1987–88 New York Rangers season

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]

1987–88 New York Rangers
Division5th Patrick
ConferenceT-7th Wales
1987–88 record36–34–10
Goals for300
Goals against283
Team information
General managerPhil Esposito
CoachMichel Bergeron
CaptainRon Greschner (Oct–Dec)
Kelly Kisio (Dec–Apr)
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Team leaders
GoalsWalt Poddubny (38)
AssistsKelly Kisio (55)
PointsWalt Poddubny (88)
Penalty minutesMichel Petit (223)
WinsJohn Vanbiesbrouck (27)
Goals against averageJohn Vanbiesbrouck (3.38)

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.[3]

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.[4]

Final standings

Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
New York Islanders8039311030826788
Philadelphia Flyers803833929229285
Washington Capitals803833928124985
New Jersey Devils803836629529682
New York Rangers8036341030028382
Pittsburgh Penguins803635931931681

[5]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.

Schedule and results

1987–88 Game Log

Playoffs

The 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.[6] After a 6–6 tie against the Winnipeg Jets in the second-to-last game of the season,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO
John Vanbiesbrouck563319272271873.381697.8902
Bob Froese2514438113853.53695.8780
Ron Scott29011064.0041.8540

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.

[10]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena.[11][12]

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 Draft

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.[13]

Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
Joe Lockwood RW  United States University of Michigan (CCHA)

See also

References

  1. "1987–88 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  2. "New York Rangers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 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. "1987–88 NHL Season Summary". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  5. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  6. Masi, Vince (2011-04-09). "Drama in New York NHL season finales". ESPN. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  7. Elliott, Helene (1988-04-02). "A Point Not Well-Taken: Tie against Jets puts Rangers at mercy of the Devils". Newsday. p. 31.
  8. Hafner, Dan (1988-04-03). "NHL Roundup: Devils Need One More Win to Gain Playoffs". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  9. Hafner, Dan (1988-04-04). "NHL Roundup: Devils Need Overtime to Make the Playoffs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  10. "1987–88 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  11. "1987 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  12. "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2001-01-28. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  13. "1987 NHL Supplemental Draft". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
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