1986–87 NHL season

sports season

The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to three in the Cup finals.

1986–87 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey

Regular season

The Oilers won their second straight Presidents' Trophy as the top team and Wayne Gretzky won his eighth straight Hart Trophy and his seventh straight Art Ross Trophy.

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Hartford Whalers8043307932872701496
Montreal Canadiens80412910922772411802
Boston Bruins8039347853012761870
Quebec Nordiques80313910722672761741
Buffalo Sabres8028448642803081810
Patrick DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Philadelphia Flyers80462681003102452082
Washington Capitals80383210862852781720
New York Islanders80353312822792811857
New York Rangers8034388763073231718
Pittsburgh Penguins80303812722972901693
New Jersey Devils8029456642933681735

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
St. Louis Blues80323315792812931572
Detroit Red Wings80343610782602742209
Chicago Blackhawks80293714722903101692
Toronto Maple Leafs8032426702863191827
Minnesota North Stars80304010702963141936
Smythe DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGAPIM
Edmonton Oilers80502461063722841721
Calgary Flames8046313953182892036
Winnipeg Jets8040328882792711537
Los Angeles Kings8031418703183412038
Vancouver Canucks8029438662823141917

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers796212118328
Jari KurriEdmonton Oilers79545410841
Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins63545310757
Mark MessierEdmonton Oilers77377010773
Doug GilmourSt. Louis Blues80426310558
Dino CiccarelliMinnesota North Stars80525110392
Dale HawerchukWinnipeg Jets80475310054
Michel GouletQuebec Nordiques7549479661
Tim KerrPhiladelphia Flyers7558379557
Raymond BourqueBoston Bruins7823729536

Stanley Cup playoffs

Note: all dates in 1987

The Stanley Cup

Playoff bracket

Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsConference FinalsFinals
            
A1Hartford Whalers2
A4Quebec Nordiques4
A2Montreal Canadiens4
A4Quebec Nordiques3
A2Montreal Canadiens4
A3Boston Bruins0
A1Montreal Canadiens2
P1Philadelphia Flyers4
P1Philadelphia Flyers4
P4New York Rangers2
P1Philadelphia Flyers4
P3New York Islanders3
P2Washington Capitals3
P3New York Islanders4
P1Philadelphia Flyers3
S1Edmonton Oilers4
N1St. Louis Blues2
N4Toronto Maple Leafs4
N4Toronto Maple Leafs3
N2Detroit Red Wings4
N2Detroit Red Wings4
N3Chicago Black Hawks0
N2Detroit Red Wings1
S1Edmonton Oilers4
S1Edmonton Oilers4
S4Los Angeles Kings1
S1Edmonton Oilers4
S3Winnipeg Jets0
S2Calgary Flames2
S3Winnipeg Jets4

Finals

Edmonton Oilers Vs. Philadelphia Flyers

DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
May 17Philadelphia2Edmonton 4
May 20Philadelphia2Edmonton 3(OT)
May 22Edmonton3Philadelphia 5
May 24Edmonton 4Philadelphia1
May 26Philadelphia 4Edmonton3
May 28Edmonton2Philadelphia 3
May 30Philadelphia1Edmonton 3

Edmonton wins best-of-seven series 4–3

NHL awards

Presidents' Trophy:Edmonton Oilers
Prince of Wales Trophy:Philadelphia Flyers
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:Edmonton Oilers
Art Ross Memorial Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:Doug Jarvis, Hartford Whalers
Calder Memorial Trophy:Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings
Conn Smythe Trophy:Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
Frank J. Selke Trophy:Dave Poulin, Philadelphia Flyers
Hart Memorial Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Jack Adams Award:Jacques Demers, Detroit Red Wings
James Norris Memorial Trophy:Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
Lester B. Pearson Award:Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
NHL Plus/Minus Award:Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers,
William M. Jennings Trophy:Patrick Roy/Brian Hayward, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy:Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
Lester Patrick Trophy:Hobey Baker, Frank Mathers

All-Star teams

First Team  Position  Second Team
Ron Hextall, Philadelphia FlyersGMike Liut, Hartford Whalers
Ray Bourque, Boston BruinsDLarry Murphy, Washington Capitals
Mark Howe, Philadelphia FlyersDAl MacInnis, Calgary Flames
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton OilersCMario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jari Kurri, Edmonton OilersRWTim Kerr, Philadelphia Flyers
Michel Goulet, Quebec NordiquesLWLuc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings

First games

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1986–87 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start in playoffs):

  • Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames
  • Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames
  • Dave Manson, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Joe Murphy, Detroit Red Wings
  • Steve Chiasson, Detroit Red Wings
  • Kelly Buchberger*, Edmonton Oilers
  • Jimmy Carson, Los Angeles Kings
  • Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings
  • Steve Duchesne, Los Angeles Kings
  • Craig Berube, Philadelphia Flyers
  • Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
  • Vincent Damphousse, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Fredrik Olausson, Winnipeg Jets

Last games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1986–87 (listed with their last team):

  • Thomas Gradin, Boston Bruins
  • Mike Milbury, Boston Bruins
  • Lee Fogolin, Buffalo Sabres
  • Don Lever, Buffalo Sabres
  • Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
  • Phil Russell, Buffalo Sabres
  • Murray Bannerman, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Darryl Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Danny Gare, Edmonton Oilers
  • Wayne Babych, Hartford Whalers
  • Peter McNab, New Jersey Devils
  • Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
  • Chico Resch, Philadelphia Flyers

References