1987 – 88 New Jersey Devils season The 1987 – 88 New Jersey Devils season was the team ' s sixth season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey . The Devils finished fourth in the Patrick Division with a record of 38 wins , 36 losses , and 6 ties for 82 points , garnering the first winning record in the franchise ' s 14 - year history . On the final day of the regular season , the Devils were tied with their nemesis , the New York Rangers , for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division . After New York defeated the Quebec Nordiques 3 – 0 , all eyes were on the Devils , who were playing the Blackhawks in Chicago . The Devils trailed 3 – 2 midway through the third period , but John MacLean scored to tie the game , and with two minutes left in overtime , he added the winning goal . Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points , the Devils had one more win , sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history , but the first time in New Jersey . The Devils rode the momentum of this victory into a surprisingly deep playoff run , ousting the New York Islanders in six games in the Division Semi - finals and the Washington Capitals in seven games in the Division Finals . They then met the Boston Bruins in the Wales Conference Finals and stretched the series to seven games , but finally fell short in the seventh game ( see below ) . Offseason . Hoping to light a spark under the team , team owner John McMullen hired Providence College coach and athletic director Lou Lamoriello as team president in April 1987 . Lamoriello appointed himself general manager shortly before the 1987 – 88 season . This move came as a considerable surprise to NHL circles ; although Lamoriello had been a college coach for 19 years , he had never played , coached , or managed in the NHL and was almost unknown outside the American college hockey community . Regular season . Sean Burke . Sean Burke was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft . He earned national attention from his international play . He backstopped Canada ' s junior team to a silver medal in the 1986 World Junior Championships and a fourth - place finish for the national men ' s team at the 1988 Calgary Olympics . Burke went from the Olympics to the Devils . He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987 – 88 NHL season , including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series . Dubbed a " rookie sensation " , Burke helped the Devils go on a playoff roll , defeating the division - leader New York Islanders in the first round in six games and then the Washington Capitals in seven games . Burke was one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 of the Wales Conference finals to the Boston Bruins . Playoffs . The team made it all the way to the conference finals , but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games . In that series , head coach Jim Schoenfeld verbally abused referee Don Koharski , screaming obscenties and hollering , " Have another doughnut , you fat pig ! " The incident resulted in a suspension for Schoenfeld , which the franchise appealed to the New Jersey Superior Court . This unprecedented appeal to authority outside the NHL gave the Devils a preliminary stay of the coach ' s suspension . In protest , referee Dave Newell and the assigned linesmen boycotted the next game . After more than an hour ' s delay , amateur officials were tracked down in the stands and worked the game wearing yellow practice sweaters . To resolve the incident , the NHL suspended Schoenfeld for the next game . Schoenfeld later admitted he regretted his comments . Player stats . Forwards . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; PIM = Penalties in minutes " Defensemen . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; PIM = Penalties in minutes " Goaltending . " Note : GP = Games played ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; T = Ties ; SO = Shutouts ; GAA = Goals against average "