# 1987–88 Detroit Red Wings season

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. 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.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 322 | 269 | 93 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 34 | 38 | 8 | 278 | 294 | 76 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 30 | 41 | 9 | 284 | 328 | 69 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 21 | 49 | 10 | 273 | 345 | 52 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 242 | 349 | 51 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Chicago
—3–55–2–13–4–15–316–14–2
Detroit
5–3—4–3–14–1–33–3–216–10–6
Minnesota
2–5–13–4–1—2–5–14–1–311–15–6
St. Louis
4–3–11–4–35–2–1—6–1–116–10–6
Toronto
3–53–3–21–4–31–6–1—8–18–6
Vs. Smythe Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
0–2–12–11–22–11–1–16–7–2
Detroit
1–1–12–12–12–12–0–19–4–2
Minnesota
0–2–10–2–10–31–20–2–11–11–3
St. Louis
1–20–31–22–11–25–10–0
Toronto
0–30–2–11–1–11–1–11–23–9–3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
0–31–21–20–2–10–2–12–11–2
Detroit
2–12–11–21–20–36–9–0
Minnesota
0–31–1–10–31–1–11–23–10–2
St. Louis
2–10–32–11–22–17–8–0
Toronto
1–20–30–30–30–31–14–0
Vs. Patrick Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
0–31–0–20–2–13–01–21–26–9–3
Detroit
3–02–11–1–10–2–12–12–0–110–5–3
Minnesota
0–31–1–11–21–21–20–2–14–12–2
St. Louis
0–30–2–10–31–23–02–0–16–10–2
Toronto
1–23–01–22–11–21–1–19–8–1 :

## Schedule and results

| 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 |

## Playoffs

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 statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Steve Yzerman | C | 64 | 50 | 52 | 102 | 44 | 30 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Gerard Gallant | LW | 73 | 34 | 39 | 73 | 242 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Petr Klima | W | 78 | 37 | 25 | 62 | 46 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Bob Probert | LW | 74 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 398 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| John Chabot | C | 78 | 13 | 44 | 57 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Adam Oates | C | 63 | 14 | 40 | 54 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Brent Ashton | LW | 73 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 50 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Shawn Burr | LW/C | 78 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 97 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Dave Barr | RW | 51 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 58 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 63 | 7 | 33 | 40 | 45 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Jeff Sharples | D | 56 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 42 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Norwood | D | 51 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 131 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Doug Halward | D | 70 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 130 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Tim Higgins | RW | 62 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 94 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joe Murphy | RW | 50 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 37 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 48 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 38 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 57 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rick Zombo | D | 62 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 96 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Joe Kocur | RW | 63 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 263 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Nill | RW | 36 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Chiasson | D | 29 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 57 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilbert Delorme | D | 55 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 81 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Snepsts | D | 31 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Pavese | D | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Krentz | LW | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Houda | D | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Martinson | LW | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 84 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mark Kumpel | RW | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris King | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murray Eaves | C | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Fedyk | LW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Graves | LW | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Stefan | G | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Eliot | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam St. Laurent | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Glen Hanlon | 2623 | 47 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 141 | 3.23 | 4 | 1292 | 1151 | .891 |
| Greg Stefan | 1854 | 33 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 96 | 3.11 | 1 | 923 | 827 | .896 |
| Sam St. Laurent | 294 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3.27 | 0 | 148 | 132 | .892 |
| Darren Eliot | 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 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Bob Probert | LW | 16 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Adam Oates | C | 16 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| John Chabot | C | 16 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Petr Klima | W | 12 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Gerard Gallant | LW | 16 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brent Ashton | LW | 16 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Dave Barr | RW | 16 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Norwood | D | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Nill | RW | 16 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 62 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Zombo | D | 16 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 16 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Halward | D | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shawn Burr | LW/C | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Chiasson | D | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Yzerman | C | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilbert Delorme | D | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Sharples | D | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Higgins | RW | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joe Kocur | RW | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Murphy | RW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Pavese | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Stefan | G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Krentz | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Snepsts | D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam St. Laurent | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Greg Stefan | 531 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 3.62 | 1 | 236 | 204 | .864 |
| Glen Hanlon | 431 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 3.06 | 1 | 171 | 149 | .871 |
| Sam St. Laurent | 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;

## Draft picks

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 | Canada | Longueuil Chevaliers (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 32 | Gord Kruppke | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 2 | 41 | Bob Wilkie | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 3 | 52 | Dennis Holland | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 4 | 74 | Mark Reimer | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 5 | 95 | Radomir Brazda | Czechoslovakia | LTC Pardubice (Czechoslovakia) |
| 6 | 116 | Sean Clifford | Canada | Ohio State University (CCHA) |
| 7 | 137 | Mike Gober | United States | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 158 | Kevin Scott | Canada | Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) |
| 9 | 179 | Mikko Haapakoski | Finland | Karpat (Finland) |
| 10 | 200 | Darin Banister | Canada | University of Illinois at Chicago (CCHA) |
| 11 | 221 | Craig Quinlan | United States | Hill-Murray School (USHS-MN) |
| 12 | 242 | Tomas Jansson | Sweden | Södertälje SK (Sweden) |
| S2 | 13 | Mike LaMoine | United States | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |