1987–88 Montreal Canadiens season

1987–88 Montreal Canadiens
Adams Division champions
Division 1st Adams
Conference 1st Wales
1987–88 record 45-22-13
Goals for 298
Goals against 238
Team information
General Manager Serge Savard
Coach Jean Perron
Captain Bob Gainey
Alternate captains Mats Naslund
Larry Robinson
Arena Montreal Forum
Team leaders
Goals Stephane Richer (50)
Assists Bobby Smith (66)
Points Bobby Smith (93)
Penalties in minutes Chris Nilan (209)
Plus/minus Petr Svoboda (+46)
Wins Patrick Roy (23)
Goals against average Brian Hayward (2.86)

The 1987–88 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 79th season. The club qualified for the playoffs, defeated the Hartford Whalers in the first round, but were eliminated in the Adams Division finals versus the Boston Bruins four games to one.

Offseason

  • Canadiens General Manager Serge Savard was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.[1] Canadiens head coach Jean Perron would be selected as one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada.[2]

NHL Draft

for more information visit 1988 NHL Entry Draft

Regular season

Defensively, the Canadiens were the best team in the league, finishing the regular season with just 238 goals against. They also allowed the fewest power-play goals, with just 64[3]

Final standings

Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens80452213298238103
Boston Bruins804430630025194
Buffalo Sabres8037321128330585
Hartford Whalers803538724926777
Quebec Nordiques803243527130669

[4]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results

# R Date Score Opponent Record
1TOct 8, 19872–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers0–0–1
2WOct 10, 19876–3Buffalo Sabres1–0–1
3LOct 12, 19872–5Quebec Nordiques1–1–1
4LOct 16, 19873–4@ New Jersey Devils1–2–1
5WOct 17, 19873–2Pittsburgh Penguins2–2–1
6WOct 19, 19875–1Minnesota North Stars3–2–1
7WOct 21, 198710–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–2–1
8LOct 23, 19873–5@ Buffalo Sabres4–3–1
9WOct 24, 19873–2@ Washington Capitals5–3–1
10LOct 26, 19873–5Calgary Flames5–4–1
11WOct 28, 19873–1Edmonton Oilers6–4–1
12WOct 30, 19875–4@ Detroit Red Wings7–4–1
13TOct 31, 19873–3 OTBoston Bruins7–4–2
14WNov 2, 19876–4St. Louis Blues8–4–2
15TNov 4, 19874–4 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks8–4–3
16WNov 7, 19875–4Philadelphia Flyers9–4–3
17WNov 9, 19873–1Toronto Maple Leafs10–4–3
18TNov 11, 19870–0 OT@ Hartford Whalers10–4–4
19LNov 12, 19872–3@ Boston Bruins10–5–4
20WNov 14, 19873–0Chicago Blackhawks11–5–4
21TNov 16, 19873–3 OTHartford Whalers11–5–5
22WNov 18, 19875–2New York Islanders12–5–5
23WNov 21, 19872–1New Jersey Devils13–5–5
24LNov 23, 19873–4 OT@ Quebec Nordiques13–6–5
25WNov 25, 19876–5@ Hartford Whalers14–6–5
26LNov 27, 19872–4@ Minnesota North Stars14–7–5
27WNov 28, 19877–3@ Winnipeg Jets15–7–5
28WNov 30, 19876–4Boston Bruins16–7–5
29TDec 2, 19873–3 OTVancouver Canucks16–7–6
30WDec 5, 19876–4Los Angeles Kings17–7–6
31WDec 8, 19873–2@ New York Islanders18–7–6
32TDec 9, 19872–2 OT@ New York Rangers18–7–7
33WDec 12, 19875–3Detroit Red Wings19–7–7
34WDec 16, 19875–4Quebec Nordiques20–7–7
35TDec 18, 19872–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres20–7–8
36LDec 19, 19871–2Buffalo Sabres20–8–8
37TDec 23, 19872–2 OTWashington Capitals20–8–9
38WDec 26, 19874–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs21–8–9
39LDec 28, 19873–9@ Calgary Flames21–9–9
40WDec 29, 19874–1@ Vancouver Canucks22–9–9
41LJan 2, 19882–5@ Los Angeles Kings22–10–9
42LJan 6, 19885–6Buffalo Sabres22–11–9
43TJan 9, 19883–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers22–11–10
44WJan 13, 19885–4Boston Bruins23–11–10
45LJan 14, 19882–3@ Boston Bruins23–12–10
46WJan 16, 19884–3New York Rangers24–12–10
47WJan 18, 19886–4Edmonton Oilers25–12–10
48LJan 21, 19881–4St. Louis Blues25–13–10
49LJan 23, 19883–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins25–14–10
50WJan 24, 19885–3@ Quebec Nordiques26–14–10
51WJan 27, 19884–1@ Buffalo Sabres27–14–10
52LJan 29, 19883–4@ Washington Capitals27–15–10
53WJan 30, 19886–2@ New York Islanders28–15–10
54WFeb 1, 19885–4Hartford Whalers29–15–10
55WFeb 3, 19885–2@ Hartford Whalers30–15–10
56LFeb 4, 19883–7@ Boston Bruins30–16–10
57LFeb 6, 19884–5Detroit Red Wings30–17–10
58LFeb 11, 19882–4@ New Jersey Devils30–18–10
59LFeb 13, 19881–4Hartford Whalers30–19–10
60LFeb 15, 19881–3@ New York Rangers30–20–10
61WFeb 17, 19883–2Boston Bruins31–20–10
62WFeb 20, 19885–3Quebec Nordiques32–20–10
63WFeb 23, 19883–1@ Quebec Nordiques33–20–10
64WFeb 24, 19885–4Vancouver Canucks34–20–10
65WFeb 27, 19886–0Winnipeg Jets35–20–10
66WFeb 29, 19882–1@ Quebec Nordiques36–20–10
67WMar 3, 19884–2@ St. Louis Blues37–20–10
68WMar 5, 19887–6 OT@ Los Angeles Kings38–20–10
69WMar 9, 19884–1@ Edmonton Oilers39–20–10
70WMar 12, 19885–0Hartford Whalers40–20–10
71TMar 14, 19882–2 OT@ Minnesota North Stars40–20–11
72WMar 16, 19884–1@ Winnipeg Jets41–20–11
73WMar 19, 19883–0Chicago Blackhawks42–20–11
74TMar 21, 19883–3 OTCalgary Flames42–20–12
75WMar 23, 19884–1Quebec Nordiques43–20–12
76LMar 25, 19882–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins43–21–12
77LMar 27, 19882–4@ Hartford Whalers43–22–12
78WMar 31, 19883–1@ Boston Bruins44–22–12
79WApr 2, 19889–4Buffalo Sabres45–22–12
80TApr 3, 19884–4 OT@ Buffalo Sabres45–22–13
  • April 3: Stephane Richer becomes the sixth player in Montreal history to score 50 goals in a season with two in the season finale against Buffalo.[5]

