1987 Stanley Cup playoffs

The 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 8, after the conclusion of the 1986–87 NHL season. It concluded on May 31, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Stanley Cup. In an attempt to reduce the number of first round upsets, the NHL expanded the best-of-five series in the first round to a best-of-seven series.

The Stanley Cup

The 1987 playoffs marked the second consecutive year that all four former WHA teams made the playoffs in the same year. It would not happen again until 1999 by which time 3 of those teams had moved, the Quebec Nordiques to Denver, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, and the Hartford Whalers to Raleigh, North Carolina.

At the time the Philadelphia Flyers set an NHL playoff record by playing in 26 games during the playoffs. This record has since been equaled by two other teams (2004 Calgary Flames and 2014 Los Angeles Kings).

Playoff seeds

The following teams qualified for the playoffs:

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division

  1. Hartford Whalers, Adams Division champions – 93 points
  2. Montreal Canadiens – 92 points
  3. Boston Bruins – 85 points
  4. Quebec Nordiques – 72 points

Patrick Division

  1. Philadelphia Flyers, Patrick Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 100 points
  2. Washington Capitals – 86 points
  3. New York Islanders – 82 points
  4. New York Rangers – 76 points

Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division

  1. St. Louis Blues, Norris Division champions – 79 points
  2. Detroit Red Wings – 78 points
  3. Chicago Blackhawks – 72 points
  4. Toronto Maple Leafs – 70 points

Smythe Division

  1. Edmonton Oilers, Smythe Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 106 points
  2. Calgary Flames – 95 points
  3. Winnipeg Jets – 88 points
  4. Los Angeles Kings – 70 points

Playoff bracket

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

Division Semifinals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A1) Hartford Whalers vs. (A4) Quebec Nordiques

This was the last series that the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise won in Quebec City, the franchise did not win another playoff series until 1996 when they were the Colorado Avalanche.

Quebec won series 4–2

(A2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A3) Boston Bruins

Montreal won series 4–0

(P1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (P4) New York Rangers

Philadelphia won series 4–2

(P2) Washington Capitals vs. (P3) New York Islanders

Game seven of this series went four overtimes, and is known as the Easter Epic.

New York won series 4–3

Clarence Campbell Conference

(N1) St. Louis Blues vs. (N4) Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto won series 4–2

(N2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (N3) Chicago Blackhawks

Detroit won series 4–0

(S1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (S4) Los Angeles Kings

Edmonton won series 4–1

(S2) Calgary Flames vs. (S3) Winnipeg Jets

This was the last series that the Jets/Coyotes franchise won in Winnipeg, the franchise did not win another playoff series until the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinal.

Winnipeg won series 4–2

Division Finals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A4) Quebec Nordiques

Montreal won series 4–3

(P1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (P3) New York Islanders

Philadelphia won series 4–3

Clarence Campbell Conference

(N2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (N4) Toronto Maple Leafs

Detroit won series 4–3

(S1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (S3) Winnipeg Jets

Edmonton won series 4–0

Conference Finals

Prince of Wales Conference Final

(P1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (A2) Montreal Canadiens

Philadelphia won series 4–2

Clarence Campbell Conference Final

(S1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (N2) Detroit Red Wings

Edmonton won series 4–1

Stanley Cup Finals

The Oilers and Flyers would meet again in the finals for the second time in three years. This time, Edmonton was the regular season champion with 50 wins and 106 points, and Philadelphia was second with 46 wins and 100 points.

Unlike the 1985 final, this series would go the distance. Edmonton took the first two games at home, then split in Philadelphia. However, the Flyers won the next two games, one in Edmonton and one back in Philadelphia by one goal, to force a deciding seventh game. Edmonton won game seven to earn its third Stanley Cup in four seasons.

Edmonton won series 4–3


See also

References

    Preceded by
    1986 Stanley Cup playoffs    		 Stanley Cup playoffs Succeeded by
    1988 Stanley Cup playoffs