# 1988–89 Boston Bruins season

The 1988–89 Boston Bruins season saw the team finish in second place in the Adams Division with a record of 37 wins, 29 losses, and 14 ties for 88 points. They defeated the Buffalo Sabres in five games in the Division Semi-finals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in the Division Finals, also in five games.

## Regular season

On November 24, 1988, Bob Sweeney scored just 8 seconds into the overtime period to give the Bruins a 2–1 home win over the Philadelphia Flyers. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1988–89 NHL regular season.
The Bruins allowed the fewest short-handed goals in the league, with just 4.

### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 53 | 18 | 9 | 315 | 218 | 115 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 29 | 14 | 289 | 256 | 88 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 38 | 35 | 7 | 291 | 299 | 83 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 37 | 38 | 5 | 299 | 290 | 79 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 269 | 342 | 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 | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| Boston | — | 0–5–3 | 5–3 | 0–7–1 | 4–1–3 | 9–16–7 |
| Buffalo | 5–0–3 | — | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–4–1 | 14–13–5 |
| Hartford | 3–5 | 5–3 | — | 1–7 | 4–3–1 | 13–18–1 |
| Montreal | 7–0–1 | 5–3 | 7–1 | — | 4–4 | 23–8–1 |
| Quebec | 1–4–3 | 4–3–1 | 3–4–1 | 4–4 | — | 12–15–5 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| Boston | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 9–4–5 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 11–7–0 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 9–8–1 |
| Montreal | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 11–4–3 |
| Quebec | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 7–10–1 |

#### Vs. Campbell Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| Boston | 3–0 | 0–2–1 | 0–2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 9–4–2 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 8–5–2 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 9–4–2 |
| Montreal | 1–0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0–2 | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 7–3–5 |
| Quebec | 0–2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 4–10–1 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| Boston | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 10–5–0 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 5–9–1 |
| Hartford | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 6–8–1 |
| Montreal | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 12–3–0 |
| Quebec | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–11–0 |

## Schedule and results

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 6, 1988 | 2–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 8, 1988 | 6–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 9, 1988 | 3–1 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | L | October 12, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | L | October 15, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | W | October 16, 1988 | 10–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | W | October 19, 1988 | 5–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 5–2–0 |
| 8 | W | October 22, 1988 | 5–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 6–2–0 |
| 9 | T | October 25, 1988 | 1–1 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | W | October 27, 1988 | 6–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | T | October 29, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 7–2–2 |
| 12 | T | October 30, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 7–2–3 |
| 13 | W | November 2, 1988 | 7–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 8–2–3 |
| 14 | L | November 3, 1988 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 8–3–3 |
| 15 | W | November 6, 1988 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 9–3–3 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 9–3–4 |
| 17 | L | November 12, 1988 | 1–2 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 9–4–4 |
| 18 | T | November 15, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 9–4–5 |
| 19 | L | November 17, 1988 | 2–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 9–5–5 |
| 20 | L | November 18, 1988 | 2–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 9–6–5 |
| 21 | L | November 20, 1988 | 4–5 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 9–7–5 |
| 22 | L | November 23, 1988 | 0–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 9–8–5 |
| 23 | W | November 24, 1988 | 2–1 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 10–8–5 |
| 24 | W | November 26, 1988 | 8–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 11–8–5 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 11–9–5 |
| 26 | L | December 1, 1988 | 1–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 11–10–5 |
| 27 | T | December 3, 1988 | 1–1 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 11–10–6 |
| 28 | T | December 4, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 11–10–7 |
| 29 | W | December 6, 1988 | 4–3 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 12–10–7 |
| 30 | L | December 8, 1988 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 12–11–7 |
| 31 | T | December 10, 1988 | 1–1 OT | New York Rangers (1988–89) | 12–11–8 |
| 32 | L | December 12, 1988 | 1–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 12–12–8 |
| 33 | W | December 15, 1988 | 4–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 13–12–8 |
| 34 | T | December 17, 1988 | 2–2 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 13–12–9 |
| 35 | L | December 18, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 13–13–9 |
| 36 | W | December 21, 1988 | 4–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 14–13–9 |
| 37 | L | December 22, 1988 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 14–14–9 |
| 38 | L | December 26, 1988 | 1–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 14–15–9 |
| 39 | W | December 29, 1988 | 6–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 15–15–9 |
| 40 | W | January 2, 1989 | 8–7 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 16–15–9 |
| 41 | L | January 5, 1989 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (1988–89) | 16–16–9 |
| 42 | L | January 7, 1989 | 1–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 16–17–9 |
| 43 | W | January 8, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 17–17–9 |
| 44 | L | January 12, 1989 | 3–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 17–18–9 |
| 45 | T | January 14, 1989 | 5–5 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 17–18–10 |
| 46 | W | January 15, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 18–18–10 |
| 47 | L | January 19, 1989 | 2–7 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 18–19–10 |
| 48 | L | January 21, 1989 | 5–6 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 18–20–10 |
| 49 | L | January 22, 1989 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 18–21–10 |
| 50 | W | January 25, 1989 | 2–1 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 19–21–10 |
| 51 | W | January 26, 1989 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 20–21–10 |
| 52 | L | January 28, 1989 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 20–22–10 |
| 53 | T | February 1, 1989 | 4–4 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 20–22–11 |
| 54 | W | February 3, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 21–22–11 |
| 55 | L | February 5, 1989 | 2–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 21–23–11 |
| 56 | W | February 9, 1989 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 22–23–11 |
| 57 | W | February 11, 1989 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 23–23–11 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1989 | 2–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 23–24–11 |
| 59 | W | February 15, 1989 | 7–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 24–24–11 |
| 60 | W | February 18, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 25–24–11 |
| 61 | W | February 19, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 26–24–11 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1989 | 9–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 27–24–11 |
| 63 | T | February 28, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 27–24–12 |
| 64 | W | March 2, 1989 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 28–24–12 |
| 65 | W | March 4, 1989 | 6–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 29–24–12 |
| 66 | W | March 5, 1989 | 5–0 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 30–24–12 |
| 67 | W | March 7, 1989 | 2–1 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 31–24–12 |
| 68 | L | March 9, 1989 | 2–7 | Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 31–25–12 |
| 69 | T | March 11, 1989 | 6–6 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 31–25–13 |
| 70 | L | March 12, 1989 | 2–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) | 31–26–13 |
| 71 | W | March 14, 1989 | 8–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 32–26–13 |
| 72 | T | March 16, 1989 | 2–2 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 32–26–14 |
| 73 | W | March 18, 1989 | 6–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 33–26–14 |
| 74 | L | March 19, 1989 | 2–3 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 33–27–14 |
| 75 | L | March 22, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 33–28–14 |
| 76 | W | March 23, 1989 | 5–3 | New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 34–28–14 |
| 77 | W | March 25, 1989 | 6–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 35–28–14 |
| 78 | L | March 27, 1989 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 35–29–14 |
| 79 | W | April 1, 1989 | 5–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 36–29–14 |
| 80 | W | April 2, 1989 | 3–2 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 37–29–14 |

