1987–88 New Jersey Devils season

New Jersey Devils

Company type	Professional ice hockey team
Industry	Ice hockey
Founded	1982 (relocated from Colorado)
Headquarters	New Jersey , United States
Products	Ice hockey team

1987–88 New Jersey Devils season

The 1987–88 season represented the New Jersey Devils' 14th campaign in the NHL and their sixth since moving from Colorado in 1982. The team concluded the year fourth in the Patrick Division, posting a 38–36–6 record, which marked their inaugural winning season in franchise history.

Heading into the final day of the regular season, the Devils were tied with their rivals, the New York Rangers, for the Patrick Division's last playoff position. After the Rangers secured a 3–0 victory over the Quebec Nordiques, the Devils traveled to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. Trailing 3–2 late in the third period, John MacLean first evened the score and then netted the overtime winner with two minutes left. Both teams finished with 82 points; however, New Jersey’s two additional wins clinched their playoff spot for only the second time ever and first since relocating.

Riding this surge, the Devils overcame the New York Islanders in six games during the division semifinals and then defeated the Washington Capitals in a seven-game series in the division finals. Their postseason concluded after a seven-game Wales Conference finals matchup against the Boston Bruins.

Off-season

In April 1987, team owner John McMullen appointed Providence College’s coach and athletic director, Lou Lamoriello, as team president. Shortly before the start of the 1987–88 season, Lamoriello named himself general manager. This move was notable since Lamoriello had no previous NHL experience and was primarily recognized within collegiate hockey circles.

Regular season

On November 25, 1987, Aaron Broten scored just 13 seconds into overtime to secure an 8–7 victory over the Edmonton Oilers—the quickest overtime goal recorded during that regular season.

On April 3, 1988, with both teams tied for the final Patrick Division playoff spot, New Jersey played against Chicago while sharing identical points with the New York Rangers. The Pittsburgh Penguins had already completed their game with 81 points. The Rangers’ 3–0 shutout win brought them to 82 points, posing a threat to New Jersey’s playoff hopes. The Devils and Blackhawks were deadlocked at 3–3 at the end of regulation, leading to overtime where John MacLean scored at 2:21 to clinch a 4–3 win. Although both New Jersey and New York ended with 82 points, New Jersey’s higher number of wins earned them their first playoff appearance since relocating.

Sportscaster Gary Thorne delivered a memorable call of MacLean’s deciding overtime goal on SportsChannel New York:

Playoffs

The Devils advanced to the conference finals but were defeated by the Boston Bruins in a seven-game series.

A significant event took place following Game 3 at the Meadowlands on May 6, 1988, when coach Jim Schoenfeld confronted referee Don Koharski over officiating during their 6–1 loss. During their exchange in the tunnel, Koharski fell and accused Schoenfeld of pushing him. Schoenfeld denied any contact and claimed Koharski simply lost his footing. The incident was caught on WABC-TV cameras, during which Schoenfeld famously retorted, "Have another doughnut!"

On May 8, Schoenfeld was suspended by the NHL. However, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello quickly obtained a restraining order allowing Schoenfeld to coach Game 4, which delayed its start while replacement officials were arranged. The Devils won that game 3–1. After a formal hearing, Schoenfeld’s suspension was reinstated, prompting Lamoriello to serve as head coach for Game 5 in Boston.

Sean Burke

Selected in the second round of the 1985 NHL entry draft, Sean Burke earned acclaim through his performances on the international stage. He was instrumental in guiding Canada's junior squad to a silver medal at the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and later represented the men's national team at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Burke made his debut with the Devils during the 1987–88 NHL season, featuring in 11 games. Among these appearances was a crucial overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, which clinched New Jersey's inaugural playoff spot. As an emerging talent, he played a key role in the Devils' surprising triumph over the division-leading New York Islanders in six games, followed by a seven-game series win against the Washington Capitals. Their playoff run concluded just shy of the Stanley Cup Finals, falling in Game 7 of the Wales Conference finals to Boston.

