# 1986–87 New Jersey Devils season

The 1986–87 New Jersey Devils season was the 13th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and fifth season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. This was the franchise's ninth consecutive season out of the playoffs.

## Regular season

* January 22, 1987 – A snowstorm brutally hit New Jersey as the Devils were scheduled to play the Calgary Flames at the Meadowlands. Only 334 fans showed up, making that game the "334 Club" game. To this day, it is the lowest-attended game in modern NHL history, not counting the 2020 NHL return to play playoffs. The Devils went on to win the game 7–5.

### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 46 | 26 | 8 | 310 | 245 | 100 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 285 | 278 | 86 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 35 | 33 | 12 | 279 | 281 | 82 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 307 | 323 | 76 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 30 | 38 | 12 | 297 | 290 | 72 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 29 | 45 | 6 | 293 | 368 | 64 |
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.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—2–54–32–4–14–31–613–21–1
N.Y. Islanders
5–2—3–3–13–45–0–22–3–218–12–2
N.Y. Rangers
3–43–3–1—4–33–2–24–317–15–3
Philadelphia
4–2–14–33–4—4–1–25–1–120–11–4
Pittsburgh
3–40–5–22–3–21–4–2—4–310–19–6
Washington
6–13–2–23–41–5–13–4—16–16–3
Vs. Adams Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
1–1–11–21–1–11–20–1–24–7–4
N.Y. Islanders
0–2–11–1–11–21–1–12–15–7–3
N.Y. Rangers
2–12–10–30–2–12–16–8–1
Philadelphia
2–12–11–22–0–12–0–19–4–2
Pittsburgh
1–22–0–10–31–1–13–07–6–2
Washington
1–1–11–21–23–00–2–16–7–2
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
1–22–11–22–11–27–8–0
N.Y. Islanders
1–22–13–01–1–12–19–5–1
N.Y. Rangers
1–1–11–21–1–11–21–1–15–7–3
Philadelphia
2–0–12–11–23–01–1–19–4–2
Pittsburgh
2–11–23–01–0–21–28–5–2
Washington
1–1–12–0–12–0–12–0–12–19–2–4
Vs. Smythe Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
1–21–21–22–0–10–35–9–1
N.Y. Islanders
0–2–10–2–11–21–21–1–13–9–2
N.Y. Rangers
1–20–32–0–12–11–26–8–1
Philadelphia
1–22–11–22–12–18–7–0
Pittsburgh
1–21–21–21–0–21–25–8–2
Washington
1–22–10–33–01–1–17–7–1 :

## Schedule and results

| # | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 9, 1986 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 11, 1986 | 5–4 | Boston Bruins (season) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1986 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (season) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1986 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1986 | 4–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1986 | 3–6 | @ New York Islanders (season) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | W | October 23, 1986 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (season) | 4–3–0 |
| 8 | L | October 25, 1986 | 1–2 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1986 | 8–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 5–4–0 |
| 10 | W | October 30, 1986 | 7–6 OT | New York Islanders (season) | 6–4–0 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1986 | 1–3 | Buffalo Sabres (season) | 6–5–0 |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1986 | 1–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 6–6–0 |
| 13 | T | November 6, 1986 | 5–5 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 6–6–1 |
| 14 | L | November 9, 1986 | 1–8 | @ Winnipeg Jets (season) | 6–7–1 |
| 15 | W | November 12, 1986 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (season) | 7–7–1 |
| 16 | W | November 14, 1986 | 5–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 8–7–1 |
| 17 | T | November 15, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Boston Bruins (season) | 8–7–2 |
| 18 | W | November 17, 1986 | 3–2 | New York Rangers (season) | 9–7–2 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (season) | 10–7–2 |
| 20 | L | November 22, 1986 | 2–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (season) | 10–8–2 |
| 21 | L | November 23, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 10–9–2 |
| 22 | W | November 26, 1986 | 5–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (season) | 11–9–2 |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1986 | 6–9 | @ Los Angeles Kings (season) | 11–10–2 |
| 24 | W | December 2, 1986 | 8–5 | New York Rangers (season) | 12–10–2 |
| 25 | L | December 4, 1986 | 3–5 | Minnesota North Stars (season) | 12–11–2 |
| 26 | W | December 6, 1986 | 4–3 | Buffalo Sabres (season) | 13–11–2 |
| 27 | L | December 9, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 13–12–2 |
| 28 | L | December 11, 1986 | 4–8 | New York Islanders (season) | 13–13–2 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1986 | 2–4 | @ New York Islanders (season) | 13–14–2 |
| 30 | W | December 14, 1986 | 4–2 | Montreal Canadiens (season) | 14–14–2 |
| 31 | W | December 17, 1986 | 3–2 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 15–14–2 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1986 | 6–4 | Washington Capitals (season) | 16–14–2 |
| 33 | L | December 20, 1986 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (season) | 16–15–2 |
| 34 | L | December 23, 1986 | 5–8 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 16–16–2 |
| 35 | L | December 26, 1986 | 4–7 | New York Rangers (season) | 16–17–2 |
| 36 | T | December 27, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (season) | 16–17–3 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1986 | 3–4 | Calgary Flames (season) | 16–18–3 |
| 38 | L | January 2, 1987 | 2–7 | Boston Bruins (season) | 16–19–3 |
| 39 | L | January 3, 1987 | 2–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 16–20–3 |
| 40 | L | January 6, 1987 | 0–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 16–21–3 |
| 41 | T | January 8, 1987 | 4–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (season) | 16–21–4 |
| 42 | T | January 10, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Vancouver Canucks (season) | 16–21–5 |
| 43 | W | January 12, 1987 | 7–5 | Hartford Whalers (season) | 17–21–5 |
| 44 | W | January 14, 1987 | 3–1 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 18–21–5 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1987 | 4–5 | Winnipeg Jets (season) | 18–22–5 |
| 46 | L | January 18, 1987 | 1–6 | Washington Capitals (season) | 18–23–5 |
| 47 | L | January 20, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 18–24–5 |
| 48 | W | January 22, 1987 | 7–5 | Calgary Flames (season) | 19–24–5 |
| 49 | W | January 24, 1987 | 4–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 20–24–5 |
| 50 | L | January 26, 1987 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 20–25–5 |
| 51 | L | January 28, 1987 | 2–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (season) | 20–26–5 |
| 52 | W | January 30, 1987 | 4–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (season) | 21–26–5 |
| 53 | L | January 31, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames (season) | 21–27–5 |
| 54 | W | February 7, 1987 | 3–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 22–27–5 |
| 55 | L | February 8, 1987 | 1–2 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 22–28–5 |
| 56 | L | February 14, 1987 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (season) | 22–29–5 |
| 57 | L | February 18, 1987 | 3–6 | Hartford Whalers (season) | 22–30–5 |
| 58 | W | February 21, 1987 | 6–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 23–30–5 |
| 59 | L | February 22, 1987 | 0–7 | New York Islanders (season) | 23–31–5 |
| 60 | W | February 25, 1987 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (season) | 24–31–5 |
| 61 | L | February 28, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (season) | 24–32–5 |
| 62 | T | March 1, 1987 | 5–5 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (season) | 24–32–6 |
| 63 | L | March 3, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 24–33–6 |
| 64 | L | March 5, 1987 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (season) | 24–34–6 |
| 65 | L | March 7, 1987 | 3–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 24–35–6 |
| 66 | L | March 8, 1987 | 3–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 24–36–6 |
| 67 | L | March 11, 1987 | 4–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 24–37–6 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1987 | 4–1 | New York Islanders (season) | 25–37–6 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1987 | 6–7 OT | @ New York Islanders (season) | 25–38–6 |
| 70 | L | March 17, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (season) | 25–39–6 |
| 71 | L | March 18, 1987 | 3–4 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (season) | 25–40–6 |
| 72 | W | March 21, 1987 | 7–6 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (season) | 26–40–6 |
| 73 | L | March 23, 1987 | 6–7 | Edmonton Oilers (season) | 26–41–6 |
| 74 | W | March 25, 1987 | 8–2 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 27–41–6 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1987 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (season) | 28–41–6 |
| 76 | L | March 29, 1987 | 1–4 | St. Louis Blues (season) | 28–42–6 |
| 77 | W | March 31, 1987 | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 29–42–6 |
| 78 | L | April 2, 1987 | 2–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 29–43–6 |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1987 | 4–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (season) | 29–44–6 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1987 | 5–6 OT | Washington Capitals (season) | 29–45–6 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Aaron Broten | LW/C | 80 | 26 | 53 | 79 | 36 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Kirk Muller | LW | 79 | 26 | 50 | 76 | 75 | -7 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
| John MacLean | RW | 80 | 31 | 36 | 67 | 120 | -23 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Pat Verbeek | RW | 74 | 35 | 24 | 59 | 120 | -23 | 17 | 0 | 5 |
| Doug Sulliman | RW | 78 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 14 | -17 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Mark Johnson | C | 68 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 22 | -21 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Greg Adams | LW | 72 | 20 | 27 | 47 | 19 | -16 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Claude Loiselle | C | 75 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 137 | -7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 51 | 8 | 31 | 39 | 80 | -8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bruce Driver | D | 74 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 36 | -26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Cirella | D | 65 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 111 | -20 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Brickley | LW/C | 51 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 8 | -15 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Peter McNab | C | 46 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 8 | -14 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Uli Hiemer | D | 40 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 45 | -6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Anders Carlsson | C | 48 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 14 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Anderson | LW | 57 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 107 | -13 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Randy Velischek | D | 64 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 52 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan Ludvig | RW | 47 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 98 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Daneyko | D | 79 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 183 | -13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Chernomaz | RW | 25 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | -11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Wolanin | D | 68 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 109 | -31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gordon Mark | D | 36 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 82 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Richmond | D | 44 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 143 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Lenardon | C | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timo Blomqvist | D | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 29 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Allan Stewart | LW | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Brown | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Karl Friesen | G | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Billington | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray Brumwell | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alain Chevrier | G | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kirk McLean | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Terreri | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Alain Chevrier | 3153 | 58 | 24 | 26 | 2 | 227 | 4.32 | 0 | 1793 | 1566 | .873 |
| Craig Billington | 1114 | 22 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 89 | 4.79 | 0 | 569 | 480 | .844 |
| Kirk McLean | 160 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3.75 | 0 | 73 | 63 | .863 |
| Karl Friesen | 130 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 7.38 | 0 | 80 | 64 | .800 |
| Chris Terreri | 286 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4.41 | 0 | 173 | 152 | .879 |
| Team: | 4843 | 80 | 29 | 45 | 6 | 363 | 4.50 | 0 | 2688 | 2325 | .865 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Draft picks

