1988 Stanley Cup playoffs

The 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began with sixteen teams on April 6, 1988. It concluded on May 26, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.
==Series==
Note: all dates in 1988
The playoffs started on April 6, and ended on May 26. The Presidents' Trophy winning Calgary Flames had home ice during the playoffs thanks in part to Edmonton's struggles without Gretzky. The Oilers, who had won the Cup in three of the previous four seasons, were still thought to have a good chance at repeating with Gretzky's return. The clash between the Flames and Oilers in the Smythe Divsion Final was highly anticipated.
*In spite of Lemieux's prolific offence, the Penguins missed the playoffs.
*Five of the North Stars' final six games were on the road. Minnesota went 1–4–1 in that stretch allowing Toronto survive their 1–8 finish.
*On March 18, Québec was three points ahead of the Whalers (68–65). The Nordiques went winless in their final eight games (0–7–1), costing themselves a chance to fend off Hartford who finished 6–3.
*The New Jersey Devils made the playoffs for the first time in their history, winning in overtime at Chicago Stadium on the season's final day to edge the New York Rangers for the Patrick Division's fourth spot. This was only the second time they made the playoffs including their Colorado days.
==Playoff bracket==
==Adams Division semi-finals==
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins were led by team co-captains Ray Bourque, Rick Middleton and the goaltending duo of Reggie Lemelin and the newly acquired Andy Moog. The Buffalo Sabres returned to the playoffs thanks to added depth provided by rookie Ray Sheppard.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Buffalo	3 	Boston 	7 	
April 7 	Buffalo	1 	Boston 	4 	
April 9 	Boston 	2 	Buffalo	6 	
April 10	Boston 	5 	Buffalo	6 	
April 12	Buffalo	4 	Boston 	5 	
April 14	Boston 	5 	Buffalo	2 	
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2.
Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Habs almost squandered a 3–0 series lead. The deep Habs roster was the best team in the Wales Conference during the season, consisting of six 20-goal scorers and another six with between 10 and 20 goals. Their best assets were goaltenders Patrick Roy and backup Brian Hayward who won 23 and 22 games respectively. The Ron Francis-led Whalers went 2–4–2 against the Canadiens during the season, twice losing by just one goal.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Hartford	3 	Montreal	4 	
April 7 	Hartford	3 	Montreal	7 	
April 9 	Montreal	4 	Hartford	3 	
April 10	Montreal	5 	Hartford	7 	
April 12	Hartford	5 	Montreal	3 	
April 14	Montreal	4 	Hartford	2 	
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–2.
==Patrick Division semi-finals==
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals
The Flyers needed to beat Washington at home in their season finale to gain home ice advantage, but only managed to tie them 2–2. The Flyers were led by Vezina Trophy winner Ron Hextall who was playoff MVP the previous season. In a very physical series, Washington overcame a 3–1 deficit to advance to the second round for the first time in two years. Game 7 was a classic ending with Dale Hunter beating Hextall on a breakaway in overtime.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Philadelphia	4 	Washington 	2 	
April 7 	Philadelphia	4 	Washington 	5 	
April 9 	Washington 	3 	Philadelphia	4 	
April 10	Washington 	4 	Philadelphia	5 	
April 12	Philadelphia	2 	Washington 	5 	
April 14	Washington 	7 	Philadelphia	2 	
April 16	Philadelphia	3 	Washington 	4 	OT
Washington wins best-of-seven series 4–3
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders
This would be the last hurrah for both the Islanders and Denis Potvin whose departure would signal dark days for the Isles, just as his arrival had brought them to prominence. The Isles would be upset by the Devils, who finished 7–0–1, including two wins over Pittsburgh in which they stifled Lemieux, and a 7–2 win over the Rangers, whom they edged out for the final Patrick Division playoff spot. The physical Devils would keep former MVP Bryan Trottier pointless, as they won in six.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	New Jersey	4 	New York 	3 	
April 7 	New Jersey	2 	New York 	3 	
April 9 	New York 	0 	New Jersey	3 	
April 10	New York 	5 	New Jersey	4 	
April 12	New Jersey	4 	New York 	2 	
April 14	New York 	5 	New Jersey	6 	
New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–2
==Norris Division semi-finals==
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
The Chicago Blackhawks were led by their three 40-goal scorers Denis Savard, Rick Vaive, and Steve Larmer. They were poor defensively, and were matched up against a similar St. Louis Blues squad that was better defensively if not in goal. Vaive had eight points, while Larmer and Savard had seven each.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Chicago 	1 	St. Louis	5 	
April 7 	Chicago 	2 	St. Louis	3 	
April 9 	St. Louis	3 	Chicago 	6 	
April 10	St. Louis	6 	Chicago 	5 	
April 12	Chicago 	3 	St. Louis	5 	
St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–1
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
The storied rivalry continued as the Detroit Red Wings met the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the seemingly lame-duck Leafs finished 1–8, the one win was 5–3 over Detroit in the season finale that pushed them into the playoffs, even though they had the second-worst record in the league. However, the Norris Division was very weak that year; only the Red Wings had a winning record.
