- Offseason
- Regular season Final standings
- Schedule and results
- Playoffs
- Player statistics
- Awards and records
- Transactions
- Roster
- Draft picks Supplemental Draft
- Farm teams
- See also
- References
- External links
{{NHLTeamSeason
|League=NHL
|Season=1987–88
|year=1987
|Team=New York Rangers
|Conference=Wales
|ConferenceRank=T-7th
|Division=Patrick
|DivisionRank=5th
|Record=36–34–10
|HomeRecord=
|RoadRecord=
|GoalsFor=300
|GoalsAgainst=283
|GeneralManager=Phil Esposito
|Coach=Michel Bergeron
|Captain=Ron Greschner (Oct–Dec)
Kelly Kisio (Dec–Apr)
|AltCaptain=
|Arena=Madison Square Garden
|Attendance=
|GoalsLeader=Walt Poddubny (38)
|AssistsLeader=Kelly Kisio (55)
|PointsLeader=Walt Poddubny (88)
|PIMLeader=Michel Petit (223)
|WinsLeader=John Vanbiesbrouck (27)
|GAALeader=John Vanbiesbrouck (3.38)
|StanleyCup=
}}The 1987–88 New York Rangers season was the 62nd season for the team in the National Hockey League. The Rangers compiled a 36–34–10 record during the regular season,[1] but despite having 82 points, they were eliminated from playoff contention after their last game when the New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks. This would be the only time in the 1980s in which the Rangers missed the playoffs.[2] {{TOClimit|limit=2}}OffseasonRangers General Manager Phil Esposito was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.[3] Regular seasonThe Rangers led the league in power-play goals scored, with 111. They also scored the fewest short-handed goals during the regular season out of all 21 teams, with just 6.[4] Final standings{{1987–88 NHL Patrick Division standings|team=NYR}}Schedule and results| 1987–88 Game Log |
|---|
October: 4–5–3 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–2–1) | Game | October | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 1 | 8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 – 4 OT | 0–0–1 | | 2 | 10 | @ Hartford Whalers | 6–2 | 1–0–1 | | 3 | 12 | Minnesota North Stars | 4–2 | 2–0–1 | | 4 | 15 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 – 6 OT | 2–0–2 | | 5 | 17 | @ Washington Capitals | 4–3 | 2–1–2 | | 6 | 19 | Washington Capitals | 4–2 | 2–2–2 | | 7 | 21 | Calgary Flames | 5–4 | 2–3–2 | | 8 | 23 | Chicago Blackhawks | 7–3 | 3–3–2 | | 9 | 24 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 5–3 | 4–3–2 | | 10 | 26 | Philadelphia Flyers | 2 – 2 OT | 4–3–3 | | 11 | 28 | Los Angeles Kings | 4–3 | 4–4–3 | | 12 | 31 | @ New York Islanders | 8–2 | 4–5–3 |
| November: 4–8–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 1–6–0) | Game | November | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 13 | 1 | Edmonton Oilers | 7–6 | 4–6–3 | | 14 | 3 | @ Calgary Flames | 5–3 | 4–7–3 | | 15 | 4 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 7–2 | 4–8–3 | | 16 | 7 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 5–4 | 4–9–3 | | 17 | 10 | New Jersey Devils | 3–2 | 4–10–3 | | 18 | 14 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 – 2 OT | 4–11–3 | | 19 | 15 | Winnipeg Jets | 6–4 | 5–11–3 | | 20 | 19 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 4–3 | 5–12–3 | | 21 | 20 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 4–3 | 6–12–3 | | 22 | 25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–3 | 7–12–3 | | 23 | 28 | @ New York Islanders | 5–4 | 7–13–3 | | 24 | 29 | New York Islanders | 3–1 | 8–13–3 |
| December: 6–6–2 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 2–4–1) | Game | December | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 25 | 3 | @ Boston Bruins | 4–3 | 8–14–3 | | 26 | 5 | @ St. Louis Blues | 3–2 | 9–14–3 | | 27 | 9 | Montreal Canadiens | 2 – 2 OT | 9–14–4 | | 28 | 10 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 5–3 | 9–15–4 | | 29 | 12 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–3 | 9–16–4 | | 30 | 14 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–3 | 10–16–4 | | 31 | 16 | New Jersey Devils | 9–3 | 11–16–4 | | 32 | 19 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 4–3 | 11–17–4 | | 33 | 20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8–4 | 11–18–4 | | 34 | 22 | Philadelphia Flyers | 6–4 | 11–19–4 | | 35 | 26 | @ New Jersey Devils | 5–3 | 12–19–4 | | 36 | 27 | Boston Bruins | 4–1 | 13–19–4 | | 37 | 29 | @ New York Islanders | 3 – 3 OT | 13–19–5 | | 38 | 31 | Quebec Nordiques | 6–1 | 14–19–5 |
