1987–88 New Jersey Devils season
| 1987–88 New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|
| Division | 4th Patrick |
| Conference | 7th Wales |
| 1987–88 record | 38–36–6 |
| Goals for | 295 |
| Goals against | 296 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Lou Lamoriello |
| Coach |
Doug Carpenter (Oct-Jan) Jim Schoenfeld (Jan-Apr) |
| Captain | Kirk Muller |
| Alternate captains |
Aaron Broten Joe Cirella |
| Arena | Brendan Byrne Arena |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Pat Verbeek (46) |
| Assists | Kirk Muller and Aaron Broten (57) |
| Points | Kirk Muller (94) |
| Penalties in minutes | Ken Daneyko (239) |
| Plus/minus | Pat Verbeek (+29) |
| Wins | Alain Chevrier (18) |
| Goals against average | Sean Burke (3.05) |
The 1987–88 New Jersey Devils season was the team's sixth season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. The Devils finished fourth in the Patrick Division with a record of 38 wins, 36 losses, and 6 ties for 82 points, garnering the first winning record in the franchise's 14-year history.
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 two more wins, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, but the first time in New Jersey.
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).
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.
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