The 1987–88 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 79th season . The club finished 1st in the Adams Division and defeated the Hartford Whalers in the first round, but were eliminated in the Division Final by the Boston Bruins 4 games to 1.
Canadiens General Manager Serge Savard was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup . [1] Canadiens head coach Jean Perron would be selected as one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada. [2]
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Regular Season Results
No.
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
Montreal Canadiens 4 Hartford Whalers 2 [ edit | edit source]
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.
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
Boston Bruins 4, Montreal Canadiens 1 [ edit | edit source]
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.
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
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
PPG
SHG
GWG
Smith, Bobby Bobby Smith
C
78
27
66
93
78
13
8
0
4
Naslund, Mats Mats Naslund
LW
78
24
59
83
14
17
4
0
2
Richer, Stephane Stephane Richer
RW
72
50
28
78
72
12
16
0
11
Lemieux, Claude Claude Lemieux
RW
78
31
30
61
137
16
6
0
3
Chelios, Chris Chris Chelios
D
71
20
41
61
172
14
10
1
5
McPhee, Mike Mike McPhee
LW
77
23
20
43
53
19
0
2
4
Robinson, Larry Larry Robinson
D
53
6
34
40
30
26
2
0
1
Corson, Shayne Shayne Corson
LW
71
12
27
39
152
22
2
0
2
Carbonneau, Guy Guy Carbonneau
C
80
17
21
38
61
14
0
3
1
Walter, Ryan Ryan Walter
C/LW
61
13
23
36
39
12
6
0
3
Skrudland, Brian Brian Skrudland
C
79
12
24
36
112
14
0
1
3
Svoboda, Petr Petr Svoboda
D
69
7
22
29
149
46
2
0
1
Dahlin, Kjell Kjell Dahlin
RW
48
13
12
25
6
5
2
0
2
Gainey, Bob Bob Gainey
LW
78
11
11
22
14
8
0
0
1
Momesso, Sergio Sergio Momesso
LW
53
7
14
21
101
9
1
0
0
Ludwig, Craig Craig Ludwig
D
74
4
10
14
69
17
0
0
0
Green, Rick Rick Green
D
59
2
11
13
33
21
1
0
0
Nilan, Chris Chris Nilan
RW
50
7
5
12
209
-2
0
0
1
Thibaudeau, Gilles Gilles Thibaudeau
C
17
5
6
11
0
6
2
0
1
Lalor, Mike Mike Lalor
D
66
1
10
11
113
4
0
0
0
Kordic, John John Kordic
RW
60
2
6
8
159
0
0
0
0
Trader, Larry Larry Trader
D
30
2
4
6
19
2
1
0
0
Boisvert, Serge Serge Boisvert
RW
5
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
Charbonneau, Jose Jose Charbonneau
RW
16
0
2
2
6
1
0
0
0
Hayward, Brian Brian Hayward
G
39
0
2
2
24
0
0
0
0
Roy, Patrick Patrick Roy
G
45
0
2
2
14
0
0
0
0
Ganchar, Perry Perry Ganchar
RW
1
1
0
1
0
-1
0
0
0
Gingras, Gaston Gaston Gingras
D
2
0
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
Sandelin, Scott Scott Sandelin
D
8
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
Riendeau, Vincent Vincent Riendeau
G
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Schneider, Mathieu Mathieu Schneider
D
4
0
0
0
2
-1
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
T
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Roy, Patrick Patrick Roy
2586
45
23
12
9
125
2.90
3
1248
1123
.900
Hayward, Brian Brian Hayward
2247
39
22
10
4
107
2.86
2
1032
925
.896
Riendeau, Vincent Vincent Riendeau
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
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
Richer, Stephane Stephane Richer
RW
8
7
5
12
6
1
0
2
McPhee, Mike Mike McPhee
LW
11
4
3
7
8
0
1
0
Smith, Bobby Bobby Smith
C
11
3
4
7
8
1
0
0
Naslund, Mats Mats Naslund
LW
6
0
7
7
2
0
0
0
Thibaudeau, Gilles Gilles Thibaudeau
C
8
3
3
6
2
1
0
0
Dahlin, Kjell Kjell Dahlin
RW
11
2
4
6
2
0
0
0
Walter, Ryan Ryan Walter
C/LW
11
2
4
6
6
2
0
1
Skrudland, Brian Brian Skrudland
C
11
1
5
6
24
0
0
0
Lemieux, Claude Claude Lemieux
RW
11
3
2
5
20
0
0
2
Robinson, Larry Larry Robinson
D
11
1
4
5
4
0
0
0
Svoboda, Petr Petr Svoboda
D
10
0
5
5
12
0
0
0
Chelios, Chris Chris Chelios
D
11
3
1
4
29
1
0
0
Kordic, John John Kordic
RW
7
2
2
4
26
0
0
0
Carbonneau, Guy Guy Carbonneau
C
11
0
4
4
2
0
0
0
Ludwig, Craig Craig Ludwig
D
11
1
1
2
6
0
0
0
Green, Rick Rick Green
D
11
0
2
2
2
0
0
0
Momesso, Sergio Sergio Momesso
LW
6
0
2
2
16
0
0
0
Corson, Shayne Shayne Corson
LW
3
1
0
1
12
0
0
0
Boisvert, Serge Serge Boisvert
RW
3
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
Gainey, Bob Bob Gainey
LW
6
0
1
1
6
0
0
0
Charbonneau, Jose Jose Charbonneau
RW
8
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
Fletcher, Steven Steven Fletcher
LW/D
1
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
Lalor, Mike Mike Lalor
D
11
0
0
0
11
0
0
0
Hayward, Brian Brian Hayward
G
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Roy, Patrick Patrick Roy
G
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Roy, Patrick Patrick Roy
430
8
3
4
24
3.35
0
218
194
.890
Hayward, Brian Brian Hayward
230
4
2
2
9
2.35
0
85
76
.894
Team:
660
11
5
6
33
3.00
0
303
270
.891
[3]
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage
↑ Gretzky to Lemieux: The Story of the 1987 Canada Cup, p.8, Ed Willies, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7710-8942-8
↑ Gretzky to Lemieux: The Story of the 1987 Canada Cup, p.4, Ed Willies, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7710-8942-8
↑ 1987-88 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com . hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.