The 1987–88 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 62nd season. The Rangers compiled a 36–34–10 record during the regular season, but despite having 82 points, they were eliminated from playoff contention after their last game when the New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks. This would be the only time in the 1980s in which the Rangers missed the playoffs.
Offseason
Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito was part of the four man committee that would select players and coaches for Team Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup.
Regular season
The Rangers led the league in power-play goals scored, with 111. They also scored the fewest short-handed goals during the regular season out of all 21 teams, with just 6.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 1 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4 – 4 OT || 0–0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 2 || 10 || @ Hartford Whalers || 6–2 || 1–0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 3 || 12 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–2 || 2–0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 4 || 15 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6 – 6 OT || 2–0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 5 || 17 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–3 || 2–1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 6 || 19 || Washington Capitals || 4–2 || 2–2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 7 || 21 || Calgary Flames || 5–4 || 2–3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 8 || 23 || Chicago Blackhawks || 7–3 || 3–3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 9 || 24 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || 4–3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 10 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2 – 2 OT || 4–3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 11 || 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 4–3 || 4–4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 12 || 31 || @ New York Islanders || 8–2 || 4–5–3 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 13 || 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 7–6 || 4–6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 14 || 3 || @ Calgary Flames || 5–3 || 4–7–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 15 || 4 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 7–2 || 4–8–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 16 || 7 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–4 || 4–9–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 17 || 10 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || 4–10–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 18 || 14 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 3 – 2 OT || 4–11–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 19 || 15 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–4 || 5–11–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 20 || 19 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 4–3 || 5–12–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 21 || 20 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 || 6–12–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 22 || 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–3 || 7–12–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 23 || 28 || @ New York Islanders || 5–4 || 7–13–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 24 || 29 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 8–13–3 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 25 || 3 || @ Boston Bruins || 4–3 || 8–14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 26 || 5 || @ St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || 9–14–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 27 || 9 || Montreal Canadiens || 2 – 2 OT || 9–14–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 28 || 10 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || 9–15–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 29 || 12 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || 9–16–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 30 || 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–3 || 10–16–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 31 || 16 || New Jersey Devils || 9–3 || 11–16–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 32 || 19 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || 11–17–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 33 || 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–4 || 11–18–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 34 || 22 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–4 || 11–19–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 35 || 26 || @ New Jersey Devils || 5–3 || 12–19–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 36 || 27 || Boston Bruins || 4–1 || 13–19–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 37 || 29 || @ New York Islanders || 3 – 3 OT || 13–19–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | 38 || 31 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–1 || 14–19–5 |-