1995–96 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings season was the 70th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926.

1995–96 Detroit Red Wings
Central Division champions
Division1st Central
Conference1st Western
1995–96 record62–13–7
Home record36–3–2
Road record26–10–5
Goals for325
Goals against181
Team information
General managerScotty Bowman (interim)
Jim Devellano (interim)
CoachScotty Bowman
CaptainSteve Yzerman
Alternate captainsPaul Coffey
Sergei Fedorov
ArenaJoe Louis Arena
Average attendance19,923 (100%)
Total: 816,850
Minor league affiliate(s)Adirondack Red Wings (AHL)
Toledo Storm (ECHL)
Jacksonville Bullets (SHL)
Team leaders
GoalsSergei Fedorov (39)
AssistsSergei Fedorov (68)
PointsSergei Fedorov (107)
Penalty minutesKeith Primeau (168)
Plus/minusVladimir Konstantinov (+60)
WinsChris Osgood (39)
Goals against averageChris Osgood (2.17)

Regarded as one of the greatest regular seasons in NHL history, the Red Wings eclipsed the all-time record of most regular-season wins with 62, a record previously set at 60 by the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens. This record was later tied by the 2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning, and broken by the 2022–23 Boston Bruins. Their 131 points during the regular season were the most since the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens accumulated 132 points. They surpassed most of that year's NBA season win records except for the Seattle SuperSonics (64–18) and the Chicago Bulls (72–10) being the only teams to win more games. The Red Wings had two winning streaks of nine games and had a 13-game unbeaten streak from March 3, 1996, to March 31, going 12–0–1 during that stretch.

Having the best record in the league, the Red Wings were awarded the Presidents' Trophy. During the 1995–96 regular season, the Red Wings were the only team to score at least one goal in all 82 of its games.[1] While the team is remembered for its record-breaking regular season, it ended in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs. Detroit lost five games to Winnipeg and St. Louis, both teams that failed to get above 80 points in the regular season, including having to go to a decisive game 7 against St. Louis. They were ultimately upset by the Colorado Avalanche, winning only two of the six games in the series, and failed to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. They won 72 combined victories that season, tying the same 1976–77 Canadiens.

Off-season

In September 1995, the former 1974 draft pick and attorney Bill Evo was appointed president the Detroit Red Wings.[2]

Regular season
  • November 28, 1995: The Montreal Canadiens were playing the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. The day before the game, Mario Tremblay spoke to Mario Leclerc of Le Journal de Montreal. Tremblay mentioned that he was resentful of current Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman. He had played under Bowman for the first five years of his NHL career, and Tremblay told Leclerc that Bowman always threatened to send him to the minors.[3] When Leclerc approached Cournoyer, he stated that he did not want to speak about Bowman.[4] The Canadiens lost the game by a score of 3–2. The next day, Le Journal de Montreal had a headline that stated, "Bowman has the last word."[4]
  • December 2, 1995: The Red Wings played at the Montreal Forum (their final season for the Habs before they moved to the Bell Centre) and dealt Tremblay's Montreal Canadiens their worst home game in franchise history, with an 11–1 win.[5] The Habs' star goaltender Patrick Roy allowed nine goals on 26 shots (five in the first period, and then another four in the second period), and the crowd jeered him whenever he made an easy save during the second period after the game was already 7–1 in favor of the Red Wings. In response, Roy raised his arms in mock celebration. When Head Coach Mario Tremblay finally pulled Roy in the middle of the second period in favor of Pat Jablonski (who allowed two more goals), Roy stormed past him and told Canadiens President Ronald Corey, "It's my last game in Montreal."[6] Tremblay was roundly criticized for not relieving Roy earlier, violating the unwritten rule that a star goaltender be taken out of the game once it is clear he is having an off-night.[7] Roy was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after that game, and he played a key role in eliminating the Red Wings during the Western Conference Finals, precipitating the Avalanche–Red Wings rivalry.
  • Against the Hartford Whalers on March 6, 1996, Chris Osgood became the third goaltender in NHL history to score a goal.[8]
  • On March 22, 1996, the Red Wings scored three short-handed goals in a 7–0 win over the Colorado Avalanche, clinching the Presidents' Trophy.[9][10]

The Red Wings finished first in wins (62), points (131), tied the Washington Capitals for most shutouts (9), allowed the fewest goals (181), the fewest even-strength goals (128), the fewest power-play goals (44) and had the best penalty-kill percentage (88.27%).[11]

Season standings
Central Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Detroit Red Wings8262137325181131
2Chicago Blackhawks8240281427322094
3Toronto Maple Leafs8234361224725280
4St. Louis Blues8232341621924880
5Winnipeg Jets823640627529178
6Dallas Stars8226421422728066

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[12]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Detroit Red WingsCEN8262137325181131
2Colorado AvalanchePAC82472510326240104
3Chicago BlackhawksCEN8240281427322094
4Toronto Maple LeafsCEN8234361224725280
5St. Louis BluesCEN8232341621924880
6Calgary FlamesPAC8234371124124079
7Vancouver CanucksPAC8232351527827879
8Winnipeg JetsCEN823640627529178
9Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC823539823424778
10Edmonton OilersPAC823044824030468
11Dallas StarsCEN8226421422728066
12Los Angeles KingsPAC8224401825630266
13San Jose SharksPAC822055725235747

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Red Wings defeated the eighth-seeded Winnipeg Jets marking the Jets' final games in Winnipeg as the franchise relocated to Phoenix following their playoff defeat. The Wings then defeated the fifth-place St. Louis Blues in the second round. In the Western Conference Finals, the Red Wings were ousted in six games by the Colorado Avalanche, who were in the first year after moving from Quebec. These two teams started the Avalanche–Red Wings rivalry, which lasted nearly a decade.

