The 1986–87

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

season saw the Red Wings finish in second place in the

Norris Division The National Hockey League's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. When the NHL realigned into geographic divisions in 1981, the division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference, where it comprised the ...

(NHL) with a record of 34 wins, 36 losses, and 10 draws for 78 points, a 38-point improvement from the previous season. They swept the

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

in four games in the opening round, then rallied from a 3–1 deficit against the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

in the division final, before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

in five games in the Campbell Conference final. This season marked a turning point for the franchise. After making the playoffs just four times between 1967 and 1986, the Red Wings missed the playoffs only once between 1987 and 2016 (that coming in 1989–90).

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 9, 1986, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1986–87) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , W, , October 11, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 1–1–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 15, 1986, , 3–4 OT, , align="left",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1986–87) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , L, , October 17, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 18, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1986–87) , , 2–3–0 , - , 6, , L, , October 22, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1986–87) , , 2–4–0 , - , 7, , T, , October 24, 1986, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1986–87) , , 2–4–1 , - , 8, , W, , October 25, 1986, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 3–4–1 , - , 9, , W, , October 29, 1986, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 4–4–1 , - , 10, , W, , October 30, 1986, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1986–87) , , 5–4–1 , - , - , 11, , L, , November 1, 1986, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 5–5–1 , - , 12, , W, , November 5, 1986, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1986–87) , , 6–5–1 , - , 13, , L, , November 8, 1986, , 1–2 OT, , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1986–87) , , 6–6–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 9, 1986, , 2–1 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1986–87) , , 7–6–1 , - , 15, , L, , November 12, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1986–87) , , 7–7–1 , - , 16, , L, , November 13, 1986, , 5–7 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1986–87) , , 7–8–1 , - , 17, , L, , November 15, 1986, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 7–9–1 , - , 18, , L, , November 19, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 7–10–1 , - , 19, , T, , November 21, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1986–87) , , 7–10–2 , - , 20, , W, , November 22, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 8–10–2 , - , 21, , L, , November 26, 1986, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 8–11–2 , - , 22, , L, , November 28, 1986, , 1–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 8–12–2 , - , 23, , W, , November 29, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 9–12–2 , - , - , 24, , L, , December 2, 1986, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 9–13–2 , - , 25, , T, , December 5, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 9–13–3 , - , 26, , W, , December 6, 1986, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

( 1986–87) , , 10–13–3 , - , 27, , T, , December 9, 1986, , 5–5 OT, , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1986–87) , , 10–13–4 , - , 28, , T, , December 11, 1986, , 6–6 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 10–13–5 , - , 29, , L, , December 16, 1986, , 3–8 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 10–14–5 , - , 30, , W, , December 17, 1986, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1986–87) , , 11–14–5 , - , 31, , T, , December 20, 1986, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 11–14–6 , - , 32, , L, , December 21, 1986, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 11–15–6 , - , 33, , W, , December 23, 1986, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 12–15–6 , - , 34, , W, , December 26, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 13–15–6 , - , 35, , T, , December 27, 1986, , 5–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 13–15–7 , - , 36, , W, , December 31, 1986, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 14–15–7 , - , - , 37, , W, , January 2, 1987, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 15–15–7 , - , 38, , W, , January 3, 1987, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 16–15–7 , - , 39, , L, , January 6, 1987, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 16–16–7 , - , 40, , T, , January 8, 1987, , 4–4 OT, , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1986–87) , , 16–16–8 , - , 41, , L, , January 10, 1987, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1986–87) , , 16–17–8 , - , 42, , L, , January 11, 1987, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 16–18–8 , - , 43, , L, , January 13, 1987, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 16–19–8 , - , 44, , L, , January 15, 1987, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 16–20–8 , - , 45, , W, , January 17, 1987, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 17–20–8 , - , 46, , W, , January 18, 1987, , 1–0 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 18–20–8 , - , 47, , W, , January 21, 1987, , 8–5 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 19–20–8 , - , 48, , W, , January 23, 1987, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 20–20–8 , - , 49, , L, , January 24, 1987, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 20–21–8 , - , 50, , L, , January 28, 1987, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 20–22–8 , - , 51, , W, , January 31, 1987, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 21–22–8 , - , - , 52, , L, , February 1, 1987, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 21–23–8 , - , 53, , L, , February 4, 1987, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 21–24–8 , - , 54, , W, , February 6, 1987, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 22–24–8 , - , 55, , W, , February 7, 1987, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 23–24–8 , - , 56, , W, , February 14, 1987, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 24–24–8 , - , 57, , L, , February 17, 1987, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 24–25–8 , - , 58, , W, , February 18, 1987, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 25–25–8 , - , 59, , W, , February 20, 1987, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 26–25–8 , - , 60, , T, , February 22, 1987, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 26–25–9 , - , 61, , L, , February 24, 1987, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 26–26–9 , - , 62, , W, , February 26, 1987, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 27–26–9 , - , 63, , W, , February 28, 1987, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 28–26–9 , - , - , 64, , W, , March 2, 1987, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 29–26–9 , - , 65, , L, , March 3, 1987, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 29–27–9 , - , 66, , W, , March 5, 1987, , 9–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 30–27–9 , - , 67, , L, , March 7, 1987, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 30–28–9 , - , 68, , L, , March 10, 1987, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 30–29–9 , - , 69, , L, , March 11, 1987, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 30–30–9 , - , 70, , W, , March 14, 1987, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 31–30–9 , - , 71, , T, , March 15, 1987, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 31–30–10 , - , 72, , W, , March 17, 1987, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 32–30–10 , - , 73, , L, , March 19, 1987, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 32–31–10 , - , 74, , W, , March 21, 1987, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 33–31–10 , - , 75, , L, , March 22, 1987, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 33–32–10 , - , 76, , L, , March 25, 1987, , 1–6 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 33–33–10 , - , 77, , W, , March 28, 1987, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 34–33–10 , - , - , 78, , L, , April 1, 1987, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 34–34–10 , - , 79, , L, , April 4, 1987, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1986–87) , , 34–35–10 , - , 80, , L, , April 5, 1987, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1986–87) , , 34–36–10 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Red Wings finished the season 34–36–10, a major improvement over the disastrous 1985–86 campaign. Just missing out on first place in the Norris Division, the Wings faced

rival A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

in Round One. Detroit stunned the Blackhawks in a 4-game sweep, the franchise's first series victory since 1977–78. In the Norris Finals, Detroit faced another

archrival A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant ...

, the

. The Leafs jumped out to a 3–1 series lead, but Detroit stormed back, winning the series in seven games, including a 3–0 win in the deciding game. The Red Wings then faced the heavily favored

in the Campbell Conference Finals. Detroit took Game One, but the Oilers would eventually take the series in five games. Edmonton would go on to win the Stanley Cup.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring ;Goaltending 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

Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1986 NHL entry draft held at the

Montreal Forum Montreal Forum () is a historic building located facing Cabot Square, Montreal, Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by ''Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the home o ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

. The Red Wings initially selected Ian Kidd first overall in the 1986 NHL supplemental draft, but the claim was invalidated after it was determined Kidd didn't meet eligibility requirements.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 Detroit Red Wings season

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

Detroit Red Wings seasons Detroit Red Detroit Red 1986 in Detroit 1987 in Detroit

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

References