1995–96 record 62–13–7 Road record 26–10–5 | Home record 36–3–2 Goals for 325 | |
With their 62 wins, the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings eclipsed the all-time record of most regular-season wins, which had been set at 60 by the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens. Their 131 points during the regular season were the most since the 1976–77 Montreal Canadiens accumulated 132 points (still an all-time record). They surpassed most of that year's NBA season records, including the Orlando Magic, who won 60 games that year (only NBA team records that the Red Wings did not surpass were the Seattle SuperSonics (64 wins) and the 72–10 Chicago Bulls). The Red Wings had two winning streaks of nine games, and had a 13–game unbeaten streak from Sunday, March 3, 1996, to Sunday, 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. While the team is remembered for its record-breaking regular season, it performed poorly 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 Colorado, winning only two of the six games in the series, and failed to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
Contents
Off-season
In September 1995, the former 1974 draft pick and attorney Bill Evo was appointed president the Detroit Red Wings.
Regular season
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%).
Season standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Regular season
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Note: GP = Games played; G= Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Playoffs
In the first round of the playoffs, the Red Wings defeated the eighth-place 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 would start the famed Red Wings-Avalanche Rivalry, which lasted nearly a decade.
Western Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (8) Winnipeg Jets
Detroit wins series 4–2
Western Conference Semi-finals: vs. (5) St. Louis Blues
Detroit wins series 4–3
Western Conference Finals: vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche
Colorado wins series 4–2
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;
Awards and records
Transactions
August 17, 1995 Acquired Marc Bergevin & Ben Hankinson from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Shawn Burr & round 3 pick in the 1996 draft.
October 24, 1995 Acquired Igor Larionov and a conditional 1998 draft pick from the San Jose Sharks for Ray Sheppard.
March 20, 1996 Acquired Kirk Maltby from the Edmonton Oilers for Dan McGillis.