1987–88 New Jersey Devils season

The 1987–88 New Jersey Devils season was the 14th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and sixth season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils finished fourth in the Patrick Division with a record of 38 wins, 36 losses, and 6 ties for 82 points, garnering the first winning record in the franchise's 14-year history.

1987–88 New Jersey Devils
Division	4th Patrick
Conference	7th Wales
1987–88 record	38–36–6
Home record	23–16–1
Road record	15–20–5
Goals for	295
Goals against	296
Team information
General manager	Max McNab (Jun. 13 – Sep. 10) Lou Lamoriello (Sep. 10 – May 14)
Coach	Doug Carpenter (Oct. 9 – Jan. 26) Jim Schoenfeld (Jan. 26 – May 14)
Captain	Kirk Muller
Alternate captains	Aaron Broten Joe Cirella
Arena	Brendan Byrne Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Pat Verbeek (46)
Assists	Aaron Broten Kirk Muller (57)
Points	Kirk Muller (94)
Penalty minutes	Ken Daneyko (239)
Plus/minus	Pat Verbeek (+29)
Wins	Alain Chevrier (18)
Goals against average	Sean Burke (3.05)

On the final day of the regular season, the Devils were tied with their rival, the New York Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. After New York defeated the Quebec Nordiques 3–0, all eyes were on the Devils, who were playing the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago. The Devils trailed 3–2 midway through the third period, but John MacLean scored to tie the game, and with two minutes left in overtime, he added the game-winning goal. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had two more wins, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, but the first time in New Jersey.

The Devils rode the momentum of this victory into a surprisingly deep playoff run, ousting the New York Islanders in six games in the Division Semifinals and the Washington Capitals in seven games in the Division Finals. They then met the Boston Bruins in the Wales Conference Finals and stretched the series to seven games, but finally fell short in the seventh game.

Season summary

Off-season

Hoping to light a spark under the team, team owner John McMullen hired Providence College coach and athletic director Lou Lamoriello as team president in April 1987. Lamoriello appointed himself general manager shortly before the 1987–88 season. This move came as a considerable surprise to NHL circles; although Lamoriello had been a college coach for 19 years, he had never played, coached, or managed in the NHL and was almost unknown outside the American college hockey community.

Regular season

On November 25, 1987, Aaron Broten scored just 13 seconds into overtime to give the Devils an 8–7 road win over the Edmonton Oilers. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1987–88 regular season.

On April 3, 1988, the last day of the regular season, the Devils were scheduled to play the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, the New York Rangers were scheduled to host Quebec Nordiques at home, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were scheduled to host Hartford Whalers at home. Going into the game, the Devils were tied with the Rangers with 80 points and one point ahead of the Penguins (79) for the last playoff spot in the Patrick Division. The Penguins beat the Whalers, 4–2, to finish their season with 81 points, and the Rangers shut out the Nordiques, 3–0, to finish their season with 82 points, eliminating the Penguins. When both games ended, the Devils–Blackhawks game was still in progress. Both teams skated to a 3–3 tie after 60 minutes. For the Devils to qualify for the playoffs, they would have to score in overtime to get the win and the two points to win the tiebreaker over the Rangers. An overtime loss would keep them at 80 points, and a 3–3 tie would move them up only to 81 points, handing the last playoff berth to the Rangers. At 2:21 of the overtime period, John MacLean scored the game-winning goal on a rebound slap-shot past Blackhawks netminder Darren Pang to give the Devils a 4–3 win. Both the Devils and Rangers finished with 82 points. However, since the Devils had two more wins during the regular season, they ended up taking the Patrick Division's fourth playoff spot and thereby sealed the first-ever playoff berth for the franchise in New Jersey.

Gary Thorne called MacLean's overtime, playoff-berth-clinching goal on SportsChannel New York:

MacLean...off the boards, Sundstrom, he's alone, Sundstrom...Murray on him, shot...that was deflected, went off the skate of Bob Murray the defenseman. Flipped up by Chicago, not out...kept in by MacLean, good job, MacLean centered Sundstrom. Sundstrom back to the point...Joe Cirella...Cirella got in, Cirella takes a shot, save by Pang, rebound...SCORES!!! THEY DID IT!!! THEY DID IT!!! THE DEVILS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY! JOHN MACLEAN THE OVERTIME GOAL! AND THEY WIN IT 4-3!

