The 1986–87 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 61st season. During the regular season, the Rangers finished in fourth place in the Patrick Division with 76 points, and qualified for the NHL playoffs. New York was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Regular season
Final standings
Schedule and results
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1 || 9 || New Jersey Devils || 5–3 || 0–1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2 || 11 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 OT || 0–2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 3 || 13 || Washington Capitals || 7–6 OT || 0–3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 4 || 15 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 5–5 OT || 0–3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 5 || 18 || @ New York Islanders || 3–2 || 1–3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 6 || 19 || New York Islanders || 2–2 OT || 1–3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 7 || 22 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–4 OT || 2–3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 8 || 25 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 OT || 2–3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 9 || 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–3 OT || 2–3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 10 || 29 || @ St. Louis Blues || 7–2 || 2–4–4 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 11 || 2 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–4 OT || 2–5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 12 || 5 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 5–4 OT || 2–6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 13 || 8 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–2 || 3–6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 14 || 9 || @ Quebec Nordiques || 6–5 || 3–7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 15 || 12 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 OT || 4–7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 16 || 14 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 5–7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 17 || 16 || Edmonton Oilers || 8–6 || 5–8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 18 || 17 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || 5–9–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 19 || 19 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 5–4 OT || 5–10–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 20 || 21 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 8–5 || 6–10–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 21 || 22 || @ Calgary Flames || 8–5 || 6–11–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 22 || 26 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || 7–11–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 23 || 29 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–5 OT || 7–11–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 24 || 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 OT || 7–11–6 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 25 || 2 || @ New Jersey Devils || 8–5 || 7–12–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 26 || 5 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 6–3 || 8–12–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 27 || 10 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–4 || 9–12–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 28 || 11 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–2 || 9–13–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 29 || 14 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–1 || 10–13–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 30 || 15 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–3 || 10–14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 31 || 17 || Washington Capitals || 6–1 || 11–14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 32 || 20 || @ New York Islanders || 5–2 || 11–15–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 33 || 21 || Hartford Whalers || 4–3 OT || 11–16–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 34 || 23 || New Jersey Devils || 8–5 || 12–16–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 35 || 26 || @ New Jersey Devils || 7–4 || 13–16–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 36 || 27 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || 13–17–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 37 || 30 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || 14–17–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 38 || 31 || New York Islanders || 4–3 OT || 15–17–6 |-