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1988–89 New York Islanders
1988–89 New York Islanders
Division	6th Patrick
Conference	10th Wales
1988–89 record	28–47–5
Goals for	265
Goals against	325
Team information
General manager	Bill Torrey
Coach	Terry Simpson and Al Arbour
Captain	Brent Sutter
Arena	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Team leaders
Goals	Pat LaFontaine (45)
Assists	Pat LaFontaine (43)
Points	Pat LaFontaine (88)
Penalty minutes	Rich Pilon (242)
Wins	Kelly Hrudey (18)
Goals against average	Jeff Hackett (3.53)
	← 1987–88 1989–90 →

The 1988–89 New York Islanders season was the 17th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Islanders finish in last place in the Patrick Division with a record of 28 wins, 47 losses, and 5 ties for 61 points, failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 1974.

Regular season

Final standings

Patrick Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Washington Capitals	80	41	29	10	305	259	92
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	40	33	7	347	349	87
New York Rangers	80	37	35	8	310	307	82
Philadelphia Flyers	80	36	36	8	307	285	80
New Jersey Devils	80	27	41	12	281	325	66
New York Islanders	80	28	47	5	265	325	61

^[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Patrick Division

1988–89 NHL records^[2]
Team	NJD	NYI	NYR	PHI	PIT	WSH	Total
New Jersey	—	1–4–2	4–3	2–5	1–4–2	4–3	12–19–4
N.Y. Islanders	4–1–2	—	2–5	1–5–1	2–4–1	3–4	12–19–4
N.Y. Rangers	3–4	5–2	—	3–3–1	3–3–1	3–2–2	17–14–4
Philadelphia	5–2	5–1–1	3–3–1	—	3–4	3–4	19–14–2
Pittsburgh	4–1–2	4–2–1	3–3–1	4–3	—	4–3	19–12–4
Washington	3–4	4–3	2–3–2	4–3	3–4	—	16–17–2

Vs. Adams Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	HFD	MTL	QUE	Total
New Jersey	0–2–1	1–2	1–2	0–3	1–2	3–11–1
N.Y. Islanders	1–2	0–3	1–2	2–1	2–1	6–9–0
N.Y. Rangers	0–1–2	0–3	1–2	0–3	2–1	3–10–2
Philadelphia	1–2	2–1	1–1–1	0–1–2	2–1	6–6–3
Pittsburgh	1–1–1	1–2	1–2	1–2	1–2	5–9–1
Washington	1–1–1	3–0	3–0	1–1–1	2–0–1	10–2–3

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Norris Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	CHI	DET	MIN	STL	TOR	Total
New Jersey	2–1	2–0–1	1–1–1	2–1	2–1	9–4–2
N.Y. Islanders	0–3	0–3	2–1	1–2	1–2	4–11–0
N.Y. Rangers	2–0–1	0–3	2–1	3–0	1–1–1	8–5–2
Philadelphia	3–0	1–2	2–1	0–3	2–1	8–7–0
Pittsburgh	3–0	2–0–1	1–2	1–1–1	2–1	9–4–2
Washington	2–1	1–1–1	1–1–1	2–0–1	2–1	8–4–3

Vs. Smythe Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	CGY	EDM	LAK	VAN	WIN	Total
New Jersey	0–3	2–1	0–1–2	1–1–1	0–1–2	3–7–5
N.Y. Islanders	0–2–1	1–2	1–2	2–1	2–1	6–8–1
N.Y. Rangers	1–2	1–2	2–1	3–0	2–1	9–6–0
Philadelphia	0–3	0–1–2	1–2	0–3	2–0–1	3–9–3
Pittsburgh	1–2	1–2	1–2	2–1	2–1	7–8–0
Washington	0–2–1	2–1	1–1–1	2–1	2–1	7–6–2

