1987–88 Boston Bruins season

The 1987–88 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 64th season. The season involved participating in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals.

Off-season

NHL draft Boston's draft picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)13Glen WesleyPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)114Stephane QuintalGranby Bisons (QMJHL)356Todd LalondeSudbury Wolves (OHL)467Darwin McPhersonNew Westminster Bruins (WHL)477Matt DelGuidiceSaint Anselm College (ECAC East)598Ted DonatoCatholic Memorial School (USHS-MA)6119Matt GlennonArchbishop Williams High School (USHS-MA)7140Rob CheeversBoston College (Hockey East)8161Chris WinnesNorthwood School (USHS-NY)9182Paul OhmanSt. John's School (USHS-MA)10203Casey JonesCornell University (ECAC)11224Eric LeMarqueNorthern Michigan University (WCHA)12245Sean GormanMatignon High School (USHS-MA)S215Mike JeffreyNorthern Michigan University (WCHA)

Regular season The season will forever be remembered when on the night Phil Esposito's number 7 would retire, captain Ray Bourque went from wearing uniform number 7 to wearing uniform number 77. Bourque would wear that number until the end of his career. This occurred on December 3, 1987. As for the game, the Bruins beat the New York Rangers 4–3, in which Esposito was the General Manager.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 8, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||1–0–0

|2||L||October 10, 1987||5–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||1–1–0

|3||W||October 11, 1987||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||2–1–0

|4||W||October 15, 1987||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||3–1–0

|5||L||October 17, 1987||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||3–2–0

|6||W||October 18, 1987||6–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||4–2–0

|7||W||October 21, 1987||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||5–2–0

|8||L||October 24, 1987||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||5–3–0

|9||L||October 29, 1987||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||5–4–0

|10||T||October 31, 1987||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||5–4–1

|11||L||November 1, 1987||5–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||5–5–1

|12||T||November 4, 1987||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||5–5–2

|13||L||November 5, 1987||6–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||5–6–2

|14||W||November 7, 1987||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||6–6–2

|15||L||November 9, 1987||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||6–7–2

|16||W||November 11, 1987||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||7–7–2

|17||W||November 12, 1987||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||8–7–2

|18||W||November 14, 1987||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||9–7–2

|19||W||November 17, 1987||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||10–7–2

|20||W||November 18, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||11–7–2

|21||W||November 21, 1987||7–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||12–7–2

|22||W||November 22, 1987||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||13–7–2

|23||L||November 25, 1987||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||13–8–2

|24||W||November 26, 1987||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||14–8–2

|25||L||November 28, 1987||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||14–9–2

|26||L||November 30, 1987||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||14–10–2

|27||W||December 2, 1987||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||15–10–2

|28||W||December 3, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||16–10–2

|29||W||December 5, 1987||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||17–10–2

|30||L||December 8, 1987||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||17–11–2

|31||W||December 10, 1987||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||18–11–2

|32||T||December 12, 1987||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||18–11–3

|33||W||December 17, 1987||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||19–11–3

|34||L||December 19, 1987||5–7 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||19–12–3

|35||W||December 20, 1987||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||20–12–3

|36||W||December 22, 1987||9–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||21–12–3

|37||L||December 26, 1987||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1987–88) ||21–13–3

|38||L||December 27, 1987||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1987–88) ||21–14–3

|39||T||December 29, 1987||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||21–14–4

|40||W||December 31, 1987||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||22–14–4

|41||W||January 2, 1988||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||23–14–4

|42||T||January 4, 1988||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||23–14–5

|43||W||January 7, 1988||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||24–14–5

|44||W||January 9, 1988||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||25–14–5

|45||L||January 11, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||25–15–5

|46||L||January 13, 1988||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||25–16–5

|47||W||January 14, 1988||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||26–16–5

|48||W||January 16, 1988||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||27–16–5

|49||L||January 20, 1988||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||27–17–5

|50||W||January 21, 1988||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||28–17–5

|51||L||January 23, 1988||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||28–18–5

|52||W||January 28, 1988||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||29–18–5

|53||L||January 30, 1988||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||29–19–5

|54||W||February 1, 1988||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||30–19–5

|55||W||February 4, 1988||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||31–19–5

|56||W||February 6, 1988||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||32–19–5

|57||W||February 7, 1988||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||33–19–5

|58||W||February 12, 1988||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||34–19–5

|59||L||February 13, 1988||5–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||34–20–5

|60||L||February 17, 1988||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||34–21–5

|61||W||February 21, 1988||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||35–21–5

