| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1987–88 |
| Year: | 1987 |
| Team: | Detroit Red Wings |
| Record: | 41–28–11 |
| Homerecord: | 24–10–6 |
| Roadrecord: | 17–18–5 |
| Conferencerank: | 3rd |
| Divisionrank: | 1st |
| Goalsfor: | 322 |
| Goalsagainst: | 269 |
| Divisionwin: | Yes |
The 1987–88 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 56th season, the franchise's 62nd.
Coached by Jacques Demers, the team compiled a record of 41–28–11 for 93 points, to finish first place in the Norris Division at the end of the regular season for the first time since 1965. Luckily for them, the division was weak that year; they were the only team in their division to have a winning record that season.[1] [2] In the playoffs, they won their Norris Division Semifinal series 4–2 over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they followed that with a 5-game win over the St. Louis Blues in the Norris Division Final. In the Campbell Conference Final, the Red Wings ran out of magic as they lost in five games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L | October 8, 1987 | 1–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 0–1–0 | |
| 2 | W | October 9, 1987 | 4–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 1–1–0 | |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1987 | 3–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 2–1–0 | |
| 4 | W | October 16, 1987 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 3–1–0 | |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 3–2–0 | |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1987 | 1–5 | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 3–3–0 | |
| 7 | W | October 23, 1987 | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 4–3–0 | |
| 8 | W | October 28, 1987 | 5–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 5–3–0 | |
| 9 | L | October 30, 1987 | 4–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 5–4–0 | |
| 10 | T | October 31, 1987 | 3–3 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 5–4–1 | |
| 11 | T | November 3, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 5–4–2 | |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 5–5–2 | |
| 13 | W | November 6, 1987 | 3–1 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 6–5–2 | |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1987 | 3–4 OT | @ New York Islanders (1987–88) | 6–6–2 | |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 6–7–2 | |
| 16 | W | November 14, 1987 | 6–4 | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 7–7–2 | |
| 17 | W | November 17, 1987 | 1–0 | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 8–7–2 | |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1987 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 8–8–2 | |
| 19 | L | November 22, 1987 | 0–1 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 8–9–2 | |
| 20 | W | November 25, 1987 | 10–8 | Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 9–9–2 | |
| 21 | W | November 27, 1987 | 6–0 | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 10–9–2 | |
| 22 | W | November 28, 1987 | 3–2 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 11–9–2 | |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1987 | 7–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 12–9–2 | |
| 24 | W | December 4, 1987 | 12–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 13–9–2 | |
| 25 | L | December 7, 1987 | 4–5 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 13–10–2 | |
| 26 | T | December 9, 1987 | 4–4 OT | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 13–10–3 | |
| 27 | T | December 11, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 13–10–4 | |
| 28 | L | December 12, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 13–11–4 | |
| 29 | L | December 14, 1987 | 3–4 | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 13–12–4 | |
| 30 | W | December 16, 1987 | 6–1 | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 14–12–4 | |
| 31 | W | December 18, 1987 | 8–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 15–12–4 | |
| 32 | L | December 20, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 15–13–4 | |
| 33 | L | December 23, 1987 | 2–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 15–14–4 | |
| 34 | L | December 26, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 15–15–4 | |
| 35 | L | December 27, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 15–16–4 | |
| 36 | W | December 30, 1987 | 3–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 16–16–4 | |
| 37 | W | December 31, 1987 | 7–2 | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 17–16–4 | |
| 38 | T | January 3, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 17–16–5 | |
| 39 | W | January 6, 1988 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 18–16–5 | |
| 40 | W | January 8, 1988 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 19–16–5 | |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1988 | 7–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 20–16–5 | |
| 42 | W | January 13, 1988 | 7–4 | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 21–16–5 | |
| 43 | W | January 15, 1988 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 22–16–5 | |
| 44 | L | January 16, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 22–17–5 | |
| 45 | W | January 18, 1988 | 4–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 23–17–5 | |
| 46 | W | January 21, 1988 | 3–2 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 24–17–5 | |
| 47 | T | January 23, 1988 | 4–4 OT | Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 24–17–6 | |
| 48 | L | January 24, 1988 | 1–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 24–18–6 | |
| 49 | L | January 26, 1988 | 4–6 | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 24–19–6 | |
| 50 | T | January 29, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 24–19–7 | |
| 51 | T | January 30, 1988 | 5–5 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 24–19–8 | |
| 52 | W | February 3, 1988 | 6–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 25–19–8 | |
| 53 | W | February 5, 1988 | 5–1 | Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 26–19–8 | |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1988 | 5–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 27–19–8 | |
| 55 | W | February 12, 1988 | 4–3 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 28–19–8 | |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1988 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 28–20–8 | |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1988 | 6–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 29–20–8 | |
| 58 | W | February 17, 1988 | 4–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 30–20–8 | |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1988 | 6–1 | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 31–20–8 | |
| 60 | L | February 21, 1988 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 31–21–8 | |
| 61 | L | February 23, 1988 | 6–11 | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 31–22–8 | |
| 62 | L | February 26, 1988 | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 31–23–8 | |
| 63 | L | February 27, 1988 | 4–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 31–24–8 | |
| 64 | W | March 1, 1988 | 4–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 32–24–8 | |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1988 | 6–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 33–24–8 | |
