By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
The 1987-88 Boston Bruins were no slouches. Led by Ray Bourque and Rick Middleton, the team worked hard to win 44 games, defeat the rest of the East Coast, and reach the Stanley Cup Final. But running into the Edmonton Oilers brought a swift end to their deep postseason dive, killing the shining dreams of the team’s sixth championship.
The Bruins roster was made up of some modern greats, including Bourque, Cam Neely, and Andy Moog. This combination of veteran leadership and young talent made them one of the best teams in the National Hockey League, with a strong balance of skill and determination. As such, they deserve to be remembered as more than victims of the Edmonton dynasty that left a trail of broken hearts.
The Bruins took on the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils to advance to the last stage of the playoffs. It was a strenuous road, requiring six, five, and seven games in each respective round. They displayed tremendous resilience, especially when defeating long-term rivals the Habs, who had won the last 18 playoff series between the two, and breaking a league record for the most consecutive playoff series losses to one team.
But this accolade quickly faded into the rear-view as the Stanley Cup Finals saw a brutal four-game sweep that resulted in the Bruins being another casualty. The harsh result can be best explained by the Oilers’ stacked roster. This included Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri – and they were coming off their own dynasty.
Though the outcome looks to be a blowout, the Bruins were not as in over their heads as it may seem from a first glance. Game one saw Neely score in the second period, assisted by Craig Janney and Gord Kluzak, to tie the game 1-1, and it was only in the third period that Keith Acton managed to achieve another goal to give the Oilers an early lead.
Game two also saw a similar chain of events despite the 4-2 score. The Oilers scored first, getting themselves up by two goals, before Bob Joyce and Ken Linseman evened out the board for the Bruins. The latter stages of the third period saw the Oilers pull ahead as Gretzky buried the puck, followed by an empty-netter by Kurri with just seven seconds left in the game.
Not only did the Bruins have to face the formidable defending champions, but they infamously also had to deal with the power outage at Boston Garden in the midst of game four. The teams were tied at 3-3 when the lights went out, and the Bruins’ championship opportunity went dark. With the game suspended and the repeat carried out in Edmonton, the Oilers were able to complete the sweep with a 6-3 victory in front of the raucous home crowd.
But despite the Oilers’ dominance, the 1987-88 Bruins were not pushovers. They proved their mettle and earned their place in the Stanley Cup Final, providing their grit and tenacity all the way. Consequently, they deserve to be respected as a competitive and fearsome team, regardless of the final result.
The disappointment still lingers over the final score, but the sore ending does not erase the strength of the Bruins team that proved their quality against the rest of the league. Remarkable achievements were earned and celebrated, demonstrating the heart and character that have continued to define the Boston Bruins across generations. For these reasons, the 1987-88 Bruins remain a beloved and memorable squad with their full legacy in mind.
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