1986–87 NHL season


The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to three in the Cup finals.

League business

The Chicago-based club officially changed their name from the two-worded "Black Hawks" to the one-worded "Blackhawks" based on the spelling found in their original franchise documents.

Regular season

The Oilers won their second straight Presidents' Trophy as the top team and Wayne Gretzky won his eighth straight Hart Memorial Trophy and his seventh straight Art Ross Trophy.
On November 26, 1986, Toronto's Borje Salming was accidentally cut in the face by a skate, requiring more than 200 stitches. It was the third injury to his face and Salming returned to play wearing a visor.
On January 22, 1987, a massive blizzard resulted in only 334 spectators attending the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Calgary Flames at the Brendan Byrne Arena, leading to the Devils dubbing the spectators the "334 Club".
On April 4, 1987, the Islanders' Denis Potvin became the first NHL defenceman to reach 1000 points. A shot by the Islanders' Mikko Makela deflected in off Potvin's arm in a 6–6 shootout between the Islanders and Sabres.

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Prince of Wales Conference

Clarence Campbell Conference

Playoffs

In an attempt to reduce the number of first round upsets, the NHL expanded the best-of-five series in the first round to a best-of-seven series.

Playoff bracket

Stanley Cup Finals

The Oilers and Flyers would meet again in the final for the second time in three years. This time, Edmonton was the regular season champion with 50 wins and 106 points, and Philadelphia was second with 46 wins and 100 points. Unlike the 1985 final, this series would go the full seven games. Edmonton took the first two games at home, then split in Philadelphia. However, the Flyers won the next two games, one in Edmonton and one back in Philadelphia by one goal, to force a deciding seventh game. Edmonton won game seven to earn its third Stanley Cup in four seasons.

Awards

All-Star teams

Source: NHL

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers796212118328+701374
Jari KurriEdmonton Oilers79545410841+3512510
Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins63545310757+131904
Mark MessierEdmonton Oilers77377010773+21745
Doug GilmourSt. Louis Blues80426310558-21712
Dino CiccarelliMinnesota North Stars80525110388+102205
Dale HawerchukWinnipeg Jets80475310052+31004
Michel GouletQuebec Nordiques7549479661-121706
Tim KerrPhiladelphia Flyers7558379557+3826010
Ray BourqueBoston Bruins7823729536+44613

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

Minimum 2000 min. GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; Sv% = Save percentage
GoalieTeamGPMinWLTSOGAASv%
Brian HaywardMontreal Canadiens3721781913412.81 .894
Patrick RoyMontreal Canadiens4626862216612.94 .892
Ron HextallPhiladelphia Flyers6637993721613.00 .902
Pete PeetersWashington Capitals3720021711403.21 .885
Mike LiutHartford Whalers5934763122543.23.885
Eldon ReddickWinnipeg Jets4827622121403.24.881
Bob MasonWashington Capitals4525362018503.24.890
Kelly HrudeyNew York Islanders4626342515703.30.881
Bill RanfordBoston Bruins4122311620233.33.891
Clint MalarchukQuebec Nordiques5430921826913.40.884

Coaches

Patrick Division

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1986–87 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1986–87 :