Game six in Maple Leaf Gardens was future Hall of Famer Borje Salming's final playoff game in the NHL. Toronto lost all three home games.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Toronto	6 	Detroit	2 	
April 7 	Toronto	2 	Detroit	6 	
April 9 	Detroit	6 	Toronto	3 	
April 10	Detroit	8 	Toronto	0 	
April 12	Toronto	6 	Detroit	5 	
April 14	Detroit	5 	Toronto	3 	
Detroit wins best-of-seven series 4–2
==Smythe Division semi-finals==
Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers
The high-flying offence of the Edmonton Oilers played exactly as they were expected to, averaging five goals a game. Despite their best efforts, the franchise that Oilers captain Wayne Gretzky would one day own and coach just could not keep pace with his Oilers.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Winnipeg	4 	Edmonton	7 	
April 7 	Winnipeg	2 	Edmonton	3 	
April 9 	Edmonton	4 	Winnipeg	6 	
April 10	Edmonton	5 	Winnipeg	3 	
April 12	Winnipeg	2 	Edmonton	6 	
Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–1
Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames
The Kings fourth place finish in the Smythe Division tied their best finish in their history, since being moved to the Smythe. Their defence was the worst in the league, and they relied on offence. The Kings met Calgary twice in the week before the playoffs and triumphed 9–7 at home and 6–3 in Calgary. The Flames would make a mockery of the Kings' defence and would light the lamp 26 times, even more than the Oilers scored against the Jets. Four months after this series mercifully ended, the only NHL franchise in California would undergo a massive makeover, thanks to new uniforms and a savior from the north.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 6 	Los Angeles	2 	Calgary 	9 	
April 7 	Los Angeles	4 	Calgary 	6 	
April 9 	Calgary 	2 	Los Angeles	5 	
April 10	Calgary 	7 	Los Angeles	3 	
April 12	Los Angeles	4 	Calgary 	6 	
Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4–1
*Four of the five teams who trailed a series 2–0 won game three of the series at home (L.A., Winnipeg, Buffalo, Chicago). The fifth team was Hartford, who rallied to 3–2 from 3–0.