Regular season

|- | 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||October24||New Jersey||1–2||NY Islanders||||Chevrier||5–3–0||10|| |- |9||October27||Philadelphia||0–4||New Jersey||||Chevrier||6–3–0||12|| |- |10||October31||Edmonton||5–6||New Jersey||||Chevrier||7–3–0||14||

|- |11||November3||New Jersey||3-6||NY Islanders||||Chevrier||7-4-0||14|| |- |12||November5||St. Louis||3-5||New Jersey||||Sauve||8-4-0||16|| |- |13||November7||Washington||1-4||New Jersey||||Sauve||9-4-0||18|| |- |14||November8||New Jersey||3-3||Philadelphia||OT||Chevrier||9-4-1||19|| |- |15||November10||New Jersey||3-2||NY Rangers||||Chevrier||10-4-1||21|| |- |16||November12||Winnipeg||1-1||New Jersey||OT||Sauve||10-4-2||22|| |- |17||November14||Detroit||6-4||New Jersey||||Sauve||10-5-2||22|| |- |18||November18|||Philadelphia|||3-4|||New Jersey||||Chevrier|||11-5-2|||24|| |- |19|||November20|||Chicago|||2-5|||New Jersey||||Chevrier|||12-5-2|||26|| |- |20|||November21|||New Jersey|||1-2|||Montreal||||Sauve|||12-6-2|||26|| |- |21|||November23|||New Jersey|||2-9|||Calgary||||Chevrier|||12-7-2|||26|| |- |22|||November25|||New Jersey|||8-7|||Edmonton|||OT|||Chevrier|||13-7-2|||28|| |- |23|||November27|||New Jersey|||4-2|||Vancouver||||Chevrier|||13-8-2|||28|| |- |24|||November29|||New Jersey|||2-2|||Los Angeles|||OT|||Chevrier|||13-8-3|||29||

|- |25|||December3|||St. Louis|||2−4|||New Jersey||||Chevrier|||14−8−3|||31|| |- |26|||December5|||New Jersey|||2−3|||Quebec||||Sauve|||14−9−3|||31|| |- |27|||December6|||New Jersey|||1−1|||Philadelphia|||OT|||Chevrier|||14−9−4|||32|| |- |28|||December9|||Los Angeles|||1−2;;;New Jersey||||Chevrier;;;15−9−4;;;34;;

- ;29;;;December11;;;Calgary;;;5−1;;;New Jersey;;;;Chevrier;;;15−10−4;;;34;;

- ;30;;;December12;;;New Jersey;;;3−5;;;NY Islanders;;;;Sauve;;;15−11−4;;;34;;

- ;31;;;December16;;;New Jersey;;;3−9;;;NY Rangers;;;;Sauve;;;15−12−4;;;34;;

- ;32;;;December17;;;Pittsburgh;;;7−4;;;New Jersey;;;;Chevrier;;;15−13−4;;;34;;

- ;33;;;December19;;;New Jersey;;;3−1;;;Minnesota;;;;Chevrier;;;16−13−4;;;36;;

- ;34;;;December20;;;New Jersey;;;1−4;;;Winnipeg;;;;Chevrier;;;16−14−4;;;36;;

- ;35;;;December23;;;New Jersey;;;6−2;;;Pittsburgh;;;;Chevrier;;;17−14−4;;;38;;

- ;36;;;December26;;;NY Rangers;;;5−3;;;New Jersey;;;;Chevrier;;;17−15−4;;;38;;

- ;37;;;December28;;;NY Islanders;;;4−6;;;New Jersey;;;;Sauve;;;18−15−4;;;40;;

- ;38;;;December30;;;Washington;;;4−3;;;New Jersey;;;;Sauve;;;18−16−4;;40;

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#EF3340 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=January: 5–8–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 2–3–1)|... ... [Further detailed game logs for January, February, March, and April follow in similar compressed format] ...

