1987–88 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1987–88 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 9th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a Stanley Cup championship against the Philadelphia Flyers the previous season, which was their 3rd Stanley Cup in the past 4 seasons. This was the first time since 1980–81 that the Oilers did not win the division, break the 100 point barrier, or lead the NHL in goals.
==Regular Season==
Wayne Gretzky would lead the team with 149 points, his lowest point total since his rookie season in 1979–80, and the first time since then that he failed to lead the NHL in scoring. Jari Kurri and Craig Simpson, who the Oilers acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the season, would lead the team in goals with 43, and Mark Messier would set a career high with 111 points. With Paul Coffey being traded before the season began to the Penguins, Steve Smith would step up and lead Oilers defense with 55 points, and have a team record 286 penalty minutes.
In goal, Grant Fuhr would appear in 75 of the 80 Oilers games, winning a career high 40 games and getting 4 shutouts, while posting a 3.43 GAA and becoming the first Oilers goalie to win the Vezina Trophy.
In the playoffs, the Oilers would start off by defeating the Winnipeg Jets in 5 games, and face their Battle of Alberta rivals, the Calgary Flames in the Smythe Division finals. The Flames ended the Oilers streak of 6 straight division titles by finishing 6 points ahead of Edmonton during the season, however the Oilers would quickly sweep Calgary to advance to the Campbell Conference finals, against the Detroit Red Wings. Edmonton would have no problems getting past Detroit, winning the series in 5 games, and face the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers would continue to dominate, sweeping Boston despite having to play 5 games (game 4 was canceled midway through the 3rd period with the score tied at 3 due to a power failure at the Boston Garden) to win their 4th Stanley Cup in 5 years. Grant Fuhr would set an NHL record by winning 16 playoff games, while Wayne Gretzky took him the Conn Smythe Trophy after earning a league high 43 points.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Detroit Red Wings 	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	1–1–0 	2
3 	October 14 	Calgary Flames 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2–0 	2
4 	October 16 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Calgary Flames 	2–2–0 	4
5 	October 17 	Boston Bruins 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2–0 	6
6 	October 21 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2–0 	8
7 	October 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	5–2–0 	10
8 	October 24 	Vancouver Canucks 	5–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2–0 	12
9 	October 27 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–3–0 	12
10	October 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	6–4–0 	12
11	October 31 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	New Jersey Devils 	6–5–0 	12
12	November 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6 	New York Rangers 	7–5–0 	14
13	November 4 	New York Rangers 	2–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–5–0 	16
14	November 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Calgary Flames 	8–5–1 	17
15	November 7 	Buffalo Sabres 	0–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–5–1 	19
16	November 10	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	9–5–2 	20
17	November 14	Edmonton Oilers 	6–5 	St. Louis Blues 	10–5–2 	22
18	November 15	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Chicago Blackhawks 	10–6–2 	22
19	November 18	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–6–2 	24
20	November 20	Pittsburgh Penguins 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–6–2 	26
21	November 22	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	12–7–2 	26
22	November 25	New Jersey Devils 	8–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–8–2 	26
23	November 27	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–8–2 	28
24	November 29	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Buffalo Sabres 	14–8–2 	30
25	December 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Washington Capitals 	14–9–2 	30
26	December 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Detroit Red Wings 	14–10–2 	30
27	December 5 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–10–2 	32
28	December 6 	Minnesota North Stars	4–10 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–10–2 	34
29	December 9 	Winnipeg Jets 	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–10–2 	36
30	December 11	Vancouver Canucks 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–10–2 	38
31	December 12	Edmonton Oilers 	6–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	19–10–2 	40
32	December 16	Edmonton Oilers 	5–7 	Los Angeles Kings 	19–11–2 	40
33	December 18	Winnipeg Jets 	5–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–11–3 	41
34	December 19	Hartford Whalers 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–12–3 	41
35	December 22	Los Angeles Kings 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–12–3 	43
36	December 26	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Calgary Flames 	21–12–3 	45
37	December 28	Vancouver Canucks 	3–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–12–3 	47
38	December 30	Philadelphia Flyers 	0–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–12–3 	49
39	January 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Washington Capitals 	23–13–3 	49
40	January 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Boston Bruins 	23–13–4 	50
41	January 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–1 	Hartford Whalers 	24–13–4 	52
42	January 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	24–13–5 	53
43	January 9 	New York Islanders 	1–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–13–5 	55
44	January 11 	Washington Capitals 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–13–5 	57
45	January 13 	Calgary Flames 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–13–5 	59
46	January 15 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–13–6 	60
47	January 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Montreal Canadiens 	27–14–6 	60
48	January 19 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	27–14–7 	61
49	January 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	27–15–7 	61
50	January 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	New York Islanders 	27–16–7 	61
51	January 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	28–16–7 	63
52	January 29 	Calgary Flames 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–17–7 	63
