2015–16 Detroit Red Wings season

The 2015–16 Detroit Red Wings season was the 90th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The regular season began on October 9, 2015, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, with a 4–0 victory. This season saw the Red Wings extend their playoff streak to 25 straight seasons, the longest in North American professional sports at the time. However, this would be the final season of that quarter-century at or near the top of the league for the franchise, and as of 2026, this remains the most recent season in which the Red Wings have made the playoffs.

Off-season On June 9, 2015, Jeff Blashill was named the head coach of the Red Wings, following the departure of Mike Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

On June 23, 2015, the Red Wings finalized their coaching staff, Tony Granato will return as an assistant coach, along with Pat Ferschweiler, who was an assistant coach under Blashill with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Dave Noel-Bernier was named video coach, and Chris Chelios will evaluate in-game player performance, and will continue to play a role in player development, by working on-ice with the team's defensemen during practices. Jim Bedard will return for his 19th season with the organization as goaltending coach.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 preseason game log: 6–0–2 (Home: 3–0–1; Road: 3–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 22 Detroit 4–5 Chicago OT McCollum 20,736 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 23 Chicago 1–4 Detroit Coreau 16,886 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 24 Pittsburgh 1–6 Detroit Howard 15,677 2–0–1 Recap 4 September 26 Boston 4–5 Detroit OT Mrazek –– 2–0–2 Recap 5 September 28 Detroit 3–1 Boston Howard 16,681 3–0–2 Recap 6 September 30 Detroit 7–2 Pittsburgh Mrazek 18,207 4–0–2 Recap 7 October 2 Toronto 2–4 Detroit Howard 19,149 5–0–2 Recap 8 October 3 Detroit 2–1 Toronto Mrazek 17,879 6–0–2 Recap

