The 1987–88 New Jersey Devils season was the 14th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and sixth season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. 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 rival, 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 Chicago 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 game-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 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.

Season summary

Off-season

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.

Regular season

On November 25, 1987, Aaron Broten scored just 13 seconds into overtime to give the Devils an 8–7 road win over the Edmonton Oilers. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1987–88 regular season. On April 3, 1988, the last day of the regular season, the Devils were scheduled to play the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, the New York Rangers were scheduled to host Quebec Nordiques at home, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were scheduled to host Hartford Whalers at home. Going into the game, the Devils were tied with the Rangers with 80 points and one point ahead of the Penguins (79) for the last playoff spot in the Patrick Division. The Penguins beat the Whalers, 4–2, to finish their season with 81 points, and the Rangers shut out the Nordiques, 3–0, to finish their season with 82 points, eliminating the Penguins. When both games ended, the Devils–Blackhawks game was still in progress. Both teams skated to a 3–3 tie after 60 minutes. For the Devils to qualify for the playoffs, they would have to score in overtime to get the win and the two points to win the tiebreaker over the Rangers. An overtime loss would keep them at 80 points, and a 3–3 tie would move them up only to 81 points, handing the last playoff berth to the Rangers. At 2:21 of the overtime period, John MacLean scored the game-winning goal on a rebound slap-shot past Blackhawks netminder Darren Pang to give the Devils a 4–3 win. Both the Devils and Rangers finished with 82 points. However, since the Devils had two more wins during the regular season, they ended up taking the Patrick Division's fourth playoff spot and thereby sealed the first-ever playoff berth for the franchise in New Jersey. Gary Thorne called MacLean's overtime, playoff-berth-clinching goal on SportsChannel New York: "MacLean...off the boards, Sundstrom, he's alone, Sundstrom...Murray on him, shot...that was deflected, went off the skate of Bob Murray the defenseman. Flipped up by Chicago, not out...kept in by MacLean, good job, MacLean centered Sundstrom. Sundstrom back to the point...Joe Cirella...Cirella got in, Cirella takes a shot, save by Pang, rebound...SCORES!!! THEY DID IT!!! THEY DID IT!!! THE DEVILS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY! JOHN MACLEAN THE OVERTIME GOAL! AND THEY WIN IT 4-3!"

Playoffs

The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The conference finals featured a major argument between coach Jim Schoenfeld and referee Don Koharski following Game 3 at the Meadowlands on May 6, 1988. Schoenfeld accosted Koharski in the tunnel on the way back to the dressing rooms regarding his officiating in the 6-1 New Jersey defeat. While Schoenfeld was yelling at him, Koharski stumbled and fell down to the floor. Although Schoenfeld did not appear to have made any contact with him, Koharski believed that the Devils' head coach had pushed him and yelled, "you're gone now, you're gone," implying that Schoenfeld would be suspended for physically attacking him. Schoenfeld denied pushing Koharski repeatedly, saying that the referee had simply lost his balance. While this was going on, WABC-TV cameras recorded the entire incident and as the two men were separated, Koharski said that he had hoped that his fall was on tape. "Good," Schoenfeld responded, "because you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!" Two days later, on May 8, the NHL suspended Schoenfeld. However, since a proper hearing had not been scheduled, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello set out to procure a restraining order against the league to allow Schoenfeld to coach the game. Working with Bergen County Judge John Conte, Lamoriello was able to get New Jersey Superior Court Judge James Madden to hear the case on an emergency basis. Madden granted the Devils' request and issued the restraining order, which took effect at that evening, nearly 30 minutes before the opening faceoff for Game 4. However, the scheduled officiating crew refused to work the game afterwards and the start was delayed, while replacement officials were located. After over an hour, the game got underway and the Devils recorded a 3–1 win. Afterward, a proper hearing regarding Schoenfeld's actions would take place and he would again be suspended, with Lamoriello taking his place for Game 5 in Boston.

Sean Burke

Sean Burke was drafted by the Devils in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He earned national attention from his international play. He backstopped Canada's junior national team to a silver medal in the 1986 World Junior Championships and a fourth-place finish for the men's national team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Burke went from the Winter Olympics to the Devils. He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987–88 season, including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the regular season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series. Dubbed a "rookie sensation", Burke helped the Devils go on a playoff roll, defeating the division-leader New York Islanders in the first round in six games and then the Washington Capitals in seven games. Burke was one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 of the Wales Conference finals to the Boston Bruins.

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

As of May 14, 1988

Skaters

Goaltenders

Draft picks

Below are the New Jersey Devils' selections at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft, which were held on June 13, 1987, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.