Schedule and results

Regular season
1995–96 regular season[1]
October: 5–4–2 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–3–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 6Detroit2–3ColoradoVernon16,0610–1–00Recap
2October 8Detroit3–1EdmontonOsgood13,3021–1–02Recap
3October 9Detroit5–3VancouverVernon19,0242–1–04Recap
4October 13Edmonton0–9DetroitOsgood19,8753–1–06Recap
5October 15Detroit5–5WinnipegOTVernon9,3993–1–17Recap
6October 17Calgary3–3DetroitOTOsgood19,6383–1–28Recap
7October 19Detroit2–4New JerseyVernon16,1473–2–28Recap
8October 21Boston2–4DetroitOsgood19,8754–2–210Recap
9October 24Ottawa2–1DetroitVernon19,5124–3–210Recap
10October 27Detroit3–0CalgaryOsgood19,0015–3–212Recap
11October 30Detroit2–3WinnipegOsgood7,9055–4–212Recap
November: 9–2–0 (home: 5–0–0; road: 4–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
12November 1Detroit1–2BuffaloOsgood12,6535–5–212Recap
13November 2Detroit6–5BostonOTOsgood17,5656–5–214Recap
14November 4Dallas1–5DetroitOsgood19,8527–5–216Recap
15November 7Edmonton2–4DetroitOsgood19,7768–5–218Recap
16November 11Detroit5–2San JoseVernon17,1909–5–220Recap
17November 14Detroit6–5Los AngelesOsgood14,15410–5–222Recap
18November 17Detroit5–4EdmontonVernon10,80311–5–224Recap
19November 22San Jose2–5DetroitOsgood19,98312–5–226Recap
20November 24Detroit1–4PhiladelphiaVernon17,38012–6–226Recap
21November 25NY Rangers0–2DetroitOsgood19,98313–6–228Recap
22November 28Montreal2–3DetroitOsgood19,94514–6–230Recap
December: 13–1–0 (home: 7–0–0; road: 6–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
23December 1Anaheim2–5DetroitVernon19,88115–6–232Recap
24December 2Detroit11–1MontrealVernon17,80316–6–234Recap
25December 5Philadelphia3–5DetroitOsgood19,91817–6–236Recap
26December 7Dallas1–3DetroitVernon19,64018–6–238Recap
27December 8Detroit1–2NY RangersOTOsgood18,20018–7–238Recap
28December 12Detroit5–2St. LouisVernon17,96519–7–240Recap
29December 13Chicago1–3DetroitOsgood19,98320–7–242Recap
30December 15New Jersey1–3DetroitVernon19,98321–7–244Recap
31December 20Detroit6–1AnaheimVernon17,17422–7–246Recap
32December 22Detroit5–1CalgaryOsgood17,30223–7–248Recap
33December 23Detroit1–0VancouverVernon18,42224–7–250Recap
34December 26St. Louis2–3DetroitOsgood19,98325–7–252Recap
35December 29Detroit2–1DallasOsgood16,92426–7–254Recap
36December 31Hartford2–3DetroitOsgood19,98327–7–256Recap
January: 8–2–2 (home: 5–1–1; road: 3–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
37January 3Dallas3–3DetroitOTOsgood19,94427–7–357Recap
38January 5Detroit2–5PittsburghOsgood17,18127–8–357Recap
39January 6Chicago0–3DetroitHodson19,98328–8–359Recap
40January 8Winnipeg6–4DetroitOsgood19,82528–9–359Recap
41January 10Detroit4–0DallasOsgood15,62129–9–361Recap
42January 12Los Angeles2–3DetroitHodson19,98330–9–363Recap
43January 13Detroit4–2WashingtonOsgood18,13031–9–365Recap
44January 17Colorado2–3DetroitOsgood19,98332–9–367Recap
45January 24San Jose2–4DetroitOsgood19,94633–9–369Recap
46January 25Detroit4–2OttawaOsgood16,88234–9–371Recap
47January 27Detroit5–5ChicagoOTOsgood22,64034–9–472Recap
48January 30Toronto2–4DetroitOsgood19,98335–9–474Recap
February: 11–2–0 (home: 8–0–0; road: 3–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
49February 3Pittsburgh0–3DetroitOsgood19,98336–9–476Recap
50February 6Florida2–4DetroitOsgood19,98337–9–478Recap
51February 8Detroit1–3FloridaVernon14,70337–10–478Recap
52February 10Detroit3–2Tampa BayOTOsgood22,63638–10–480Recap
53February 13Los Angeles4–9DetroitVernon19,98339–10–482Recap
54February 15Washington3–4DetroitOsgood19,95240–10–484Recap
55February 16Detroit3–4St. LouisVernon20,15640–11–484Recap
56February 18Detroit3–2TorontoOsgood15,74641–11–486Recap
57February 19Vancouver3–4DetroitVernon19,98342–11–488Recap
58February 22Toronto3–5DetroitOsgood19,98343–11–490Recap
59February 24Tampa Bay0–2DetroitVernon19,98344–11–492Recap
60February 27Detroit6–2NY IslandersOsgood11,76245–11–494Recap
