# 1988–89 New Jersey Devils season

The 1988–89 New Jersey Devils season was the 15th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and seventh season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. After appearing in the playoffs the previous season, the Devils finished in fifth place in the Patrick Division to miss the playoffs for the thirteenth time in franchise history.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 41 | 29 | 10 | 305 | 259 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 347 | 349 | 87 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 37 | 35 | 8 | 310 | 307 | 82 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 36 | 36 | 8 | 307 | 285 | 80 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 281 | 325 | 66 |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 28 | 47 | 5 | 265 | 325 | 61 |
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
#### Vs. Wales Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| New Jersey | — | 1–4–2 | 4–3 | 2–5 | 1–4–2 | 4–3 | 12–19–4 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 4–1–2 | — | 2–5 | 1–5–1 | 2–4–1 | 3–4 | 12–19–4 |
| N.Y. Rangers | 3–4 | 5–2 | — | 3–3–1 | 3–3–1 | 3–2–2 | 17–14–4 |
| Philadelphia | 5–2 | 5–1–1 | 3–3–1 | — | 3–4 | 3–4 | 19–14–2 |
| Pittsburgh | 4–1–2 | 4–2–1 | 3–3–1 | 4–3 | — | 4–3 | 19–12–4 |
| Washington | 3–4 | 4–3 | 2–3–2 | 4–3 | 3–4 | — | 16–17–2 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| New Jersey | 0–2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–11–1 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 6–9–0 |
| N.Y. Rangers | 0–1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–10–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 0–1–2 | 2–1 | 6–6–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 5–9–1 |
| Washington | 1–1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1–1 | 2–0–1 | 10–2–3 |

#### Vs. Campbell Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–0–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 9–4–2 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–11–0 |
| N.Y. Rangers | 2–0–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1–1 | 8–5–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 8–7–0 |
| Pittsburgh | 3–0 | 2–0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 9–4–2 |
| Washington | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 8–4–3 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| New Jersey | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–1–2 | 1–1–1 | 0–1–2 | 3–7–5 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 0–2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 6–8–1 |
| N.Y. Rangers | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 9–6–0 |
| Philadelphia | 0–3 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–0–1 | 3–9–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 7–8–0 |
| Washington | 0–2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 7–6–2 |