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 5–5–1 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Toronto 0–4 Detroit Howard 20,027 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 10 Detroit 4–3 Carolina Mrazek 18,949 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 13 Tampa Bay 1–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 16 Carolina 5–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 17 Detroit 1–4 Montreal Mrazek 21,288 3–2–0 6 Recap 6 October 21 Detroit 1–3 Edmonton Mrazek 16,839 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 23 Detroit 2–3 Calgary OT Howard 19,158 3–3–1 7 Recap 8 October 24 Detroit 3–2 Vancouver OT Mrazek 18,312 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 October 27 Carolina 3–1 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 4–4–1 9 Recap 10 October 30 Ottawa 3–1 Detroit Howard 20,027 4–5–1 9 Recap 11 October 31 Detroit 5–3 Ottawa Mrazek 16,964 5–5–1 11 Recap November: 7–3–3 (Home: 4–2–3; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 3 Tampa Bay 1–2 Detroit Howard 20,027 6–5–1 13 Recap 13 November 6 Detroit 2–1 Toronto OT Mrazek 19,680 7–5–1 15 Recap 14 November 8 Dallas 4–1 Detroit Howard 20,027 7–6–1 15 Recap 15 November 10 Washington 0–1 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 8–6–1 17 Recap 16 November 13 San Jose 3–2 Detroit Howard 20,027 8–7–1 17 Recap 17 November 14 Detroit 1–3 Boston Mrazek 17,565 8–8–1 17 Recap 18 November 16 Detroit 4–3 Ottawa OT Howard 16,718 9–8–1 19 Recap 19 November 18 Washington 2–1 Detroit OT Mrazek 20,027 9–8–2 20 Recap 20 November 20 Los Angeles 2–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 10–8–2 22 Recap 21 November 21 Detroit 4–3 St. Louis OT Howard 18,098 11–8–2 24 Recap 22 November 25 Boston 3–2 Detroit OT Mrazek 20,027 11–8–3 25 Recap 23 November 27 Edmonton 3–4 Detroit OT Howard 20,027 12–8–3 27 Recap 24 November 29 Florida 2–1 Detroit OT Mrazek 20,027 12–8–4 28 Recap December: 6–5–3 (Home: 5–3–1; Road: 1–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Buffalo 4–5 Detroit SO Mrazek 20,027 13–8–4 30 Recap 26 December 3 Arizona 1–5 Detroit Howard 20,027 14–8–4 32 Recap 27 December 5 Nashville 4–5 Detroit OT Mrazek 20,027 15–8–4 34 Recap 28 December 8 Detroit 2–3 Washington SO Howard 18,506 15–8–5 35 Recap 29 December 10 Montreal 2–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 16–8–5 37 Recap 30 December 11 Detroit 2–3 New Jersey OT Howard 16,514 16–8–6 38 Recap 31 December 14 Buffalo 2–1 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 16–9–6 38 Recap 32 December 18 Vancouver 4–3 Detroit SO Howard 20,027 16–9–7 39 Recap 33 December 20 Calgary 2–4 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 17–9–7 41 Recap 34 December 22 New Jersey 4–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 17–10–7 41 Recap 35 December 26 Detroit 3–2 Nashville Mrazek 17,208 18–10–7 43 Recap 36 December 28 Detroit 1–3 Minnesota Mrazek 19,110 18–11–7 43 Recap 37 December 29 Detroit 1–4 Winnipeg Howard 15,294 18–12–7 43 Recap 38 December 31 Pittsburgh 5–2 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 18–13–7 43 Recap January: 7–3–1 (Home: 0–2–1; Road: 7–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Detroit 4–3 Buffalo Mrazek 19,070 19–13–7 45 Recap 40 January 4 Detroit 1–0 New Jersey Mrazek 15,547 20–13–7 47 Recap 41 January 7 Detroit 2–1 San Jose Mrazek 16,856 21–13–7 49 Recap 42 January 10 Detroit 2–1 Anaheim Mrazek 17,174 22–13–7 51 Recap 43 January 11 Detroit 2–4 Los Angeles Howard 18,230 22–14–7 51 Recap 44 January 14 Detroit 3–2 Arizona OT Mrazek 12,014 23–14–7 53 Recap 45 January 17 Philadelphia 2–1 Detroit SO Mrazek 20,027 23–14–8 54 Recap 46 January 20 St. Louis 2–1 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 23–15–8 54 Recap 47 January 22 Detroit 3–0 Buffalo Mrazek 18,601 24–15–8 56 Recap 48 January 23 Anaheim 4–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 24–16–8 56 Recap 49 January 25 Detroit 4–2 N.Y. Islanders Mrazek 12,086 25–16–8 58 Recap February: 7–4–3 (Home: 5–0–1; Road: 2–4–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 3 Detroit 1–3 Tampa Bay Mrazek 19,092 25–17–8 58 Recap 51 February 4 Detroit 3–6 Florida Howard 16,991 25–18–8 58 Recap 52 February 6 N.Y. Islanders 1–5 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 26–18–8 60 Recap 53 February 8 Florida 0–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 27–18–8 62 Recap 54 February 10 Ottawa 1–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 28–18–8 64 Recap 55 February 12 Colorado 3–2 Detroit SO Mrazek 20,027 28–18–9 65 Recap 56 February 14 Boston 5–6 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 29–18–9 67 Recap 57 February 15 Detroit 1–4 N.Y. Islanders Howard 15,795 29–19–9 67 Recap 58 February 18 Detroit 3–6 Pittsburgh Mrazek 18,584 29–20–9 67 Recap 59 February 20 Detroit 2–3 Ottawa SO Mrazek 18,930 29–20–10 68 Recap 60 February 21 Detroit 0–1 N.Y. Rangers OT Howard 18,006 29–20–11 69 Recap 61 February 23 Columbus 1–2 Detroit SO Mrazek 20,027 30–20–11 71 Recap 62 February 27 Detroit 5–3 Colorado Mrazek 50,095 31–20–11 73 Recap 63 February 29 Detroit 3–2 Dallas OT Howard 18,532 32–20–11 75 Recap Outdoor game, played at Coors Field. March: 6–8–0 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Chicago 5–2 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 32–21–11 75 Recap 65 March 6 Detroit 1–4 Chicago Mrazek 22,247 32–22–11 75 Recap 66 March 8 Detroit 3–5 Columbus Howard 14,426 32–23–11 75 Recap 67 March 10 Winnipeg 2–3 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 33–23–11 77 Recap 68 March 12 N.Y. Rangers 2–3 Detroit OT Mrazek 20,027 34–23–11 79 Recap 69 March 13 Toronto 1–0 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 34–24–11 79 Recap 70 March 15 Detroit 3–4 Philadelphia Mrazek 19,806 34–25–11 79 Recap 71 March 17 Detroit 3–1 Columbus Howard 14,415 35–25–11 81 Recap 72 March 19 Detroit 5–3 Florida Howard 20,817 36–25–11 83 Recap 73 March 22 Detroit 2–6 Tampa Bay Howard 19,092 36–26–11 83 Recap 74 March 24 Montreal 3–4 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 37–26–11 85 Recap 75 March 26 Pittsburgh 7–2 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 37–27–11 85 Recap 76 March 28 Buffalo 2–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 38–27–11 87 Recap 77 March 29 Detroit 3–4 Montreal Howard 21,288 38–28–11 87 Recap April: 3–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 Minnesota 2–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 39–28–11 89 Recap 79 April 2 Detroit 3–2 Toronto Howard 19,371 40–28–11 91 Recap 80 April 6 Philadelphia 0–3 Detroit Howard 20,027 41–28–11 93 Recap 81 April 7 Detroit 2–5 Boston Howard 17,565 41–29–11 93 Recap 82 April 9 Detroit 2–3 N.Y. Rangers Howard 18,006 41–30–11 93 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

2016 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference First Round vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 13 Detroit 2–3 Tampa Bay Howard 19,092 0–1 Recap 2 April 15 Detroit 2–5 Tampa Bay Howard 19,092 0–2 Recap 3 April 17 Tampa Bay 0–2 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 1–2 Recap 4 April 19 Tampa Bay 3–2 Detroit Mrazek 20,027 1–3 Recap 5 April 21 Detroit 0–1 Tampa Bay Mrazek 19,092 1–4 Recap

Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 13 37 50 −15 24 66 16 33 49 7 14 80 23 22 45 11 34 81 21 24 45 4 24 82 17 26 43 −2 34 82 19 23 42 −16 120 74 7 28 35 −6 38 68 10 18 28 4 8 77 13 13 26 −2 32 64 3 23 26 −21 30 81 14 11 25 −8 12 81 8 13 21 4 46 78 8 12 20 2 44 71 3 12 15 2 56 63 3 12 15 1 62 37 9 5 14 1 5 36 6 6 12 2 14 47 4 7 11 1 36 66 2 9 11 −5 10 44 4 2 6 −6 16 ‡ 25 2 4 6 3 14 10 2 1 3 −6 2 29 1 2 3 1 6 28 1 1 2 −5 2 2 0 1 1 0 2 5 0 1 1 −2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 −2 2 ‡ 11 0 0 0 −3 7

Playoffs Player 5 0 3 3 1 2 5 1 1 2 −1 10 5 1 0 1 −2 18 5 1 0 1 −3 35 5 1 0 1 −1 6 5 1 0 1 2 6 5 1 0 1 1 0 5 1 0 1 3 4 5 1 0 1 −4 7 5 0 1 1 −2 0 5 0 1 1 3 8 5 0 1 1 0 2 4 0 1 1 −2 4 3 0 1 1 2 0 5 0 1 1 −1 2 5 0 1 1 0 4 5 0 1 1 −3 4 5 0 0 0 2 4 3 0 0 0 −1 10

Goaltenders Regular season Player 54 49 2961 27 16 6 115 2.33 1448 .921 4 0 2 2 37 33 1974 14 14 5 92 2.80 979 .906 2 0 1 2

Goaltenders Playoffs Player 3 3 177 1 2 4 1.36 73 .945 1 0 0 0 2 2 117 0 2 7 3.59 64 .891 0 0 0 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Red Wings. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only. ‡Traded mid-season Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Player suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Teemu Pulkkinen Diving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 211 in Dallas on Sunday, November 8, 2015, at 12:36 of the first period. — $2,000.00 November 13, 2015

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL First Star of the Week October 12, 2015 NHL Rookie of the Month December 1, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL Second Star of the Week January 11, 2016 NHL First Star of the Week February 15, 2016

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point October 9, 2015 1st Career NHL Win (coach) October 9, 2015 400th Career NHL Game October 10, 2015 100th Career NHL Game October 13, 2015 200th Career NHL Game October 23, 2015 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 24, 2015 500th Career NHL Assist800th Career NHL Point October 31, 2015 500th Career NHL Game November 3, 2015 Henrik Zetterberg 300th Career NHL Goal November 6, 2015 1st Career NHL Game November 8, 2015 Andreas Athanasiou 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point November 10, 2015 200th Career NHL Game November 16, 2015 200th Career NHL Game November 21, 2015 300th Career NHL Goal November 25, 2015 Drew Miller 100th Career NHL Point with Detroit December 1, 2015 700th Career NHL Game December 3, 2015 Pavel Datsyuk 900th Career NHL Game December 8, 2015 600th Career NHL Game December 14, 2015 1st Career NHL Game December 26, 2015 200th Career NHL Game January 20, 2016 200th Career NHL Game January 23, 2016 Andreas Athanasiou 1st Career NHL Assist February 6, 2016 1,100th Career NHL Game February 14, 2016 Pavel Datsyuk 900th Career NHL Point February 14, 2016 Henrik Zetterberg 900th Career NHL Game March 2, 2016 1st Career NHL Game March 15, 2016 Anthony Mantha 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point March 22, 2016 Anthony Mantha 1st Career NHL Goal March 24, 2016 Pavel Datsyuk 600th Career NHL Assist March 26, 2016