1987–88 New Jersey Devils season

The 1987–88 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 6th season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. The Devils finished 4th in the Patrick Division and lost in the Conference Finals to the 1987–88 Boston Bruins season 4 games to 3.
==Off-season==
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==
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.New Jersey Devils on SportsEcyclopedia
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).
===Final Standings===
===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.
===Game Log===
# 	R	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W	October 9, 1987 	6–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	1–0–0
2 	L	October 10, 1987 	2–5 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (season) 	1–1–0
3 	W	October 14, 1987 	3–1 	Hartford Whalers (season) 	2–1–0
4 	W	October 16, 1987 	4–3 	Montreal Canadiens (season) 	3–1–0
5 	L	October 17, 1987 	3–4 OT	@ Hartford Whalers (season) 	3–2–0
6 	W	October 21, 1987 	5–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	4–2–0
7 	W	October 23, 1987 	5–3 	New York Islanders (season) 	5–2–0
8 	L	October 24, 1987 	1–2 	@ New York Islanders (season) 	5–3–0
9 	W	October 27, 1987 	4–0 	Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	6–3–0
10	W	October 31, 1987 	6–5 	Edmonton Oilers (season) 	7–3–0
11	L	November 3, 1987 	3–6 	@ New York Islanders (season) 	7–4–0
12	W	November 5, 1987 	5–3 	St. Louis Blues (season) 	8–4–0
13	W	November 7, 1987 	4–1 	Washington Capitals (season) 	9–4–0
14	T	November 8, 1987 	3–3 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	9–4–1
15	W	November 10, 1987	3–2 	@ New York Rangers (season) 	10–4–1
16	T	November 12, 1987	1–1 OT	Winnipeg Jets (season) 	10–4–2
17	L	November 14, 1987	4–6 	Detroit Red Wings (season) 	10–5–2
18	W	November 18, 1987	4–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	11–5–2
19	W	November 20, 1987	5–2 	Chicago Blackhawks (season) 	12–5–2
20	L	November 21, 1987	1–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (season) 	12–6–2
21	L	November 23, 1987	2–9 	@ Calgary Flames (season) 	12–7–2
22	W	November 25, 1987	8–7 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers (season) 	13–7–2
23	L	November 27, 1987	2–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (season) 	13–8–2
24	T	November 29, 1987	2–2 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (season) 	13–8–3
25	W	December 3, 1987 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues (season) 	14–8–3
26	L	December 5, 1987 	2–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (season) 	14–9–3
27	T	December 6, 1987 	1–1 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	14–9–4
28	W	December 9, 1987 	2–1 	Los Angeles Kings (season) 	15–9–4
29	L	December 11, 1987	1–5 	Calgary Flames (season) 	15–10–4
30	L	December 12, 1987	3–5 	@ New York Islanders (season) 	15–11–4
31	L	December 16, 1987	3–9 	@ New York Rangers (season) 	15–12–4
32	L	December 17, 1987	4–7 	Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	15–13–4
33	W	December 19, 1987	3–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (season)	16–13–4
34	L	December 20, 1987	1–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (season) 	16–14–4
35	W	December 23, 1987	6–2 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	17–14–4
36	L	December 26, 1987	3–5 	New York Rangers (season) 	17–15–4
37	W	December 28, 1987	6–4 	New York Islanders (season) 	18–15–4
38	L	December 30, 1987	3–4 	Washington Capitals (season) 	18–16–4
39	T	January 2, 1988 	1–1 OT	@ Hartford Whalers (season) 	18–16–5
40	L	January 4, 1988 	3–6 	Los Angeles Kings (season) 	18–17–5
41	L	January 7, 1988 	3–6 	Vancouver Canucks (season) 	18–18–5
42	W	January 9, 1988 	4–3 	@ Minnesota North Stars (season)	19–18–5
43	W	January 10, 1988 	7–5 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	20–18–5
44	L	January 13, 1988 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques (season) 	20–19–5
45	W	January 15, 1988 	7–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (season) 	21–19–5
46	L	January 16, 1988 	2–4 	@ New York Islanders (season) 	21–20–5
47	L	January 19, 1988 	4–6 	@ Washington Capitals (season) 	21–21–5
48	L	January 21, 1988 	2–3 OT	Detroit Red Wings (season) 	21–22–5
49	L	January 22, 1988 	3–7 	@ Buffalo Sabres (season) 	21–23–5
50	L	January 25, 1988 	2–5 	Buffalo Sabres (season) 	21–24–5
51	W	January 28, 1988 	6–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	22–24–5
52	W	January 29, 1988 	3–2 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (season) 	23–24–5
53	W	February 1, 1988 	5–4 	@ Calgary Flames (season) 	24–24–5
54	L	February 3, 1988 	5–8 	@ Edmonton Oilers (season) 	24–25–5
55	L	February 5, 1988 	1–5 	@ Vancouver Canucks (season) 	24–26–5
56	L	February 7, 1988 	3–6 	@ Boston Bruins (season) 	24–27–5
57	W	February 11, 1988	4–2 	Montreal Canadiens (season) 	25–27–5
58	L	February 12, 1988	3–4 	@ Detroit Red Wings (season) 	25–28–5
59	W	February 14, 1988	7–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (season) 	26–28–5
