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.
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, with their groundbreaking 65 wins that was set as a new NHL record. During the regular season, they garnered a total of 131 points, marking the highest tally since the Montreal Canadiens amassed 132 points in 1976–77. 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. 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 eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, winning only two of the six games in the series, and failed to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Throughout the season, the Red Wings achieved a total of 72 victories, which was on par with the 1976-77 Canadiens.
Off-season In September 1995, the former 1974 draft pick and attorney Bill Evo was appointed president the Detroit Red Wings.Ludington Daily News - July 24, 1996, Page 7
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. When Leclerc approached Cournoyer, he stated that he did not want to speak about Bowman. 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." 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. 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." 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. 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.Legends of Hockey - NHL Player Search - Player - Chris Osgood 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.
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%).1995-96 NHL Season Summary Hockey-Reference.com
Season standings
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
| 1 || October 6 || Detroit || 2–3 || Colorado || || Vernon || 16,061 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 8 || Detroit || 3–1 || Edmonton || || Osgood || 13,302 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 9 || Detroit || 5–3 || Vancouver || || Vernon || 19,024 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 13 || Edmonton || 0–9 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,875 || 3–1–0 || 6 ||
| 5 || October 15 || Detroit || 5–5 || Winnipeg || OT || Vernon || 9,399 || 3–1–1 || 7 ||
| 6 || October 17 || Calgary || 3–3 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,638 || 3–1–2 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 19 || Detroit || 2–4 || New Jersey || || Vernon || 16,147 || 3–2–2 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 21 || Boston || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,875 || 4–2–2 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 24 || Ottawa || 2–1 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,512 || 4–3–2 || 10 ||
| 10 || October 27 || Detroit || 3–0 || Calgary || || Osgood || 19,001 || 5–3–2 || 12 ||
| 11 || October 30 || Detroit || 2–3 || Winnipeg || || Osgood || 7,905 || 5–4–2 || 12 ||
| 12 || November 1 || Detroit || 1–2 || Buffalo || || Osgood || 12,653 || 5–5–2 || 12 ||
| 13 || November 2 || Detroit || 6–5 || Boston || OT || Osgood || 17,565 || 6–5–2 || 14 ||
| 14 || November 4 || Dallas || 1–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,852 || 7–5–2 || 16 ||
| 15 || November 7 || Edmonton || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,776 || 8–5–2 || 18 ||
| 16 || November 11 || Detroit || 5–2 || San Jose || || Vernon || 17,190 || 9–5–2 || 20 ||
| 17 || November 14 || Detroit || 6–5 || Los Angeles || || Osgood || 14,154 || 10–5–2 || 22 ||
| 18 || November 17 || Detroit || 5–4 || Edmonton || || Vernon || 10,803 || 11–5–2 || 24 ||
| 19 || November 22 || San Jose || 2–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 12–5–2 || 26 ||
| 20 || November 24 || Detroit || 1–4 || Philadelphia || || Vernon || 17,380 || 12–6–2 || 26 ||
| 21 || November 25 || NY Rangers || 0–2 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 13–6–2 || 28 ||
| 22 || November 28 || Montreal || 2–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,945 || 14–6–2 || 30 ||
| 23 || December 1 || Anaheim || 2–5 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,881 || 15–6–2 || 32 ||
| 24 || December 2 || Detroit || 11–1 || Montreal || || Vernon || 17,803 || 16–6–2 || 34 ||
| 25 || December 5 || Philadelphia || 3–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,918 || 17–6–2 || 36 ||
| 26 || December 7 || Dallas || 1–3 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,640 || 18–6–2 || 38 ||
| 27 || December 8 || Detroit || 1–2 || NY Rangers || OT || Osgood || 18,200 || 18–7–2 || 38 ||
| 28 || December 12 || Detroit || 5–2 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 17,965 || 19–7–2 || 40 ||
