Login
Login

1987–88 New York Rangers season

{{short description|NHL hockey team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

|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=22–13–5

|RoadRecord=14–21–5

|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)

}}

The 1987–88 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 62nd season. The Rangers compiled a 36–34–10 record during the regular season,{{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}} 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.{{cite web|title=New York Rangers Franchise Index|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/|accessdate=February 15, 2013}}

{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

Offseason

Rangers 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.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}}

Regular season

The 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.

=Final standings=

{{1987–88 NHL Patrick Division standings|team=NYR}}

=Record vs. opponents=

{{1987–88 NHL Record vs. opponents (Patrick)|team=NYR}}

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;|title=1987–88 regular season{{cite web |title=1987–88 New York Rangers Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1988_games.html |publisher=Hockey-Reference |access-date=March 30, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=October: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1)| Game| October| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 1 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 OT || 0–0–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || 10 || @ Hartford Whalers || 6–2 || 1–0–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || 12 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–2 || 2–0–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 4 || 15 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–6 OT || 2–0–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || 17 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–3 || 2–1–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 6 || 19 || Washington Capitals || 4–2 || 2–2–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 7 || 21 || Calgary Flames || 5–4 || 2–3–2

|- {{Game-won}}

| 8 || 23 || Chicago Blackhawks || 7–3 || 3–3–2

|- {{Game-won}}

| 9 || 24 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || 4–3–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 10 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 OT || 4–3–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 11 || 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || 4–4–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 12 || 31 || @ New York Islanders || 8–2 || 4–5–3

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=November: 4–8–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–6–0)| Game| November| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 13 || 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 7–6 || 4–6–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 14 || 3 || @ Calgary Flames || 5–3 || 4–7–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 15 || 4 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 7–2 || 4–8–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 16 || 7 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–4 || 4–9–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 17 || 10 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || 4–10–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 18 || 14 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || 4–11–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 19 || 15 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–4 || 5–11–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 20 || 19 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 4–3 || 5–12–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 21 || 20 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 || 6–12–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 22 || 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–3 || 7–12–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 23 || 28 || @ New York Islanders || 5–4 || 7–13–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 24 || 29 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 8–13–3

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=December: 6–6–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 2–4–1)| Game| December| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 25 || 3 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–3 || 8–14–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 26 || 5 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || 9–14–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 27 || 9 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || 9–14–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 28 || 10 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || 9–15–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 29 || 12 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 9–16–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 30 || 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || 10–16–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 31 || 16 || New Jersey Devils || 9–3 || 11–16–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 32 || 19 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || 11–17–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 33 || 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–4 || 11–18–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 34 || 22 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–4 || 11–19–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 35 || 26 || @ New Jersey Devils || 5–3 || 12–19–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 36 || 27 || Boston Bruins || 4–1 || 13–19–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 37 || 29 || @ New York Islanders || 3–3 OT || 13–19–5

|- {{Game-won}}

| 38 || 31 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || 14–19–5

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=January: 6–6–1 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–4–0)| Game| January| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 39 || 2 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 5–3 || 15–19–5

|- {{Game-won}}

| 40 || 4 || St. Louis Blues || 6–2 || 16–19–5

|- {{Game-won}}

| 41 || 6 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || 17–19–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 42 || 8 || @ Washington Capitals || 8–4 || 17–20–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 43 || 10 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–3 || 17–21–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 44 || 11 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–2 OT || 17–21–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 45 || 13 || Detroit Red Wings || 7–4 || 17–22–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 46 || 16 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || 17–23–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 47 || 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 17–24–6

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 48 || 19 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 6–3 || 17–25–6

|- {{Game-won}}

| 49 || 22 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 6–3 || 18–25–6

|- {{Game-won}}

| 50 || 28 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–2 || 19–25–6

|- {{Game-won}}

| 51 || 30 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 20–25–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=February: 7–4–2 (home: 5–2–1; road: 2–2–1)| Game| February| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 52 || 2 || @ New York Islanders || 2–2 OT || 20–25–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 53 || 4 || @ Quebec Nordiques || 3–2 || 20–26–7

|- {{Game-won}}

| 54 || 6 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–0 || 21–26–7

|- {{Game-won}}

| 55 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || 22–26–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 56 || 11 || Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 22–27–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 57 || 14 || New York Islanders || 4–4 OT || 22–27–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 58 || 15 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–1 || 23–27–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 59 || 17 || Calgary Flames || 5–3 || 24–27–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 60 || 19 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || 24–28–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 61 || 21 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–4 || 24–29–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 62 || 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || 25–29–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 63 || 26 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–1 || 26–29–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 64 || 29 || St. Louis Blues || 5–2 || 27–29–8