Playoffs

The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

The conference finals featured a major argument between coach Jim Schoenfeld and referee Don Koharski following Game 3 at the Meadowlands on May 6, 1988. Schoenfeld accosted Koharski in the tunnel on the way back to the dressing rooms regarding his officiating in the 6-1 New Jersey defeat. While Schoenfeld was yelling at him, Koharski stumbled and fell down to the floor. Although Schoenfeld did not appear to have made any contact with him, Koharski believed that the Devils' head coach had pushed him and yelled, "you're gone now, you're gone," implying that Schoenfeld would be suspended for physically attacking him. Schoenfeld denied pushing Koharski repeatedly, saying that the referee had simply lost his balance. While this was going on, WABC-TV cameras recorded the entire incident and as the two men were separated, Koharski said that he had hoped that his fall was on tape. "Good," Schoenfeld responded, "because you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!"

Two days later, on May 8, the NHL suspended Schoenfeld. However, since a proper hearing had not been scheduled, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello set out to procure a restraining order against the league to allow Schoenfeld to coach the game. Working with Bergen County Judge John Conte, Lamoriello was able to get New Jersey Superior Court Judge James Madden to hear the case on an emergency basis. Madden granted the Devils' request and issued the restraining order, which took effect at that evening, nearly 30 minutes before the opening faceoff for Game 4. However, the scheduled officiating crew refused to work the game afterwards and the start was delayed, while replacement officials were located. After over an hour, the game got underway and the Devils recorded a 3–1 win. Afterward, a proper hearing regarding Schoenfeld's actions would take place and he would again be suspended, with Lamoriello taking his place for Game 5 in Boston.

Sean Burke

Sean Burke was drafted by the Devils in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He earned national attention from his international play. He backstopped Canada's junior national team to a silver medal in the 1986 World Junior Championships and a fourth-place finish for the men's national team at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Burke went from the Winter Olympics to the Devils. He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987–88 season, including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the regular season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series.

Dubbed a "rookie sensation", Burke helped the Devils go on a playoff roll, defeating the division-leader New York Islanders in the first round in six games and then the Washington Capitals in seven games. Burke was one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 of the Wales Conference finals to the Boston Bruins.

Standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Islanders	80	39	31	10	308	267	88
Philadelphia Flyers	80	38	33	9	292	292	85
Washington Capitals	80	38	33	9	281	249	85
New Jersey Devils	80	38	36	6	295	296	82
New York Rangers	80	36	34	10	300	283	82
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	36	35	9	319	316	81

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1987–88 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total New Jersey — 3–4 3–4 5–0–2 6–1 2–5 19–14–2 N.Y. Islanders 4–3 — 2–2–3 3–3–1 2–4–1 4–2–1 15–14–6 N.Y. Rangers 4–3 2–2–3 — 3–3–1 2–3–2 2–5 13–16–6 Philadelphia 0–5–2 3–3–1 3–3–1 — 5–2 2–4–1 13–17–5 Pittsburgh 1–6 4–2–1 3–2–2 2–5 — 5–1–1 15–16–4 Washington 5–2 2–4–1 5–2 4–2–1 1–5–1 — 17–15–3 Vs. Adams Division 1987–88 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total New Jersey 1–2 0–2–1 1–1–1 2–1 0–3 4–9–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 2–1 8–7–0 N.Y. Rangers 2–1 0–3 2–1 1–1–1 2–1 7–7–1 Philadelphia 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1–2 2–0–1 9–3–3 Pittsburgh 0–2–1 2–0–1 2–1 2–1 3–0 9–4–2 Washington 2–1 0–2–1 2–1 1–1–1 2–1 7–6–2 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1987–88 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total New Jersey 3–0 0–3 3–0 3–0 2–1 11–4–0 N.Y. Islanders 0–1–2 1–2 1–1–1 2–0–1 0–3 4–7–4 N.Y. Rangers 2–0–1 1–1–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 10–3–2 Philadelphia 0–3 2–0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 7–7–1 Pittsburgh 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–3 2–1 7–8–0 Washington 2–1 0–2–1 2–0–1 0–2–1 1–1–1 5–6–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1987–88 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total New Jersey 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 0–3 0–2–1 4–9–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 12–3–0 N.Y. Rangers 1–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 2–0–1 6–8–1 Philadelphia 0–3 1–2 3–0 2–1 3–0 9–6–0 Pittsburgh 2–0–1 0–3 1–0–2 1–2 1–2 5–7–3 Washington 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 9–6–0