## Schedule and results

| # | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 6, 1988 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 8, 1988 | 5–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (season) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 10, 1988 | 5–0 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 14, 1988 | 3–7 | Montreal Canadiens (season) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 15, 1988 | 5–8 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 19, 1988 | 0–4 | Vancouver Canucks (season) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | W | October 21, 1988 | 6–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | T | October 23, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (season) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1988 | 4–7 | Buffalo Sabres (season) | 3–5–1 |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1988 | 5–3 | Hartford Whalers (season) | 4–5–1 |
| 11 | L | October 29, 1988 | 0–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (season) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1988 | 3–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | T | November 3, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Winnipeg Jets (season) | 5–6–2 |
| 14 | W | November 6, 1988 | 6–5 | New York Rangers (season) | 6–6–2 |
| 15 | L | November 9, 1988 | 2–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers (season) | 6–7–2 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1988 | 3–3 OT | New York Islanders (season) | 6–7–3 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1988 | 6–3 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 7–7–3 |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1988 | 4–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (season) | 8–7–3 |
| 19 | L | November 17, 1988 | 3–5 | Calgary Flames (season) | 8–8–3 |
| 20 | L | November 19, 1988 | 2–3 | Washington Capitals (season) | 8–9–3 |
| 21 | L | November 20, 1988 | 1–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 8–10–3 |
| 22 | L | November 23, 1988 | 2–3 | @ Calgary Flames (season) | 8–11–3 |
| 23 | T | November 25, 1988 | 2–2 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (season) | 8–11–4 |
| 24 | L | November 29, 1988 | 3–9 | @ Los Angeles Kings (season) | 8–12–4 |
| 25 | L | December 3, 1988 | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 8–13–4 |
| 26 | L | December 4, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 8–14–4 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1988 | 5–1 | Washington Capitals (season) | 9–14–4 |
| 28 | W | December 9, 1988 | 6–5 | New York Islanders (season) | 10–14–4 |
| 29 | T | December 10, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 10–14–5 |
| 30 | W | December 13, 1988 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (season) | 11–14–5 |
| 31 | W | December 15, 1988 | 6–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 12–14–5 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1988 | 2–5 | @ New York Islanders (season) | 12–15–5 |
| 33 | W | December 18, 1988 | 5–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 13–15–5 |
| 34 | T | December 21, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (season) | 13–15–6 |
| 35 | T | December 23, 1988 | 2–2 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 13–15–7 |
| 36 | L | December 26, 1988 | 1–5 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 13–16–7 |
| 37 | L | December 27, 1988 | 5–7 | New York Rangers (season) | 13–17–7 |
| 38 | L | December 29, 1988 | 2–6 | Boston Bruins (season) | 13–18–7 |
| 39 | L | December 31, 1988 | 6–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 13–19–7 |
| 40 | W | January 6, 1989 | 5–4 | Buffalo Sabres (season) | 14–19–7 |
| 41 | W | January 7, 1989 | 5–2 | Detroit Red Wings (season) | 15–19–7 |
| 42 | W | January 9, 1989 | 5–4 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 16–19–7 |
| 43 | L | January 11, 1989 | 0–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (season) | 16–20–7 |
| 44 | L | January 13, 1989 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (season) | 16–21–7 |
| 45 | W | January 15, 1989 | 1–0 | Edmonton Oilers (season) | 17–21–7 |
| 46 | L | January 17, 1989 | 4–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (season) | 17–22–7 |
| 47 | L | January 19, 1989 | 4–5 | Quebec Nordiques (season) | 17–23–7 |
| 48 | W | January 20, 1989 | 6–5 OT | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 18–23–7 |
| 49 | L | January 23, 1989 | 2–7 | Minnesota North Stars (season) | 18–24–7 |
| 50 | T | January 24, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ New York Islanders (season) | 18–24–8 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1989 | 6–8 | Hartford Whalers (season) | 18–25–8 |
| 52 | T | January 28, 1989 | 4–4 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (season) | 18–25–9 |
| 53 | T | February 2, 1989 | 6–6 OT | @ Los Angeles Kings (season) | 18–25–10 |
| 54 | W | February 5, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (season) | 19–25–10 |
| 55 | W | February 9, 1989 | 6–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (season) | 20–25–10 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1989 | 4–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (season) | 20–26–10 |
| 57 | W | February 13, 1989 | 8–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 21–26–10 |
| 58 | L | February 15, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (season) | 21–27–10 |
| 59 | L | February 17, 1989 | 2–3 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (season) | 21–28–10 |
| 60 | L | February 18, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (season) | 21–29–10 |
| 61 | L | February 20, 1989 | 4–7 | @ New York Rangers (season) | 21–30–10 |
| 62 | L | February 24, 1989 | 2–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 21–31–10 |
| 63 | T | February 26, 1989 | 1–1 OT | Los Angeles Kings (season) | 21–31–11 |
| 64 | T | February 28, 1989 | 3–3 OT | Boston Bruins (season) | 21–31–12 |
| 65 | L | March 1, 1989 | 1–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 21–32–12 |
| 66 | W | March 3, 1989 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (season) | 22–32–12 |
| 67 | W | March 5, 1989 | 2–0 | Minnesota North Stars (season) | 23–32–12 |
| 68 | L | March 7, 1989 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (season) | 23–33–12 |
| 69 | W | March 8, 1989 | 7–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 24–33–12 |
| 70 | L | March 11, 1989 | 2–3 OT | @ New York Islanders (season) | 24–34–12 |
| 71 | L | March 14, 1989 | 1–5 | Calgary Flames (season) | 24–35–12 |
| 72 | L | March 16, 1989 | 1–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 24–36–12 |
| 73 | L | March 18, 1989 | 1–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (season) | 24–37–12 |
| 74 | W | March 20, 1989 | 3–1 | Vancouver Canucks (season) | 25–37–12 |
| 75 | L | March 23, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (season) | 25–38–12 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1989 | 4–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) | 25–39–12 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1989 | 5–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (season) | 26–39–12 |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1989 | 4–5 OT | New York Islanders (season) | 26–40–12 |
| 79 | L | April 1, 1989 | 4–6 | @ Washington Capitals (season) | 26–41–12 |
| 80 | W | April 2, 1989 | 7–4 | Washington Capitals (season) | 27–41–12 |

## Playoffs

The 1988–89 season was a disappointing one for the Devils. Just a year after their cinderella 1987–88 campaign in which they fell one win short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, the team failed to make the playoffs altogether, managing only a fifth-place finish in the Patrick Division with a roster largely intact from the previous season.

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| John MacLean | 74 | 42 | 45 | 87 | 122 |
| Kirk Muller | 80 | 31 | 43 | 74 | 119 |
| Patrik Sundström | 65 | 28 | 41 | 69 | 36 |
| Aaron Broten | 80 | 16 | 43 | 59 | 81 |
| Brendan Shanahan | 68 | 22 | 28 | 50 | 115 |
| Pat Verbeek | 77 | 26 | 21 | 47 | 189 |
| Mark Johnson | 40 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 24 |
| Doug Brown | 63 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 15 |
| Claude Loiselle | 74 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 209 |
| Pat Conacher | 55 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 14 |
| Anders Carlsson | 47 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 20 |
| David Maley | 68 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 249 |
| Perry Anderson | 39 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 128 |
| Paul Ysebaert | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Steve Rooney | 25 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 79 |
| Jon Morris | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Alan Stewart | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Chris Cichocki | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Janne Ojanen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| George McPhee | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Kevin Todd | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Defensemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Tom Kurvers | 74 | 16 | 50 | 66 | 38 |
| Jim Korn | 65 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 212 |
| Tommy Albelin | 46 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 40 |
| Jack O'Callahan | 36 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 51 |
| Joe Cirella | 80 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 155 |
| Randy Velischek | 80 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 70 |
| Bruce Driver | 27 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 24 |
| Craig Wolanin | 56 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 69 |
| Ken Daneyko | 80 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 283 |
| Jamie Huscroft | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 51 |
| Eric Weinrich | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Foster | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Sean Burke | 62 | 22 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 3.84 |
| Bob Sauvé | 15 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4.67 |
| Craig Billington | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.71 |
| Chris Terreri | 8 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.69 |

## Draft picks

The Devils' draft picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
| Rd # | Pick # | Player | Nat | Pos | Team (League) |
| 1 | 12 | Corey Foster | Canada | D | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 2 | 23 | Jeff Christian | Canada | LW | London Knights (OHL) |
| 3 | 54 | Zdeno Ciger | Czechoslovakia | LW | Martimex ZTS Martin HC (Czechoslovak Extraliga) |
| 4 | 65 | Matt Ruchty | Canada | LW | Bowling Green State University (CCHA) |
| 4 | 75 | Scott Luik | Canada | RW | Miami University (CCHA) |
| 5 | 96 | Chris Nelson | United States | D | Rochester Jr. Americans (MJHL) |
| 6 | 117 | Chad Johnson | United States | C | Rochester Jr. Americans (MJHL) |
| 7 | 138 | Chad Erickson | United States | G | Warroad H.S. (Minnesota) |
| 8 | 159 | Bryan LaFort | United States | G | Waltham H.S. (Massachusetts) |
| 9 | 180 | Sergei Svetlov | Soviet Union | RW | Moscow Dynamo (Soviet League) |
| 10 | 201 | Bob Woods | Canada | D | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 10 | 207 | Alexander Semak | Soviet Union | C | Moscow Dynamo (Soviet League) |
| 11 | 222 | Chuck Hughes | United States | G | Catholic Memorial H.S. (Massachusetts) |
| 12 | 243 | Michael Pohl | West Germany | F | SB Rosenheim (DEL) |
| S | 17 | Tim Budy | Canada | LW | Colorado College (WCHA) |