# 1987–88 New York Rangers season

The 1987–88 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 62nd season. The Rangers compiled a 36–34–10 record during the regular season, but despite having 82 points, they were eliminated from playoff contention after their last game when the New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks. This would be the only time in the 1980s in which the Rangers missed the playoffs.

## Offseason

Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.

## Regular season

The Rangers led the league in power-play goals scored, with 111. They also scored the fewest short-handed goals during the regular season out of all 21 teams, with just 6.

### 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

1987–88 Game Log :
October: 4–5–3 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–2–1)
GameOctoberOpponentScoreRecord
18Pittsburgh Penguins4 – 4 OT0–0–1
210@ Hartford Whalers6–21–0–1
312Minnesota North Stars4–22–0–1
415@ Pittsburgh Penguins6 – 6 OT2–0–2
517@ Washington Capitals4–32–1–2
619Washington Capitals4–22–2–2
721Calgary Flames5–42–3–2
823Chicago Blackhawks7–33–3–2
924@ Philadelphia Flyers5–34–3–2
1026Philadelphia Flyers2 – 2 OT4–3–3
1128Los Angeles Kings4–34–4–3
1231@ New York Islanders8–24–5–3 :
November: 4–8–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 1–6–0)
GameNovemberOpponentScoreRecord
131Edmonton Oilers7–64–6–3
143@ Calgary Flames5–34–7–3
154@ Edmonton Oilers7–24–8–3
167@ Los Angeles Kings5–44–9–3
1710New Jersey Devils3–24–10–3
1814@ Pittsburgh Penguins3 – 2 OT4–11–3
1915Winnipeg Jets6–45–11–3
2019@ Minnesota North Stars4–35–12–3
2120@ Winnipeg Jets4–36–12–3
2225Toronto Maple Leafs5–37–12–3
2328@ New York Islanders5–47–13–3
2429New York Islanders3–18–13–3 :
December: 6–6–2 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 2–4–1)
GameDecemberOpponentScoreRecord
253@ Boston Bruins4–38–14–3
265@ St. Louis Blues3–29–14–3
279Montreal Canadiens2 – 2 OT9–14–4
2810@ Philadelphia Flyers5–39–15–4
2912@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–39–16–4
3014Detroit Red Wings4–310–16–4
3116New Jersey Devils9–311–16–4
3219@ Pittsburgh Penguins4–311–17–4
3320Pittsburgh Penguins8–411–18–4
3422Philadelphia Flyers6–411–19–4
3526@ New Jersey Devils5–312–19–4
3627Boston Bruins4–113–19–4
3729@ New York Islanders3 – 3 OT13–19–5
3831Quebec Nordiques6–114–19–5 :
January: 6–6–1 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 4–4–0)
GameJanuaryOpponentScoreRecord
392@ Minnesota North Stars5–315–19–5
404St. Louis Blues6–216–19–5
416Vancouver Canucks4–217–19–5
428@ Washington Capitals8–417–20–5
4310@ Buffalo Sabres4–317–21–5
4411Chicago Blackhawks2 – 2 OT17–21–6
4513Detroit Red Wings7–417–22–6
4616@ Montreal Canadiens4–317–23–6
4717Philadelphia Flyers2–117–24–6
4819@ Los Angeles Kings6–317–25–6
4922@ Vancouver Canucks6–318–25–6
5028@ Philadelphia Flyers5–219–25–6
5130@ Boston Bruins4–220–25–6 :
February: 7–4–2 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 2–2–1)
GameFebruaryOpponentScoreRecord
522@ New York Islanders2 – 2 OT20–25–7
534@ Quebec Nordiques3–220–26–7
546@ Washington Capitals3–021–26–7
557Pittsburgh Penguins6–322–26–7
5611Washington Capitals5–322–27–7
5714New York Islanders4 – 4 OT22–27–8
5815Montreal Canadiens3–123–27–8
5917Calgary Flames5–324–27–8
6019@ New Jersey Devils6–324–28–8
6121Vancouver Canucks6–424–29–8
6225Pittsburgh Penguins2–125–29–8
6326@ New Jersey Devils2–126–29–8
6429St. Louis Blues5–227–29–8 :
March: 8–5–1 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 3–3–1)
GameMarchOpponentScoreRecord
652New York Islanders3–128–29–8
664@ Buffalo Sabres6–328–30–8
675@ Hartford Whalers3–128–31–8
688New Jersey Devils7–429–31–8
6912@ Washington Capitals4–230–31–8
7015Philadelphia Flyers3–131–31–8
7116Washington Capitals8–431–32–8
7219@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–332–32–8
7320Hartford Whalers2–133–32–8
7422Buffalo Sabres3–233–33–8
7524Edmonton Oilers6–134–33–8
7626@ Detroit Red Wings4 – 4 OT34–33–9
7727@ New Jersey Devils7–234–34–9
7830@ Chicago Blackhawks4–335–34–9 :
April: 1–0–1 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–0–1)
GameAprilOpponentScoreRecord
791@ Winnipeg Jets6 – 6 OT35–34–10
803Quebec Nordiques3–036–34–10 :