Playoffs

Adams Division semi-finals

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs almost squandered a 3–0 series lead. The deep Habs roster was the best team in the Wales Conference during the season, consisting of six 20–goal scorers and another six with between 10 and 20 goals. Their best assets were goaltenders Patrick Roy and backup Brian Hayward who won 23 and 22 games respectively. The Ron Francis-led Whalers went 2–4–2 against the Canadiens during the season, twice losing by just one goal.

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 6Hartford3Montreal 4
April 7Hartford3Montreal 7
April 9Montreal 4Hartford3
April 10Montreal5Hartford 7
April 12Hartford 5Montreal3
April 14Montreal 4Hartford2

Montreal 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.

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 18Boston1Montreal 5
April 20Boston 4Montreal3
April 22Montreal1Boston 3
April 24Montreal0Boston 2
April 26Boston 4Montreal1

Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Bobby SmithC782766937813804
Mats NaslundLW782459831417402
Stephane RicherRW72502878721216011
Claude LemieuxRW7831306113716603
Chris CheliosD71204161172141015
Mike McPheeLW772320435319024
Larry RobinsonD53634403026201
Shayne CorsonLW7112273915222202
Guy CarbonneauC801721386114031
Ryan WalterC/LW611323363912603
Brian SkrudlandC7912243611214013
Petr SvobodaD697222914946201
Kjell DahlinRW4813122565202
Bob GaineyLW78111122148001
Sergio MomessoLW53714211019100
Craig LudwigD74410146917000
Rick GreenD59211133321100
Chris NilanRW507512209-2001
Gilles ThibaudeauC17561106201
Mike LalorD66110111134000
John KordicRW602681590000
Larry TraderD30246192100
Serge BoisvertRW511220000
Jose CharbonneauRW1602261000
Brian HaywardG39022240000
Patrick RoyG45022140000
Perry GancharRW11010-1000
Gaston GingrasD201121000
Scott SandelinD801120000
Vincent RiendeauG100000000
Mathieu SchneiderD40002-1000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Patrick Roy258645231291252.90312481123.900
Brian Hayward224739221041072.8621032925.896
Vincent Riendeau36100058.3302217.773
Team:4869804522132372.92523022065.897

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Stephane RicherRW875126102
Mike McPheeLW114378010
Bobby SmithC113478100
Mats NaslundLW60772000
Gilles ThibaudeauC83362100
Kjell DahlinRW112462000
Ryan WalterC/LW112466201
Brian SkrudlandC1115624000
Claude LemieuxRW1132520002
Larry RobinsonD111454000
Petr SvobodaD1005512000
Chris CheliosD1131429100
John KordicRW722426000
Guy CarbonneauC110442000
Craig LudwigD111126000
Rick GreenD110222000
Sergio MomessoLW602216000
Shayne CorsonLW310112000
Serge BoisvertRW30112000
Bob GaineyLW60116000
Jose CharbonneauRW80004000
Steven FletcherLW/D10005000
Brian HaywardG40000000
Mike LalorD1100011000
Patrick RoyG80000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Patrick Roy430834243.350218194.890
Brian Hayward23042292.3508576.894
Team:6601156333.000303270.891

[6]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
117Andrew Cassels CanadaOttawa 67's (OHL)
233John LeClair United StatesBellows Free Academy (USHS-VT)
238Eric Desjardins CanadaGranby Bisons (QMJHL)
344Mathieu Schneider United StatesCornwall Royals (OHL)
358Francois Gravel CanadaShawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
480Kris Miller United StatesGreenway High School (USHS-MN)
5101Steve McCool United StatesThe Hill School (USHS-PA)
6122Les Kuntar United StatesNichols School (USHS-NY)
7143Robert Kelley United StatesMatignon High School (USHS-MA)
8164Will Geist United StatesSt. Paul Academy and Summit School (USHS-MN)
9185Eric Tremblay CanadaDrummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
10206Barry McKinlay CanadaUniversity of Illinois at Chicago (CCHA)
11227Ed Ronan United StatesPhillips Andover Academy (USHS-MA)
12248Bryan Herring United StatesDubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gretzky to Lemieux: The Story of the 1987 Canada Cup, p.8, Ed Willies, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7710-8942-8
  2. ↑ Gretzky to Lemieux: The Story of the 1987 Canada Cup, p.4, Ed Willies, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7710-8942-8
  3. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html
  4. ↑ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  5. ↑ Richer Pots No. 50. Our History - The Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved 2013-June-19. Archived 2013-06-22.
  6. ↑ "1987-88 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
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