1987-88 NHL season
| 1987–88 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 8, 1987 – May 26, 1988 |
| Number of games | 80 |
| Number of teams | 21 |
| Regular season | |
| Presidents' Trophy | Calgary Flames |
| Season MVP | Mario Lemieux (Penguins) |
| Top scorer | Mario Lemieux (Penguins) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Boston Bruins |
| Eastern runners-up | New Jersey Devils |
| Western champions | Edmonton Oilers |
| Western runners-up | Detroit Red Wings |
| Playoffs MVP | Wayne Gretzky (Oilers) |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Edmonton Oilers |
| Runners-up | Boston Bruins |
The 1987–88 NHL season was the 71st season of the National Hockey League. It was an 80 game season with the top four teams in each division advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This season would see the Edmonton Oilers win their fourth Stanley Cup in five years by sweeping the Boston Bruins 4–0 in the Stanley Cup Final. In the process of their cup win, Edmonton lost only two games, a record for the "16 wins" playoff format.
The NHL introduced a new trophy, the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which was to be awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community.
This was Wayne Gretzky's final season with the Edmonton Oilers and, as injuries held him out of 20% of the season, this would be the only season of the decade in which he was not the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and the first season since 1979-80 that he didn't hold or share the league lead in points. Mario Lemieux would capture his first Hart Trophy and lead the league in scoring.
On 7 December, Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers became the first goalie to directly score a goal, shooting the puck into the open net.
On 19 December, the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins combined to score two goals in two seconds. The Bruins were trailing 6-4 in the third period when Ken Linseman scored with 10 seconds remaining, followed by Blues center Doug Gilmour scored off the resulting faceoff into an open net.
The New Jersey Devils qualify for the playoffs for the first time, as the Devils.
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