| 29 || December 13 || Chicago || 1–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 20–7–2 || 42 ||
| 30 || December 15 || New Jersey || 1–3 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 21–7–2 || 44 ||
| 31 || December 20 || Detroit || 6–1 || Anaheim || || Vernon || 17,174 || 22–7–2 || 46 ||
| 32 || December 22 || Detroit || 5–1 || Calgary || || Osgood || 17,302 || 23–7–2 || 48 ||
| 33 || December 23 || Detroit || 1–0 || Vancouver || || Vernon || 18,422 || 24–7–2 || 50 ||
| 34 || December 26 || St. Louis || 2–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 25–7–2 || 52 ||
| 35 || December 29 || Detroit || 2–1 || Dallas || || Osgood || 16,924 || 26–7–2 || 54 ||
| 36 || December 31 || Hartford || 2–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 27–7–2 || 56 ||
| 37 || January 3 || Dallas || 3–3 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,944 || 27–7–3 || 57 ||
| 38 || January 5 || Detroit || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || Osgood || 17,181 || 27–8–3 || 57 ||
| 39 || January 6 || Chicago || 0–3 || Detroit || || Hodson || 19,983 || 28–8–3 || 59 ||
| 40 || January 8 || Winnipeg || 6–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,825 || 28–9–3 || 59 ||
| 41 || January 10 || Detroit || 4–0 || Dallas || || Osgood || 15,621 || 29–9–3 || 61 ||
| 42 || January 12 || Los Angeles || 2–3 || Detroit || || Hodson || 19,983 || 30–9–3 || 63 ||
| 43 || January 13 || Detroit || 4–2 || Washington || || Osgood || 18,130 || 31–9–3 || 65 ||
| 44 || January 17 || Colorado || 2–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 32–9–3 || 67 ||
| 45 || January 24 || San Jose || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,946 || 33–9–3 || 69 ||
| 46 || January 25 || Detroit || 4–2 || Ottawa || || Osgood || 16,882 || 34–9–3 || 71 ||
| 47 || January 27 || Detroit || 5–5 || Chicago || OT || Osgood || 22,640 || 34–9–4 || 72 ||
| 48 || January 30 || Toronto || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 35–9–4 || 74 ||
| 49 || February 3 || Pittsburgh || 0–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 36–9–4 || 76 ||
| 50 || February 6 || Florida || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 37–9–4 || 78 ||
| 51 || February 8 || Detroit || 1–3 || Florida || || Vernon || 14,703 || 37–10–4 || 78 ||
| 52 || February 10 || Detroit || 3–2 || Tampa Bay || OT || Osgood || 22,636 || 38–10–4 || 80 ||
| 53 || February 13 || Los Angeles || 4–9 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 39–10–4 || 82 ||
| 54 || February 15 || Washington || 3–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,952 || 40–10–4 || 84 ||
| 55 || February 16 || Detroit || 3–4 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 20,156 || 40–11–4 || 84 ||
| 56 || February 18 || Detroit || 3–2 || Toronto || || Osgood || 15,746 || 41–11–4 || 86 ||
| 57 || February 19 || Vancouver || 3–4 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 42–11–4 || 88 ||
| 58 || February 22 || Toronto || 3–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 43–11–4 || 90 ||
| 59 || February 24 || Tampa Bay || 0–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 44–11–4 || 92 ||
| 60 || February 27 || Detroit || 6–2 || NY Islanders || || Osgood || 11,762 || 45–11–4 || 94 ||
| 61 || February 29 || NY Islanders || 1–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 46–11–4 || 96 ||
| 62 || March 2 || Vancouver || 3–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 46–12–4 || 96 ||
| 63 || March 3 || Detroit || 6–2 || Chicago || || Vernon || 22,540 || 47–12–4 || 98 ||
| 64 || March 6 || Detroit || 4–2 || Hartford || || Osgood || 11,252 || 48–12–4 || 100 ||
| 65 || March 8 || Detroit || 4–2 || Colorado || || Vernon || 16,061 || 49–12–4 || 102 ||
| 66 || March 10 || Detroit || 5–2 || Winnipeg || || Osgood || 14,757 || 50–12–4 || 104 ||
| 67 || March 12 || Winnipeg || 2–5 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 51–12–4 || 106 ||
| 68 || March 17 || Calgary || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 52–12–4 || 108 ||
| 69 || March 19 || Toronto || 5–6 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 53–12–4 || 110 ||
| 70 || March 20 || Detroit || 4–3 || Toronto || OT || Osgood || 15,746 || 54–12–4 || 112 ||
| 71 || March 22 || Colorado || 0–7 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 55–12–4 || 114 ||
| 72 || March 24 || Detroit || 2–2 || St. Louis || OT || Osgood || 20,708 || 55–12–5 || 115 ||
| 73 || March 25 || Anaheim || 1–5 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 56–12–5 || 117 ||
| 74 || March 27 || Buffalo || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 57–12–5 || 119 ||