Schedule and results

Regular season

1987–88 game log
October: 7–3–0 (home: 6–0–0; road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Pittsburgh 6–3 New Jersey Chevrier 1–0–0 2 2 October 10 New Jersey 2–5 Toronto Chevrier 1–1–0 2 3 October 14 Hartford 1–3 New Jersey Chevrier 2–1–0 4 4 October 16 Montreal 3–4 New Jersey Chevrier 3–1–0 6 5 October 17 New Jersey 3–4 Hartford OT Chevrier 3–2–0 6 6 October 21 New Jersey 5–4 Pittsburgh Chevrier 4–2–0 8 7 October 23 NY Islanders 3–5 New Jersey Chevrier 5–2–0 10 8 October 24 New Jersey 1–2 NY Islanders Chevrier 5–3–0 10 9 October 27 Philadelphia 0–4 New Jersey Chevrier 6–3–0 12 10 October 31 Edmonton 5–6 New Jersey Chevrier 7–3–0 14
November: 6–5–3 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 11 November 3 New Jersey 3–6 NY Islanders Chevrier 7–4–0 14 12 November 5 St. Louis 3–5 New Jersey Sauve 8–4–0 16 13 November 7 Washington 1–4 New Jersey Sauve 9–4–0 18 14 November 8 New Jersey 3–3 Philadelphia OT Chevrier 9–4–1 19 15 November 10 New Jersey 3–2 NY Rangers Chevrier 10–4–1 21 16 November 12 Winnipeg 1–1 New Jersey OT Sauve 10–4–2 22 17 November 14 Detroit 6–4 New Jersey Sauve 10–5–2 22 18 November 18 Philadelphia 3–4 New Jersey Chevrier 11–5–2 24 19 November 20 Chicago 2–5 New Jersey Chevrier 12–5–2 26 20 November 21 New Jersey 1–2 Montreal Sauve 12–6–2 26 21 November 23 New Jersey 2–9 Calgary Chevrier 12–7–2 26 22 November 25 New Jersey 8–7 Edmonton OT Chevrier 13–7–2 28 23 November 27 New Jersey 4–2 Vancouver Chevrier 13–8–2 28 24 November 29 New Jersey 2–2 Los Angeles OT Chevrier 13–8–3 29
December: 5–8–1 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 25 December 3 St. Louis 2–4 New Jersey Chevrier 14–8–3 31 26 December 5 New Jersey 2–3 Quebec Sauve 14–9–3 31 27 December 6 New Jersey 1–1 Philadelphia OT Chevrier 14–9–4 32 28 December 9 Los Angeles 1–2 New Jersey Chevrier 15–9–4 34 29 December 11 Calgary 5–1 New Jersey Chevrier 15–10–4 34 30 December 12 New Jersey 3–5 NY Islanders Sauve 15–11–4 34 31 December 16 New Jersey 3–9 NY Rangers Sauve 15–12–4 34 32 December 17 Pittsburgh 7–4 New Jersey Chevrier 15–13–4 34 33 December 19 New Jersey 3–1 Minnesota Chevrier 16–13–4 36 34 December 20 New Jersey 1–4 Winnipeg Chevrier 16–14–4 36 35 December 23 New Jersey 6–2 Pittsburgh Chevrier 17–14–4 38 36 December 26 NY Rangers 5–3 New Jersey Chevrier 17–15–4 38 37 December 28 NY Islanders 4–6 New Jersey Sauve 18–15–4 40 38 December 30 Washington 4–3 New Jersey Sauve 18–16–4 40
January: 5–8–1 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 New Jersey 1–1 Hartford OT Sauve 18–16–5 41 40 January 4 Los Angeles 6–3 New Jersey Sauve 18–17–5 41 41 January 7 Vancouver 6–3 New Jersey Chevrier 18–18–5 41 42 January 9 New Jersey 4–3 Minnesota Sauve 19–18–5 43 43 January 10 New Jersey 7–5 Philadelphia Chevrier 20–18–5 45 44 January 13 Quebec 5–3 New Jersey Chevrier 20–19–5 45 45 January 15 Toronto 3–7 New Jersey Sauve 21–19–5 47 46 January 16 New Jersey 2–4 NY Islanders Chevrier 21–20–5 47 47 January 19 New Jersey 4–6 Washington Sauve 21–21–5 47 48 January 21 Detroit 3–2 New Jersey OT Sauve 21–22–5 47 49 January 22 New Jersey 3–7 Buffalo Chevrier 21–23–5 47 50 January 25 Buffalo 5–2 New Jersey Chevrier 21–24–5 47 51 January 28 Pittsburgh 3–6 New Jersey Sauve 22–24–5 49 52 January 29 Chicago 2–3 New Jersey OT Sauve 23–24–5 51
February: 5–8–0 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 53 February 1 New Jersey 5–4 Calgary Chevrier 24–24–5 53 54 February 3 New Jersey 5–8 Edmonton Chevrier 24–25–5 53 55 February 5 New Jersey 1–5 Vancouver Sauve 24–26–5 53 56 February 7 New Jersey 3–6 Boston Chevrier 24–27–5 53 57 February 11 Montreal 2–4 New Jersey Sauve 25–27–5 55 58 February 12 New Jersey 3–4 Detroit Sauve 25–28–5 55 59 February 14 New Jersey 7–2 Toronto Sauve 26–28–5 57 60 February 17 Washington 3–4 New Jersey Sauve 26–29–5 57 61 February 19 NY Rangers 3–6 New Jersey Sauve 27–29–5 59 62 February 21 Boston 4–1 New Jersey Sauve 27–30–5 59 63 February 24 Winnipeg 3–1 New Jersey Sauve 27–31–5 59 64 February 26 NY Rangers 2–1 New Jersey Sauve 27–32–5 59 65 February 28 Minnesota 6–8 New Jersey Chevrier 28–32–5 61
March: 8–4–1 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 66 March 1 New Jersey 3–5 Washington Sauve 28–33–5 61 67 March 2 Washington 6–1 New Jersey Chevrier 28–34–5 61 68 March 5 New Jersey 7–6 Boston OT Burke 29–34–5 63 69 March 6 Philadelphia 2–4 New Jersey Burke 30–34–5 65 70 March 8 New Jersey 4–7 NY Rangers Chevrier 30–35–5 65 71 March 12 New Jersey 6–5 Philadelphia Burke 31–35–5 67 72 March 17 Quebec 4–3 New Jersey Burke 31–36–5 67 73 March 20 New Jersey 4–2 Washington Burke 32–36–5 69 74 March 24 New Jersey 8–2 St. Louis Burke 33–36–5 71 75 March 25 New Jersey 2–2 Buffalo OT Sauve 33–36–6 72 76 March 27 NY Rangers 2–7 New Jersey Burke 34–36–6 74 77 March 29 Pittsburgh 0–4 New Jersey Burke 35–36–6 76 78 March 31 New Jersey 7–2 Pittsburgh Burke 36–36–6 78
April: 2–0–0 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 79 April 2 NY Islanders 2–5 New Jersey Burke 37–36–6 80 80 April 3 New Jersey 4–3 Chicago OT Burke 38–36–6 82
Legend:   Win/overtime win (2 points)   Loss/overtime loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

