The 1987 Patrick Division semifinals pitted the third-place New York Islanders against the second-place Washington Capitals in a best-of-seven series.
No NHL team had won a series coming back from such a deficit in 12 years; coincidentally, it was the Islanders who performed the feat, climbing out of a 3–0 hole to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1975.
With national television audiences watching in both the United States (on ESPN, with Mike Emrick and Bill Clement on the call) and in Canada (on Hockey Night in Canada, with Bob Cole and Harry Neale on the call), Game 7 began at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
ESPN was blacked out in the New York City and Washington, D.C. markets, to protect the Islanders' and Capitals' local broadcast outlets.
The game was scoreless through 19 minutes when Washington's Mike Gartner beat Islander goaltender Kelly Hrudey to give the Capitals the lead after one period, 1–0.
Greg Smith of the Capitals had the best chance with seconds left, as his long-range slapshot beat Hrudey, but caught the right goal post and bounced away.
The scoreless second overtime set-up the first triple-overtime game since Pete Stemkowski had scored for the New York Rangers against the Chicago Blackhawks 16 years earlier.
The scoreless third overtime set up the first quadruple-overtime game since Maurice Richard had scored for the Montreal Canadiens against the Detroit Red Wings 36 years earlier.
Finally, with eight minutes elapsed in the fourth overtime period, New York's Ken Leiter carried the puck into the Capitals' zone and sent a pass through the slot.
The deflection bounced to Islander star Pat LaFontaine, who had gone back to the blue line to cover for Leiter.
The Islanders had to regain their composure, as well as their strength, as they advanced to the Patrick Division finals against a rested Philadelphia Flyers squad.