The 1986–87 New York Islanders season was the 15th season for the franchise in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Offseason

NHL draft

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 9, 1986, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

( 1986–87) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 11, 1986, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1986–87) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , W, , October 16, 1986, , 7–4 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1986–87) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , L, , October 18, 1986, , 2–3 , , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1986–87) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , T, , October 19, 1986, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 1–3–1 , - , 6, , W, , October 21, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left",

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1986–87) , , 2–3–1 , - , 7, , W, , October 25, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 3–3–1 , - , 8, , W, , October 28, 1986, , 2–1 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1986–87) , , 4–3–1 , - , 9, , L, , October 30, 1986, , 6–7 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 4–4–1 , - , - , 10, , W, , November 1, 1986, , 7–4 , , align="left",

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1986–87) , , 5–4–1 , - , 11, , W, , November 4, 1986, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 6–4–1 , - , 12, , L, , November 5, 1986, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

( 1986–87) , , 6–5–1 , - , 13, , W, , November 8, 1986, , 2–1 OT, , align="left",

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1986–87) , , 7–5–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 9, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1986–87) , , 8–5–1 , - , 15, , L, , November 11, 1986, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1986–87) , , 8–6–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 15, 1986, , 7–3 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1986–87) , , 9–6–1 , - , 17, , L, , November 16, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 9–7–1 , - , 18, , W, , November 18, 1986, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1986–87) , , 10–7–1 , - , 19, , W, , November 20, 1986, , 6–4 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1986–87) , , 11–7–1 , - , 20, , L, , November 22, 1986, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 11–8–1 , - , 21, , W, , November 25, 1986, , 5–1 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1986–87) , , 12–8–1 , - , 22, , W, , November 26, 1986, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 13–8–1 , - , 23, , L, , November 29, 1986, , 5–6 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 13–9–1 , - , - , 24, , T, , December 2, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1986–87) , , 13–9–2 , - , 25, , L, , December 3, 1986, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 13–10–2 , - , 26, , W, , December 5, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1986–87) , , 14–10–2 , - , 27, , L, , December 7, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1986–87) , , 14–11–2 , - , 28, , L, , December 9, 1986, , 2–7 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 14–12–2 , - , 29, , W, , December 11, 1986, , 8–4 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 15–12–2 , - , 30, , W, , December 13, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 16–12–2 , - , 31, , W, , December 16, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 17–12–2 , - , 32, , L, , December 18, 1986, , 4–9 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 17–13–2 , - , 33, , W, , December 20, 1986, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 18–13–2 , - , 34, , W, , December 23, 1986, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 19–13–2 , - , 35, , L, , December 26, 1986, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 19–14–2 , - , 36, , T, , December 27, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 19–14–3 , - , 37, , L, , December 30, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 19–15–3 , - , 38, , L, , December 31, 1986, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 19–16–3 , - , - , 39, , L, , January 3, 1987, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 19–17–3 , - , 40, , W, , January 6, 1987, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 20–17–3 , - , 41, , W, , January 9, 1987, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 21–17–3 , - , 42, , W, , January 10, 1987, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 22–17–3 , - , 43, , T, , January 13, 1987, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 22–17–4 , - , 44, , L, , January 15, 1987, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 22–18–4 , - , 45, , L, , January 17, 1987, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 22–19–4 , - , 46, , W, , January 18, 1987, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 23–19–4 , - , 47, , L, , January 20, 1987, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 23–20–4 , - , 48, , L, , January 21, 1987, , 5–8 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 23–21–4 , - , 49, , W, , January 24, 1987, , 2–1 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 24–21–4 , - , 50, , T, , January 27, 1987, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 24–21–5 , - , 51, , T, , January 30, 1987, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 24–21–6 , - , 52, , W, , January 31, 1987, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 25–21–6 , - , - , 53, , L, , February 4, 1987, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 25–22–6 , - , 54, , T, , February 6, 1987, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 25–22–7 , - , 55, , L, , February 7, 1987, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 25–23–7 , - , 56, , L, , February 14, 1987, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 25–24–7 , - , 57, , L, , February 17, 1987, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 25–25–7 , - , 58, , T, , February 18, 1987, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1986–87) , , 25–25–8 , - , 59, , W, , February 21, 1987, , 6–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 26–25–8 , - , 60, , W, , February 22, 1987, , 7–0 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 27–25–8 , - , 61, , L, , February 24, 1987, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1986–87) , , 27–26–8 , - , 62, , W, , February 26, 1987, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 28–26–8 , - , 63, , T, , February 28, 1987, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 28–26–9 , - , - , 64, , T, , March 3, 1987, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 28–26–10 , - , 65, , L, , March 4, 1987, , 5–7 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 28–27–10 , - , 66, , L, , March 7, 1987, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 28–28–10 , - , 67, , W, , March 8, 1987, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 29–28–10 , - , 68, , W, , March 10, 1987, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 30–28–10 , - , 69, , L, , March 13, 1987, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 30–29–10 , - , 70, , W, , March 14, 1987, , 7–6 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 31–29–10 , - , 71, , L, , March 16, 1987, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 31–30–10 , - , 72, , W, , March 19, 1987, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 32–30–10 , - , 73, , W, , March 21, 1987, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 33–30–10 , - , 74, , L, , March 24, 1987, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 33–31–10 , - , 75, , L, , March 26, 1987, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 33–32–10 , - , 76, , T, , March 27, 1987, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 33–32–11 , - , 77, , W, , March 31, 1987, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 34–32–11 , - , - , 78, , L, , April 2, 1987, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 34–33–11 , - , 79, , T, , April 4, 1987, , 6–6 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 34–33–12 , - , 80, , W, , April 5, 1987, , 9–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 35–33–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

Round 1: New York Islanders (3) vs. Washington Capitals (2)

The ''Easter Epic'' is the nickname given to a

Stanley Cup Playoff The season structure of the National Hockey League (NHL) is divided into the pre-season, regular season, and the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the pre-season, which is generally held during the last two weeks of September, each team plays several not-fo ...

game between the

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

and

, played April 18–19, 1987, at the Capital Centre in

Landover, Maryland Landover is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 25,998. Landover is contained between Sheriff Road and Central Avenue to the ...

. It is so named because the game started on Saturday evening but did not finish until the early hours of

Easter Sunday Easter, also called Pascha (Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek language, Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, de ...

where

Pat Lafontaine Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and spent his entire playing career with the league's New York State-based teams. He was inducted into the ...

scored the overtime series winning goal.

Round 2: New York Islanders (3) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (1)

Player statistics

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York Islanders, 1986-87 1986-87 1986–87 NHL season by team 1986 in sports in New York (state) 1987 in sports in New York (state)