The 1988 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1987–88 season, and the culmination of the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins. The Oilers swept the Bruins to once again repeat as Stanley Cup champions. It was the Oilers’ fourth championship in franchise history.
This was the seventh of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, sixth of eight by a team from Alberta (the Oilers appeared in six of them, the Calgary Flames in two, and the Vancouver Canucks in one), and the last of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four such Cups, the Montreal Canadiens the other). The series is remembered for the power failure that occurred during game four at Boston Garden, which caused that game to be suspended. The league decided to replay game four at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, at the site, date and time that was originally scheduled for a possible game five. Game four is also the final time that Wayne Gretzky appeared in an Edmonton Oilers uniform as he was traded to Los Angeles just prior to the next season, and the last Stanley Cup he would win as a player.
Paths to the Finals
The Oilers cruised into the Finals with relative ease, losing only two games in the process. They beat the Winnipeg Jets in five games, swept the Calgary Flames, and then beat the Detroit Red Wings in five to win the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl for the fifth time in six years.
The Bruins, meanwhile, had a much harder road. It took them six games to knock off the Buffalo Sabres, then beat their longtime rivals the Montreal Canadiens in five games, and then needed the full seven games to beat the New Jersey Devils to claim the Prince of Wales Trophy.
Game summaries The Finals pitted the Oilers' offensive juggernaut against the Bruins' more balanced team. The Oilers showed their defensive prowess, surrendering just nine goals in the four completed games. Ray Bourque was physical in defending against Gretzky, but that would not ground the "Great One" on his way to claiming his second Conn Smythe Trophy and setting playoff records with 31 assists in just 18 games, and 13 points in the Finals series.
Game one
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st None 2nd EDM Wayne Gretzky (10) – pp Steve Smith (8) and Jari Kurri (14) 01:56 1–0 EDM BOS Cam Neely (8) Craig Janney (9) and Gord Kluzak (8) 13:15 1–1 3rd EDM Keith Acton (2) Steve Smith (9) and Kevin McClelland (2) 01:15 2–1 EDM Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st BOS Cam Neely Tripping 01:01 2:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen Holding 02:10 2:00 EDM Bench Too many men on the ice 04:20 2:00 BOS Allen Pedersen Holding 09:17 2:00 BOS Willi Plett Cross-checking 12:17 2:00 EDM Craig Simpson Cross-checking 12:17 2:00 BOS Ken Linseman High-sticking 14:13 2:00 EDM Jari Kurri Roughing – double minor 14:13 4:00 2nd BOS Bench Too many men on the ice 01:08 2:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen Elbowing 04:29 2:00 BOS Willi Plett Holding 16:08 2:00 3rd EDM Esa Tikkanen Tripping 02:26 2:00 EDM Randy Gregg High-sticking 06:21 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 5 4 5 14 6 8 8 22
Game two
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st EDM Glenn Anderson (7) – pp Wayne Gretzky (22) and Esa Tikkanen (15) 15:57 1–0 EDM EDM Mark Messier (11) – pp Wayne Gretzky (23) and Jari Kurri (15) 19:30 2–0 EDM 2nd None 3rd BOS Bob Joyce (8) Craig Janney (10) and Cam Neely (8) 00:35 2–1 EDM BOS Ken Linseman (10) Moe Lemay (2) and Keith Crowder (9) 03:16 2–2 EDM Wayne Gretzky (11) Esa Tikkanen (16) 11:21 3–2 EDM EDM Jari Kurri (14) – en Mike Krushelnyski (5) 19:53 4–2 EDM Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st BOS Michael Thelven High-sticking 00:43 2:00 BOS Jay Miller Fighting – major 03:09 5:00 EDM Kevin McClelland Fighting – major 03:09 5:00 BOS Moe Lemay Slashing 03:57 2:00 EDM Randy Gregg Hooking 05:59 2:00 EDM Craig Simpson Elbowing 10:20 2:00 BOS Keith Crowder Roughing 10:23 2:00 BOS Gord Kluzak High-sticking 14:28 2:00 BOS Ray