Thread: NHL history in a 127 years of bite sized pieces.
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Old 06-02-2024, 01:33 PM   #200
CaptainCrunch
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1987-88


When you look at exhilarating runs by teams the New Jersey Devils run to the playoffs was as exciting as the 1951 pennant rush by baseballs New York Giants. Behind two newcomers Coach Jim Schoenfeld and rookie goaltender Sean Burke the perennial cellar dwellers and as Wayne Gretzky described them "Mickey Mouse Team" rose from the basement and went on a 7-0-1 homestretch run to gain a playoff berth, and punch the league in the eye on the way.

New Jersey needed a win in their final regular season game in Chicago to over take the New York Rangers for the final Patrick division playoff spot. New Jersey and Chicago skated to a 3-3 regular season tie, but the Devils couldn't afford a stalemate, they needed to have a win, and they got it a 2:11 of OT when John MacLean who had scored the game tying goal slammed in the winner.

In round 1 of the Patrick Division playoffs the Devils squared off against the Patrick winning Islanders. Playing a outrageous hit everything style, Schoenfelds team buried the Islanders in 6 games.


Riding their upset, the Devils went on to play the Capitals in the Patrick finals. The Devils dropped the first game 3-1, but evened the series with a 5-2 blowout. The Devils took over and lead by the line of Patrick Sundstrom, John MacLean and centre Mark Johnson the Devils hammered the Capitals 10-4 as Sundstrom set a NHL playoff record 8 points. The series went to 7 games when MacLean played hero again scoring the winning goal.

The ultimate Cinderella demons advanced to the Conference finals to face the Bruins. The series was a gruelling, bitter and nasty affair going 7 games. game three though lives in infamy, Schoenfeld enraged after a 6-1 beating by the Bruins where he felt his team got screwed, followed referee Don Koharski verbally lambasting him, as things got heated Koharski fell and accused Schoenfeld of pushing him. Schoenfeld then entered the hockey hall of fame for snark when he responded "You fell, you fat pig, have another donut".

With NHL President John Ziegler unavailable, VP Brian O'Neill suspended Schoenfeld for game 4, then bizarrely a New Jersey court overturned the ruling and Schoenfeld was able to coach, the three officials staged a walkout and the game was officiated by local amateurs.

The Devils went on to win game 4, but Ziegler made an appearance and suspended Schoenfeld for game 5 and the Bruins trounced the Devils 7-1. The Devils evened the series in game 6, but the Bruins ended the Devils season with a 6-2 blow out in game 7. The once Mickey Mouse team had finally won the respect of NHL fans.

Trivia

  • Team Canada wins the Canada Cup winning the finals 2-1 Mario Lemieux scores both winning goals.
  • The Hockey Hall of Fame inducts 5 men including Bobby Clarke, Ed Giacomin and Jacques Laperriere.
  • The Sabres draft Pierre Turgeon with the first overall pick.
  • NHL Entry Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_NHL_Entry_Draft
  • Edmonton's Paul Coffey says he will not return to the Oilers due to contract problems. Glenn Sather lets him sit until Thanksgiving.
  • Andy Moog of Edmonton refuses to play for Glenn Sather anymore and joins the Canadian National team. He will later be traded to the Bruins.
  • Brian Spencer a former NHLer is found not guilty of murder in Florida.
  • On Oct 8th, Flyers goalie Ron Hextall shoots the puck directly into the Bruins empty net becoming the first goalie to score with a shot on net.
  • Wayne Gretzky scores his 1,050th on March 1st breaking Gordie Howe's all time record.
  • On March 19th Bernie Ferderko enters the 1,000 point club.
  • Calgary emerges as the NHL's best club winning the regular season club with a 48-23-9 record. Rookie Joe Nieuwendyk scores 51 goals, Haken Loob scores 50 and Mike Bullard scores 48.
  • The Oilers finish in second in the Smythe as Gretzky misses 14 games. Craig Simpson aquired from the Pens for Paul Coffey scores 56 goals becoming the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals while being traded midseason.
  • Vancouver with Pat Quinn being reinstated as GM after his legal battle ends wins just 23 games.
  • Steve Yzerman has his first 50 goal 100 point season as the Wings win the Norris division, its Detroits first first place finish in 23 years.
  • Montreal wins the Adams division with a 45-22-13 record.
  • The Nordiques miss the playoffs for the first time in 8 years.
  • Mike Bossy retires due to back issues, but the Islanders still win the Patrick division with a 39-31-10 record.
  • Canadian Olympic goalie Sean Burke goes 10-1-0 down the stretch with New Jersey as the Devils make the playoffs by 1 point.
  • Mario Lemieux leads the NHL with 70 goals and 168 points but the Pens miss the playoffs.
  • In the Patrick semifinals New Jersey upsets the Islanders in 6, Washington slips by the Flyers in 7. In the Adam semis the Habs flush the Whalers in 6, while Boston beats Buffalo in 6.
  • Calgary crowns the Kings in 5, Edmonton beats Winnipeg in 5.
  • In the Norris semis Detroit beats Toronto in 6, while St Louis finishes the Hawks in 5.
  • The Devils shock the Caps in 7 fight filled games in the Patrick finals. The Bruins end the Habs playoff domination of them whipping the Habs in 5 games.
  • Edmonton sweeps Calgary with surprising ease in the Smythe Division finals.
  • Detroit beats St Louis in 5 games in the Norris.
  • New Jersey bows out of the playoffs losing to the Bruins in 7 games. Edmonton wins the Campbell Conference beating the Red Wings in 5 games.
  • In game 1 of the finals Edmonton beats the Bruins 2-1.
  • Edmonton wins game 2 4-2.
  • In game 3 the Oilers blow out the Bruins 6-3.
  • Game 4 in the Boston Gardens is suspended at 16:37 on the second period with the score tied 3-3 due to a power failure.
  • Gane 4 is replayed in Edmonton and the Oilers win 6-3 to claim their 4th Cup in 5 years.
  • With 54 playoff points Wayne Gretzky wins his second Conn Smythe trophy.
  • Mario Lemieux breaks Wayne Gretzky's seven year reign as the scoring champ and his 8 year domination of the Hart Troph. Lemieux also wins the Hart Trophy.
  • Matts Naslund wins the Lady Byng.
  • Oilers Grant Fuhr sets an NHL record with 75 games played and wins the Vezina.
  • Joe Nieuwendyk wins the Calder.
  • Ray Bourque wins his second Norris trophy.
  • Montreal's Guy Charbonneau wins his first Selke.
  • Detroits Jacques Demer becomes the first coach to win two straight Jack Adams Trophies.
  • A new award the King Clancy is presented to Lanny MacDonald for leadership and humanitarianism.
  • Joe Sakic of Swift Current is the CMJ player of the year.
  • Medicine Hat wins its second straight Memorial Cup.
  • Lake Superior State wins the NCAA tourney beating St Lawrence 4-3.
  • Minnesota goalie Robb Stauber wins the Hobey Baker.
  • The Soviets win their 7th straight Gold Medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Debuts
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