1987–88 New Jersey Devils season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1987–88
Team=New Jersey Devils
Conference=Prince of Wales
ConferenceRank=#7
Division=
DivisionRank=4th
Record=38–36–6
HomeRecord=
RoadRecord=
GoalsFor=295
GoalsAgainst=296
GeneralManager=Lou Lamoriello
Coach=Doug Carpenter
Jim Schoenfeld
Captain= Kirk Muller
AltCaptain= Joe Cirella
Aaron Broten
Arena= Brendan Byrne Arena
Attendance=
GoalsLeader=Pat Verbeek (46)
AssistsLeader=Kirk Muller and Aaron Broten (57)
PointsLeader=Kirk Muller (94)
PIMLeader=Ken Daneyko (239)
WinsLeader=Alain Chevrier (18)
GAALeader=Sean Burke (3.05)

The 1987–88 New Jersey Devils season was year 6 for the franchise in New Jersey, and saw the Devils finish 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 13-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 one more win, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, but the first time in New Jersey. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/nj/njdevils.html New Jersey Devils on SportsEcyclopedia] ]

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 Semifinals 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).

Offseason

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.

Draft picks

Prince of Wales Conference Finals vs. Boston Bruins

References

* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000511988.html Devils on Hockey Database]