1988 Stanley Cup Finals

Infobox Stanley Cup Final
year=1988
team1=Edmonton Oilers
team1_short=Edmonton
team1_1=2
team1_2=4
team1_3=6
team1_4=3
team1_5=6
team1_tot=4
team2=Boston Bruins
team2_short=Boston
team2_1=1
team2_2=2
team2_3=3
team2_4=3
team2_5=3
team2_tot=0
location1=Edmonton, AB Northlands Coliseum (3-5)
location2=Boston, MA Boston Garden (1-2)
dates=May 18 to May 26, 1988
team1_coach=Glen Sather
team1_captain=Wayne Gretzky
mvp=Wayne Gretzky
series_winner=Wayne Gretzky (9:44, 2nd, G5)
team2_coach=Terry O'Reilly
team2_captain=Ray BourqueThe 1988 Stanley Cup Finals was played from May 18 to May 26, 1988, between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. The Oilers would win the series 4–0.

Paths to the Final

Edmonton defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4–1, the Calgary Flames 4–0 and the Detroit Red Wings 4–1 to reach the Finals. Boston defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4–2, the Montreal Canadiens 4–1 and the New Jersey Devils 4–3 to reach the Finals.

The series

The Finals pitted the Oilers' offensive juggernaut against the Bruins' more balanced team. The Oilers showed their defensive prowess, surrendering just 9 goals in the four completed games. Game four is well-known for fog that interfered with the game and a power outage that caused its cancellation before a faceoff. This would allow the Oilers to win the Cup at home in the Northlands Coliseum and complete the "sweep" in a rescheduled game four.

Ray Bourque was physical in defending against Gretzky, but that wouldn't ground the Great One on his way to claiming his second Conn Smythe Trophy and setting playoff records with 31 assists in just 18 games, and 13 points in the Finals series.

Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers"Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–0"

Edmonton Oilers 1988 Stanley Cup champions

Stanley Cup champion
centers=*99 Wayne Gretzky (Captain)
*11 Mark Messier (A. Capt.)
*12 Dave Hannan
*14 Craig MacTavish
*23 Keith Acton
*26 Mike Krushelnyski (also played wing during the playoffs)
wingers=*9 Glenn Anderson
*10 Esa Tikkanen
*15 Geoff Courtnall
*17 Jari Kurri
*18 Craig Simpson
*19 Normand Lacombe
*24 Kevin McClelland
defence=*4 Kevin Lowe (A. Capt.)
*5 Steve Smith
*6 Jeff Beukeboom
*21 Randy Gregg
*22 Charlie Huddy
*28 Craig Muni
*33 Marty McSorley(played wing during the regular season)
*20 Steve Dykstra (qualified)
*32 Jim Wiemer†
goaltenders=*31 Grant Fuhr
*30 Bill Ranford
*29 Daryl Reaugh (qualified)
non-players=
* Peter Pocklington (Owner)
* Glen Sather (President/General Manager/Head Coach)
* John Muckler (Co-Coach), Ted Green (Ass't Coach)
* Bruce MacGregor (Ass't General Manager)
* Barry Fraser (Director of Player Personnel/Chief Scout), Bill Tuele (Director of Public Relations)
* Dr. Gordon Cameron (Team Physician), Peter Millar (Athletic Therapist), Juergen Merz (Message Therapist)
* Barrie Stafford (Trainer), Lyle Kulchisky (Ass't Trainer)|

;Team picture on the ice, after winning a championship
*After Edmonton Oilers won the 1988 Stanley Cup Wayne Gretzky (in what ended up being his last game with the Oilers) wanted a picture on the ice with all the players, and all non-playing members including - management, coaches, trainers, scouts, locker room assistants. This tradition has been followed by each Stanley Cup winning team since.Gretzky wanted each member of the Oilers to be included on the team picture. However, when the cup was engraved all 4 scouts were left off Garnet Bailey, Ed Chadwick, Lorne Davis, Matti Vaisanen (on the cup in 1985, 1987, 1990). Edmonton Oilers also left 3 players off the Stanley Cup. Bill Tuele (Public Relations Director) had his name added to the cup for the 1st time. He has rings with the Oilers in 1984, 1985, 1987, but name was put on cup those seasons.

Player Notes

*Daryl Reaugh (backup goalie) he joined the team after Andy Moog left in September to play for Team Canada, and at the 1988 Olympics. Reaugh would play 6 games (dressed for 60). After the Olympics Moog was traded to Boston Bruins for minor leaguer goalie Bill Randford. Reaugh was sent to the minors, being recalled during the conference finals. His name was left off, because he was playing in the minors after the trade deadline.
*Steve Dykstra played 42 NHL games in 1987–88 season. Dykstra joined Edmonton in a trade from Buffalo Sabres, playing in 15 of the Oilers last 21 games, but not in the playoffs. He was left off, because he did not play all 42 games with Edmonton.
* †Jim Wiemer played 12 regular season games, and 2 games in the conference finals. Wiemer was left off the cup, because he did not qualify.

*This would mark the very last time Wayne Gretzky would win the Stanley Cup.

References

*
* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1–55168–261

ee also

*1987–88 NHL season
* List of Stanley Cup champions