53	January 30 	Hartford Whalers 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–17–7 	65
54	February 3 	New Jersey Devils 	5–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–17–7 	67
55	February 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–7 	Los Angeles Kings 	30–18–7 	67
56	February 11	Edmonton Oilers 	7–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	31–18–7 	69
57	February 12	Boston Bruins 	7–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	31–19–7 	69
58	February 14	Vancouver Canucks 	6–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–19–7 	71
59	February 17	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–19–8 	72
60	February 19	Pittsburgh Penguins 	3–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–19–8 	74
61	February 21	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	34–19–8 	76
62	February 23	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4 	St. Louis Blues 	35–19–8 	78
63	February 24	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Chicago Blackhawks 	35–20–8 	78
64	February 28	Calgary Flames 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–21–8 	78
65	March 1 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–21–8 	80
66	March 4 	Philadelphia Flyers 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–21–8 	82
67	March 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Calgary Flames 	37–22–8 	82
68	March 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–0 	Winnipeg Jets 	38–22–8 	84
69	March 9 	Montreal Canadiens 	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	38–23–8 	84
70	March 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	38–23–9 	85
71	March 15 	Buffalo Sabres 	4–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	39–23–9 	87
72	March 18 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	40–23–9 	89
73	March 20 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–5 	Minnesota North Stars	40–23–10	90
74	March 22 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	41–23–10	92
75	March 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	New York Rangers 	41–24–10	92
76	March 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	New York Islanders 	41–25–10	92
77	March 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	42–25–10	94
78	March 30 	Minnesota North Stars	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	43–25–10	96
79	April 1 	St. Louis Blues 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	44–25–10	98
80	April 3 	Los Angeles Kings 	5–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	44–25–11	99
==Playoffs==
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 6 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers	1–0
2	April 7 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers	2–0
3	April 9 	Edmonton Oilers	4–6 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–1
4	April 10	Edmonton Oilers	5–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–1
5	April 12	Winnipeg Jets 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers	4–1
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Calgary Flames 0 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 19	Edmonton Oilers	3–1 	Calgary Flames 	1–0
2	April 21	Edmonton Oilers	5–4 	Calgary Flames 	2–0
3	April 23	Calgary Flames 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers	3–0
4	April 25	Calgary Flames 	4–6 	Edmonton Oilers	4–0
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Detroit Red Wings 1 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 3 	Detroit Red Wings	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0
2	May 5 	Detroit Red Wings	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–0
3	May 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Detroit Red Wings	2–1
4	May 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Detroit Red Wings	3–1
5	May 11	Detroit Red Wings	4–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Boston Bruins 0 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 18	Boston Bruins 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers	1–0
2	May 20	Boston Bruins 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers	2–0
3	May 22	Edmonton Oilers	6–3 	Boston Bruins 	3–0
4	May 24	Edmonton Oilers	3–3 	Boston Bruins 	3–0–1
5	May 26	Boston Bruins 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers	4–0–1
==Season Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky 	64	40	109	149	24
Mark Messier 	77	37	74 	111	103
Jari Kurri 	80	43	53 	96 	30
Glenn Anderson	80	38	50 	88 	58
Esa Tikkanen 	80	23	51 	74 	153
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Bill Ranford 	6 	325 	3 	0 	2	16 	0 	.899 	2.95
Grant Fuhr 	75	4304	40	24	9	246	4 	.881 	3.43
Daryl Reaugh 	6 	176 	1 	1 	0	14 	0 	.877 	4.77
Warren Skorodenski	3 	61 	0 	0 	0	7 	0 	.720 	6.89
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky 	19	12	31	43 	16
Mark Messier 	19	11	23	34 	29
Jari Kurri 	19	14	17	31 	12
Esa Tikkanen 	19	10	17	27 	72
Glenn Anderson	19	9 	16	25 	49
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	19	1136	16	2	55	0 	.883 	2.90
==Transactions==
====Trades====
October 19, 1987 	To Montreal CanadiensCash 	To Edmonton OilersDave Donnelly
November 24, 1987	To Pittsburgh PenguinsPaul CoffeyDave HunterWayne Van Dorp 	To Edmonton OilersMoe ManthaDave HannanCraig SimpsonChris Joseph
January 22, 1988 	To Minnesota North StarsMoe Mantha 	To Edmonton OilersKeith Acton
February 11, 1988	To Buffalo SabresScott Metcalfe9th round pick in 1989 - Donald Audette	To Edmonton OilersSteve Dykstra7th round pick in 1989 - Davis Payne
March 8, 1988 	To Boston BruinsAndy MoogMoe Lemay 	To Edmonton OilersBill RanfordGeoff CourtnallAlan May2nd round pick in 1988 - Petro Koivunen
====Free Agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
F Gary Emmons 	New York Rangers
G Warren Skorodenski	Chicago Blackhawks
====Draft Picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	21 	Peter Soberlak 	 	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
2 	42 	Brad Werenka 	 	Northern Michigan University (NCAA
3 	63 	Geoff Smith 	 	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
4 	64 	Peter Eriksson 	 	HV71 Jonkoping (SEL)
5 	105	Shaun Van Allen	 	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
6 	126	Radek Toupal 	 	HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech.)
7 	147	Tomas Srsen 	 	Brno ZKL (Czech.)
8 	168	Åge Ellingsen 	 	Storhamar (Norway)
9 	189	Gavin Armstrong	 	RPI (NCAA)
10 	210	Mike Tinkham 	 	Newburyport High School (USHS)
11 	231	Jeff Pauletti 	 	University of Minnesota (NCAA)
12 	241	Jesper Duus 	 	Rødovre (Denmark)
12 	252	Igor Vyazmikin 	 	HC CSKA Moscow (Russia)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers season, 1987–88
Edmonton Oilers season, 1987–88