# 1986–87 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1986–87 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 20th season in the National Hockey League. The Kings made the playoffs, losing in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 372 | 284 | 106 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 46 | 31 | 3 | 318 | 289 | 95 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 279 | 271 | 88 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 31 | 41 | 8 | 318 | 341 | 70 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 29 | 43 | 8 | 282 | 314 | 66 |
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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—6–1–15–34–42–617–14–1
Edmonton
1–6–1—4–2–27–0–15–317–11–4
Los Angeles
3–52–4–2—2–5–13–510–19–3
Vancouver
4–40–7–15–2–1—3–512–18–2
Winnipeg
6–23–55–35–3—19–13–0
Vs. Norris Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
3–01–21–1–11–22–18–6–1
Edmonton
1–23–02–0–13–02–111–3–1
Los Angeles
1–1–13–00–2–11–1–11–1–16–5–4
Vancouver
1–1–11–20–32–0–12–16–7–2
Winnipeg
0–31–1–12–11–0–21–25–7–3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1–23–02–11–22–19–6–0
Edmonton
1–22–12–13–03–011–4–0
Los Angeles
1–21–22–10–30–34–11–0
Vancouver
1–23–00–2–12–11–27–7–1
Winnipeg
1–22–11–1–11–21–0–26–6–3
Vs. Patrick Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2–12–0–12–12–12–12–112–5–1
Edmonton
2–12–0–13–01–22–11–211–6–1
Los Angeles
2–12–10–2–12–12–13–011–6–1
Vancouver
0–2–12–11–21–20–1–20–34–11–3
Winnipeg
3–01–1–12–11–22–11–1–110–6–2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 3 | L | October 14, 1986 | 3–4 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 15, 1986 | 4–3 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1986 | 1–4 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 19, 1986 | 7–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1986 | 4–5 OT | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | L | October 23, 1986 | 3–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 3–5–0 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1986 | 3–4 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | L | October 27, 1986 | 5–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 3–7–0 |
| 11 | L | October 28, 1986 | 2–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 3–8–0 |
| 12 | T | November 2, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 3–8–1 |
| 13 | L | November 3, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 3–9–1 |
| 14 | L | November 6, 1986 | 4–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 3–10–1 |
| 15 | W | November 8, 1986 | 4–3 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 4–10–1 |
| 16 | W | November 11, 1986 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 5–10–1 |
| 17 | L | November 13, 1986 | 5–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 5–11–1 |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1986 | 4–1 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 6–11–1 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1986 | 6–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 7–11–1 |
| 20 | T | November 19, 1986 | 4–4 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 7–11–2 |
| 21 | W | November 21, 1986 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 8–11–2 |
| 22 | L | November 23, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 8–12–2 |
| 23 | L | November 25, 1986 | 5–11 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 8–13–2 |
| 24 | L | November 26, 1986 | 3–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 8–14–2 |
| 25 | W | November 29, 1986 | 9–6 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 9–14–2 |
| 26 | W | December 2, 1986 | 5–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 10–14–2 |
| 27 | W | December 4, 1986 | 4–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 11–14–2 |
| 28 | W | December 6, 1986 | 7–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 12–14–2 |
| 29 | W | December 9, 1986 | 7–2 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 13–14–2 |
| 30 | L | December 10, 1986 | 4–5 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 13–15–2 |
| 31 | L | December 13, 1986 | 3–6 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 13–16–2 |
| 32 | L | December 14, 1986 | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 13–17–2 |
| 33 | W | December 17, 1986 | 3–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 14–17–2 |
| 34 | T | December 20, 1986 | 8–8 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 14–17–3 |
| 35 | W | December 22, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 15–17–3 |
| 36 | L | December 23, 1986 | 4–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 15–18–3 |
| 37 | W | December 27, 1986 | 2–1 OT | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 16–18–3 |
| 38 | W | December 30, 1986 | 4–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 17–18–3 |
| 39 | T | January 2, 1987 | 3–3 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 17–18–4 |
| 40 | L | January 3, 1987 | 1–8 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 17–19–4 |
| 41 | W | January 7, 1987 | 6–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 18–19–4 |
| 42 | L | January 8, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 18–20–4 |
| 43 | L | January 10, 1987 | 5–8 | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 18–21–4 |
| 44 | W | January 14, 1987 | 4–0 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 19–21–4 |
| 45 | W | January 16, 1987 | 5–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 20–21–4 |
| 46 | T | January 17, 1987 | 4–4 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 20–21–5 |
| 47 | T | January 19, 1987 | 2–2 OT | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 20–21–6 |
| 48 | W | January 21, 1987 | 10–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 21–21–6 |
| 49 | L | January 23, 1987 | 3–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 21–22–6 |
| 50 | W | January 28, 1987 | 6–2 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 22–22–6 |
| 51 | L | January 31, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 22–23–6 |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 22–24–6 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 22–25–6 |
| 54 | L | February 6, 1987 | 1–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 22–26–6 |
| 55 | L | February 8, 1987 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 22–27–6 |
| 56 | W | February 14, 1987 | 5–2 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 23–27–6 |
| 57 | T | February 16, 1987 | 1–1 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 23–27–7 |
| 58 | W | February 18, 1987 | 7–4 | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 24–27–7 |
| 59 | L | February 21, 1987 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 24–28–7 |
| 60 | W | February 24, 1987 | 8–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 25–28–7 |
| 61 | L | February 26, 1987 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 25–29–7 |
| 62 | L | February 28, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 25–30–7 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1987 | 1–6 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 25–31–7 |
| 64 | T | March 3, 1987 | 4–4 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 25–31–8 |
| 65 | L | March 5, 1987 | 2–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 25–32–8 |
| 66 | L | March 6, 1987 | 3–9 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 25–33–8 |
| 67 | W | March 8, 1987 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 26–33–8 |
| 68 | L | March 11, 1987 | 2–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 26–34–8 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1987 | 3–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 26–35–8 |
| 70 | W | March 17, 1987 | 5–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 27–35–8 |
| 71 | W | March 19, 1987 | 5–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 28–35–8 |
| 72 | L | March 21, 1987 | 6–8 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 28–36–8 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 28–37–8 |
| 74 | W | March 25, 1987 | 6–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 29–37–8 |
| 75 | W | March 26, 1987 | 5–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 30–37–8 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1987 | 3–4 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 30–38–8 |
| 77 | W | March 30, 1987 | 5–4 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 31–38–8 |
| 78 | L | April 1, 1987 | 3–8 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 31–39–8 |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1987 | 3–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 31–40–8 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 31–41–8 |

