythe Division

Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 19 Edmonton 3 Calgary 1
April 21 Edmonton 5 Calgary 4 OT
April 23 Calgary 2 Edmonton 4
April 25 Calgary 4 Edmonton 6

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0

Conference finals

Prince of Wales Conference

New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
May 2 New Jersey 3 Boston 5
May 4 New Jersey 3 Boston 2 (OT)
May 6 Boston 6 New Jersey 1
May 8 Boston 1 New Jersey 3
May 10 New Jersey 1 Boston 7
May 12 Boston 3 New Jersey 6
May 14 New Jersey 2 Boston 6

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–3

Clarence Campbell Conference

Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
May 3 Detroit 1 Edmonton 4
May 5 Detroit 3 Edmonton 5
May 7 Edmonton 2 Detroit 5
May 9 Edmonton 4 Detroit 3 (OT)
May 11 Detroit 4 Edmonton 8

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Finals

Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
May 18 Boston 1 Edmonton 2
May 20 Boston 2 Edmonton 4
May 22 Edmonton 6 Boston 3
May 24 Edmonton 3 Boston 3 Game terminated at 16:37 of 2nd period due to power failure.
May 26 Boston 3 Edmonton 6

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0

NHL awards

Presidents' Trophy: Calgary Flames
Prince of Wales Trophy: Boston Bruins
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Edmonton Oilers
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Bob Bourne, Los Angeles Kings
Calder Memorial Trophy: Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames
Conn Smythe Trophy: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophy: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jack Adams Award: Jacques Demers, Detroit Red Wings
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Lanny McDonald, Calgary Flames
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Mats Naslund, Montreal Canadiens
Lester B. Pearson Award: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Plus/Minus Award: Brad McCrimmon, Calgary Flames,
William M. Jennings Trophy: Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy: Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers
Lester Patrick Trophy: Keith Allen, Fred Cusick, Bob Johnson

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers G Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins D Gary Suter, Calgary Flames
Scott Stevens, Washington Capitals D Brad McCrimmon, Calgary Flames
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins C Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Hakan Loob, Calgary Flames RW Cam Neely, Boston Bruins
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings LW Michel Goulet, Quebec Nordiques

First games

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1987–88:

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1987–88:

References