Bourque High-sticking 15:48 2:00 BOS Rejean Lemelin Delay of game 18:41 2:00 BOS Randy Burridge High-sticking 19:06 2:00 2nd EDM Kevin McClelland Holding 02:05 2:00 BOS Keith Crowder Roughing 06:15 2:00 EDM Mike Krushelnyski Roughing 06:15 2:00 BOS Jay Miller Roughing 10:57 2:00 BOS Jay Miller Misconduct 10:57 10:00 EDM Kevin McClelland Roughing 10:57 2:00 BOS Kevin McClelland Misconduct 10:57 10:00 BOS Keith Crowder Cross-checking 15:22 2:00 BOS Ken Linseman Slashing 16:53 2:00 3rd BOS Gord Kluzak Roughing 19:21 2:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen Roughing 19:21 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 5 2 5 12 13 8 11 32
Game three
Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st BOS Randy Burridge (2) Bob Sweeney (7) 02:46 1–0 BOS EDM Kevin McClelland (2) Wayne Gretzky (24) and Mike Krushelnyski (6) 16:18 1–1 2nd EDM Esa Tikkanen (5) – pp Wayne Gretzky (25) and Glenn Anderson (14) 10:25 2–1 EDM EDM Glenn Anderson (8) Craig Simpson (6) 12:57 3–1 EDM 3rd EDM Esa Tikkanen (6) Wayne Gretzky (26) and Randy Gregg (6) 01:32 4–1 EDM BOS Moe Lemay (4) Ken Linseman (13) and Ray Bourque (16) 04:19 4–2 EDM EDM Craig Simpson (11) Glenn Anderson (15) and Mark Messier (22) 10:28 5–2 EDM BOS Cam Neely (9) – pp Bob Joyce (6) and Glen Wesley (7) 14:02 5–3 EDM EDM Esa Tikkanen (7) – en Wayne Gretzky (27) and Glenn Anderson (16) 19:40 6–3 EDM Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st BOS Michael Thelven Holding 05:31 2:00 EDM Kevin McClelland Tripping 08:45 2:00 BOS Cam Neely Boarding 09:59 2:00 2nd BOS Allen Pedersen Slashing 04:56 2:00 EDM Kevin McClelland Roughing 04:56 2:00 BOS Jay Miller Roughing 08:41 2:00 BOS Jay Miller Fighting – major 08:41 5:00 EDM Kevin McClelland Fighting – major 08:41 5:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen Holding 14:42 2:00 EDM Craig Simpson Holding 18:25 2:00 3rd EDM Marty McSorley Hooking 13:51 2:00 EDM Bench Too many men on the ice 15:42 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 11 6 8 25 10 8 10 28
Game four (suspended) Glenn Anderson set a new record for quickest goal from the start of a Finals game when he scored ten seconds into the contest. That record was tied two years later in the third game of the Finals by John Byce who, in a twist, was playing for the Bruins against the Oilers. Fog interfered with the game, requiring stoppages during the second period so that all 40+ players could skate around the ice to clear it away. The Oilers' Craig Simpson scored with 3:23 left in the second period, tying the game at 3–3, then the arena suffered a power failure before the ensuing face-off. The teams were sent to their dressing room untilafter a very long delay and no change in the situationNHL President John Ziegler Jr. announced that the game was suspended. Despite the game being suspended and replayed, Anderson's record is official.
Game four was subsequently rescheduled and moved to Edmonton, which was originally set to be the site of a game five if necessary. The Oilers won that game, sweeping the series and winning their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. The NHL announced that, in the event that the Bruins had managed to win game four, game five would have been played on the original date for game six in Boston, Edmonton would have hosted the rescheduled game six, and then game seven would have been played in Boston as the makeup game.
Scoring summaryPeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore1stEDMGlenn Anderson (9) Mark Messier (23) and Craig Muni (3)00:101–0 EDMEDMEsa Tikkanen (8) – ppWayne Gretzky (28)15:332–0 EDMBOSGreg Hawgood (1) Rick Middleton (5) and Bob Sweeney (8)16:56 2–1 EDM2ndBOSGlen Wesley (5) – shUnassisted06:12 2–2BOSGlen Wesley (6) – ppKen Linseman (14)07:373–2 BOSEDMCraig Simpson (12) – pp Steve Smith (10) and Wayne Gretzky (29)16:373–33rdNone (game suspended at 16:37)
Game four
In the new Game 4, Boston had the lead on two goals in the first nine minutes but were held without a goal for over thirty minutes as Edmonton rode a three-goal second period to a 6–3 victory to win the Cup.