| January: 6–6–1 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 4–4–0) | Game | January | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 39 | 2 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 5–3 | 15–19–5 | | 40 | 4 | St. Louis Blues | 6–2 | 16–19–5 | | 41 | 6 | Vancouver Canucks | 4–2 | 17–19–5 | | 42 | 8 | @ Washington Capitals | 8–4 | 17–20–5 | | 43 | 10 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 4–3 | 17–21–5 | | 44 | 11 | Chicago Blackhawks | 2 – 2 OT | 17–21–6 | | 45 | 13 | Detroit Red Wings | 7–4 | 17–22–6 | | 46 | 16 | @ Montreal Canadiens | 4–3 | 17–23–6 | | 47 | 17 | Philadelphia Flyers | 2–1 | 17–24–6 | | 48 | 19 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 6–3 | 17–25–6 | | 49 | 22 | @ Vancouver Canucks | 6–3 | 18–25–6 | | 50 | 28 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 5–2 | 19–25–6 | | 51 | 30 | @ Boston Bruins | 4–2 | 20–25–6 |
| February: 7–4–2 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 2–2–1) | Game | February | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 52 | 2 | @ New York Islanders | 2 – 2 OT | 20–25–7 | | 53 | 4 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 3–2 | 20–26–7 | | 54 | 6 | @ Washington Capitals | 3–0 | 21–26–7 | | 55 | 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6–3 | 22–26–7 | | 56 | 11 | Washington Capitals | 5–3 | 22–27–7 | | 57 | 14 | New York Islanders | 4 – 4 OT | 22–27–8 | | 58 | 15 | Montreal Canadiens | 3–1 | 23–27–8 | | 59 | 17 | Calgary Flames | 5–3 | 24–27–8 | | 60 | 19 | @ New Jersey Devils | 6–3 | 24–28–8 | | 61 | 21 | Vancouver Canucks | 6–4 | 24–29–8 | | 62 | 25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2–1 | 25–29–8 | | 63 | 26 | @ New Jersey Devils | 2–1 | 26–29–8 | | 64 | 29 | St. Louis Blues | 5–2 | 27–29–8 |
| March: 8–5–1 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 3–3–1) | Game | March | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 65 | 2 | New York Islanders | 3–1 | 28–29–8 | | 66 | 4 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 6–3 | 28–30–8 | | 67 | 5 | @ Hartford Whalers | 3–1 | 28–31–8 | | 68 | 8 | New Jersey Devils | 7–4 | 29–31–8 | | 69 | 12 | @ Washington Capitals | 4–2 | 30–31–8 | | 70 | 15 | Philadelphia Flyers | 3–1 | 31–31–8 | | 71 | 16 | Washington Capitals | 8–4 | 31–32–8 | | 72 | 19 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–3 | 32–32–8 | | 73 | 20 | Hartford Whalers | 2–1 | 33–32–8 | | 74 | 22 | Buffalo Sabres | 3–2 | 33–33–8 | | 75 | 24 | Edmonton Oilers | 6–1 | 34–33–8 | | 76 | 26 | @ Detroit Red Wings | 4 – 4 OT | 34–33–9 | | 77 | 27 | @ New Jersey Devils | 7–2 | 34–34–9 | | 78 | 30 | @ Chicago Blackhawks | 4–3 | 35–34–9 |
| April: 1–0–1 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–0–1) | Game | April | Opponent | Score | Record |
|---|
| 79 | 1 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 6 – 6 OT | 35–34–10 | | 80 | 3 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–0 | 36–34–10 |
|
PlayoffsThe Rangers failed to qualify for the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs.[4] They finished with 82 points, the same as the New Jersey Devils. However, the Devils had 38 wins to the Rangers' 36.[4] Since wins are the first tiebreaker, the Devils qualified for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division.[5] After a 6–6 tie against the Winnipeg Jets in the second-to-last game of the season,[6] the Rangers and Devils went into the final game of the season with 80 points each. If the Rangers and Devils won, the Devils would go to the playoffs on the tiebreaker.[7] The Rangers defeated the Quebec Nordiques 3–0. Later that night, however, the Devils defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime to win the tiebreaker and the final Patrick Division spot.[8] Player statistics- Skaters
{{col-begin}}{{col-2}} Regular Season| Player | GP|Games Played | G|Goals | A|Assists | Pts|Points | {{abbr|+/-|Plus/Minus | PIM|Penalty Minutes |
|---|
| Walt|Poddubny}} | 77 | 38 | 50 | 88 | 2 | 76 | | Kelly|Kisio}} | 77 | 23 | 55 | 78 | 8 | 88 | | Tomas|Sandstrom}} | 69 | 28 | 40 | 68 | −6 | 95 | | Marcel|Dionne}} | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | −14 | 54 | | James|Patrick|James Patrick (ice hockey)}} | 70 | 17 | 45 | 62 | 16 | 52 | | Brian|Mullen}} | 74 | 25 | 29 | 54 | −2 | 42 | | John|Ogrodnick}} | 64 | 22 | 32 | 54 | −3 | 16 | | Ulf|Dahlen}} | 70 | 29 | 23 | 52 | 5 | 26 | | Don|Maloney}} | 66 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 12 | 60 | | Michel|Petit}}† | 64 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 3 | 223 | | David|Shaw|David Shaw (ice hockey)}} | 68 | 7 | 25 | 32 | −8 | 100 | | Lucien|DeBlois}} | 74 | 9 | 21 | 30 | −3 | 103 | | Jan|Erixon}} | 70 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 33 | | Norm|Maciver}} | 37 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 10 | 14 | | Paul|Cyr}}† | 40 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −5 | 41 | | Jari|Gronstrand}} | 62 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 63 | | Brian|Leetch}} | 17 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 0 | | Pierre|Larouche}} | 10 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 13 | | Ron|Duguay}}‡ | 44 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −9 | 23 | | Chris|Nilan}}† | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 96 | | Ron|Greschner}} | 51 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −9 | 82 | | Gordie|Walker}} | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −8 | 17 | | Mike|Donnelly}}‡ | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −5 | 8 | | Mark|Hardy|Mark Hardy (ice hockey)}}† | 19 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −5 | 31 | | Dave|Pichette}} | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −2 | 4 | | Willie|Huber}}‡ | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 14 | | Joe|Paterson}}† | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 63 | | Bruce|Bell|Bruce Bell (ice hockey)}} | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −10 | 8 | | Mark|Tinordi}} | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −5 | 50 | | Steve|Nemeth}} | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −4 | 2 | | Jeff|Brubaker}} | 31 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 78 | | Paul|Boutilier}}‡ | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 6 | | Simon|Wheeldon}} | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 | | Ron|Talakoski}} | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | | Chris|Jensen}} | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | | Larry|Melnyk}} | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −7 | 34 | | Jim|Pavese}}†‡ | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −7 | 48 | | Mark|Janssens}} | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Rudy|Poeschek}} | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Mike|Siltala}} | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Curt|Giles}}‡ | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 10 | {{col-2}}{{col-end}}- Goaltenders
Regular Season| Player | GP|Games Played | TOI|Time on Ice | W|Win | L|Loss | T|Tie | GA|Goals Against | GAA|Goals Against Average | SA|Shots Against | SV%|Save Percentage | SO|Shutouts |
|---|
| John|Vanbiesbrouck}} | 56 | 3319 | 27 | 22 | 7 | 187 | 3.38 | 1697 | .890 | 2 | | Bob|Froese}} | 25 | 1443 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 85 | 3.53 | 695 | .878 | 0 | | Ron|Scott}} | 2 | 90 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4.00 | 41 | .854 | 0 | †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
[9]{{Hockey season stats note}}Awards and records{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}Transactions{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}Roster{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}Draft picksNew York's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena.[10][11] | Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
|---|
| 1 | 10 | Jayson More | D | Canada}} | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) | | 2 | 31 | Daniel Lacroix | LW | Canada}} | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) | | 3 | 46 | Simon Gagne | RW | Canada}} | Laval Titan (QMJHL) | | 4 | 69 | Mike Sullivan | C | United States}} | Boston University (NCAA) | | 5 | 94 | Eric O'Borsky | C | United States}} | Yale University (NCAA) | | 6 | 115 | Ludek Cajka | D | Czechoslovakia}} | Dukla Jihlava (Czech Extraliga) | | 7 | 136 | Clint Thomas | D | United States}} | Bartlett H.S. (Alaska) | | 8 | 157 | Chuck Wiegand | RW | United States}} | Essex Junction H.S. (Vermont) | | 9 | 178 | Eric Burrill | RW | United States}} | Tartan H.S. (Massachusetts) | | 10 | 199 | Dave Porter | F | United States}} | Northern Michigan University (NCAA) | | 10 | 205 | Brett Barnett | LW | Canada}} | Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) | | 11 | 220 | Lance Marciano | D | United States}} | Choate Academy (Connecticut) |
Supplemental DraftNew York's picks at the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.[12] | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
|---|
| Joe Lockwood | RW | United States}} | University of Michigan (CCHA) |
Farm teams{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}See alsoReferences1. ^{{cite web|title=1987–88 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1988.html|accessdate=2010-10-02}}
2. ^{{cite web|title=New York Rangers Franchise Index|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}
3. ^Gretzky to Lemieux: The Story of the 1987 Canada Cup, p.8, Ed Willies, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, Canada, 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-7710-8942-8}}
4. ^1 2 {{cite web|title=1987–88 NHL Season Summary|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html|accessdate=2012-03-03}}
5. ^{{cite web|last=Masi|first=Vince|title=Drama in New York NHL season finales|publisher=ESPN|date=2011-04-09|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/18031/drama-in-new-york-nhl-season-finales|accessdate=2017-05-23}}
6. ^{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=Helene|title=A Point Not Well-Taken: Tie against Jets puts Rangers at mercy of the Devils|work=Newsday|date=1988-04-02|page=31}}
7. ^{{cite news|last=Hafner|first=Dan|title=NHL Roundup: Devils Need One More Win to Gain Playoffs|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1988-04-03|page=9}}
8. ^{{cite news|last=Hafner|first=Dan|title=NHL Roundup: Devils Need Overtime to Make the Playoffs|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1988-04-04|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-04-04/sports/sp-287_1_nhl-roundup|accessdate=2017-05-23}}
9. ^{{cite web |publisher=hockeydb.com |accessdate=2010-08-08 |title=1987–88 New York Rangers |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481988.html}}
10. ^{{cite web|title=1987 NHL Entry Draft|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/NHL_1987_entry.html|accessdate=2012-06-09}}
11. ^{{cite web|title=NHL Draft History |publisher=National Hockey League |url=http://www.nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |accessdate=2017-06-16 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128131400/http://nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |archivedate=2001-01-28 |df= }}
12. ^{{cite web|title=1987 NHL Supplemental Draft|publisher=hockeydb.com|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1987s.html|accessdate=2011-10-15}}
External links{{New York Rangers}}{{New York Rangers seasons}}{{1987–88 NHL season by team}}{{DEFAULTSORT:1987-88 New York Rangers season}} 5 : 1987–88 NHL season by team|1987–88 in American ice hockey by team|1987 in sports in New York City|1988 in sports in New York City|New York Rangers seasons |