==Divisional finals==
:Adams Division
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Wales Conference's two best teams, and the NHL's two best defensive teams, met in this series with equal rest time. The Habs had beaten Boston in the Adams Division Semi-Finals four years in a row, sweeping the Bruins in three of the past four seasons, and beating them 3–2 in a best-of-five the other year. This time, the Bruins' defence would wear down Montreal, as Ken Linseman, Ray Bourque and Cam Neely provided the offence to finally conquer the Canadiens. It was the first Bruins' playoff series win over the Habs in 44 seasons.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 18	Boston 	1 	Montreal	5 	
April 20	Boston 	4 	Montreal	3 	
April 22	Montreal	1 	Boston 	3 	
April 24	Montreal	0 	Boston 	2 	
April 26	Boston 	4 	Montreal	1 	
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1
:Patrick Division
New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals
After upsetting the Islanders, whose defence was second in the division, the Devils were now matched up with the number one defence in the division. Patrik Sundstrom and Kirk Muller led the Devils to a series win in seven games in a surprisingly high-scoring series. Sundstrom's eight-point effort in Game 3 (4 goals, 4 assists) set a new Stanley Cup playoff record.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
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 	
New Jersey wins best-of-seven series 4–3
:Norris Division
St. Louis Blues vs. Detroit Red Wings
In another case of a team down 2–0 rallying to win game three, the Red Wings got aggressive, unafraid of the Blues' offence and won in five.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 19	St. Louis	4 	Detroit 	5 	
April 21	St. Louis	0 	Detroit 	6 	
April 23	Detroit 	3 	St. Louis	6 	
April 25	Detroit 	3 	St. Louis	1 	
April 27	St. Louis	3 	Detroit 	4 	
Detroit wins best-of-seven series 4–1
:Smythe Division
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
In the "Battle of Alberta" the Oilers would claim the first sweep of the playoffs. In Game 2, Wayne Gretzky scored a short-handed overtime goal on a brilliant slapshot while streaking down the left wing. 
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
April 19	Edmonton	3 	Calgary 	1 	
April 21	Edmonton	5 	Calgary 	4 	OT
April 23	Calgary 	2 	Edmonton	4 	
April 25	Calgary 	4 	Edmonton	6 	
Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0
==Conference finals==
:Prince of Wales Conference 
New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins
The Devils would take Boston to the limit, but their offence could not compete with the Bruins, who would make their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals since consecutive appearances in 1976–77 and 1977–78.
This series also featured the infamous confrontation between Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld and referee Don Koharski after Game 3, when, during an argument in the tunnel after the game, Koharski tripped and fell, accusing Schoenfield of pushing him. Schoenfield famously responded, "You tripped and fell you fat pig!" Then, he yelled "Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!" The incident was played repeatedly on ESPN and has since become part of NHL lore.
Schoenfeld was suspended by NHL president John Ziegler for Game 4, but the Devils received an injunction from a New Jersey court, allowing Schoenfeld to coach the fourth game. In protest, the officials scheduled to work that game in the Meadlowands refused to take the ice, forcing the NHL to scramble for amateur officials to call the contest. The injunction was lifted and Schoenfeld served his suspension during Game 5 in the Boston Garden.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
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 	
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–3
:Clarence Campbell Conference
Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers
Steve Yzerman and the Wings were no match for the Oilers again, and were edged out in five games.
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
May 3 	Detroit 	1 	Edmonton	4 	
May 5 	Detroit 	3 	Edmonton	5 	
May 7 	Edmonton	2 	Detroit 	5 	
May 9 	Edmonton	4 	Detroit 	3 	(OT)
May 11	Detroit 	4 	Edmonton	8 	
Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–1
==Final==
The series pitted the Oilers' offensive juggernaut against the Bruins' more balanced team. The Oilers showed their defensive prowess, surrendering just 9 goals in the four completed games. Game 4 is well-known for fog that interfered with the game and a power outage that caused its cancellation before a faceoff. This would allow the Oilers to win the Cup at home in the Northlands Coliseum and complete the "sweep" in a rescheduled Game 4.
Ray Bourque was physical in defending against Gretzky, but that wouldn't ground the Great One on his way to claiming his second Conn Smythe Trophy and setting playoff records with 31 assists in just 18 games, and 13 points in the Finals series.
Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers
Date 	Away 	Score	Home 	Score	Notes
May 18	Boston 	1 	Edmonton	2 	
May 20	Boston 	2 	Edmonton	4 	
May 22	Edmonton	6 	Boston 	3 	
May 24	Edmonton	3 	Boston 	3 	Game cancelled at 16:37 of second period due to power failure.
May 26	Boston 	3 	Edmonton	6 	
Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0
==See also==
*List of Stanley Cup champions
==References==
Category:1988 in hockey
Category:Stanley Cup Playoffs