# 1986–87 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1986–87 Detroit Red Wings season saw the Red Wings finish in second place in the Norris Division (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 in four games in the opening round, then rallied from a 3–1 deficit against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the division final, before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers 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).

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 32 | 33 | 15 | 281 | 293 | 79 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 34 | 36 | 10 | 260 | 274 | 78 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 29 | 37 | 14 | 290 | 310 | 72 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 286 | 319 | 70 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 30 | 40 | 10 | 296 | 314 | 70 |
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
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Chicago
—3–4–12–4–21–3–44–410–15–7
Detroit
4–3–1—7–0–13–4–12–5–116–12–4
Minnesota
4–2–20–7–1—2–5–16–212–16–4
St. Louis
3–1–44–3–15–2–1—5–2–117–8–7
Toronto
4–45–2–12–62–5–1—13–17–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
0–32–11–1–11–1–13–07–6–2
Detroit
2–10–30–32–11–1–15–9–1
Minnesota
1–1–10–2–12–0–13–01–27–5–3
St. Louis
2–10–31–1–10–2–10–1–23–8–4
Toronto
1–21–21–1–11–22–16–8–1
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
1–1–11–22–10–2–11–25–8–2
Detroit
2–0–10–2–11–1–11–1–12–16–5–4
Minnesota
0–33–02–11–20–2–16–8–1
St. Louis
1–22–11–21–23–08–7–0
Toronto
1–22–0–11–21–20–35–9–1
Vs. Patrick Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
2–12–11–1–10–2–11–21–1–17–8–3
Detroit
1–21–22–11–22–10–2–17–10–1
Minnesota
2–10–31–1–12–10–30–2–15–11–2
St. Louis
1–21–1–12–10–30–1–20–2–14–10–4
Toronto
2–11–21–1–11–1–12–11–28–8–2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 9, 1986 | 1–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 11, 1986 | 4–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 15, 1986 | 3–4 OT | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1986 | 3–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | W | October 18, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 22, 1986 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | T | October 24, 1986 | 1–1 OT | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | W | October 25, 1986 | 3–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1986 | 5–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 4–4–1 |
| 10 | W | October 30, 1986 | 3–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1986 | 0–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 5–5–1 |
| 12 | W | November 5, 1986 | 5–4 OT | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 6–5–1 |
| 13 | L | November 8, 1986 | 1–2 OT | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 6–6–1 |
| 14 | W | November 9, 1986 | 2–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 7–6–1 |
| 15 | L | November 12, 1986 | 3–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 7–7–1 |
| 16 | L | November 13, 1986 | 5–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 7–8–1 |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1986 | 0–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 7–9–1 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1986 | 3–4 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 7–10–1 |
| 19 | T | November 21, 1986 | 3–3 OT | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 7–10–2 |
| 20 | W | November 22, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 8–10–2 |
| 21 | L | November 26, 1986 | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 8–11–2 |
| 22 | L | November 28, 1986 | 1–2 OT | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 8–12–2 |
| 23 | W | November 29, 1986 | 4–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 9–12–2 |
| 24 | L | December 2, 1986 | 4–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 9–13–2 |
| 25 | T | December 5, 1986 | 3–3 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 9–13–3 |
| 26 | W | December 6, 1986 | 4–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 10–13–3 |
| 27 | T | December 9, 1986 | 5–5 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 10–13–4 |
| 28 | T | December 11, 1986 | 6–6 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 10–13–5 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1986 | 3–8 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 10–14–5 |
| 30 | W | December 17, 1986 | 5–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 11–14–5 |
| 31 | T | December 20, 1986 | 2–2 OT | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 11–14–6 |
| 32 | L | December 21, 1986 | 4–7 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 11–15–6 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1986 | 3–1 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 12–15–6 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1986 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 13–15–6 |
| 35 | T | December 27, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 13–15–7 |
| 36 | W | December 31, 1986 | 6–4 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 14–15–7 |
| 37 | W | January 2, 1987 | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 15–15–7 |
| 38 | W | January 3, 1987 | 3–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 16–15–7 |
| 39 | L | January 6, 1987 | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 16–16–7 |
| 40 | T | January 8, 1987 | 4–4 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 16–16–8 |
| 41 | L | January 10, 1987 | 2–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 16–17–8 |
| 42 | L | January 11, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 16–18–8 |
| 43 | L | January 13, 1987 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 16–19–8 |
| 44 | L | January 15, 1987 | 1–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 16–20–8 |
| 45 | W | January 17, 1987 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 17–20–8 |
| 46 | W | January 18, 1987 | 1–0 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 18–20–8 |
| 47 | W | January 21, 1987 | 8–5 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 19–20–8 |
| 48 | W | January 23, 1987 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 20–20–8 |
| 49 | L | January 24, 1987 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 20–21–8 |
| 50 | L | January 28, 1987 | 1–2 | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 20–22–8 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1987 | 4–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 21–22–8 |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1987 | 1–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 21–23–8 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 21–24–8 |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1987 | 6–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 22–24–8 |
| 55 | W | February 7, 1987 | 5–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 23–24–8 |
| 56 | W | February 14, 1987 | 5–1 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 24–24–8 |
| 57 | L | February 17, 1987 | 2–6 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 24–25–8 |
| 58 | W | February 18, 1987 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 25–25–8 |
| 59 | W | February 20, 1987 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 26–25–8 |
| 60 | T | February 22, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 26–25–9 |
| 61 | L | February 24, 1987 | 2–8 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 26–26–9 |
| 62 | W | February 26, 1987 | 5–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 27–26–9 |
| 63 | W | February 28, 1987 | 4–1 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 28–26–9 |
| 64 | W | March 2, 1987 | 4–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 29–26–9 |
| 65 | L | March 3, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 29–27–9 |
| 66 | W | March 5, 1987 | 9–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 30–27–9 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1987 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 30–28–9 |
| 68 | L | March 10, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 30–29–9 |
| 69 | L | March 11, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 30–30–9 |
| 70 | W | March 14, 1987 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 31–30–9 |
| 71 | T | March 15, 1987 | 1–1 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 31–30–10 |