## Playoffs
### Adams Division Semifinals
#### Boston Bruins 4, Buffalo Sabres 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 6–0 | Boston Bruins | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 3–5 | Boston Bruins | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 8 | Boston Bruins | 4–2 | Buffalo Sabres | 2–1 |
| 4 | April 9 | Boston Bruins | 3–2 | Buffalo Sabres | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 11 | Buffalo Sabres | 1–4 | Boston Bruins | 4–1 |

### Adams Division Finals
#### Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 17 | Boston Bruins | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 19 | Boston Bruins | 2–3 (OT) | Montreal Canadiens | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 21 | Montreal Canadiens | 5–4 | Boston Bruins | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 23 | Montreal Canadiens | 2–3 | Boston Bruins | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 25 | Boston Bruins | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens | 1–4 |

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Cam Neely | 74 | 37 | 38 | 75 | 190 |
| Ken Linseman | 78 | 27 | 45 | 72 | 164 |
| Craig Janney | 62 | 16 | 46 | 62 | 12 |
| Randy Burridge | 80 | 31 | 30 | 61 | 39 |
| Bob Joyce | 77 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 46 |
| Andy Brickley | 71 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 20 |
| Keith Crowder | 69 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 147 |
| Bob Sweeney | 75 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 99 |
| Steve Kasper | 49 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 49 |
| John Carter | 44 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 24 |
| Greg Johnston | 57 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 32 |
| Bobby Carpenter | 18 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 |
| Tommy Lehmann | 26 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Jay Miller | 37 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 168 |
| Ray Neufeld | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 28 |
| Lyndon Byers | 49 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 218 |
| Bill O'Dwyer | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Paul Guay | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Rob Cimetta | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ray Podloski | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Ron Flockhart | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Moe Lemay | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Carl Mokosak | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Paul Beraldo | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |

### Defensemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Ray Bourque | 60 | 18 | 43 | 61 | 52 |
| Glen Wesley | 77 | 19 | 35 | 54 | 61 |
| Greg Hawgood | 56 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 84 |
| Garry Galley | 78 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 80 |
| Michael Thelven | 40 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 71 |
| Don Sweeney | 36 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 20 |
| Allen Pedersen | 51 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 69 |
| Alain Cote | 31 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 51 |
| Bruce Shoebottom | 29 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 44 |
| Stephane Quintal | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 |
| Gord Kluzak | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Dale Dunbar | 1 | 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 |
| Rejean Lemelin | 40 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 3.01 |
| Andy Moog | 41 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 3.22 |

## Awards and records

* Ray Bourque, Defence, NHL Second All-Star Team

## Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 19 | Robert Cimetta | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) |
| 3 | 60 | Steve Heinze | United States | Lawrence Academy (USHS-MA) |
| 4 | 81 | Joe Juneau | Canada | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC) |
| 5 | 102 | Daniel Murphy | United States | The Gunnery (USHS-CT) |
| 6 | 123 | Derek Geary | United States | Gloucester High School (USHS-MA) |
| 8 | 165 | Mark Krys | Canada | Boston University (Hockey East) |
| 9 | 186 | Jon Rohloff | United States | Grand Rapids High School (USHS-MA) |
| 11 | 228 | Eric Reisman | United States | Ohio State University (CCHA) |
| 12 | 249 | Doug Jones | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| S | 23 | Chris Harvey | United States | Brown University (ECAC) |