# 1988–89 New York Rangers season

The 1988–89 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 63rd season. The team returned to the playoffs for the 11th time in 12 seasons. A major storyline of the season was Guy Lafleur's comeback from retirement.

## Regular season
### Guy Lafleur

After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Guy Lafleur returned to the NHL during the 1988–89 season with the New York Rangers. Lafleur remained one of the few players that did not wear protective helmets due to the Grandfather clause. A highlight of Lafleur's season was the opportunity to be on the same team with Marcel Dionne. During his first game back in the Montreal Forum, he scored twice against Patrick Roy during the Rangers' 7–5 loss to the Canadiens. Although his high-scoring days were well behind him, his stint with the Rangers was moderately successful and he helped the team to first place in the Patrick Division until being knocked out by a knee injury. The Rangers would finish the season in third place.

### 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

1988-89 Game Log :
October: 8-2-1 (Home: 5-2-0; Road: 3-0-1)
GameOctoberOpponentScoreRecord
16@ Chicago Blackhawks2 – 2 OT0–0–1
28@ St. Louis Blues4 – 21–0–1
310New Jersey Devils5 – 01–1–1
412Hartford Whalers4 – 31–2–1
516Vancouver Canucks3 – 22–2–1
619Washington Capitals5 – 13–2–1
721@ Washington Capitals4 – 14–2–1
823Quebec Nordiques8 – 25–2–1
926Philadelphia Flyers4 – 36–2–1
1029@ Philadelphia Flyers6 – 57–2–1
1130Pittsburgh Penguins9 – 28–2–1 :
November: 6-6-2 (Home: 2-2-1; Road: 4-4-1)
GameNovemberOpponentScoreRecord
122@ Buffalo Sabres6 – 48–3–1
136@ New Jersey Devils6 – 58–4–1
148@ New York Islanders4 – 38–5–1
159Philadelphia Flyers5 – 39–5–1
1611Boston Bruins4 – 4 OT9–5–2
1713Detroit Red Wings5 – 39–6–2
1815@ Philadelphia Flyers3 – 3 OT9–6–3
1917@ Los Angeles Kings6 – 510–6–3
2019@ Minnesota North Stars4 – 111–6–3
2121Montreal Canadiens4 – 211–7–3
2223@ Pittsburgh Penguins8 – 211–8–3
2326@ New York Islanders6 – 412–8–3
2427New York Islanders5 – 313–8–3
2529@ Winnipeg Jets4 – 314–8–3 :
December: 6-6-2 (Home: 4-2-0; Road: 2-4-2)
GameDecemberOpponentScoreRecord
261@ Calgary Flames6 – 314–9–3
274@ Edmonton Oilers10 – 614–10–3
286@ Vancouver Canucks5 – 315–10–3
298@ Hartford Whalers5 – 415–11–3
3010@ Boston Bruins1 – 1 OT15–11–4
3112Los Angeles Kings5 – 215–12–4
3214New York Islanders2 – 116–12–4
3317@ Montreal Canadiens6 – 316–13–4
3419Washington Capitals3 – 117–13–4
3521Buffalo Sabres5 – 217–14–4
3623@ Washington Capitals2 – 2 OT17–14–5
3726New Jersey Devils5 – 118–14–5
3827@ New Jersey Devils7 – 519–14–5
3931Chicago Blackhawks4 – 120–14–5 :
January: 8-2-3 (Home: 3-1-1; Road: 5-1-2)
GameJanuaryOpponentScoreRecord
402Hartford Whalers5 – 421–14–5
414Washington Capitals3 – 3 OT21–14–6
427@ New York Islanders5 – 122–14–6
439New Jersey Devils5 – 422–15–6
4414@ Pittsburgh Penguins4 – 4 OT22–15–7
4515Pittsburgh Penguins6 – 423–15–7
4618@ Chicago Blackhawks6 – 424–15–7
4719@ St. Louis Blues5 – 025–15–7
4821@ Vancouver Canucks5 – 4 OT26–15–7
4923@ Edmonton Oilers3 – 227–15–7
5026@ Calgary Flames5 – 327–16–7
5128@ Toronto Maple Leafs1 – 1 OT27–16–8
5230New York Islanders7 – 328–16–8 :
February: 5-7-0 (Home: 3-5-0; Road: 2-2-0)
GameFebruaryOpponentScoreRecord
531Washington Capitals4 – 3 OT28–17–8
544@ Montreal Canadiens7 – 528–18–8
555Minnesota North Stars5 – 328–19–8
569Winnipeg Jets4 – 329–19–8
5712Edmonton Oilers3 – 129–20–8
5814@ Philadelphia Flyers3 – 129–21–8
5917Toronto Maple Leafs10 – 629–22–8
6018@ Pittsburgh Penguins5 – 330–22–8
6120New Jersey Devils7 – 431–22–8
6222Philadelphia Flyers6 – 431–23–8
6325@ Quebec Nordiques7 – 232–23–8
6427Los Angeles Kings6 – 433–23–8 :
March: 4-10-0 (Home: 4-4-0; Road: 0-6-0)
GameMarchOpponentScoreRecord
651Toronto Maple Leafs7 – 434–23–8
663@ New Jersey Devils6 – 334–24–8
675Boston Bruins5 – 034–25–8
688Buffalo Sabres2 – 034–26–8
699@ Detroit Red Wings3 – 234–27–8
7011@ Washington Capitals4 – 234–28–8
7113Calgary Flames4 – 335–28–8
7215Winnipeg Jets6 – 335–29–8
7318@ Quebec Nordiques8 – 335–30–8
7420St. Louis Blues7 – 436–30–8
7522Minnesota North Stars3 – 137–30–8
7625@ Philadelphia Flyers6 – 137–31–8
7726Pittsburgh Penguins6 – 437–32–8
7829@ Detroit Red Wings4 – 337–33–8 :
April: 0-2-0 (Home: 0-1-0; Road: 0-1-0)
GameAprilOpponentScoreRecord
791@ Pittsburgh Penguins5 – 237–34–8
802New York Islanders6 – 437–35–8 :

## Playoffs

Key: Win Loss
1989 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| Tomas Sandstrom | 79 | 32 | 56 | 88 | 5 | 148 |
| Brian Leetch | 68 | 23 | 48 | 71 | 8 | 50 |
| Brian Mullen | 78 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 7 | 60 |
| Tony Granato | 78 | 36 | 27 | 63 | 17 | 140 |
| Kelly Kisio | 70 | 26 | 36 | 62 | 14 | 91 |
| Carey Wilson$^†$ | 41 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 1 | 45 |
| James Patrick | 68 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 3 | 41 |
| Guy Lafleur | 67 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 1 | 12 |
| Ulf Dahlen | 56 | 24 | 19 | 43 | -6 | 50 |
| John Ogrodnick | 60 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 0 | 14 |
| Lucien DeBlois | 73 | 9 | 24 | 33 | -6 | 107 |
| Michel Petit | 69 | 8 | 25 | 33 | -15 | 154 |
| Jason Lafreniere | 38 | 8 | 16 | 24 | -3 | 6 |
| Marcel Dionne | 37 | 7 | 16 | 23 | -6 | 20 |
| Brian Lawton$^‡$ | 30 | 7 | 10 | 17 | -2 | 39 |
| David Shaw | 63 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 88 |
| Jan Erixon | 44 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -3 | 27 |
| Chris Nilan | 38 | 7 | 7 | 14 | -8 | 177 |
| Mark Hardy$^†$ | 45 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -8 | 45 |
| Don Maloney$^‡$ | 31 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 16 |
| Ron Greschner | 58 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 94 |
| Darren Turcotte | 20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| Norm Maciver$^‡$ | 26 | 0 | 10 | 10 | -3 | 14 |
| Kevin Miller | 24 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -1 | 2 |
| Igor Liba$^‡$ | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 15 |
| Normand Rochefort | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| Lindy Ruff$^†$ | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 31 |
| Rudy Poeschek | 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -8 | 199 |
| Doug Wickenheiser$^‡$ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Simon Wheeldon | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| Miloslav Horava | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| Dean Kennedy$^‡$ | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 40 |
| Joe Paterson | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 84 |
| Stephane Brochu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Cyr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| James Latos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| Jayson More | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| Ken Hammond$^{†‡}$ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 |
| Mark Janssens | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 |
| Jeff Bloemberg | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Peter Laviolette | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Brian Leetch | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Tomas Sandstrom | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Carey Wilson | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| David Shaw | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 30 |
| Michel Petit | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| John Ogrodnick | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tony Granato | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 |
| Ron Greschner | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Mark Hardy | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| Chris Nilan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 |
| Jan Erixon | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Guy Lafleur | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| James Patrick | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Brian Mullen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Lindy Ruff | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Darren Turcotte | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Lafreniere | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Lucien DeBlois | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ulf Dahlen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Kisio | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |

### Goaltenders

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
| John Vanbiesbrouck | 56 | 3207 | 28 | 21 | 4 | 197 | 3.69 | 1662 | .881 | 0 |
| Bob Froese | 30 | 1621 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 102 | 3.78 | 787 | .870 | 1 |
Playoffs :
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
| John Vanbiesbrouck | 2 | 107 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3.36 | 55 | .891 | 0 |
| Bob Froese | 2 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6.67 | 51 | .843 | 0 |
| Mike Richter | 1 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.14 | 30 | .867 | 0 |
$^†$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.
    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;

## Awards and records

* Brian Leetch, Calder Memorial Trophy
* Brian Leetch, Most Goals by a Rookie Defenseman in One Season (23)
* Most goals by rookie, season – Tony Granato (1988–89) – 36

## Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Canada at the Montreal Forum.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 22 | Troy Mallette | LW | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 2 | 26 | Murray Duval | D | Canada | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 4 | 68 | Tony Amonte | RW | United States | Thayer Academy (Massachusetts) |
| 5 | 99 | Martin Bergeron | C | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 110 | Dennis Vial | D | Canada | Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL) |
| 7 | 131 | Mike Rosati | G | Canada | Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL) |
| 8 | 152 | Eric Couvrette | LW | Canada | Saint-Jean Castors (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 194 | Paul Cain | C | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |
| 10 | 202 | Eric Fenton | RW | United States | N. Yarmouth Academy (Maine) |
| 11 | 215 | Peter Fiorentino | D | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 12 | 236 | Keith Slifstein | RW | United States | Choate Academy (Connecticut) |

### Supplemental Draft

New York's picks at the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft.
| Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| Mike Hurlbut | D | United States | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| Ron Lecinskas | LW | United States | Salem State College (NCAA) |