New Jersey's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.
| Rd # | Pick # | Player | Nat | Pos | Team (League) |
| 1 | 3 | Neil Brady | Canada | C | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 2 | 24 | Todd Copeland | United States | D | Belmont Hill H.S. (Massachusetts) |
| 3 | 45 | Janne Ojanen | Finland | C | Tappara (SM-liiga) |
| 3 | 62 | Marc Laniel | Canada | D | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 4 | 66 | Anders Carlsson | Sweden | C | Södertälje SK (Elitserien) |
| 5 | 87 | No fifth-round pick | No fifth-round pick | No fifth-round pick | No fifth-round pick |
| 6 | 108 | Troy Crowder | Canada | RW | Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL) |
| 7 | 129 | Kevin Todd | Canada | C | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 8 | 150 | Ryan Pardoski | Canada | LW | Calgary Canucks (AJHL) |
| 9 | 171 | Scott McCormack | United States | – | St. Paul's H.S. (New Hampshire) |
| 10 | 192 | Frederic Chabot | Canada | G | St. Foy Foosters (Quebec AAA) |
| 11 | 213 | John Andersen | Canada | LW | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 12 | 236 | Doug Kirton | Canada | RW | Orillia Travelways (OPJHL) |
| S1 | 2 | Glen Engevik | Canada | RW | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| S2 | 6 | Tim Barakett | United States | F | Harvard University (ECAC) |