1987–88 Montreal Canadiens season
Encyclopedia
The 1987–88 Montreal Canadiens
season was the team's 79th
season
. The club qualified for the playoffs, defeated the Hartford Whalers
in the first round, but were eliminated in the Adams Division
finals versus the Boston Bruins
four games to one.
The Habs almost squandered a 3–0 series lead. The deep Habs roster was the best team in the Wales Conference during the season, consisting of six 20–goal scorers and another six with between 10 and 20 goals. Their best assets were goaltenders Patrick Roy
and backup Brian Hayward
who won 23 and 22 games respectively. The Ron Francis
-led Whalers went 2–4–2 against the Canadiens during the season, twice losing by just one goal.
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–2
The Wales Conference's two best teams, and the NHL's two best defensive teams, met in this series with equal rest time. The Habs had beaten Boston in the Adams Division Semi-Finals four years in a row, sweeping the Bruins in three of the past four seasons, and beating them 3–2 in a best-of-five the other year. This time, the Bruins' defence would wear down Montreal, as Ken Linseman
, Ray Bourque
and Cam Neely
provided the offence to finally conquer the Canadiens. It was the first Bruins' playoff series win over the Habs in 44 seasons.
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1
Goaltending
Goaltending
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
season was the team's 79th
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
. The club qualified for the playoffs, defeated the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in the first round, but were eliminated in the Adams Division
Adams Division
The NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins...
finals versus the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
four games to one.
Offseason
- Canadiens General Manager Serge SavardSerge SavardSerge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup1987 Canada CupThe 1987 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament held from August 28 to September 15, 1987. The finals took place in Montreal on September 11 and Hamilton, Ontario, on September 13 and September 15, and were won by Team Canada....
. Canadiens head coach Jean PerronJean PerronJean Perron was a head coach for the National Hockey League Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques. Perron coached the Habs for three seasons, and led them to a Stanley Cup in 1986. He was the last rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup until Dan Bylsma achieved the same feat in 2009 with the...
would be selected as one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada.
Game log
| # | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T | Oct 8, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | W | Oct 10, 1987 | 6–3 | Buffalo Sabres | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | L | Oct 12, 1987 | 2–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | L | Oct 16, 1987 | 3–4 | @ New Jersey Devils | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | W | Oct 17, 1987 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | W | Oct 19, 1987 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | Oct 21, 1987 | 10–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | L | Oct 23, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | Oct 24, 1987 | 3–2 | @ Washington Capitals | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | L | Oct 26, 1987 | 3–5 | Calgary Flames | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | W | Oct 28, 1987 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers | 6–4–1 |
| 12 | W | Oct 30, 1987 | 5–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | T | Oct 31, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Boston Bruins | 7–4–2 |
| 14 | W | Nov 2, 1987 | 6–4 | St. Louis Blues | 8–4–2 |
| 15 | T | Nov 4, 1987 | 4–4 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks | 8–4–3 |
| 16 | W | Nov 7, 1987 | 5–4 | Philadelphia Flyers | 9–4–3 |
| 17 | W | Nov 9, 1987 | 3–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 10–4–3 |
| 18 | T | Nov 11, 1987 | 0–0 OT | @ Hartford Whalers | 10–4–4 |
| 19 | L | Nov 12, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins | 10–5–4 |
| 20 | W | Nov 14, 1987 | 3–0 | Chicago Blackhawks | 11–5–4 |
| 21 | T | Nov 16, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Hartford Whalers | 11–5–5 |
| 22 | W | Nov 18, 1987 | 5–2 | New York Islanders | 12–5–5 |
| 23 | W | Nov 21, 1987 | 2–1 | New Jersey Devils | 13–5–5 |
| 24 | L | Nov 23, 1987 | 3–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques | 13–6–5 |
| 25 | W | Nov 25, 1987 | 6–5 | @ Hartford Whalers | 14–6–5 |
| 26 | L | Nov 27, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars | 14–7–5 |
| 27 | W | Nov 28, 1987 | 7–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 15–7–5 |
| 28 | W | Nov 30, 1987 | 6–4 | Boston Bruins | 16–7–5 |
| 29 | T | Dec 2, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Vancouver Canucks | 16–7–6 |
| 30 | W | Dec 5, 1987 | 6–4 | Los Angeles Kings | 17–7–6 |
| 31 | W | Dec 8, 1987 | 3–2 | @ New York Islanders | 18–7–6 |
| 32 | T | Dec 9, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ New York Rangers | 18–7–7 |
| 33 | W | Dec 12, 1987 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings | 19–7–7 |
| 34 | W | Dec 16, 1987 | 5–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 20–7–7 |
| 35 | T | Dec 18, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres | 20–7–8 |
| 36 | L | Dec 19, 1987 | 1–2 | Buffalo Sabres | 20–8–8 |
| 37 | T | Dec 23, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals | 20–8–9 |
| 38 | W | Dec 26, 1987 | 4–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 21–8–9 |
| 39 | L | Dec 28, 1987 | 3–9 | @ Calgary Flames | 21–9–9 |
| 40 | W | Dec 29, 1987 | 4–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks | 22–9–9 |
| 41 | L | Jan 2, 1988 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 22–10–9 |
| 42 | L | Jan 6, 1988 | 5–6 | Buffalo Sabres | 22–11–9 |
| 43 | T | Jan 9, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Philadelphia Flyers | 22–11–10 |
| 44 | W | Jan 13, 1988 | 5–4 | Boston Bruins | 23–11–10 |
| 45 | L | Jan 14, 1988 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins | 23–12–10 |
| 46 | W | Jan 16, 1988 | 4–3 | New York Rangers | 24–12–10 |
| 47 | W | Jan 18, 1988 | 6–4 | Edmonton Oilers | 25–12–10 |
| 48 | L | Jan 21, 1988 | 1–4 | St. Louis Blues | 25–13–10 |
| 49 | L | Jan 23, 1988 | 3–4 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins | 25–14–10 |
| 50 | W | Jan 24, 1988 | 5–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 26–14–10 |
| 51 | W | Jan 27, 1988 | 4–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 27–14–10 |
| 52 | L | Jan 29, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Washington Capitals | 27–15–10 |
| 53 | W | Jan 30, 1988 | 6–2 | @ New York Islanders | 28–15–10 |
| 54 | W | Feb 1, 1988 | 5–4 | Hartford Whalers | 29–15–10 |
| 55 | W | Feb 3, 1988 | 5–2 | @ Hartford Whalers | 30–15–10 |
| 56 | L | Feb 4, 1988 | 3–7 | @ Boston Bruins | 30–16–10 |
| 57 | L | Feb 6, 1988 | 4–5 | Detroit Red Wings | 30–17–10 |
| 58 | L | Feb 11, 1988 | 2–4 | @ New Jersey Devils | 30–18–10 |
| 59 | L | Feb 13, 1988 | 1–4 | Hartford Whalers | 30–19–10 |
| 60 | L | Feb 15, 1988 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers | 30–20–10 |
| 61 | W | Feb 17, 1988 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins | 31–20–10 |
| 62 | W | Feb 20, 1988 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 32–20–10 |
| 63 | W | Feb 23, 1988 | 3–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 33–20–10 |
| 64 | W | Feb 24, 1988 | 5–4 | Vancouver Canucks | 34–20–10 |
| 65 | W | Feb 27, 1988 | 6–0 | Winnipeg Jets | 35–20–10 |
| 66 | W | Feb 29, 1988 | 2–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques | 36–20–10 |
| 67 | W | Mar 3, 1988 | 4–2 | @ St. Louis Blues | 37–20–10 |
| 68 | W | Mar 5, 1988 | 7–6 OT | @ Los Angeles Kings | 38–20–10 |
| 69 | W | Mar 9, 1988 | 4–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 39–20–10 |
| 70 | W | Mar 12, 1988 | 5–0 | Hartford Whalers | 40–20–10 |
| 71 | T | Mar 14, 1988 | 2–2 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars | 40–20–11 |
| 72 | W | Mar 16, 1988 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets | 41–20–11 |
| 73 | W | Mar 19, 1988 | 3–0 | Chicago Blackhawks | 42–20–11 |
| 74 | T | Mar 21, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Calgary Flames | 42–20–12 |
| 75 | W | Mar 23, 1988 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 43–20–12 |
| 76 | L | Mar 25, 1988 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 43–21–12 |
| 77 | L | Mar 27, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Hartford Whalers | 43–22–12 |
| 78 | W | Mar 31, 1988 | 3–1 | @ Boston Bruins | 44–22–12 |
| 79 | W | Apr 2, 1988 | 9–4 | Buffalo Sabres | 45–22–12 |
| 80 | T | Apr 3, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres | 45–22–13 |
Adams Division semi-finals
Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal CanadiensThe Habs almost squandered a 3–0 series lead. The deep Habs roster was the best team in the Wales Conference during the season, consisting of six 20–goal scorers and another six with between 10 and 20 goals. Their best assets were goaltenders Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
and backup Brian Hayward
Brian Hayward
Brian George Hayward is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and current colour analyst of the Anaheim Ducks on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West and KDOC.-Playing career:...
who won 23 and 22 games respectively. The Ron Francis
Ron Francis
Ronald Michael Francis, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
-led Whalers went 2–4–2 against the Canadiens during the season, twice losing by just one goal.
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6 | Hartford | 3 | Montreal | 4 | |
| April 7 | Hartford | 3 | Montreal | 7 | |
| April 9 | Montreal | 4 | Hartford | 3 | |
| April 10 | Montreal | 5 | Hartford | 7 | |
| April 12 | Hartford | 5 | Montreal | 3 | |
| April 14 | Montreal | 4 | Hartford | 2 |
Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–2
Adams Division finals
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal CanadiensThe Wales Conference's two best teams, and the NHL's two best defensive teams, met in this series with equal rest time. The Habs had beaten Boston in the Adams Division Semi-Finals four years in a row, sweeping the Bruins in three of the past four seasons, and beating them 3–2 in a best-of-five the other year. This time, the Bruins' defence would wear down Montreal, as Ken Linseman
Ken Linseman
Kenneth "The Rat" Linseman is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, Ray Bourque
Ray Bourque
Raymond Jean "Ray" Bourque is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently holds records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League . Bourque has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and...
and Cam Neely
Cam Neely
Cameron Michael Neely is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played right wing for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League from 1983 to 1996. He currently serves as the president of the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:Cam Neely was born in Comox,...
provided the offence to finally conquer the Canadiens. It was the first Bruins' playoff series win over the Habs in 44 seasons.
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 18 | Boston | 1 | Montreal | 5 | |
| April 20 | Boston | 4 | Montreal | 3 | |
| April 22 | Montreal | 1 | Boston | 3 | |
| April 24 | Montreal | 0 | Boston | 2 | |
| April 26 | Boston | 4 | Montreal | 1 |
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–1
Regular season
Scoring| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 78 | 27 | 66 | 93 | 78 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 4 | |
| LW | 78 | 24 | 59 | 83 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| RW | 72 | 50 | 28 | 78 | 72 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 11 | |
| RW | 78 | 31 | 30 | 61 | 137 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |
| D | 71 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 172 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 5 | |
| LW | 77 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 53 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| D | 53 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 30 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| LW | 71 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 152 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| C | 80 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 61 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| C/LW | 61 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 39 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |
| C | 79 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 112 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| D | 69 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 149 | 46 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| RW | 48 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| LW | 78 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| LW | 53 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 101 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 74 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 59 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 33 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 50 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 209 | |||||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| C | 17 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| D | 66 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 113 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 60 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G | 39 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G | 45 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2586 | 45 | 23 | 12 | 9 | 125 | 2.90 | 3 | 1248 | 1123 | .900 | |
| 2247 | 39 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 107 | 2.86 | 2 | 1032 | 925 | .896 | |
| 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8.33 | 0 | 22 | 17 | .773 | |
| Team: | 4869 | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 237 | 2.92 | 5 | 2302 | 2065 | .897 |
Playoffs
Scoring| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 8 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| LW | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| C | 11 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| LW | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| C | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| C/LW | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| C | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| D | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| C | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| LW | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| LW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| RW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| LW/D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 430 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 3.35 | 0 | 218 | 194 | .890 | |
| 230 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2.35 | 0 | 85 | 76 | .894 | |
| Team: | 660 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 3.00 | 0 | 303 | 270 | .891 |
Awards and records
- Frank J. Selke TrophyFrank J. Selke TrophyThe Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association following the regular season. It has been awarded 33 times to...
: || Guy CarbonneauGuy CarbonneauGuy Carbonneau is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He is also the president of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 's Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He has two daughters Anne-Marie and Kristina, with wife Line Carbonneau. Anne-Marie married his former... - Lady Byng Memorial TrophyLady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"...
: || Mats NaslundMats NäslundMats Näslund , nicknamed "Le Petit Viking", is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. He played as a left wing.-NHL career:... - William M. Jennings TrophyWilliam M. Jennings TrophyThe William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
: || Patrick RoyPatrick RoyPatrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
/Brian HaywardBrian HaywardBrian George Hayward is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and current colour analyst of the Anaheim Ducks on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West and KDOC.-Playing career:... - Patrick Roy, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star