| 66 | T | March 5, 1988 | 4–4 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 33–24–9 | |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1988 | 4–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 34–24–9 | |
| 68 | W | March 8, 1988 | 2–0 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 35–24–9 | |
| 69 | W | March 10, 1988 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 36–24–9 | |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1988 | 4–3 | @ New York Islanders (1987–88) | 37–24–9 | |
| 71 | W | March 13, 1988 | 5–1 | New York Islanders (1987–88) | 38–24–9 | |
| 72 | W | March 16, 1988 | 2–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 39–24–9 | |
| 73 | L | March 19, 1988 | 4–7 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 39–25–9 | |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1988 | 4–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 39–26–9 | |
| 75 | L | March 24, 1988 | 2–3 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 39–27–9 | |
| 76 | T | March 26, 1988 | 4–4 OT | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 39–27–10 | |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1988 | 5–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) | 40–27–10 | |
| 78 | T | March 29, 1988 | 2–2 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 40–27–11 | |
| 79 | W | April 1, 1988 | 7–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 41–27–11 | |
| 80 | L | April 2, 1988 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 41–28–11 |
The Red Wings won the Norris Division title, their first division title since the 1964–65 season. They went up against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Norris Division semifinals, and won the series in six games. They next faced the St. Louis Blues in the Norris Division Final and won in five games. The Red Wings then faced the Edmonton Oilers in the Campbell Conference Final for the second year in a row. Just like the year before, the Oilers beat the Red Wings in five games on their way to their fourth Stanley Cup championship in five years.
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 64 | 50 | 52 | 102 | 44 | 30 | 10 | 6 | 6 | ||
| LW | 73 | 34 | 39 | 73 | 242 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 3 | ||
| W | 78 | 37 | 25 | 62 | 46 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | ||
| LW | 74 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 398 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 5 | ||
| C | 78 | 13 | 44 | 57 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| C | 63 | 14 | 40 | 54 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| LW | 73 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 50 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | ||
| LW/C | 78 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 97 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | ||
| RW | 51 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 58 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| D | 63 | 7 | 33 | 40 | 45 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 56 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 42 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 51 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 131 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
| D | 70 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 130 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RW | 62 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 94 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| RW | 50 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 37 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| D | 48 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 38 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 57 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 62 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 96 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| RW | 63 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 263 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RW | 36 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 29 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 57 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 55 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 81 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 31 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 84 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RW | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2623 | 47 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 141 | 3.23 | 4 | 1292 | 1151 | .891 | ||
| 1854 | 33 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 96 | 3.11 | 1 | 923 | 827 | .896 | ||
| 294 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3.27 | 0 | 148 | 132 | .892 | ||
| 97 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5.57 | 0 | 56 | 47 | .839 | ||
| Team: | 4868 | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 262 | 3.23 | 5 | 2419 | 2157 | .892 |
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LW | 16 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C | 16 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C | 16 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| W | 12 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| LW | 16 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| LW | 16 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
| RW | 16 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 16 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| D | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 16 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 16 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW/C | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| D | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| RW | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| RW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 531 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 3.62 | 1 | 236 | 204 | .864 | ||
| 431 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 3.06 | 1 | 171 | 149 | .871 | ||
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6.00 | 0 | 7 | 6 | .857 | ||
| Team: | 972 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 55 | 3.40 | 2 | 414 | 359 | .867 |
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;
Detroit's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
| Round | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Yves Racine | Longueuil Chevaliers (QMJHL) | ||
| 2 | 32 | Gord Kruppke | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) | ||
| 2 | 41 | Bob Wilkie | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | ||
| 3 | 52 | Dennis Holland | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) | ||
| 4 | 74 | Mark Reimer | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) | ||
| 5 | 95 | Radomir Brazda | LTC Pardubice (Czechoslovakia) | ||
| 6 | 116 | Sean Clifford | Ohio State University (CCHA) | ||
| 7 | 137 | Mike Gober | Laval Titan (QMJHL) | ||
| 8 | 158 | Kevin Scott | Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) | ||
| 9 | 179 | Mikko Haapakoski | Karpat (Finland) | ||
| 10 | 200 | Darin Banister | University of Illinois at Chicago (CCHA) | ||
| 11 | 221 | Craig Quinlan | Hill-Murray School (USHS-MN) | ||
| 12 | 242 | Tomas Jansson | Södertälje SK (Sweden) | ||
| S2 | 13 | Mike LaMoine | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |