# 1987–88 New York Islanders season

The 1987–88 New York Islanders season was the 16th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team improved on its performance from the previous season. They finished with 88 points, which turned out to be good enough for first place in a tightly contested Patrick Division – the Islanders, despite winning the division, finished only seven points ahead of the last place Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders were subsequently eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the New Jersey Devils.
As of 2022, this remains the Islanders' most recent division title, the second longest active drought in the NHL.

## Off-season

Denis Potvin resigns the team captaincy, before playing his last season. Forward Brent Sutter is named team captain.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 39 | 31 | 10 | 308 | 267 | 88 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 292 | 292 | 85 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 281 | 249 | 85 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 38 | 36 | 6 | 295 | 296 | 82 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 300 | 283 | 82 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 36 | 35 | 9 | 319 | 316 | 81 |
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
1987–88 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—3–43–45–0–26–12–519–14–2
N.Y. Islanders
4–3—2–2–33–3–12–4–14–2–115–14–6
N.Y. Rangers
4–32–2–3—3–3–12–3–22–513–16–6
Philadelphia
0–5–23–3–13–3–1—5–22–4–113–17–5
Pittsburgh
1–64–2–13–2–22–5—5–1–115–16–4
Washington
5–22–4–15–24–2–11–5–1—17–15–3
Vs. Adams Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
1–20–2–11–1–12–10–34–9–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–12–12–10–32–18–7–0
N.Y. Rangers
2–10–32–11–1–12–17–7–1
Philadelphia
2–13–02–10–1–22–0–19–3–3
Pittsburgh
0–2–12–0–12–12–13–09–4–2
Washington
2–10–2–12–11–1–12–17–6–2
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
3–00–33–03–02–111–4–0
N.Y. Islanders
0–1–21–21–1–12–0–10–34–7–4
N.Y. Rangers
2–0–11–1–12–13–02–110–3–2
Philadelphia
0–32–0–12–12–11–27–7–1
Pittsburgh
2–11–22–10–32–17–8–0
Washington
2–10–2–12–0–10–2–11–1–15–6–4
Vs. Smythe Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
1–22–11–1–10–30–2–14–9–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–12–13–03–02–112–3–0
N.Y. Rangers
1–21–20–32–12–0–16–8–1
Philadelphia
0–31–23–02–13–09–6–0
Pittsburgh
2–0–10–31–0–21–21–25–7–3
Washington
1–22–12–13–01–29–6–0 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 8, 1987 | 4–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 10, 1987 | 7–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1987 | 6–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1987 | 3–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | W | October 20, 1987 | 5–4 | Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 4–1–0 |
| 6 | L | October 23, 1987 | 3–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 4–2–0 |
| 7 | W | October 24, 1987 | 2–1 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 5–2–0 |
| 8 | T | October 27, 1987 | 4–4 OT | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | L | October 28, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | W | October 31, 1987 | 8–2 | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | W | November 1, 1987 | 6–5 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1987 | 6–3 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 8–3–1 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1987 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1987 | 4–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 9–4–1 |
| 15 | W | November 10, 1987 | 4–3 OT | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 10–4–1 |
| 16 | W | November 12, 1987 | 4–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 11–4–1 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1987 | 7–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 12–4–1 |
| 18 | W | November 17, 1987 | 4–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 13–4–1 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 13–5–1 |
| 20 | W | November 21, 1987 | 6–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 14–5–1 |
| 21 | L | November 24, 1987 | 3–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 14–6–1 |
| 22 | W | November 28, 1987 | 5–4 | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 15–6–1 |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1987 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 15–7–1 |
| 24 | W | December 2, 1987 | 7–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 16–7–1 |
| 25 | W | December 4, 1987 | 6–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 17–7–1 |
| 26 | L | December 8, 1987 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 17–8–1 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1987 | 4–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 17–9–1 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1987 | 5–3 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 18–9–1 |
| 29 | T | December 15, 1987 | 2–2 OT | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 18–9–2 |
| 30 | L | December 17, 1987 | 3–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 18–10–2 |
| 31 | L | December 19, 1987 | 4–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 18–11–2 |
| 32 | L | December 22, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 18–12–2 |
| 33 | L | December 23, 1987 | 5–7 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 18–13–2 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1987 | 2–1 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 19–13–2 |
| 35 | L | December 28, 1987 | 4–6 | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 19–14–2 |
| 36 | T | December 29, 1987 | 3–3 OT | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 19–14–3 |
| 37 | W | January 2, 1988 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 20–14–3 |
| 38 | T | January 5, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 20–14–4 |
| 39 | L | January 8, 1988 | 4–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 20–15–4 |
| 40 | L | January 9, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 20–16–4 |
| 41 | T | January 12, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 20–16–5 |
| 42 | W | January 14, 1988 | 8–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 21–16–5 |
| 43 | W | January 16, 1988 | 4–2 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 22–16–5 |
| 44 | L | January 17, 1988 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 22–17–5 |
| 45 | L | January 19, 1988 | 4–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 22–18–5 |
| 46 | L | January 21, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 22–19–5 |
| 47 | W | January 23, 1988 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 23–19–5 |
| 48 | L | January 27, 1988 | 1–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 23–20–5 |
| 49 | W | January 29, 1988 | 5–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 24–20–5 |
| 50 | L | January 30, 1988 | 2–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 24–21–5 |
| 51 | T | February 2, 1988 | 2–2 OT | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 24–21–6 |
| 52 | W | February 5, 1988 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 25–21–6 |
| 53 | W | February 6, 1988 | 6–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 26–21–6 |
| 54 | L | February 11, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 26–22–6 |
| 55 | L | February 12, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 26–23–6 |
| 56 | T | February 14, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 26–23–7 |
| 57 | W | February 16, 1988 | 9–3 | Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 27–23–7 |
| 58 | T | February 18, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 27–23–8 |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1988 | 3–0 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 28–23–8 |
| 60 | W | February 21, 1988 | 7–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 29–23–8 |
| 61 | W | February 23, 1988 | 6–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 30–23–8 |
| 62 | T | February 25, 1988 | 1–1 OT | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 30–23–9 |
| 63 | L | February 27, 1988 | 0–3 | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 30–24–9 |
| 64 | W | March 1, 1988 | 2–0 | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 31–24–9 |
| 65 | L | March 2, 1988 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 31–25–9 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1988 | 3–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 31–26–9 |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1988 | 2–0 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 32–26–9 |
| 68 | W | March 8, 1988 | 7–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 33–26–9 |
| 69 | L | March 10, 1988 | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 33–27–9 |
| 70 | L | March 12, 1988 | 3–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 33–28–9 |
| 71 | L | March 13, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 33–29–9 |
| 72 | T | March 18, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 33–29–10 |
| 73 | W | March 20, 1988 | 6–0 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 34–29–10 |
| 74 | W | March 21, 1988 | 5–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 35–29–10 |
| 75 | W | March 23, 1988 | 6–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 36–29–10 |
| 76 | W | March 26, 1988 | 5–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 37–29–10 |
| 77 | W | March 29, 1988 | 5–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 38–29–10 |
| 78 | W | March 31, 1988 | 7–3 | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 39–29–10 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1988 | 2–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 39–30–10 |
| 80 | L | April 3, 1988 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 39–31–10 |

## Playoffs
### Patrick Division Semi-finals vs. New Jersey Devils

| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | OT |
| April 6 | New Jersey | 3 | New York | 4 | (OT) |
| April 7 | New Jersey | 3 | New York | 2 |
| April 9 | New York | 0 | New Jersey | 3 |
| April 10 | New York | 5 | New Jersey | 4 | (OT) |
| April 12 | New Jersey | 4 | New York | 2 |
| April 14 | New York | 5 | New Jersey | 6 |
New Jersey wins series 4-2

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Pat LaFontaine | C | 75 | 47 | 45 | 92 | 52 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 77 | 30 | 52 | 82 | 48 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| Mikko Makela | RW | 73 | 36 | 40 | 76 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
| Brent Sutter | C | 70 | 29 | 31 | 60 | 55 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
| Alan Kerr | RW | 80 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 198 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Denis Potvin | D | 72 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 112 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Tomas Jonsson | D | 72 | 6 | 41 | 47 | 115 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Gilbert | LW | 76 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 46 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Randy Wood | LW/C | 75 | 22 | 16 | 38 | 80 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Derek King | LW | 55 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Brad Lauer | LW | 69 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 67 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Patrick Flatley | RW | 40 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Bassen | C | 77 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 99 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Dale Henry | LW | 48 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 115 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerald Diduck | D | 68 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 113 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Ken Leiter | D | 51 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 24 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Konroyd | D | 62 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 99 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gord Dineen | D | 57 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 62 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Kromm | LW | 71 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brad Dalgarno | RW | 38 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jeff Norton | D | 15 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ken Morrow | D | 53 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Finley | D | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd McLellan | C | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Hrudey | G | 47 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Dallman | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mick Vukota | RW | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Curran | D | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 68 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neal Coulter | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ari Haanpaa | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Okerlund | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Pryor | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Smith | G | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Walsh | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Kelly Hrudey | 2751 | 47 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 153 | 3.34 | 3 | 1467 | 1314 | .896 |
| Billy Smith | 2107 | 38 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 113 | 3.22 | 2 | 1062 | 949 | .894 |
| Team: | 4858 | 80 | 39 | 31 | 10 | 266 | 3.29 | 5 | 2529 | 2263 | .895 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Pat LaFontaine | C | 6 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Mikko Makela | RW | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Denis Potvin | D | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Lauer | LW | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomas Jonsson | D | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Sutter | C | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Derek King | LW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Norton | D | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerald Diduck | D | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 42 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Henry | LW | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Alan Kerr | RW | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Konroyd | D | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Randy Wood | LW/C | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bassen | C | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Leiter | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Dalgarno | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Finley | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Gilbert | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Hrudey | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Kromm | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Morrow | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Trottier | C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mick Vukota | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Kelly Hrudey | 381 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 3.62 | 0 | 154 | 131 | .851 |
| Team: | 381 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 3.62 | 0 | 154 | 131 | .851 |
Note: Pos = Position; 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 York's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 13 | Dean Chynoweth | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 2 | 34 | Jeff Hackett | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Dean Ewen | Canada | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 4 | 76 | George Maneluk | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 5 | 97 | Petr Vlk | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) |
| 6 | 118 | Rob DiMaio | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 7 | 139 | Knut Walbye | Norway | Furuset Ishockey (Norway) |
| 8 | 160 | Jeff Saterdalen | United States | Bloomington Jefferson High School (USHS-MN) |
| 9 | 181 | Shawn Howard | Canada | Penticton Knights (BCJHL) |
| 10 | 202 | John Herlihy | United States | Babson College (ECAC East) |
| 11 | 223 | Mike Erickson | United States | St. John's Hill School (USHS-MA) |
| 12 | 244 | Will Averill | United States | Belmont High School (USHS-MA) |
| S2 | 14 | Howie Vandermast | United States | State University of New York at Potsdam (SUNYAC) |