Scoring summaryPeriodTeamGoalAssist(s)TimeScore1stBOSSteve Kasper (6)Randy Burridge (10) and Ray Bourque (17)00:431–0 BOSEDMNormand Lacombe (3)Craig Muni (4) and Kevin Lowe (1)06:071–1BOSKen Linseman (11) – ppRay Bourque (18)9:442–1 BOSEDMEsa Tikkanen (9) – ppJari Kurri (16) and Wayne Gretzky (30)15:032–2 2ndEDMMike Krushelnyski (4)Kevin McClelland (3) and Kevin Lowe (2)06:383–2 EDMEDMWayne Gretzky (12) – ppEsa Tikkanen (17) and Steve Smith (11)09:444–2 EDMEDMCraig Simpson (13)Wayne Gretzky (31) and Randy Gregg (7)19:585–2 EDM3rdEDMEsa Tikkanen (9)Jari Kurri (17) and Randy Gregg (8)01:216–2 EDMBOSSteve Kasper (7)Greg Johnston (1) and Glen Wesley (8)06:356–3 EDM Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st BOS Ray Bourque High-sticking 03:55 2:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen Hooking 08:30 2:00 EDM Mark Messier Slashing 09:16 2:00 BOS Keith Crowder Hooking 13:29 2:00 2nd EDM Craig Simpson Unsportsmanlike conduct 00:52 2:00 BOS Reed Larson Tripping 03:31 2:00 BOS Moe Lemay Roughing 07:08 2:00 EDM Normand Lacombe Roughing 07:08 2:00 EDM Michael Thelven Holding 08:00 2:00 BOS Bench Too many men on the ice 10:42 2:00 EDM Glenn Anderson Hooking 11:55 2:00 3rd EDM Mike Krushelnyski Holding 12:09 2:00 BOS Ken Linseman High-sticking 14:38 2:00 EDM Esa Tikkanen High-sticking – double minor 14:38 4:00 EDM Mike Krushelnyski Roughing 18:48 2:00 Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total 8 6 5 19 8 10 8 26
Team rosters Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Stanley Cup in the given year.
Boston Bruins #NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance 33 D R 28 Detroit, Michigan first 77 – C D L 27 1979Saint-Laurent, Quebec first 12 LW L 22 1985Fort Erie, Ontario first 34 RW R 24 1982Nipawin, Saskatchewan first 18 – A RW R 29 1979Windsor, Ontario first 40 D L 19 1986Edmonton, Alberta first 23 C L 20 1986Hartford, Connecticut first 39 RW R 23 1983Barrie, Ontario first 27 LW L 21 Saint John, New Brunswick first 11 C L 26 1980Saint-Lambert, Quebec first 6 D L 24 1982Climax, Saskatchewan first 28 D R 31 Minneapolis, Minnesota first 37 LW L 26 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan second 1 G L 33 Quebec City, Quebec second 13 C L 29 Kingston, Ontario fourth 17 LW L 23 1983Toronto, Ontario first 19 LW L 27 Toronto, Ontario second 16 – C C L 34 Toronto, Ontario third 29 LW L 27 Wellesley, Massachusetts first 35 G L 28 Penticton, British Columbia fifth 8 RW R 22 Comox, British Columbia first 10 C L 28 South Boston, Massachusetts first 41 D L 23 1983Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta first 25 RW R 32 Asunción, Paraguay first 40 D L 24 Windsor, Ontario first 42 C R 24 1982Concord, Massachusetts first 22 D R 27 1980Stockholm, Sweden first 26 D L 19 1987Red Deer, Alberta first
Edmonton Oilers #NatPlayerPositionHandAgeAcquiredPlace of birthFinals appearance 23 C L 30 Stouffville, Ontario first 9 RW L 27 1979Vancouver, British Columbia fifth 6 D R 23 1983Ajax, Ontario second 15 LW L 25 Victoria, British Columbia first 31 G R 25 1981Spruce Grove, Alberta fifth 21 D L 32 Edmonton, Alberta fifth 99 – C C L 27 Brantford, Ontario fifth 12 C L 26 Onaping Falls, Ontario first 22 D L 28 Oshawa, Ontario fifth 26 C L 28 Montreal, Quebec third 17 RW R 28 1980Helsinki, Finland fifth 19 RW R 23 Montreal, Quebec first 4 – A D L 29 1979Lachute, Quebec fifth 14 C L 29 London, Ontario second 24 RW R 25 Oshawa, Ontario fourth 33 D R 25 Hamilton, Ontario second 11 – A LW L 27 1979Edmonton, Alberta fifth 28 D L 25 Toronto, Ontario second 30 G L 21 Brandon, Manitoba first 18 LW R 21 London, Ontario first 5 D L 25 1981Glasgow, Scotland second 10 LW L 23 1983Helsinki, Finland third 32 D L 27 Sudbury, Ontario first
Stanley Cup engraving The 1988 Stanley Cup was presented to Oilers captain Wayne Gretzky by NHL President John Ziegler following the Oilers 6–3 win over the Bruins in game four.