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 | |
|---|---|
Presidents' Trophy winners | |
Central Division champions | |
| Division | 1st Central |
| Conference | 1st Western |
| 1995–96 record | 62–13–7 |
| Home record | 36–3–2 |
| Road record | 26–10–5 |
| Goals for | 325 |
| Goals against | 181 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Scotty Bowman (interim) Jim Devellano (interim) |
| Coach | Scotty Bowman |
| Captain | Steve Yzerman |
| Alternate captains | Paul Coffey Sergei Fedorov |
| Arena | Joe Louis Arena |
| Average attendance | 19,923 (100%) Total: 816,850 |
| Minor league affiliate(s) | Adirondack Red Wings (AHL) Toledo Storm (ECHL) Jacksonville Bullets (SHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Sergei Fedorov (39) |
| Assists | Sergei Fedorov (68) |
| Points | Sergei Fedorov (107) |
| Penalty minutes | Keith Primeau (168) |
| Plus/minus | Vladimir Konstantinov (+60) |
| Wins | Chris Osgood (39) |
| Goals against average | Chris 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. 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.