1986–87 Boston Bruins season

1986–87 Boston Bruins
Division	3rd Adams
Conference	5th Wales
1986–87 record	39–34–7
Home record	25–11–4
Road record	14–23–3
Goals for	301
Goals against	276
Team information
General manager	Harry Sinden
Coach	Butch Goring Terry O'Reilly
Captain	Ray Bourque Rick Middleton
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Boston Garden
Team leaders
Goals	Cam Neely (36)
Assists	Ray Bourque (72)
Points	Ray Bourque (95)
Penalty minutes	Nevin Markwart (225)
Plus/minus	Ray Bourque (44)
Wins	Doug Keans (18)
Goals against average	Doug Keans & Bill Ranford (3.34)

The 1986–87 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 63rd season.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division^[1]

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Hartford Whalers	80	43	30	7	287	270	93
Montreal Canadiens	80	41	29	10	277	241	92
Boston Bruins	80	39	34	7	301	276	85
Quebec Nordiques	80	31	39	10	267	276	72
Buffalo Sabres	80	28	44	8	280	308	64

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

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1986–87 NHL records[2] Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Boston — 3–4–1 2–6 2–5–1 6–2 13–17–2 Buffalo 4–3–1 — 4–4 1–5–2 3–4–1 12–16–4 Hartford 6–2 4–4 — 4–3–1 3–3–2 17–12–3 Montreal 5–2–1 5–1–2 3–4−1 — 5–3 18–10–4 Quebec 2–6 4–3–1 3–3–2 3–5 — 12–17–3 Vs. Patrick Division 1986–87 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Boston 1–1–1 2–0–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 8–7–3 Buffalo 2–1 1–1–1 1–2 1–2 0–2–1 2–1 7–9–2 Hartford 1–1–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–1 13–4–1 Montreal 2–1 1–1–1 2–0–1 0–2–1 1–1–1 0–3 6–8–4 Quebec 1–0–2 1–2 1–2 0–2–1 0–3 2–0–1 5–9–4 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total Boston 1–1–1 0–2–1 3–0 2–1 2–1 8–5–2 Buffalo 2–1 2–0–1 0–3 1–2 0–2–1 5–8–2 Hartford 1–2 1–1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 7–7–1 Montreal 2–0–1 1–1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 9–4–2 Quebec 2–1 1–2 2–0–1 0–3 3–0 8–6–1 Vs. Smythe Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total Boston 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 10–5–0 Buffalo 0–3 1–2 2–1 0–3 1–2 4–11–0 Hartford 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–0–1 1–1–1 6–7–2 Montreal 2–1 0–3 3–0 1–2 2–1 8–7–0 Quebec 1–2 0–3 3–0 2–1 0–1–2 6–7–2

