1987-88 PATRICK DIVISION CHAMPIONS
By Stan Fischler
There was nothing to suggest that the 1987-88 season was going to be anything special.
A bitter seven-game second-round playoff loss to the Flyers in 1987 had left a sour aftertaste all summer, and Head Coach Terry Simpson did nothing to sweeten the digestion.
As a matter of fact, despite a winning record and two rounds of inspired hockey, he aggravated the situation upon elimination that spring with a nasty crack that enraged just about everyone right down to the stickboy.
"What did we have?" Simpson asked rhetorically in the moment. "Nothing. No leadership, no intensity, no system. No mental toughness. And the regular season is where you've got to develop all the things you need to overcome a situation like our losing Game Seven in Philly."
The team's burden grew heavier when a bad back forced Mike Bossy into retirement and captain Denis Potvin announced that '87-88 would be the last of his Hall of Fame career.
"I've done just about everything I can do," Potvin declared. "I didn't want to play for one season too many."
In an era when performers in all sports were hanging around extra years far beyond their prime just for a paycheck, Potvin's retirement was both graceful and heroic.
Potvin also wished to relinquish the role of captain for his last season, and Simpson was confronted with the task of finding a new player to wear the “C” for the following campaign. He decided on allowing his skaters to hold a secret vote among themselves. Most outsiders believed that the captaincy would be given to the veteran and future Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier. To simplify it, Simpson handed each Islander a scrap of paper with only two names on it -- Trots and Brent Sutter.
In a very close vote, Sutter was elected, while Trottier and defenseman Steve Konroyd were named alternate captains. Sutter got the nod because his determined style and influence in the dressing room was far reaching. What's more he was respected throughout the league and soon would help the Islanders execute an amazingly successful season, despite predictions to the contrary.
Opening in Los Angeles, the Isles earned a 4-1 victory. Better still, Trottier was a true pro around his teammates’ decision on the captaincy. Bryan and Mikko Makela formed an effective one-two punch and were the club's leaders on offense. Within the season's first quarter, the club's record was a stunning 14-5-1. It was their best start since 1978-79.
Simpson never relaxed his stern hand. In the middle of a sluggish 5-2 loss at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, he had the audacity to order defenseman Gerald Diduck, Brad Lauer and Makela to remove their jerseys and stay in the clubhouse. Three nights later, the Islanders showed that they got the coach's message; they blitzed the Rangers, 8-2.
Although Bill Smith was in his career's twilight, Kelly Hrudey was flourishing between the pipes while several teammates enjoyed career years. Pat LaFontaine added points to his leadership skills while understudies such as Makela and Alan Kerr reached new heights of success.
"Terry was tough on me," Makela later said, "but I learned a lot from him."
Now in his third NHL season, Makela would score a career-high 36 goals. Other highlights included Potvin scoring his record 300th goal in an 8-5 win over Quebec on January 14, 1988 and LaFontaine being named to the All-Star Game while Potvin was an honorary selection. As an added bonus, Smitty won his 300th game on March 20, 1988.
Few teams enjoy a season without a slump and the Isles were no exception. They finished the calendar year in the midst of a 2-7-2 malaise forcing Simpson into action. On New Year's Eve the coach demoted 1985 first-round picks Derek King and Brad Dalgarno to the minors and demanded better from his troops in the new year.
"We're up against Philly and Washington for first place, and I'm convinced we're good enough to beat them out,” said Simpson.
For a time it appeared that Simpson would be disappointed, especially after the efficient Patrick Flatley tore ligaments in his right knee early in February and was lost for the duration of the season. Meanwhile, the defense -- mostly Konroyd, Diduck, Ken Leiter and Jeff Finley -- was inconsistent. But the blue liners got help after the 1988 Winter Olympics when Team USA's gifted offensive defenseman Jeff Norton -- a third-round pick in the '84 draft-- joined the team.
Having survived a first-half March slump, the team catapulted themselves back into the homestretch with an unexpected come-from-behind tie -- down, 0-3, finishing 3-3 -- against first-place Washington. The Isles then went on a 6-0-1 end-of-March sprint, passing the Caps for first place in the standings..
The streak culminated on March 31 with a 7-3 triumph over the Capitals that coincided with Potvin's final regular season game at Nassau Coliseum. "I dedicated myself to the sport," Denis told the media afterward, "and played for the Islanders with pride."
One of the most exciting regular seasons in team history culminated with impressive arithmetic. LaFontaine totaled 47 goals, Makela had 36 while Alan Kerr -- fast developing into a power forward -- completed his year with 24 goals and 198 penalty minutes.
Unquestionably the cherry on the Islanders’ cake was the Patrick Division championship -- with a commendable record of 39-31-10 for 88 points. They won a very competitive division by three points over both Philadelphia and Washington.
Reviewing the successful regular season campaign, hard-nosed Randy Wood put it well: "We showed we could play with anybody in the league."
Mikko Makela, pictured above, had a career-high 76 points in 1987-88.