1987 Stanley Cup playoffs

It concluded on May 31, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Stanley Cup.

It would not happen again until 1999 by which time 3 of those teams had moved, the Quebec Nordiques to Denver, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, and the Hartford Whalers to Raleigh.

This record was equaled by four other teams (2004 Calgary Flames, 2014 Los Angeles Kings, 2015 Tampa Bay Lightning, and 2019 St. Louis Blues), this remained the most under the four-round, 16 team playoff format before the 2020 Dallas Stars broke the record during the expanded 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs under the expanded format.

This was the first year that all rounds were competed in a best-of-seven series, after the division semifinals were expanded from a best-of-five format.

Harford won the only previous meeting in a three-game sweep in the last year's Adams Division Semifinals.

Montreal won last year's Adams Division Semifinals in a three-game sweep.

New York won four of the previous seven meetings, including last year's Patrick Division Semifinals in a 3–2 series upset.

This was a rematch of last year's Norris Division Finals, in which St. Louis won in seven games.

Chicago won the most recent meeting in a three-game sweep in the 1985 Norris Division Semifinals.

Edmonton won in a three-game sweep in their most recent meeting in the 1985 Smythe Division Semifinals.

Calgary won last year's Smythe Division Semifinals in a three-game sweep.

Philadelphia won two of the previous three series, including their most recent in the 1985 Patrick Division Finals in five games.

Edmonton won all three previous meetings, including their most recent in the 1985 Smythe Division Finals in a four-game sweep.