60	L	February 17, 1988	3–4 	Washington Capitals (season) 	26–29–5
61	W	February 19, 1988	6–3 	New York Rangers (season) 	27–29–5
62	L	February 21, 1988	1–4 	Boston Bruins (season) 	27–30–5
63	L	February 24, 1988	1–3 	Winnipeg Jets (season) 	27–31–5
64	L	February 26, 1988	1–2 	New York Rangers (season) 	27–32–5
65	W	February 28, 1988	8–6 	Minnesota North Stars (season) 	28–32–5
66	L	March 1, 1988 	3–5 	@ Washington Capitals (season) 	28–33–5
67	L	March 2, 1988 	1–6 	Washington Capitals (season) 	28–34–5
68	W	March 5, 1988 	7–6 OT	@ Boston Bruins (season) 	29–34–5
69	W	March 6, 1988 	4–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	30–34–5
70	L	March 8, 1988 	4–7 	@ New York Rangers (season) 	30–35–5
71	W	March 12, 1988 	6–5 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (season) 	31–35–5
72	L	March 17, 1988 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques (season) 	31–36–5
73	W	March 20, 1988 	4–2 	@ Washington Capitals (season) 	32–36–5
74	W	March 24, 1988 	8–2 	@ St. Louis Blues (season) 	33–36–5
75	T	March 25, 1988 	2–2 OT	@ Buffalo Sabres (season) 	33–36–6
76	W	March 27, 1988 	7–2 	New York Rangers (season) 	34–36–6
77	W	March 29, 1988 	4–0 	Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	35–36–6
78	W	March 31, 1988 	7–2 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (season) 	36–36–6
79	W	April 2, 1988 	5–2 	New York Islanders (season) 	37–36–6
80	W	April 3, 1988 	4–3 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (season) 	38–36–6
==Playoffs==
The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
===New Jersey Devils 4, New York Islanders 2===
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 Devils 4, Washington Capitals 3===
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score
April 18	New Jersey	1 	Washington	3
April 20	New Jersey	5 	Washington	2
April 22	Washington	4 	New Jersey	10
April 24	Washington	4 	New Jersey	1
April 26	New Jersey	3 	Washington	1
April 28	Washington	7 	New Jersey	2
April 30	New Jersey	3 	Washington	2
===Boston Bruins 4, New Jersey Devils 3===
In this 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.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	OT
May 2 	New Jersey	3 	Boston 	5 	
May 4 	New Jersey	3 	Boston 	2 	(OT)
May 6 	Boston 	6 	New Jersey	1 	
May 8 	Boston 	1 	New Jersey	3 	
May 10	New Jersey	1 	Boston 	7 	
May 12	Boston 	3 	New Jersey	6 	
May 14	New Jersey	2 	Boston 	6 	
==Player Stats==
===Forwards===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Kirk Muller 	80	37	57	94 	114
Aaron Broten 	80	26	57	83 	80
Pat Verbeek 	73	46	31	77 	227
Patrik Sundström	78	15	36	51 	42
John MacLean 	76	23	16	39 	147
Claude Loiselle 	68	17	18	35 	121
Mark Johnson 	54	14	19	33 	14
Doug Sulliman 	59	16	14	30 	22
Brendan Shanahan	65	7 	19	26 	131
Doug Brown 	70	14	11	25 	20
Andy Brickley 	45	8 	14	22 	14
===Defensemen===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Bruce Driver 	74	15	40	55 	68
Joe Cirella 	80	8 	31	39 	191
Tom Kurvers 	56	5 	29	34 	46
Craig Wolanin 	78	6 	25	31 	170
Jack O'Callahan	50	7 	19	26 	97
Jim Korn 	52	8 	13	21 	140
Randy Velischek	51	3 	9 	12 	66
Ken Daneyko 	80	5 	7 	12 	239
===Goaltending===
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	GP	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
Alain Chevrier	45	18	19	3	1 	3.77
Bob Sauvé 	34	10	16	3	2 	3.56
Sean Burke 	13	10	1 	0	1 	3.05
==Awards and Records==
*The Devils did not win any awards this season.
==Draft Picks==
Rd #	Pick #	Player 	Nat	Pos	Team (League) 	Notes 			
1 	2 	Brendan Shanahan	 	LW 	London Knights (OHL) 	 			
2 	23 	Ricard Persson 	 	D 	Leksands IF (Elitserien) 	 			
3 	44 	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987. 	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.	No third-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 third-round pick (used on Mathieu Schneider) to Montreal for David Maley on June 13, 1987.
4 	65 	Brian Sullivan 	 	RW 	Springfield Olympics (NEJHL) 	 			
5 	86 	Kevin Dean 	 	D 	Culver Military Academy (Indiana)	 			
6 	107 	Ben Hankinson 	 	RW 	Edina H.S. (Minnesota) 	 			
7 	128 	Tom Neziol 	 	LW 	Miami University (CCHA) 	 			
8 	149 	Jim Dowd 	 	C 	Brick Township H.S. (New Jersey) 	First New Jersey native to play for the Devils; scored game-winning goal in Game 2 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit. Jim Dowd's profile on the official New Jersey Devils site			
9 	170 	John Blessman 	 	D 	Toronto Marlboros (OHL) 	 			
10 	191 	Pete Fry 	 	G 	Victoria Cougars (WHL) 	 			
11 	212 	Alain Charland 	 	C 	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) 	 			
12 	233 	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.	No twelfth-round pick
The Devils traded their 1987 12th-round pick (used on Neil Eisenhut) to Vancouver for Shane Doyle on June 1, 1987. Shane Doyle's career statistics at the Internet Hockey Database.
==References==
*Devils on Hockey Database
Category:New Jersey Devils seasons
New Jersey Devils season, 1987–88
New Jersey Devils season, 1987–88