Schedule and results

1986–87 regular season[3]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 L October 9, 1986 3–5 Calgary Flames (1986–87) 0–1–0 2 L October 11, 1986 4–5 @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) 0–2–0 3 W October 12, 1986 7–2 Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 1–2–0 4 W October 14, 1986 2–1 @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) 2–2–0 5 W October 16, 1986 5–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) 3–2–0 6 W October 18, 1986 4–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) 4–2–0 7 L October 22, 1986 1–5 @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) 4–3–0 8 L October 24, 1986 2–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) 4–4–0 9 W October 26, 1986 6–0 @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) 5–4–0 10 T October 30, 1986 3–3 OT Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 5–4–1
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 11 L November 1, 1986 2–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) 5–5–1 12 L November 2, 1986 1–7 Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 5–6–1 13 L November 5, 1986 3–8 @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 5–7–1 14 W November 8, 1986 5–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 6–7–1 15 L November 12, 1986 1–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) 6–8–1 16 W November 13, 1986 4–3 OT Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) 7–8–1 17 T November 15, 1986 5–5 OT New Jersey Devils (1986–87) 7–8–2 18 L November 17, 1986 2–3 OT @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 7–9–2 19 T November 19, 1986 4–4 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 7–9–3 20 L November 20, 1986 1–3 Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 7–10–3 21 W November 22, 1986 6–5 St. Louis Blues (1986–87) 8–10–3 22 W November 24, 1986 3–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) 9–10–3 23 T November 26, 1986 2–2 OT @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) 9–10–4 24 L November 28, 1986 3–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 9–11–4 25 W November 29, 1986 6–2 Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 10–11–4
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 26 W December 4, 1986 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 11–11–4 27 W December 6, 1986 5–0 Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) 12–11–4 28 W December 7, 1986 3–1 New York Islanders (1986–87) 13–11–4 29 W December 11, 1986 4–2 Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) 14–11–4 30 W December 13, 1986 4–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 15–11–4 31 W December 14, 1986 6–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 16–11–4 32 L December 18, 1986 5–6 Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 16–12–4 33 L December 20, 1986 2–6 Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) 16–13–4 34 L December 23, 1986 0–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 16–14–4 35 L December 27, 1986 1–2 OT @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) 16–15–4 36 L December 30, 1986 3–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) 16–16–4
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 37 W January 2, 1987 7–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) 17–16–4 38 W January 3, 1987 5–4 @ New York Islanders (1986–87) 18–16–4 39 L January 5, 1987 1–2 Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 18–17–4 40 T January 8, 1987 4–4 OT Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) 18–17–5 41 L January 10, 1987 4–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) 18–18–5 42 W January 12, 1987 4–1 New York Rangers (1986–87) 19–18–5 43 L January 14, 1987 1–3 @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 19–19–5 44 W January 15, 1987 6–4 Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 20–19–5 45 W January 17, 1987 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) 21–19–5 46 W January 20, 1987 5–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 22–19–5 47 W January 22, 1987 7–3 Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 23–19–5 48 W January 24, 1987 5–3 Calgary Flames (1986–87) 24–19–5 49 W January 26, 1987 6–2 Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 25–19–5 50 L January 29, 1987 3–6 Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 25–20–5 51 W January 31, 1987 6–3 Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) 26–20–5
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 52 L February 1, 1987 4–5 @ New York Rangers (1986–87) 26–21–5 53 W February 5, 1987 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) 27–21–5 54 W February 7, 1987 8–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) 28–21–5 55 L February 8, 1987 1–2 Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 28–22–5 56 L February 14, 1987 4–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) 28–23–5 57 L February 16, 1987 3–7 @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 28–24–5 58 L February 18, 1987 3–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 28–25–5 59 L February 20, 1987 2–6 @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) 28–26–5 60 W February 21, 1987 1–0 @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) 29–26–5 61 L February 25, 1987 4–6 @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 29–27–5 62 W February 26, 1987 6–2 Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 30–27–5 63 W February 28, 1987 5–1 Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) 31–27–5
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 64 L March 2, 1987 3–4 OT Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) 31–28–5 65 T March 3, 1987 4–4 OT @ New York Islanders (1986–87) 31–28–6 66 L March 5, 1987 2–10 @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) 31–29–6 67 W March 7, 1987 3–2 OT Washington Capitals (1986–87) 32–29–6 68 L March 11, 1987 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1986–87) 32–30–6 69 W March 12, 1987 6–4 St. Louis Blues (1986–87) 33–30–6 70 T March 14, 1987 4–4 OT Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) 33–30–7 71 L March 17, 1987 1–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) 33–31–7 72 W March 19, 1987 6–2 Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) 34–31–7 73 W March 21, 1987 8–6 Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) 35–31–7 74 L March 22, 1987 3–4 @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) 35–32–7 75 W March 26, 1987 4–1 Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) 36–32–7 76 W March 28, 1987 2–1 Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) 37–32–7 77 W March 29, 1987 8–6 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) 38–32–7 78 W March 31, 1987 4–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 39–32–7
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 79 L April 4, 1987 1–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) 39–33–7 80 L April 5, 1987 4–6 Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) 39–34–7
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Notable games

• November 20 – "Brawl in the Hallway"; Near the end of the second period, Chris Nilan while leaving the ice on a game misconduct for fighting and takes a swing at Ken Linseman on the Boston bench, igniting a brawl that spills up the runaway leading to the dressing rooms. Nilan and Ryan Walter are suspended for three games while Claude Lemieux sits for one game. The Canadiens are fined $9,000 and the Bruins $5,000 while the players' fines total $4,400.^[4]

Playoffs

1987 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Adams Division Semifinals vs. (A2) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Record 1 April 8 Boston Bruins 2–6 Montreal Canadiens 0–1 2 April 9 Boston Bruins 3–4 (OT) Montreal Canadiens 0–2 3 April 11 Montreal Canadiens 5–4 Boston Bruins 0–3 4 April 12 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Boston Bruins 0–4
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Ray Bourque	D	78	23	72	95	36	44	6	1	3
Cam Neely	RW	75	36	36	72	143	23	7	0	3
Charlie Simmer	LW	80	29	40	69	59	20	11	0	4
Rick Middleton	RW	76	31	37	68	6	7	4	4	3
Tom McCarthy	LW	68	30	29	59	31	10	7	0	6
Keith Crowder	RW	58	22	30	52	106	20	4	0	5
Steve Kasper	C	79	20	30	50	51	-4	4	2	2
Ken Linseman	C	64	15	34	49	126	15	3	0	3
Thomas Gradin	C	64	12	31	43	18	4	2	3	3
Geoff Courtnall	LW	65	13	23	36	117	-4	2	0	1
Reed Larson	D	66	12	24	36	95	9	9	0	1
Greg Johnston	RW	76	12	15	27	79	-7	0	0	1
Mike Milbury	D	68	6	16	22	96	22	0	1	1
Michael Thelven	D	34	5	15	20	18	-2	3	0	0
Nevin Markwart	LW	64	10	9	19	225	-6	0	0	2
Dwight Foster	RW	47	4	12	16	37	1	0	1	0
Paul Boutilier	D	52	5	9	14	84	-2	1	1	0
Allen Pedersen	D	79	1	11	12	71	-15	0	0	0
Kraig Nienhuis	LW	16	4	2	6	2	-5	2	0	0
Dave Reid	LW	12	3	3	6	0	-1	0	0	0
Bob Sweeney	C/RW	14	2	4	6	21	-5	0	0	0
Lyndon Byers	RW	18	2	3	5	53	-1	0	0	0
Randy Burridge	LW	23	1	4	5	16	-6	0	0	1
Jay Miller	LW	55	1	4	5	208	-11	0	0	0
Mats Thelin	D	59	1	3	4	69	-8	0	0	0
Wade Campbell	D	14	0	3	3	24	-1	0	0	0
Doug Keans	G	36	0	2	2	24	0	0	0	0
Frank Simonetti	D	25	1	0	1	17	-6	0	0	0
John Carter	LW	8	0	1	1	0	3	0	0	0
Bill Ranford	G	41	0	1	1	8	0	0	0	0
Alain Cote	D	3	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Cleon Daskalakis	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pat Riggin	G	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Roberto Romano	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Doug Keans	1942	36	18	8	4	108	3.34	0	909	801	.881
Bill Ranford	2234	41	16	20	2	124	3.33	3	1137	1013	.891
Pat Riggin	513	10	3	5	1	29	3.39	0	236	207	.877
Cleon Daskalakis	97	2	2	0	0	7	4.33	0	51	44	.863
Roberto Romano	60	1	0	1	0	6	6.00	0	34	28	.824
Team:	4846	80	39	34	7	274	3.39	3	2367	2093	.884

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Cam Neely	RW	4	5	1	6	8	-1	3	0	0
Rick Middleton	RW	4	2	2	4	0	-1	1	1	0
Thomas Gradin	C	4	0	4	4	0	-1	0	0	0
Ray Bourque	D	4	1	2	3	0	-1	0	0	0
Ken Linseman	C	4	1	1	2	22	-2	0	0	0
Tom McCarthy	LW	4	1	1	2	4	-4	1	0	0
Steve Kasper	C	3	0	2	2	0	-4	0	0	0
Reed Larson	D	4	0	2	2	2	-6	0	0	0
Randy Burridge	LW	2	1	0	1	2	-2	0	0	0
Keith Crowder	RW	4	0	1	1	4	-1	0	0	0
Lyndon Byers	RW	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Wade Campbell	D	4	0	0	0	11	-2	0	0	0
Geoff Courtnall	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dwight Foster	RW	3	0	0	0	0	-2	0	0	0
Greg Johnston	RW	4	0	0	0	0	-4	0	0	0
Doug Keans	G	2	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
Nevin Markwart	LW	4	0	0	0	9	-3	0	0	0
Mike Milbury	D	4	0	0	0	4	-2	0	0	0
Allen Pedersen	D	4	0	0	0	4	-5	0	0	0
Bill Ranford	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dave Reid	LW	2	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Charlie Simmer	LW	1	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0
Frank Simonetti	D	4	0	0	0	6	-1	0	0	0
Bob Sweeney	C/RW	3	0	0	0	0	-2	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Doug Keans	120	2	0	2	11	5.50	0	58	47	.810
Bill Ranford	123	2	0	2	8	3.90	0	55	47	.855
Team:	243	4	0	4	19	4.69	0	113	94	.832

^[5]

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	13	Craig Janney	United States	Boston College (Hockey East)
2	34	Pekka Tirkkonen	Finland	SaPKo (Finland)
4	76	Dean Hall	Canada	St. James Canadians (MJHL)
5	97	Matt Pesklewis	Canada	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
6	118	Garth Premak	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WHL)
7	139	Paul Beraldo	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
8	160	Brian Ferreira	United States	Falmouth High School (MIAA)
9	181	Jeff Flaherty	United States	Weymouth High School (MIAA)
10	202	Greg Hawgood	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
11	223	Staffan Malmqvist	Sweden	Leksands IF (Sweden)
12	244	Joel Gardner	Canada	Sarnia Legionnaires (WOJBHL)
S2	16	Chris Olson	United States	University of Denver (WCHA)

See also

• 1986–87 NHL season

References

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. "1986-87 Boston Bruins Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
4. "Bruins-Canadiens rivalry photo gallery." SportsIllustrated.com. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
5. "1986-87 Boston Bruins Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2009.