Main article: 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs

Player statistics

As of May 14, 1988

Skaters

Regular season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Kirk Muller	80	37	57	94	+19	114
Aaron Broten	80	26	57	83	+20	80
Pat Verbeek	73	46	31	77	+29	227
Bruce Driver	74	15	40	55	+7	68
Patrik Sundstrom	78	15	36	51	–16	42
John MacLean	76	23	16	39	–10	147
Joe Cirella	80	8	31	39	+15	191
Claude Loiselle	68	17	18	35	+7	121
Tom Kurvers	56	5	29	34	+6	46
Mark Johnson	54	14	19	33	–10	14
Craig Wolanin	78	6	25	31	0	170
Doug Sulliman	59	16	14	30	–8	22
Brendan Shanahan	65	7	19	26	–20	131
Jack O'Callahan	50	7	19	26	–3	97
Doug Brown	70	14	11	25	+7	20
Andy Brickley	45	8	14	22	+1	14
Jim Korn	52	8	13	21	–22	140
Ken Daneyko	80	5	7	12	–3	239
Randy Velischek	51	3	9	12	–13	66
Perry Anderson	60	4	6	10	–8	222
Pat Conacher	24	2	5	7	+8	12
David Maley	44	4	2	6	–13	65
George McPhee	5	3	0	3	+2	8
Gord Mark	19	0	2	2	–13	27
Chris Cichocki	5	1	0	1	+1	2
Anders Carlsson	9	1	0	1	–5	0
Murray Brumwell	3	0	1	1	0	2
Allan Stewart	1	0	0	0	+2	0
Dan Dorion	1	0	0	0	0	2

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Patrik Sundstrom	18	17	13	20	+7	14
Mark Johnson	18	10	8	18	+4	4
John MacLean	20	7	11	18	+2	60
Aaron Broten	20	5	11	16	–9	20
Tom Kurvers	19	6	9	15	–5	38
Pat Verbeek	20	4	8	12	–11	51
Kirk Muller	20	4	8	12	–10	37
Claude Loiselle	20	4	6	10	0	50
Bruce Driver	20	3	7	10	–1	14
Craig Wolanin	18	2	5	7	+2	51
Ken Daneyko	20	1	6	7	+5	83
Joe Cirella	19	0	7	7	–3	49
Doug Brown	19	5	1	6	+3	6
David Maley	20	3	1	4	–2	80
Pat Conacher	17	2	2	4	+1	14
Jack O'Callahan	5	1	3	4	–2	6
Brendan Shanahan	12	2	1	3	0	44
Doug Sulliman	9	0	3	3	–2	2
Randy Velischek	19	0	2	2	–7	20
Jim Korn	9	0	2	2	+2	71
Anders Carlsson	3	1	0	1	+1	2
Andy Brickley	4	0	1	1	0	4
Troy Crowder	1	0	0	0	–2	12
Perry Anderson	10	0	0	0	–2	113

Goaltenders

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Alain Chevrier	45	38	2,350:59	18	19	3	148	3.78	1,113	.867	1	0	1	8
Sean Burke	13	12	688:00	10	1	0	35	3.05	300	.883	1	0	1	6
Bob Sauve	34	30	1,798:07	10	16	3	107	3.57	821	.870	0	0	1	4

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Sean Burke	17	17	998:50	9	8	57	3.42	514	.889	1	0	0	14
Bob Sauve	5	3	236:24	2	1	13	3.30	118	.890	0	0	0	0

Draft picks

See also: List of New Jersey Devils draft picks

Below are the New Jersey Devils' selections at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft, which were held on June 13, 1987, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	2	Brendan Shanahan	RW	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
2	23	Ricard Persson	D	Sweden	Östersunds IK (Division I)
4	65	Brian Sullivan	RW	United States	Springfield Olympics (NEJHL)
5	86	Kevin Dean	D	United States	Culver Military Academy (Indiana)
6	107	Ben Hankinson	RW	United States	Edina H.S. (Minnesota)
7	128	Thomas Neziol	LW	Canada	Miami (OH) (CCHA)
8	149	Jim Dowd	C	United States	Brick Township H.S. (New Jersey)
9	170	John Blessman	D	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
10	191	Peter Fry	G	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
11	212	Alain Charland	C	Canada	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
S1	2	John Walker	LW	Canada	Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (ACAC)
S2	7	Jeff Madill	RW	Canada	Ohio State (CCHA)

External links

• 1987–88 New Jersey Devils on hockeydb.com