# 1991–92 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1991–92 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 60th season, the 66th for the franchise. The Wings made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Red Wings, along with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, had five 30-goal scorers. This was also the first season for the now-retired NHL legend Nicklas Lidstrom.

## Offseason

In the Entry Draft, the Wings picked Martin Lapointe in the first round, tenth overall. In the third round, the Wings picked their goaltender of the future, Chris Osgood.

## Regular season

The Red Wings led the NHL in short-handed goals scored, with 18.

### Season standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 43 | 25 | 12 | 320 | 256 | 98 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 36 | 29 | 15 | 257 | 236 | 87 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 279 | 266 | 83 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 246 | 278 | 70 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 30 | 43 | 7 | 234 | 294 | 67 |
Campbell Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 25 | 12 | 320 | 256 | 98 |
| 2 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 285 | 250 | 96 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | NRS | 80 | 36 | 29 | 15 | 257 | 236 | 87 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | SMY | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 287 | 296 | 84 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | NRS | 80 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 279 | 266 | 83 |
| 6 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 295 | 297 | 82 |
| 7 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 33 | 32 | 15 | 251 | 244 | 81 |
| 8 | Calgary Flames | SMY | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 296 | 305 | 74 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | NRS | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 246 | 278 | 70 |
| 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NRS | 80 | 30 | 43 | 7 | 234 | 294 | 67 |
| 11 | San Jose Sharks | SMY | 80 | 17 | 58 | 5 | 219 | 359 | 39 |
Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results
### October

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 3 | Detroit | 3 – 3 | Chicago | * | 0–0–1 | 1 |
| 2 | October 5 | Detroit | 5 – 8 | Toronto | | 0–1–1 | 1 |
| 3 | October 10 | Montreal | 4 – 1 | Detroit | | 0–2–1 | 1 |
| 4 | October 12 | Detroit | 2 – 3 | Minnesota | | 0–3–1 | 1 |
| 5 | October 15 | Edmonton | 1 – 3 | Detroit | | 1–3–1 | 3 |
| 6 | October 17 | St. Louis | 3 – 6 | Detroit | | 2–3–1 | 5 |
| 7 | October 19 | Detroit | 6 – 1 | Quebec | | 3–3–1 | 7 |
| 8 | October 23 | Winnipeg | 3 – 2 | Detroit | | 3–4–1 | 7 |
| 9 | October 25 | Toronto | 0 – 4 | Detroit | | 4–4–1 | 9 |
| 10 | October 26 | Detroit | 1 – 6 | Toronto | | 4–5–1 | 9 |
| 11 | October 28 | Los Angeles | 4 – 3 | Detroit | | 4–6–1 | 9 |
| 12 | October 30 | Buffalo | 1 – 3 | Detroit | | 5–6–1 | 11 |

### November

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 13 | November 1 | Hartford | 5 – 8 | Detroit | | 6–6–1 | 13 |
| 14 | November 2 | Detroit | 1 – 4 | Boston | | 6–7–1 | 13 |
| 15 | November 5 | Minnesota | 3 – 2 | Detroit | | 6–8–1 | 13 |
| 16 | November 7 | St. Louis | 3 – 10 | Detroit | | 7–8–1 | 15 |
| 17 | November 8 | Detroit | 5 – 4 | Washington | | 8–8–1 | 17 |
| 18 | November 10 | St. Louis | 4 – 6 | Detroit | | 9–8–1 | 19 |
| 19 | November 12 | Detroit | 5 – 4 | Calgary | * | 10–8–1 | 21 |
| 20 | November 14 | Detroit | 3 – 3 | San Jose | * | 10–8–2 | 22 |
| 21 | November 16 | Detroit | 5 – 3 | Los Angeles | | 11–8–2 | 24 |
| 22 | November 19 | Chicago | 1 – 4 | Detroit | | 12–8–2 | 26 |
| 23 | November 22 | Minnesota | 3 – 4 | Detroit | | 13–8–2 | 28 |
| 24 | November 23 | Detroit | 2 – 2 | Minnesota | * | 13–8–3 | 29 |
| 25 | November 25 | Washington | 4 – 5 | Detroit | | 14–8–3 | 31 |
| 26 | November 30 | Detroit | 3 – 7 | St. Louis | | 14–9–3 | 31 |

### December

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 27 | December 3 | Calgary | 2 – 5 | Detroit | | 15–9–3 | 33 |
| 28 | December 6 | NY Rangers | 5 – 6 | Detroit | * | 16–9–3 | 35 |
| 29 | December 7 | Detroit | 2 – 2 | New Jersey | * | 16–9–4 | 36 |
| 30 | December 10 | Chicago | 3 – 5 | Detroit | | 17–9–4 | 38 |
| 31 | December 12 | Quebec | 1 – 4 | Detroit | | 18–9–4 | 40 |
| 32 | December 14 | Detroit | 4 – 3 | Calgary | * | 19–9–4 | 42 |
| 33 | December 15 | Detroit | 4 – 1 | Edmonton | | 20–9–4 | 44 |
| 34 | December 17 | Detroit | 1 – 2 | Vancouver | | 20–10–4 | 44 |
| 35 | December 21 | Detroit | 5 – 2 | Los Angeles | | 21–10–4 | 46 |
| 36 | December 28 | Detroit | 5 – 4 | Toronto | | 22–10–4 | 48 |
| 37 | December 29 | Detroit | 6 – 4 | Chicago | | 23–10–4 | 50 |
| 38 | December 31 | Boston | 5 – 3 | Detroit | | 23–11–4 | 50 |

### January

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 39 | January 3 | Toronto | 4 – 6 | Detroit | | 24–11–4 | 52 |
| 40 | January 4 | Detroit | 6 – 2 | St. Louis | | 25–11–4 | 54 |
| 41 | January 7 | NY Islanders | 5 – 2 | Detroit | | 25–12–4 | 54 |
| 42 | January 9 | Minnesota | 4 – 9 | Detroit | | 26–12–4 | 56 |
| 43 | January 11 | Edmonton | 5 – 5 | Detroit | * | 26–12–5 | 57 |
| 44 | January 14 | Detroit | 2 – 6 | NY Islanders | | 26–13–5 | 57 |
| 45 | January 16 | Pittsburgh | 3 – 3 | Detroit | * | 26–13–6 | 58 |
| 46 | January 21 | Philadelphia | 3 – 7 | Detroit | | 27–13–6 | 60 |
| 47 | January 23 | Vancouver | 3 – 1 | Detroit | | 27–14–6 | 60 |
| 48 | January 25 | Detroit | 7 – 0 | New Jersey | | 28–14–6 | 62 |
| 49 | January 29 | Buffalo | 4 – 4 | Detroit | * | 28–14–7 | 63 |
| 50 | January 31 | New Jersey | 6 – 3 | Detroit | | 28–15–7 | 63 |

### February

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 51 | February 1 | Detroit | 3 - 4 | Montreal | * | 28-16-7 | 63 |
| 52 | February 3 | Detroit | 4 - 4 | Pittsburgh | * | 28-16-8 | 64 |
| 53 | February 5 | Washington | 1 - 4 | Detroit | | 29-16-8 | 66 |
| 54 | February 7 | Toronto | 4 - 3 | Detroit | | 29-17-8 | 66 |
| 55 | February 9 | Detroit | 5 - 5 | NY Rangers | * | 29-17-9 | 67 |
| 56 | February 11 | Detroit | 3 - 4 | Toronto | | 29-18-9 | 67 |
| 57 | February 12 | Detroit | 9 - 4 | Buffalo | | 30-18-9 | 69 |
| 58 | February 15 | San Jose | 1 - 11 | Detroit | | 31-18-9 | 71 |
| 59 | February 17 | St. Louis | 3 - 5 | Detroit | | 32-18-9 | 73 |
| 60 | February 20 | Toronto | 2 - 3 | Detroit | | 33-18-9 | 75 |
| 61 | February 22 | Chicago | 1 - 2 | Detroit | | 34-18-9 | 77 |
| 62 | February 23 | Detroit | 4 - 0 | Hartford | | 35-18-9 | 79 |
| 63 | February 27 | Detroit | 2 - 4 | Chicago | | 35-19-9 | 79 |
| 64 | February 29 | Detroit | 3 - 2 | St. Louis | | 36-19-9 | 81 |

### March

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 65 | March 3 | Winnipeg | 4 - 3 | Detroit | | 36-20-9 | 81 |
| 66 | March 5 | Minnesota | 4 - 2 | Detroit | | 36-21-9 | 81 |
| 67 | March 7 | Detroit | 4 - 4 | Quebec | * | 36-21-10 | 82 |
| 68 | March 8 | Detroit | 1 - 4 | Montreal | | 36-22-10 | 82 |
| 69 | March 12 | Detroit | 5 - 4 | St. Louis | | 37-22-10 | 84 |
| 70 | March 14 | Detroit | 1 - 4 | Minnesota | | 37-23-10 | 84 |
| 71 | March 15 | Detroit | 1 - 1 | Winnipeg | * | 37-23-11 | 85 |
| 72 | March 17 | Detroit | 5 - 4 | San Jose | | 38-23-11 | 87 |
| 73 | March 20 | NY Rangers | 4 - 2 | Detroit | | 38-24-11 | 87 |
| 74 | March 22 | Philadelphia | 4 - 3 | Detroit | | 38-25-11 | 87 |
| 75 | March 24 | Pittsburgh | 2 - 4 | Detroit | | 39-25-11 | 89 |
| 76 | March 28 | Vancouver | 1 - 3 | Detroit | | 40-25-11 | 91 |
| 77 | March 29 | Detroit | 6 - 2 | Vancouver | | 41-25-11 | 93 |
| 78 | March 31 | Chicago | 3 - 3 | Detroit | * | 41-25-12 | 94 |

### April

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Record | Pts |
| 79 | April 12 | Detroit | 2 - 1 | Chicago | | 42-25-12 | 96 |
| 80 | April 14 | Detroit | 7 - 4 | Minnesota | | 43-25-12 | 98 |

## Playoffs

Detroit finished the regular season in first place in the Norris Division for the third time in their history, qualifying for the playoffs. The Wings won the Division Semi-Finals (4–3) against the Minnesota North Stars but lost the Division Finals (0–4) to the Chicago Blackhawks.

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Steve Yzerman | 79 | 45 | 58 | 103 | 64 |
| Sergei Fedorov | 80 | 32 | 54 | 86 | 72 |
| Paul Ysebaert | 79 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 55 |
| Jimmy Carson | 80 | 34 | 35 | 69 | 30 |
| Ray Sheppard | 74 | 36 | 26 | 62 | 27 |
| Shawn Burr | 79 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 118 |
| