1986–87 Winnipeg Jets season

After a poor 1985–86 season, in which the Jets fired head coach Barry Long and replaced him on an interim basis with general manager John Ferguson, the team hired Dan Maloney to become the new head coach on June 20, 1986. Maloney had previously been the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1984 to 1986, posting a 45–100–15 record with the Leafs during that span.

On June 21, 1986, the Jets selected forward Pat Elynuik with their first round, eighth overall draft pick at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Elynuik spent the 1985–86 season with the Prince Albert Raiders, scoring 53 goals and 106 points in 68 games. In the second round, Winnipeg selected defenseman Teppo Numminen from Tappara Tampere of the SM-liiga.

On August 15, 1986, the Jets made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, acquiring goaltender Steve Penney and Jan Ingman for goaltender Brian Hayward. Penney had a 6–8–2 record with a 4.36 GAA with Montreal during the 1985–86 season as the back-up to Patrick Roy.

{{1986–87 NHL Smythe Division standings|team=WIN}}

{{1986–87 NHL Record vs. opponents (Smythe)|team=WIN}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;|title=1986–87 regular season{{cite web |title=1986-87 Winnipeg Jets Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WIN/1987_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=March 20, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=October|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|1||W||October 9, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||1–0–0

|- {{Game-won}}

|2||W||October 12, 1986||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||2–0–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

|3||L||October 14, 1986||1–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||2–1–0

|- {{Game-tied}}

|4||T||October 16, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||2–1–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|5||L||October 18, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||2–2–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 19, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||2–3–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|7||W||October 24, 1986||5–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||3–3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|8||L||October 26, 1986||4–8 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||3–4–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|9||W||October 29, 1986||6–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||4–4–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=November|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|10||L||November 1, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1986–87) ||4–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||November 2, 1986||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1986–87) ||5–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|12||W||November 4, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||6–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|13||W||November 7, 1986||2–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||7–5–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|14||W||November 9, 1986||8–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||8–5–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|15||L||November 11, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||8–6–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|16||W||November 13, 1986||6–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||9–6–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|17||W||November 14, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||10–6–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|18||W||November 16, 1986||3–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1986–87) ||11–6–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 18, 1986||3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||12–6–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|20||L||November 21, 1986||1–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||12–7–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|21||W||November 23, 1986||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||13–7–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|22||L||November 26, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||13–8–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|23||W||November 27, 1986||4–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||14–8–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|24||W||November 29, 1986||6–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||15–8–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=December|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|25||T||December 3, 1986||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||15–8–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|26||L||December 5, 1986||3–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1986–87) ||15–9–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 7, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||15–10–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 10, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||15–11–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|29||L||December 12, 1986||1–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||15–12–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|30||L||December 14, 1986||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||15–13–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

|31||L||December 17, 1986||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||15–14–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

|32||T||December 18, 1986||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||15–14–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|33||T||December 21, 1986||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||15–14–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|34||W||December 23, 1986||2–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||16–14–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 26, 1986||2–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||16–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|36||W||December 28, 1986||5–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||17–15–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|37||L||December 31, 1986||1–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||17–16–4

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=January|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||January 2, 1987||6–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||18–16–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|39||W||January 4, 1987||4–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||19–16–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40||L||January 7, 1987||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) ||19–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|41||W||January 9, 1987||3–0 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||20–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|42||W||January 10, 1987||5–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||21–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|43||W||January 13, 1987||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||22–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 14, 1987||4–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||23–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|45||W||January 16, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||24–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|46||W||January 18, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) ||25–17–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|47||W||January 19, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||26–17–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|48||L||January 21, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||26–18–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|49||W||January 23, 1987||7–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||27–18–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|50||T||January 27, 1987||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1986–87) ||27–18–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|51||W||January 28, 1987||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1986–87) ||28–18–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|52||L||January 31, 1987||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||28–19–5

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=February|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|53||L||February 1, 1987||4–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) ||28–20–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|54||W||February 4, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) ||29–20–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 6, 1987||6–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||30–20–5

|- {{Game-won}}

|56||W||February 8, 1987||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||31–20–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 14, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||31–21–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

|58||T||February 17, 1987||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) ||31–21–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|59||L||February 18, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||31–22–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|60||W||February 20, 1987||6–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1986–87) ||32–22–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|61||W||February 22, 1987||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||33–22–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|62||L||February 24, 1987||3–8 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||33–23–6

|- {{Game-won}}

|63||W||February 26, 1987||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) ||34–23–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|64||L||February 28, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||34–24–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=March|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|65||W||March 1, 1987||6–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||35–24–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

|66||L||March 4, 1987||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) ||35–25–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

|67||T||March 5, 1987||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) ||35–25–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|68||L||March 8, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) ||35–26–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|69||W||March 11, 1987||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) ||36–26–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|70||L||March 13, 1987||0–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1986–87) ||36–27–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

|71||T||March 15, 1987||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) ||36–27–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|72||W||March 18, 1987||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1986–87) ||37–27–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|73||L||March 20, 1987||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||37–28–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|74||W||March 22, 1987||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||38–28–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|75||W||March 25, 1987||10–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||39–28–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|76||L||March 26, 1987||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||39–29–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|77||L||March 29, 1987||2–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) ||39–30–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|78||L||March 31, 1987||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) ||39–31–8

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid;|title=April|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|79||L||April 3, 1987||4–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) ||39–32–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|80||W||April 5, 1987||3–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) ||40–32–8

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

The Jets won the Division semi-finals (4–2) versus Calgary Flames to advance to the Division Finals, which they lost 4–0 to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.

;Scoring

;Goaltending

;Scoring

;Goaltending

{{cite web |publisher=hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-06-04 |title=1986-87 Winnipeg Jets Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/WPG/1987.html}}

{{Hockey season stats note}}

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

The Jets selected the following players at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto on June 15, 1985.{{cite news | url = http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1985e.html | title = 1985 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com | publisher = hockeyDB.com | accessdate = December 8, 2016}}

• 1986–87 NHL season

{{reflist}}

{{Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) seasons}}

{{1986–87 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 Winnipeg Jets Season}}

Winnipeg Jets season, 1986-87

Category:Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) seasons

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