1987–88 Boston Bruins season


The 1987–88 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 64th season. The season involved participating in the Stanley Cup finals.

Off-season

NHL draft

Boston's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
13Glen WesleyPortland Winter Hawks
114Stephane QuintalGranby Bisons
356Todd LalondeSudbury Wolves
467Darwin McPhersonNew Westminster Bruins
477Matt DelGuidiceSaint Anselm College
598Ted DonatoCatholic Memorial School
6119Matt GlennonArchbishop Williams High School
7140Rob CheeversBoston College
8161Chris WinnesNorthwood School
9182Paul OhmanSt. John's School
10203Casey JonesCornell University
11224Eric LeMarqueNorthern Michigan University
12245Sean GormanMatignon High School
S1Mike JeffreyNorthern Michigan University

Regular season

The season will forever be remembered when on the night Phil Esposito's number 7 would retire, captain Ray Bourque went from wearing uniform number 7 to wearing uniform number 77. Bourque would wear that number until the end of his career.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
D781764817234715
C7729457416736705
C7926447035-1935
RW69422769175301103
LW6232265810824804
LW792728551050533
C/RW802223457311607
RW6817264317314603
D79730376921120
D666313713518010
D62102434933511
RW59131932113231
D67625315712101
RW5310142423610002
LW7871219304-5001
C777101783-3101
C15791606101
LW2511213854000
LW157512104200
LW725763100
D78066906000
RW65235170-10100
D30235191001
C913460000
G3002220000
D1901170-5000
D6011211000
LW401123000
D30110-3000
LW701190000
RW30000-3000
D20000-1000
LW70004-3000
D10000-1000
LW20000-2000
G4900020000
RW300015-1000
G600000000
LW10000-1000
LW300000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASOSASVSV%
282849241761382.93312441106.889
16603016110903.251751661.880
3606420172.831181164.906
Team:484880443062453.03521761931.887

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
C23111425564410
D23318212616001
RW239817511202
C236101611-1401
LW23861418-2301
C/RW236814669111
D236814225410
C237613109010
D234812596011
RW233912440100
LW2321012169000
RW19551044013
LW13347180000
LW15426321000
D21336264100
RW17246745001
RW11123621000
D310100000
D4101424001
D301102000
RW301122000
D80116-2000
G1701120000
LW200021000
LW120001242000
G700000000
C900002000
D21000342000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
102717116452.631430385.895
354714254.240166141.849
Team:1381221210703.041596526.883

Playoffs

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 Rejean Lemelin and the newly acquired Andy Moog. The Buffalo Sabres returned to the playoffs thanks to added depth provided by rookie Ray Sheppard.
DateAwayScoreHomeScore
April 6Buffalo3Boston 7
April 7Buffalo1Boston 4
April 9Boston2Buffalo 6
April 10Boston5Buffalo 6
April 12Buffalo4Boston 5
April 14Boston 5Buffalo2

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2.

Adams Division Finals

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.
DateAwayScoreHomeScore
April 18Boston1Montreal 5
April 20Boston 4Montreal3
April 22Montreal1Boston 3
April 24Montreal0Boston 2
April 26Boston 4Montreal1

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1.

Prince of Wales Conference Finals

New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins
The Devils would take Boston to the limit, but their offense 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 would also have the infamous confrontation between Devils head 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!" He then yelled, "Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!" The incident was played repeatedly on ESPN and has become part of NHL lore.
Schonefeld 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.
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreOT
May 2New Jersey3Boston 5
May 4New Jersey 3Boston2
May 6Boston 6New Jersey1
May 8Boston1New Jersey 3
May 10New Jersey1Boston 7
May 12Boston3New Jersey 6
May 14New Jersey2Boston 6

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–3.

Stanley Cup Finals

Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
May 18Boston Bruins1Edmonton Oilers2
May 20Boston Bruins2Edmonton Oilers4
May 22Edmonton Oilers6Boston Bruins3
May 24Edmonton Oilers3Boston Bruins3Game suspended at 16:33 of 2nd due to power failure.
May 26Boston Bruins3Edmonton Oilers6

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0–1.

Roster

THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE LIST

Awards and records