|62||L||February 23, 1988||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||35–22–5

|63||W||February 25, 1988||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||36–22–5

|64||W||February 27, 1988||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||37–22–5

|65||W||March 3, 1988||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||38–22–5

|66||L||March 5, 1988||6–7 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||38–23–5

|67||L||March 6, 1988||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||38–24–5

|68||L||March 8, 1988||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||38–25–5

|69||T||March 10, 1988||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||38–25–6

|70||W||March 12, 1988||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||39–25–6

|71||L||March 13, 1988||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||39–26–6

|72||L||March 17, 1988||5–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||39–27–6

|73||L||March 19, 1988||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||39–28–6

|74||W||March 20, 1988||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||40–28–6

|75||W||March 22, 1988||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||41–28–6

|76||W||March 24, 1988||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||42–28–6

|77||W||March 26, 1988||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||43–28–6

|78||L||March 31, 1988||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||43–29–6

|79||L||April 2, 1988||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) ||43–30–6

|80||W||April 3, 1988||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||44–30–6

Legend:

Player statistics

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG D 78 17 64 81 7234715 C 77 29 45 74 16736705 C 79 26 44 70 35-1935 RW 69 42 27 69 175301103 LW 62 32 26 58 10824804 LW 79 27 28 55 1050533 C/RW 80 22 23 45 7311607 RW 68 17 26 43 17314603 D 79 7 30 37 6921120 D 66 6 31 37 13518010 D 62 10 24 34 933511 RW 59 13 19 32 113231 D 67 6 25 31 5712101 RW 53 10 14 24 23610002 LW 78 7 12 19 304-5001 C 77 7 10 17 83-3101 C 15 7 9 16 06101 LW 25 1 12 13 854000 LW 15 7 5 12 104200 LW 7 2 5 7 63100 D 78 0 6 6 906000 RW 65 2 3 5 170-10100 D 30 2 3 5 191001 C 9 1 3 4 60000 G 30 0 2 2 20000 D 19 0 1 1 70-5000 D 6 0 1 1 211000 LW 4 0 1 1 23000 D 3 0 1 1 0-3000 LW 7 0 1 1 90000 RW 3 0 0 0 0-3000 D 2 0 0 0 0-1000 LW 7 0 0 0 4-3000 D 1 0 0 0 0-1000 LW 2 0 0 0 0-2000 G 49 0 0 0 20000 RW 3 0 0 0 15-1000 G 6 0 0 0 00000 LW 1 0 0 0 0-1000 LW 3 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 2,828 49 24 17 6 138 2.93 31,2441,106.889 1,660 30 16 11 0 90 3.25 1751661.880 360 6 4 2 0 17 2.83 1181164.906 Team: 4,848 80 44 30 6 245 3.03 52,1761,931.887

Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 23 11 14 25 564410 D 23 3 18 21 2616001 RW 23 9 8 17 511202 C 23 6 10 16 11-1401 LW 23 8 6 14 18-2301 C/RW 23 6 8 14 669111 D 23 6 8 14 225410 C 23 7 6 13 109010 D 23 4 8 12 596011 RW 23 3 9 12 440100 LW 23 2 10 12 169000 RW 19 5 5 10 44013 LW 13 3 4 7 180000 LW 15 4 2 6 321000 D 21 3 3 6 264100 RW 17 2 4 6 745001 RW 11 1 2 3 621000 D 3 1 0 1 00000 D 4 1 0 1 424001 D 3 0 1 1 02000 RW 3 0 1 1 22000 D 8 0 1 1 6-2000 G 17 0 1 1 20000 LW 2 0 0 0 21000 LW 12 0 0 0 1242000 G 7 0 0 0 00000 C 9 0 0 0 02000 D 21 0 0 0 342000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 1027 17 11 6 45 2.63 1430385.895 354 7 1 4 25 4.24 0166141.849 Team: 1,381 22 12 10 70 3.04 1596526.883

Playoffs

Adams Division semifinals Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins were led by team co-captains Ray Bourque, Rick Middleton and the goaltending duo of Rejean Lemelin and the newly acquired Andy Moog. The Buffalo Sabres returned to the playoffs thanks to added depth provided by rookie Ray Sheppard. Date Away Score Home ScoreApril 6 Buffalo 3 Boston 7 April 7 Buffalo 1 Boston 4 April 9 Boston 2 Buffalo 6April 10 Boston 5 Buffalo 6 April 12 Buffalo 4 Boston 5 April 14 Boston 5 Buffalo 2 Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2.

Adams Division finals Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens