1988 Stanley Cup playoffs

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The 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 6, after the conclusion of the 1987–88 NHL season. It concluded on May 26, with the defending champion Edmonton Oilers defeating the Boston Bruins to win their second straight Stanley Cup and fourth in five years.

The Stanley Cup

The Presidents' Trophy winning Calgary Flames had home ice during the playoffs thanks in part to Edmonton's struggles without Wayne Gretzky, who missed a number of games due to injury. The Oilers, who had won the Cup in three of the previous four seasons, were still thought to have a good chance at repeating with Gretzky's return. The clash between the Flames and Oilers in the Smythe Division Final was highly anticipated.

The New Jersey Devils made the playoffs for the first time in their history, winning in overtime at Chicago Stadium on the season's final day to edge the New York Rangers for the Patrick Division's fourth spot. This was only the second time they made the playoffs including their Colorado and Kansas City days.

Gretzky set NHL playoff records with 31 assists in 18 games and 13 points in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Playoff seeds

The following teams qualified for the playoffs:

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division

  1. Montreal Canadiens, Adams Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 103 points
  2. Boston Bruins – 94 points
  3. Buffalo Sabres – 85 points
  4. Hartford Whalers – 77 points

Patrick Division

  1. New York Islanders, Patrick Division champions – 88 points
  2. Washington Capitals – 85 points (38 wins, 9 points head-to-head vs. Philadelphia)
  3. Philadelphia Flyers – 85 points (38 wins, 5 points head-to-head vs. Washington)
  4. New Jersey Devils – 82 points

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division

  1. Detroit Red Wings, Norris Division champions – 93 points
  2. St. Louis Blues – 76 points
  3. Chicago Blackhawks – 69 points
  4. Toronto Maple Leafs – 52 points

Smythe Division

  1. Calgary Flames, Smythe Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 105 points
  2. Edmonton Oilers – 99 points
  3. Winnipeg Jets – 77 points
  4. Los Angeles Kings – 68 points

Playoff bracket

  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
A1  Montreal 4  
A4  Hartford 2  
  A1  Montreal 1  
  A2  Boston 4  
A2  Boston 4
A3  Buffalo 2  
  A2  Boston 4  
Prince of Wales Conference
  P4  New Jersey 3  
P1  NY Islanders 2  
P4  New Jersey 4  
  P4  New Jersey 4
  P2  Washington 3  
P2  Washington 4
P3  Philadelphia 3  
  A2  Boston 0
  S2  Edmonton 4
N1  Detroit 4  
N4  Toronto 2  
  N1  Detroit 4
  N2  St. Louis 1  
N2  St. Louis 4
N3  Chicago 1  
  N1  Detroit 1
Clarence Campbell Conference
  S2  Edmonton 4  
S1  Calgary 4  
S4  Los Angeles 1  
  S1  Calgary 0
  S2  Edmonton 4  
S2  Edmonton 4
S3  Winnipeg 1  


Division Semifinals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A4) Hartford Whalers

Montreal was the best team in the Wales Conference during the regular season.


Montreal won series 4–2


(A2) Boston Bruins vs (A3) Buffalo Sabres

Boston won series 4–2


(P1) New York Islanders vs. (P4) New Jersey Devils

This was the first and to date only playoff series between these two teams. This was the first time that a team representing the state of New Jersey qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs. This was the first ever playoff series victory for the Scouts/Rockies/Devils franchise.


New Jersey won series 4–2


(P2) Washington Capitals vs. (P3) Philadelphia Flyers

Washington overcame a 3–1 series deficit to advance to the second round for the first time in two years. Game seven ended when Dale Hunter scored at 5:57 of the first overtime period to complete the Capitals comeback.


Washington won series 4–3


Clarence Campbell Conference

(N1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (N4) Toronto Maple Leafs

Game six in Maple Leaf Gardens was future Hall of Famer Borje Salming's final playoff game in the NHL.


Detroit won series 4–2


(N2) St. Louis Blues vs. (N3) Chicago Blackhawks

St. Louis won series 4–1


(S1) Calgary Flames vs. (S4) Los Angeles Kings

Calgary won series 4–1


(S2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (S3) Winnipeg Jets

Edmonton won series 4–1


Division Finals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Boston Bruins

This was the twenty-third playoff series between these two teams. This was the fifth year in a row that these team met in the playoffs. Montreal had defeated Boston in the Division Semifinals the four previous seasons.

This was Boston's first playoff series victory against Montreal since 1943. Boston had lost the previous 18 playoff series between these two teams, an NHL record for most consecutive playoff series defeats to one team.


Boston won series 4–1


(P2) Washington Capitals vs. (P4) New Jersey Devils

Patrik Sundstrom's eight-point effort in game three (3 goals, 5 assists) set a new Stanley Cup playoff record for most points in a single game.


New Jersey won series 4–3


Clarence Campbell Conference

(N1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (N2) St. Louis Blues

Detroit won series 4–1


(S1) Calgary Flames vs. (S2) Edmonton Oilers

In the Battle of Alberta the Oilers would claim the first sweep of the playoffs. In game two Wayne Gretzky scored the overtime winning goal short-handed.


Edmonton won series 4–0


Conference Finals

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See also: NHL Conference Finals

Prince of Wales Conference Final

(A2) Boston Bruins vs. (P4) New Jersey Devils

This series also featured the infamous confrontation between Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld and referee Don Koharski after Game 3, when, during an argument in the tunnel after the game, Koharski tripped and fell, accusing Schoenfield of pushing him. Schoenfield famously responded, "You tripped and fell you fat pig!" Then, he yelled "Have another doughnut! Have another doughnut!" The incident has since become part of NHL lore.

Schoenfeld was suspended by NHL president John Ziegler for Game 4, but the Devils received an injunction from a New Jersey court, allowing Schoenfeld to coach the fourth game. In protest, the officials scheduled to work that game in the Meadlowands refused to take the ice, forcing the NHL to scramble for amateur officials to call the contest. The injunction was lifted and Schoenfeld served his suspension during Game 5 in the Boston Garden.


Boston won series 4–3


Clarence Campbell Conference Final

(S2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (N1) Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings were no match for the Oilers and were defeated in five games for the second consecutive year in the conference final.


Edmonton won series 4–1


Stanley Cup Finals

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Main article: 1988 Stanley Cup Finals

Game four is well known for fog that interfered with the game and a power outage that caused the game to be cancelled at 16:37 of the second period. This allowed the Oilers to win the Cup at home in the Northlands Coliseum and complete the sweep in a rescheduled game four.


Edmonton won series 4–0


See also

References

Preceded by Stanley Cup playoffs Succeeded by
1989 Stanley Cup playoffs
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