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	T	October 6, 1988	4–4 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)	0–0–1
2	L	October 7, 1988	1–5	@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	0–1–1
3	L	October 9, 1988	5–6 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	0–2–1
4	W	October 10, 1988	3–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	1–2–1
5	W	October 15, 1988	2–1	Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	2–2–1
6	W	October 18, 1988	3–2	Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	3–2–1
7	W	October 22, 1988	7–3	Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	4–2–1
8	L	October 25, 1988	3–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	4–3–1
9	L	October 27, 1988	2–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	4–4–1
10	L	October 29, 1988	2–3 OT	@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	4–5–1
11	L	November 1, 1988	1–8	Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	4–6–1
12	L	November 4, 1988	2–4	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	4–7–1
13	W	November 5, 1988	4–3 OT	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	5–7–1
14	W	November 8, 1988	4–3	New York Rangers (1988–89)	6–7–1
15	T	November 11, 1988	3–3 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	6–7–2
16	L	November 12, 1988	0–3	Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	6–8–2
17	L	November 15, 1988	1–5	Calgary Flames (1988–89)	6–9–2
18	L	November 16, 1988	4–5 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	6–10–2
19	W	November 19, 1988	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	7–10–2
20	L	November 22, 1988	2–4	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	7–11–2
21	L	November 23, 1988	6–7	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	7–12–2
22	L	November 26, 1988	4–6	New York Rangers (1988–89)	7–13–2
23	L	November 27, 1988	3–5	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	7–14–2
24	L	November 29, 1988	3–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	7–15–2
25	L	December 1, 1988	0–8	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	7–16–2
26	L	December 3, 1988	2–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	7–17–2
27	L	December 6, 1988	3–4	Boston Bruins (1988–89)	7–18–2
28	L	December 9, 1988	5–6	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	7–19–2
29	L	December 10, 1988	3–4	Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	7–20–2
30	L	December 14, 1988	1–2	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	7–21–2
31	L	December 15, 1988	2–8	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	7–22–2
32	W	December 17, 1988	5–2	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	8–22–2
33	L	December 20, 1988	3–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	8–23–2
34	L	December 22, 1988	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	8–24–2
35	W	December 26, 1988	4–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	9–24–2
36	W	December 31, 1988	6–4	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	10–24–2
37	L	January 3, 1989	1–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	10–25–2
38	W	January 5, 1989	5–3	@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)	11–25–2
39	L	January 7, 1989	1–5	New York Rangers (1988–89)	11–26–2
40	L	January 8, 1989	2–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	11–27–2
41	L	January 10, 1989	3–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	11–28–2
42	W	January 13, 1989	5–3	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	12–28–2
43	L	January 14, 1989	3–5	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	12–29–2
44	W	January 17, 1989	5–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	13–29–2
45	W	January 19, 1989	4–2	Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	14–29–2
46	W	January 21, 1989	8–6	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	15–29–2
47	T	January 24, 1989	2–2 OT	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	15–29–3
48	W	January 26, 1989	8–6	Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	16–29–3
49	L	January 28, 1989	4–7	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	16–30–3
50	L	January 30, 1989	3–7	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	16–31–3
51	L	February 2, 1989	1–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	16–32–3
52	W	February 4, 1989	5–3	Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	17–32–3
53	W	February 5, 1989	3–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	18–32–3
54	L	February 10, 1989	1–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	18–33–3
55	L	February 11, 1989	0–5	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	18–34–3
56	W	February 14, 1989	5–3	Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	19–34–3
57	W	February 16, 1989	7–3	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	20–34–3
58	W	February 18, 1989	3–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	21–34–3
59	L	February 19, 1989	4–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	21–35–3
60	L	February 21, 1989	5–6	Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	21–36–3
61	L	February 22, 1989	5–7	@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	21–37–3
62	T	February 25, 1989	5–5 OT	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	21–37–4
63	L	February 28, 1989	1–3	Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	21–38–4
64	L	March 1, 1989	5–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)	21–39–4
65	L	March 4, 1989	3–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	21–40–4
66	W	March 5, 1989	4–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	22–40–4
67	L	March 7, 1989	1–2	Boston Bruins (1988–89)	22–41–4
68	T	March 9, 1989	4–4 OT	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	22–41–5
69	W	March 11, 1989	3–2 OT	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	23–41–5
70	W	March 13, 1989	5–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	24–41–5
71	L	March 14, 1989	2–8	@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	24–42–5
72	L	March 18, 1989	1–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	24–43–5
73	L	March 19, 1989	2–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	24–44–5
74	L	March 21, 1989	1–4	@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)	24–45–5
75	W	March 23, 1989	3–1	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	25–45–5
76	L	March 26, 1989	2–3	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	25–46–5
77	W	March 28, 1989	5–4	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	26–46–5
78	W	March 29, 1989	5–4 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	27–46–5
79	L	April 1, 1989	3–4	Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	27–47–5
80	W	April 2, 1989	6–4	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	28–47–5

Playoffs

In 1988–89, the Islanders failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1973–74 season. This broke a streak of 14 consecutive playoff appearances for the team, which included four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983.

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
Pat LaFontaine	79	45	43	88	26
Brent Sutter	77	29	34	63	77
David Volek	77	25	34	59	24
Bryan Trottier	73	17	28	45	44
Mikko Mäkelä	76	17	28	45	22
Derek King	60	14	29	43	14
Alan Kerr	71	20	18	38	144
Randy Wood	77	15	13	28	44
Patrick Flatley	41	10	15	25	31
Brad Dalgarno	55	11	10	21	86
Greg Gilbert	55	8	13	21	45
Raimo Helminen	24	1	11	12	4
Tom Fitzgerald	23	3	5	8	10
Richard Kromm	20	1	6	7	4
Brad Lauer	14	3	2	5	2
Bob Bassen	19	1	4	5	21
Mick Vukota	48	2	2	4	237
Dale Henry	22	2	2	4	66
Bill Berg	7	1	2	3	10
Mike Walsh	13	2	0	2	4
Mike Stevens	9	1	0	1	14
Rob DiMaio	16	1	0	1	30
Rod Dallman	1	0	0	0	15

Defencemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
Gerald Diduck	65	11	21	32	155
Tomas Jonsson	53	9	23	32	34
Jeff Norton	69	1	30	31	74
Reed Larson	33	7	13	20	35
Marc Bergevin	58	2	13	15	62
Rich Pilon	62	0	14	14	242
Gary Nylund	46	4	8	12	74
Steve Konroyd	21	1	5	6	2
Ken Morrow	34	1	3	4	32
Wayne McBean	19	0	1	1	12
Dean Chynoweth	6	0	0	0	48
Chris Pryor	7	0	0	0	25
Jeff Finley	4	0	0	0	6

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player	GP	W	L	T	GAA
Kelly Hrudey	50	18	24	3	3.92
Jeff Hackett	13	4	7	0	3.53
Mark Fitzpatrick	11	3	5	2	3.92
Billy Smith	17	3	11	0	4.44

Awards and records

Bryan Trottier, King Clancy Memorial Trophy
David Volek, Wing, NHL 1st All-Rookie Team

Transactions

Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	16	Kevin Cheveldayoff	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2	29	Wayne Doucet	Canada	Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
2	37	Sean LeBrun	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WHL)
3	58	Danny Lorenz	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
4	79	Andre Brassard	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
5	100	Paul Rutherford	Canada	Ohio State University (CCHA)
6	111	Pavel Gross	Czechoslovakia	Sparta Prague (Czechoslovakia)
6	121	Jason Rathbone	United States	Brookline High School (USHS-MA)
7	142	Yves Gaucher	Canada	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
8	163	Marty McInnis	United States	Milton Academy (USHS-MA)
9	173	Patrick Forrest	United States	St. Cloud State University (NCAA Independent)
9	184	Jeff Blumer	United States	College of St. Thomas (MIAC)
10	205	Jeffery Kampersal	United States	St. John's Preparatory School (USHS-MA)
11	226	Phil Neururer	United States	Osseo Senior High School (USHS-MN)
12	247	Joe Capprini	United States	Babson College (NEWMAC)
S	21	Doug Melnyk	Canada	Western Michigan University (CCHA)

Farm teams

References

^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.