## Playoffs

The Rangers failed to qualify for the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs. After a 6–6 tie against the Winnipeg Jets in the second-to-last game of the season, the Rangers and New Jersey Devils entered their final game of the season with 80 points each. If the Rangers and Devils won, the Devils would go to the playoffs on a tiebreaker. The Rangers defeated the Quebec Nordiques 3–0. Later that night, however, the Devils defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime to win the tiebreaker and the final Patrick Division spot. Both the Rangers and Devils finished tied with 82 points. However, the Devils had 38 wins to the Rangers' 36, so the Devils qualified for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division.

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| Walt Poddubny | 77 | 38 | 50 | 88 | 2 | 76 |
| Kelly Kisio | 77 | 23 | 55 | 78 | 8 | 88 |
| Tomas Sandstrom | 69 | 28 | 40 | 68 | −6 | 95 |
| Marcel Dionne | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | −14 | 54 |
| James Patrick | 70 | 17 | 45 | 62 | 16 | 52 |
| Brian Mullen | 74 | 25 | 29 | 54 | −2 | 42 |
| John Ogrodnick | 64 | 22 | 32 | 54 | −3 | 16 |
| Ulf Dahlen | 70 | 29 | 23 | 52 | 5 | 26 |
| Don Maloney | 66 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 12 | 60 |
| Michel Petit$^†$ | 64 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 3 | 223 |
| David Shaw | 68 | 7 | 25 | 32 | −8 | 100 |
| Lucien DeBlois | 74 | 9 | 21 | 30 | −3 | 103 |
| Jan Erixon | 70 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 33 |
| Norm Maciver | 37 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 10 | 14 |
| Paul Cyr$^†$ | 40 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −5 | 41 |
| Jari Gronstrand | 62 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 63 |
| Brian Leetch | 17 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Pierre Larouche | 10 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 13 |
| Ron Duguay$^‡$ | 44 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −9 | 23 |
| Chris Nilan$^†$ | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 96 |
| Ron Greschner | 51 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −9 | 82 |
| Gordie Walker | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −8 | 17 |
| Mike Donnelly$^‡$ | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −5 | 8 |
| Mark Hardy$^†$ | 19 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −5 | 31 |
| Dave Pichette | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −2 | 4 |
| Willie Huber$^‡$ | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 14 |
| Joe Paterson$^†$ | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 63 |
| Bruce Bell | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −10 | 8 |
| Mark Tinordi | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −5 | 50 |
| Steve Nemeth | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −4 | 2 |
| Jeff Brubaker | 31 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 78 |
| Paul Boutilier$^‡$ | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 6 |
| Simon Wheeldon | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| Ron Talakoski | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Chris Jensen | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| Larry Melnyk | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −7 | 34 |
| Jim Pavese$^{†‡}$ | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −7 | 48 |
| Mark Janssens | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rudy Poeschek | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike Siltala | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curt Giles$^‡$ | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 10 |

### Goaltenders

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
| John Vanbiesbrouck | 56 | 3319 | 27 | 22 | 7 | 187 | 3.38 | 1697 | .890 | 2 |
| Bob Froese | 25 | 1443 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 85 | 3.53 | 695 | .878 | 0 |
| Ron Scott | 2 | 90 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4.00 | 41 | .854 | 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;

## Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 10 | Jayson More | D | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
| 2 | 31 | Daniel Lacroix | LW | Canada | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Simon Gagne | RW | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 69 | Mike Sullivan | C | United States | Boston University (NCAA) |
| 5 | 94 | Eric O'Borsky | C | United States | Yale University (NCAA) |
| 6 | 115 | Ludek Cajka | D | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Jihlava (Czech Extraliga) |
| 7 | 136 | Clint Thomas | D | United States | Bartlett H.S. (Alaska) |
| 8 | 157 | Chuck Wiegand | RW | United States | Essex Junction H.S. (Vermont) |
| 9 | 178 | Eric Burrill | RW | United States | Tartan H.S. (Massachusetts) |
| 10 | 199 | Dave Porter | F | United States | Northern Michigan University (NCAA) |
| 10 | 205 | Brett Barnett | LW | Canada | Wexford Raiders (OPJHL) |
| 11 | 220 | Lance Marciano | D | United States | Choate Academy (Connecticut) |

### Supplemental Draft

New York's picks at the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 12 | Joe Lockwood | RW | United States | University of Michigan (CCHA) |