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=March: 8–5–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–3–1)| Game| March| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 65 || 2 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 28–29–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 66 || 4 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 6–3 || 28–30–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 67 || 5 || @ Hartford Whalers || 3–1 || 28–31–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 68 || 8 || New Jersey Devils || 7–4 || 29–31–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 69 || 12 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–2 || 30–31–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 70 || 15 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 31–31–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 71 || 16 || Washington Capitals || 8–4 || 31–32–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 72 || 19 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 32–32–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 73 || 20 || Hartford Whalers || 2–1 || 33–32–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 74 || 22 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || 33–33–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 75 || 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 6–1 || 34–33–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 76 || 26 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4–4 OT || 34–33–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 77 || 27 || @ New Jersey Devils || 7–2 || 34–34–9

|- {{Game-won}}

| 78 || 30 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 4–3 || 35–34–9

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=April: 1–0–1 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–1)| Game| April| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 79 || 1 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 6–6 OT || 35–34–10

|- {{Game-won}}

| 80 || 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–0 || 36–34–10

|-

{{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}}

Playoffs

The Rangers failed to qualify for the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs.{{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}} After a 6–6 tie against the Winnipeg Jets in the second-to-last game of the season,{{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}} the Rangers and New Jersey Devils entered their final game of the season with 80 points each. If the Rangers and Devils won, the Devils would go to the playoffs on a tiebreaker.{{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}} 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. Both the Rangers and Devils finished tied with 82 points. However, the Devils had 38 wins to the Rangers' 36, so the Devils qualified for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division.{{cite web |last=Masi |first=Vince |date=2011-04-09 |title=Drama in New York NHL season finales |url=http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/18031/drama-in-new-york-nhl-season-finales |accessdate=2017-05-23 |publisher=ESPN}}{{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=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-04-sp-287-story.html|access-date=2017-05-23}}

Player statistics

;Skaters

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"| Regular Season

align=center

! Player

! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}

! {{abbr|G|Goals}}

! {{abbr|A|Assists}}

! {{abbr|Pts|Points}}

! data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|+/-|Plus/minus}}

! {{abbr|PIM|Penalty minutes}}

align=center

| {{sortname|Walt|Poddubny}}

77385088276
align=center

| {{sortname|Kelly|Kisio}}

77235578888
align=center

| {{sortname|Tomas|Sandstrom}}

69284068−695
align=center

| {{sortname|Marcel|Dionne}}

67313465−1454
align=center

| {{sortname|James|Patrick|James Patrick (ice hockey)}}

701745621652
align=center

| {{sortname|Brian|Mullen}}

74252954−242
align=center

| {{sortname|John|Ogrodnick}}

64223254−316
align=center

| {{sortname|Ulf|Dahlen}}

70292352526
align=center

| {{sortname|Don|Maloney}}

661221331260
align=center

| {{sortname|Michel|Petit}}†

64924333223
align=center

| {{sortname|David|Shaw|David Shaw (ice hockey)}}

6872532−8100
align=center

| {{sortname|Lucien|DeBlois}}

7492130−3103
align=center

| {{sortname|Jan|Erixon}}

7071926333
align=center

| {{sortname|Norm|Maciver}}

37915241014
align=center

| {{sortname|Paul|Cyr}}†

4041317−541
align=center

| {{sortname|Jari|Gronstrand}}

6231114863
align=center

| {{sortname|Brian|Leetch}}

172121450
align=center

| {{sortname|Pierre|Larouche}}

103912−313
align=center

| {{sortname|Ron|Duguay}}‡

44448−923
align=center

| {{sortname|Chris|Nilan}}†

22358096
align=center

| {{sortname|Ron|Greschner}}

51156−982
align=center

| {{sortname|Gordie|Walker}}

18145−817
align=center

| {{sortname|Mike|Donnelly}}‡

17224−58
align=center

| {{sortname|Mark|Hardy|Mark Hardy (ice hockey)}}†

19224−531
align=center

| {{sortname|Dave|Pichette}}

6134−24
align=center

| {{sortname|Willie|Huber}}‡

11134−414
align=center

| {{sortname|Joe|Paterson|dab=ice hockey}}†

21134−463
align=center

| {{sortname|Bruce|Bell}}

13123−108
align=center

| {{sortname|Mark|Tinordi}}

24123−550
align=center

| {{sortname|Steve|Nemeth}}

12202−42
align=center

| {{sortname|Jeff|Brubaker}}

31202078
align=center

| {{sortname|Paul|Boutilier}}‡

4011−16
align=center

| {{sortname|Simon|Wheeldon}}

5011−24
align=center

| {{sortname|Ron|Talakoski}}

6011012
align=center

| {{sortname|Chris|Jensen}}

7011−12
align=center

| {{sortname|Larry|Melnyk}}

14011−734
align=center

| {{sortname|Jim|Pavese}}†‡

14011−748
align=center

| {{sortname|Mark|Janssens}}

100000
align=center

| {{sortname|Rudy|Poeschek}}

100002
align=center

| {{sortname|Mike|Siltala}}

300000
align=center

| {{sortname|Curt|Giles}}‡

13000−510

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

;Goaltenders

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"

|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"| Regular Season

style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"

! Player

! {{abbr|GP|Games played}}

! {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}}

! {{abbr|W|Win}}

! {{abbr|L|Loss}}

! {{abbr|T|Tie}}

! {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}

! {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}

! {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}

! {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}

! {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}

align=center

| {{sortname|John|Vanbiesbrouck}}

563319272271873.381697.8902
align=center

| {{sortname|Bob|Froese}}

2514438113853.53695.8780
align=center

| {{sortname|Ron|Scott}}

29011064.0041.8540

†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.

{{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}}

{{Hockey season stats note}}

Awards and records

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

Transactions

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena.{{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}}{{cite web|title=NHL Draft History |publisher=National Hockey League |url=http://www.nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |accessdate=2017-06-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128131400/http://nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |archivedate=2001-01-28 }}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf; width:2.00%;"| Round

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:16.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:12.25%;"| Position

! style="background:#ddf; width:17.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/Junior/Club team (League)

1

| 10

| Jayson More

| D

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| New Westminster Bruins (WHL)

2

| 31

| Daniel Lacroix

| LW

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Granby Bisons (QMJHL)

3

| 46

| Simon Gagne

| RW

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Laval Titan (QMJHL)

4

| 69

| Mike Sullivan

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boston University (NCAA)

5

| 94

| Eric O'Borsky

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Yale University (NCAA)

6

| 115

| Ludek Cajka

| D

| {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}

| Dukla Jihlava (Czech Extraliga)

7

| 136

| Clint Thomas

| D

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Bartlett H.S. (Alaska)

8

| 157

| Chuck Wiegand

| RW

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Essex Junction H.S. (Vermont)

9

| 178

| Eric Burrill

| RW

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Tartan H.S. (Massachusetts)

10

| 199

| Dave Porter

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Northern Michigan University (NCAA)

10

| 205

| Brett Barnett

| LW

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Wexford Raiders (OPJHL)

11

| 220

| Lance Marciano

| D

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Choate Academy (Connecticut)

=Supplemental Draft=

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.{{cite web|title=1987 NHL Supplemental Draft|publisher=hockeydb.com|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1987s.html|accessdate=2011-10-15}}

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width=2.00%"| Round

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width=2.75%"| #

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16.0%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="12.25%" | Position

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="17.0%" | Nationality

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="100.0%" | College/Junior/Club team (League)

2

| 12

| Joe Lockwood

| RW

| {{flagu|United States}}

| University of Michigan (CCHA)

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{New York Rangers seasons}}

{{1987–88 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York Rangers, 1987-88}}

1987-88

Category:1987–88 NHL season by team

Category:1987 in sports in New York City

Category:1988 in sports in New York City

1987-88 New York Rangers season