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Luc Robitaille | LW | 79 | 45 | 39 | 84 | 28 | -18 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| Bernie Nicholls | C | 80 | 33 | 48 | 81 | 101 | -16 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| Jimmy Carson | C | 80 | 37 | 42 | 79 | 22 | -5 | 18 | 0 | 2 |
| Marcel Dionne | C | 67 | 24 | 50 | 74 | 54 | -8 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Taylor | RW | 67 | 18 | 44 | 62 | 84 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| Jim Fox | RW | 76 | 19 | 42 | 61 | 48 | -10 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Bryan Erickson | RW | 68 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 26 | -12 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Steve Duchesne | D | 75 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 74 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Grant Ledyard | D | 67 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 93 | -40 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Jay Wells | D | 77 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 155 | -19 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 60 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 64 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Tiger Williams | LW | 76 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 358 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Sean McKenna | RW | 69 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mark Hardy | D | 73 | 3 | 27 | 30 | 120 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 78 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 35 | -13 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Phil Sykes | LW | 58 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 133 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dean Kennedy | D | 66 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 91 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Garry Galley | D | 30 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 57 | -9 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Playfair | D | 37 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 181 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Redmond | D | 16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Guay | RW | 35 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roland Melanson | G | 46 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Langevin | D | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Paterson | LW | 45 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 158 | -15 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tom Laidlaw | D | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lyle Phair | LW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Dineen | D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Hammond | D | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Eliot | G | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Duncanson | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Janecyk | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Wilks | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Roland Melanson | 2734 | 46 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 168 | 3.69 | 1 | 1420 | 1252 | .882 |
| Darren Eliot | 1404 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 103 | 4.40 | 1 | 692 | 589 | .851 |
| Bob Janecyk | 420 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 4.86 | 0 | 222 | 188 | .847 |
| Al Jensen | 300 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 5.40 | 0 | 154 | 127 | .825 |
| Team: | 4858 | 80 | 31 | 41 | 8 | 332 | 4.10 | 2 | 2488 | 2156 | .867 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bernie Nicholls | C | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Fox | RW | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tiger Williams | LW | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Taylor | RW | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Luc Robitaille | LW | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Duchesne | D | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | -8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Bourne | C | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Carpenter | C | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jimmy Carson | C | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Hardy | D | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Wells | D | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Erickson | RW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Kennedy | D | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean McKenna | RW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Sykes | LW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Eliot | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Guay | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Laidlaw | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Ledyard | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Morris Lukowich | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roland Melanson | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Paterson | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Roland Melanson | 260 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 5.54 | 0 | 154 | 130 | .844 |
| Darren Eliot | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10.50 | 0 | 29 | 22 | .759 |
| Team: | 300 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 6.20 | 0 | 183 | 152 | .831 |
    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;

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1986–87 season.

### Trades

| February 14, 1987 | To Los Angeles KingsAl Jensen | To Washington CapitalsGarry Galley |
| March 10, 1987 | To Los Angeles KingsBobby Carpenter Tom Laidlaw | To New York RangersMarcel Dionne Jeff Crossman 3rd round pick in 1989 – Murray Garbutt |

### Free agent signings

| July 1, 1986 | From Saint-Jean Castors (QMJHL)Eric Germain |
| July 30, 1986 | From Philadelphia FlyersPeter Dineen |
| February 4, 1987 | From Minnesota North StarsDave Langevin |

### Free agents lost

| July 1, 1986 | To EHC Kloten (NL)Bob Mongrain |

### Waivers

| October 6, 1986 | From New York IslandersBob Bourne |
| October 6, 1986 | From Buffalo SabresMal Davis |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. The Kings attempted to select Grant Paranica in the second round of the 1986 NHL Supplemental Draft, but the pick was ruled invalid since Paranica entered school after age 20 and therefore did not meet eligibility requirements.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Jimmy Carson | United States | Verdun Junior Canadiens (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 44 | Denis Larocque | Canada | Guelph Platers (OHL) |
| 4 | 65 | Sylvain Couturier | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 86 | Dave Guden | United States | Roxbury Latin School (ISL) |
| 6 | 107 | Robb Stauber | United States | Duluth Denfeld High School (USHS-MN) |
| 7 | 128 | Sean Krakiwsky | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 8 | 149 | Rene Chapdelaine | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 9 | 170 | Trevor Pochipinski | Canada | Penticton Knights (BCJHL) |
| 10 | 191 | Paul Kelly | Canada | Guelph Platers (OHL) |
| 11 | 212 | Russ Mann | United States | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 12 | 233 | Brian Hayton | Canada | Guelph Platers (OHL) |
| S1 | 1 | Bob Kudelski | United States | Yale University (ECAC) |