61February 29NY Islanders1–5DetroitOsgood19,98346–11–496Recap
March: 12–1–1 (home: 7–1–0; road: 5–0–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
62March 2Vancouver3–2DetroitVernon19,98346–12–496Recap
63March 3Detroit6–2ChicagoVernon22,54047–12–498Recap
64March 6Detroit4–2HartfordOsgood11,25248–12–4100Recap
65March 8Detroit4–2ColoradoVernon16,06149–12–4102Recap
66March 10Detroit5–2WinnipegOsgood14,75750–12–4104Recap
67March 12Winnipeg2–5DetroitVernon19,98351–12–4106Recap
68March 17Calgary2–4DetroitOsgood19,98352–12–4108Recap
69March 19Toronto5–6DetroitVernon19,98353–12–4110Recap
70March 20Detroit4–3TorontoOTOsgood15,74654–12–4112Recap
71March 22Colorado0–7DetroitVernon19,98355–12–4114Recap
72March 24Detroit2–2St. LouisOTOsgood20,70855–12–5115Recap
73March 25Anaheim1–5DetroitVernon19,98356–12–5117Recap
74March 27Buffalo2–4DetroitOsgood19,98357–12–5119Recap
75March 31St. Louis1–8DetroitVernon19,98358–12–5121Recap
April: 4–1–2 (home: 2–0–0; road: 2–1–2)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
76April 2Detroit3–6San JoseOsgood17,19058–13–5121Recap
77April 3Detroit2–2Los AngelesOTVernon14,66358–13–6122Recap
78April 5Detroit2–2AnaheimOTOsgood17,17458–13–7123Recap
79April 7Detroit4–1ChicagoVernon21,98659–13–7125Recap
80April 10Winnipeg2–5DetroitOsgood19,98360–13–7127Recap
81April 12Chicago3–5DetroitOsgood19,98361–13–7129Recap
82April 14Detroit5–1DallasOsgood16,92462–13–7131Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1996 Stanley Cup playoffs[1]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (8) Winnipeg Jets: Detroit won 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 17Winnipeg1–4DetroitOsgood19,9831–0Recap
2April 19Winnipeg0–4DetroitOsgood19,9832–0Recap
3April 21Detroit1–4WinnipegVernon15,5442–1Recap
4April 23Detroit6–1WinnipegVernon15,5573–1Recap
5April 26Winnipeg3–1DetroitOsgood19,9833–2Recap
6April 28Detroit4–1WinnipegVernon15,5674–2Recap
Western Conference Semifinals vs. (5) St. Louis Blues: Detroit won 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 3St. Louis2–3DetroitOsgood19,9831–0Recap
2May 5St. Louis3–8DetroitOsgood19,9832–0Recap
3May 8Detroit4–5St. LouisOTVernon20,7962–1Recap
4May 10Detroit0–1St. LouisOsgood20,7962–2Recap
5May 12St. Louis3–2DetroitOsgood19,9832–3Recap
6May 14Detroit4–2St. LouisOsgood20,7963–3Recap
7May 16St. Louis0–1Detroit2OTOsgood19,9834–3Recap
Western Conference Finals vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche: Colorado won 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 19Colorado3–2DetroitOTOsgood19,9570–1Recap
2May 21Colorado3–0DetroitOsgood19,9830–2Recap
3May 23Detroit6–4ColoradoOsgood16,0611–2Recap
4May 25Detroit2–4ColoradoOsgood16,0611–3Recap
5May 27Colorado2–5DetroitOsgood19,9832–3Recap
6May 29Detroit1–4ColoradoOsgood16,0612–4Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring
  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
91Sergei FedorovRW78396810749481921820810
19Steve YzermanC8036599529641881220−14
77Paul CoffeyD761460741990175914−330
13Vyacheslav KozlovLW823637733370195712310
8Igor Larionov†C69215071373419671356
5Nicklas LidstromD811750672920195914210
55Keith PrimeauC742725521916817145−128
22Dino CiccarelliRW64222143149917628−626
2Viacheslav FetisovD6973542379619145334
23Greg JohnsonLW6018224063013314−38
16Vladimir KonstantinovD811420346013919459428
21Bob ErreyLW7111213230661404418
25Darren McCartyRW631514291415819325−220
17Doug BrownLW621215271141333604
37Tim TaylorC7211142511391804404
33Kris DraperC52791623218426218
11Mathieu DandenaultRW34571266——————
27Marc BergevinD70191073317101−414
20Martin LapointeRW5863909311123212
15Mike RamseyD47246173514044110
3Bob RouseD58066548701144
26Ray Sheppard‡RW522402——————
30Chris OsgoodG501234150004
18Kirk Maltby†RW610106801104
32Stu GrimsonLW56011−10128200000
4Jamie PushorD5011217——————
34Anders ErikssonD100012300020
31Kevin HodsonG40000——————
29Mike VernonG32000240002
26Wes WalzC200000——————