| 72 | W | March 17, 1987 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 32–30–10 |
| 73 | L | March 19, 1987 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 32–31–10 |
| 74 | W | March 21, 1987 | 3–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 33–31–10 |
| 75 | L | March 22, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 33–32–10 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1987 | 1–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 33–33–10 |
| 77 | W | March 28, 1987 | 5–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 34–33–10 |
| 78 | L | April 1, 1987 | 1–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 34–34–10 |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1987 | 3–4 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 34–35–10 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1987 | 2–3 OT | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 34–36–10 |

### 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, Chicago 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, the Toronto Maple Leafs. 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 Edmonton Oilers 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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Steve Yzerman | C | 80 | 31 | 59 | 90 | 43 | -1 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Gerard Gallant | LW | 80 | 38 | 34 | 72 | 216 | -5 | 17 | 0 | 4 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 77 | 13 | 45 | 58 | 52 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Petr Klima | W | 77 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 42 | -9 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Shawn Burr | LW/C | 80 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 107 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Adam Oates | C | 76 | 15 | 32 | 47 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| John Ogrodnick | LW | 39 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 6 | -2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Brent Ashton | LW | 35 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 22 | -3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 77 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 70 | -25 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Lee Norwood | D | 57 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 163 | -23 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Barr | RW | 37 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 49 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Tim Higgins | RW | 77 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 124 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bob Probert | LW | 63 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 221 | -6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Kocur | RW | 77 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 276 | -10 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Doug Shedden | C | 33 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Harold Snepsts | D | 54 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 129 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ric Seiling | RW/C | 74 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 49 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy Ladouceur | D | 34 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 70 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 58 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 66 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilbert Delorme | D | 24 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 33 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Chiasson | D | 45 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 73 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Zombo | D | 44 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 59 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Basil McRae | LW | 36 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 193 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Stefan | G | 43 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lamb | C | 22 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Carroll | C | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Halward | D | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Kumpel | RW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Laforest | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Murphy | RW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Sharples | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Cichocki | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Johnstone | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Krentz | LW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam St. Laurent | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Greg Stefan | 2351 | 43 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 135 | 3.45 | 1 | 1082 | 947 | .875 |
| Glen Hanlon | 1963 | 36 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 104 | 3.18 | 1 | 975 | 871 | .893 |
| Mark Laforest | 219 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3.29 | 0 | 111 | 99 | .892 |
| Sam St. Laurent | 342 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 2.81 | 0 | 135 | 119 | .881 |
| Team: | 4875 | 80 | 34 | 36 | 10 | 267 | 3.29 | 2 | 2303 | 2036 | .884 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Steve Yzerman | C | 16 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerard Gallant | LW | 16 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Ashton | LW | 16 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Oates | C | 16 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Shawn Burr | LW/C | 16 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mel Bridgman | C | 16 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bob Probert | LW | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Darren Veitch | D | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Lee Norwood | D | 16 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joe Kocur | RW | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mike O'Connell | D | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petr Klima | W | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilbert Delorme | D | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Snepsts | D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Stefan | G | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Barr | RW | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Higgins | RW | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Zombo | D | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Chiasson | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Hanlon | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Kumpel | RW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lamb | C | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ric Seiling | RW/C | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Sharples | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
| Glen Hanlon | 467 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 1.67 | 2 | 227 | 214 | .943 |
| Greg Stefan | 508 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 2.83 | 0 | 252 | 228 | .905 |
| Team: | 975 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 37 | 2.28 | 2 | 479 | 442 | .923 |
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 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. 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.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Joe Murphy | Canada | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 2 | 22 | Adam Graves | Canada | Windsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Derek Mayer | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 4 | 64 | Tim Cheveldae | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 5 | 85 | Johan Garpenlov | Sweden | Nacka HK (Sweden) |
| 6 | 106 | Jay Stark | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 7 | 127 | Par Djoos | Sweden | Mora IK (Sweden) |
| 8 | 148 | Dean Morton | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 9 | 169 | Marc Potvin | Canada | Stratford Cullitons (WOJBHL) |
| 10 | 190 | Scott King | Canada | Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) |
| 11 | 211 | Tom Bissett | United States | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 12 | 232 | Peter Ekroth | Sweden | Södertälje SK (Sweden) |
| S2 | 5 | Rob Doyle | Canada | Colorado College (WCHA) |