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 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.
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
|1||T||October 6, 1988||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||0–0–1
|2||L||October 7, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||0–1–1
|3||L||October 9, 1988||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||0–2–1
|4||W||October 10, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||1–2–1
|5||W||October 15, 1988||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||2–2–1
|6||W||October 18, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||3–2–1
|7||W||October 22, 1988||7–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||4–2–1
|8||L||October 25, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||4–3–1
|9||L||October 27, 1988||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||4–4–1
|10||L||October 29, 1988||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||4–5–1
|11||L||November 1, 1988||1–8 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||4–6–1
|12||L||November 4, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||4–7–1
|13||W||November 5, 1988||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||5–7–1
|14||W||November 8, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||6–7–1
|15||T||November 11, 1988||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||6–7–2
|16||L||November 12, 1988||0–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||6–8–2
|17||L||November 15, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||6–9–2
|18||L||November 16, 1988||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||6–10–2
|19||W||November 19, 1988||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||7–10–2
|20||L||November 22, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||7–11–2
|21||L||November 23, 1988||6–7 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||7–12–2
|22||L||November 26, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||7–13–2
|23||L||November 27, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||7–14–2
|24||L||November 29, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||7–15–2
|25||L||December 1, 1988||0–8 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||7–16–2
|26||L||December 3, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||7–17–2
|27||L||December 6, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||7–18–2
|28||L||December 9, 1988||5–6 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||7–19–2
|29||L||December 10, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||7–20–2
|30||L||December 14, 1988||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||7–21–2
|31||L||December 15, 1988||2–8 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||7–22–2
|32||W||December 17, 1988||5–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||8–22–2
|33||L||December 20, 1988||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||8–23–2
|34||L||December 22, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||8–24–2
|35||W||December 26, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||9–24–2
|36||W||December 31, 1988||6–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||10–24–2
|37||L||January 3, 1989||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||10–25–2
|38||W||January 5, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||11–25–2
|39||L||January 7, 1989||1–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1988–89) ||11–26–2
|40||L||January 8, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||11–27–2
|41||L||January 10, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||11–28–2
|42||W||January 13, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||12–28–2
|43||L||January 14, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||12–29–2
|44||W||January 17, 1989||5–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||13–29–2
|45||W||January 19, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) ||14–29–2
|46||W||January 21, 1989||8–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||15–29–2
|47||T||January 24, 1989||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||15–29–3
|48||W||January 26, 1989||8–6 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||16–29–3
|49||L||January 28, 1989||4–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||16–30–3
|50||L||January 30, 1989||3–7 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||16–31–3
|51||L||February 2, 1989||1–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) ||16–32–3
|52||W||February 4, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||17–32–3
|53||W||February 5, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) ||18–32–3
|54||L||February 10, 1989||1–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) ||18–33–3
|55||L||February 11, 1989||0–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||18–34–3
|56||W||February 14, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||19–34–3
|57||W||February 16, 1989||7–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1988–89) ||20–34–3
|58||W||February 18, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||21–34–3
|59||L||February 19, 1989||4–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||21–35–3
|60||L||February 21, 1989||5–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||21–36–3
|61||L||February 22, 1989||5–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||21–37–3
|62||T||February 25, 1989||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) ||21–37–4
|63||L||February 28, 1989||1–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||21–38–4
|64||L||March 1, 1989||5–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) ||21–39–4
|65||L||March 4, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||21–40–4
|66||W||March 5, 1989||4–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) ||22–40–4
|67||L||March 7, 1989||1–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1988–89) ||22–41–4
|68||T||March 9, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) ||22–41–5
|69||W||March 11, 1989||3–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||23–41–5
|70||W||March 13, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) ||24–41–5
|71||L||March 14, 1989||2–8 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) ||24–42–5
|72||L||March 18, 1989||1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) ||24–43–5
|73||L||March 19, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) ||24–44–5
|74||L||March 21, 1989||1–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) ||24–45–5
|75||W||March 23, 1989||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) ||25–45–5
|76||L||March 26, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||25–46–5
|77||W||March 28, 1989||5–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1988–89) ||26–46–5
|78||W||March 29, 1989||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) ||27–46–5
|79||L||April 1, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) ||27–47–5
|80||W||April 2, 1989||6–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1988–89) ||28–47–5
Legend:
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
Defensemen 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 SO GAA Kelly Hrudey 50 18 24 3 0 3.92 Jeff Hackett 13 4 7 0 0 3.53 Mark Fitzpatrick 11 3 5 2 0 3.92 Billy Smith 17 3 11 0 0 4.44
Awards and records Bryan Trottier, King Clancy Memorial Trophy David Volek, Wing, NHL 1st All-Rookie Team
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)116Kevin CheveldayoffBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)229Wayne DoucetHamilton Steelhawks (OHL)237Sean LeBrunNew Westminster Bruins (WHL)358Danny LorenzSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)479Andre BrassardTrois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)5100Paul RutherfordOhio State University (CCHA)6111Pavel GrossSparta Prague (Czechoslovakia)6121Jason RathboneBrookline High School (USHS-MA)7142Yves GaucherChicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)8163Marty McInnisMilton Academy (USHS-MA)9173Patrick ForrestSt. Cloud State University (NCAA Independent)9184Jeff BlumerCollege of St. Thomas (MIAC)10205Jeff KampersalSt. John's Preparatory School (USHS-MA)11226Phil NeururerOsseo Senior High School (USHS-MN)12247Joe CappriniBabson College (NEWMAC)S21Doug MelnykWestern Michigan University (CCHA)
References