Legend:

Playoffs

1	April 6	New Jersey	3–4	NY Islanders	OT	Burke	0–1
2	April 7	New Jersey	3–2	NY Islanders		Sauve	1–1
3	April 9	NY Islanders	0–3	New Jersey		Burke	2–1
4	April 10	NY Islanders	5–4	New Jersey	OT	Burke	2–2
5	April 12	New Jersey	4–2	NY Islanders		Burke	3–2
6	April 14	NY Islanders	5–6	New Jersey		Burke	4–2

1	April 18	New Jersey	1–3	Washington		Burke	0–1
2	April 20	New Jersey	5–2	Washington		Burke	1–1
3	April 22	Washington	4–10	New Jersey		Burke	2–1
4	April24	Washington	4–1	New Jersey		Burke	2–2
5	April26	New Jersey	3–1	Washington		Sauve	3–2
6	April28	Washington	7–2	New Jersey		Burke	3–3
7	April30	New Jersey	3–2	Washington		Burke	4–3

1	May2	New Jersey	3–5	Boston		Sauve	0–1
2	May4	New Jersey	3–2	Boston	OT	Burke	1–1
3	May6	Boston	6–1	New Jersey		Burke	1–2
4	May8	Boston	1–3	New Jersey		Burke	2–2
5	May10	New Jersey	1–7	Boston		Burke	2–3
6	May12	Boston	3–6	New Jersey		Burke	3–3
7	May14	New Jersey	2–6	Boston		Burke	3–4

Legend:

Player statistics

Statistics as of May 14, 1988

Skaters

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Template:Sortname		80		37		57		94		+19		114
Template:Sortname		80		26		57		83		+20		80
Template:Sortname		73		46		31		77		+29		227
Template:Sortname		74		15		40		55		+7		68
Template:Sortname		78		15		36		51		−16		42
Template:Sortname		76		23		16		39		−10		147
Template:Sortname		80		8		31		39		+15		191
Template:Sortname		68		17		18		35		+7		121
Template:Sortname		56		5		29		34		+6		46

Playoffs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	\+/−	\ PIM
Template:Sortname	18	17	13	20	+7	14
Template:Sortname	18	10	8	18	+4	4
Template:Sortname	20	7	11	18	+2	=60
Template:Sortname	=20	=5	=11	=16	=−9	=20

Goaltenders

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Template:Sortname	45	38	2,350:59	18	19	3	148	3.78	1,113	.867	1	0	1	8
Template:Sortname	13	12	688:00	10	1	0	35	3.05	300	.883	1	0	1	6
Template:Sortname	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
Template:Sortname	17	17	998:50	9	8	57	3.42	514	.889	1	0	0	14
Template:Sortname	5	3	236:24	2	1	13	3.30	118	.890	0	0	0	0

Draft picks

Listed below are the selections made by the New Jersey Devils during the 1987 NHL entry draft and the 1987 NHL supplemental draft, which took place on June 13, 1987, at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

  style="text-align:center;" 9     style="text-align:center;" 170    John Blessman    D    Template:Flagu Canada    Toronto Marlboros (OHL)     style="text-align:center;" 10     style="text-align:center;" 191    Peter Fry    G    Template:Flagu Canada    Victoria Cougars (WHL) (Western Hockey League)    style="text-align:center;" S1    style="text-align:center;"2    John Walker    LW    Template:Flagu Canada    Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference)    style="text-align:center;" S2    style="text-align:center;"7    Jeff Madill    RW    Template:Flagu Canada    Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey (CCHA)  

Round	Pick #	Player Name	Position	Country	College/Junior/Club Team
1	2	Brendan Shanahan	RW	Canada	London Knights (Ontario Hockey League)
2	23	Ricard Persson	D	Sweden	Östersunds IK (Hockeyettan)
4	65	Brian Sullivan	RW	United States	Springfield Olympics (NEJHL)
5	86	Kevin Dean	D	United States	Culver Academies (Indiana High School Athletic Association)
6	107	Ben Hankinson	RW	United States	Edina High School (Minnesota State High School League)
7	128	Thomas Neziol	LW	Canada	Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey (Central Collegiate Hockey Association)
8	149	Jim Dowd	C	United States   Brick Township High School (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association)

External links

• 1987–88 New Jersey Devils statistics at hockeydb.com