Goaltending
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
30Chris Osgood504739651,1901062.17.91152,932:59151587322332.12.8982935:48
29Mike Vernon32222172723702.26.90331,854:43442281112.71.8640243:23
31Kevin Hodson432006731.10.9551163:16——————————

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy Sergei Fedorov [13]
Jack Adams Trophy Scotty Bowman [14]
NHL Second All-Star team Vladimir Konstantinov (Defense) [15]
Chris Osgood (Goaltender)
NHL Plus-Minus Award Vladimir Konstantinov [16]
William M. Jennings Trophy Chris Osgood [17]
Mike Vernon
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Scotty Bowman (coach) [18]
Paul Coffey[lower-alpha 1]
Sergei Fedorov
Nicklas Lidstrom
Chris Osgood

Milestones
Milestone Player Date Ref
500th game played Mike Vernon October 9, 1995

Transactions

Signings
DatePlayerContract term
August 28, 1995 (1995-08-28)Mike Ramsey1-year
September 7, 1995 (1995-09-07)Viacheslav Fetisov1-year

Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.[20]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
126Maxim KuznetsovD RussiaDynamo Moscow (Russia)
252Philippe AudetLW CanadaGranby Bisons (QMJHL)
3158Darryl LaplanteC CanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
4104Anatoli UstyugovLW RussiaTorpedo Yaroslavl (Russia)
52125Chad WilchynskiD CanadaRegina Pats (WHL)
53126Dave ArsenaultG CanadaDrummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
6156Tyler PerryC CanadaSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
7182Per EklundRW SwedenDjurgardens IF (Sweden)
8208Andrei SamokhvalovRW KazakhstanTorpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan)
9234David EngblomC SwedenVallentuna (Sweden)
Notes
  1. The Red Wings acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 25, 1994 that sent Sheldon Kennedy to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.
  2. The Red Wings acquired this pick as the result of a trade on January 17, 1994 that sent Vincent Riendeau to Boston in exchange for this pick.
  3. The Red Wings acquired this pick as the result of a trade on September 9, 1993 that sent Stewart Malgunas to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
  • The Red Wings third-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on April 3, 1995 that sent Viacheslav Fetisov to Detroit in exchange for this pick (78th overall).
  • The Red Wings fifth-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on February 27, 1995 that sent Bob Errey to Detroit in exchange for this pick (130th overall).

Notes
  1. Coffey was voted to the starting lineup, earning more votes than any other player.[19]

References
  • "Detroit Red Wings 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  • "1995-96 Detroit Red Wings Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  1. "1995-96 Detroit Red Wings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. Ludington Daily News - July 24, 1996, Page 7
  3. Roy, Michel (2008). Patrick Roy Winning, Nothing Else. John Wiley & Sons. p. 350. ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2.
  4. Roy, Michel (2008). Patrick Roy Winning, Nothing Else. John Wiley & Sons. p. 351. ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2.
  5. "Patrick Roy". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 21, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  6. "Remembering Roy's Career-Changing Game". TSN. December 2, 2005. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  7. "Revisiting St. Patrick Roy and "Le Trade" | Blogcritics". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  8. Legends of Hockey - NHL Player Search - Player - Chris Osgood
  9. "Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings Box Score — March 22, 1996".
  10. "RED WINGS' ROMP CLINCHES TROPHY". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  11. 1995-96 NHL Season Summary | Hockey-Reference.com
  12. "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  13. "Frank J. Selke Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  14. "Jack Adams Award". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  15. "Postseason All-Star Teams". NHL.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. "Bud Light Plus-Minus Award". nhl.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  17. "William M. Jennings Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  18. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1996". NHL.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  19. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  20. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
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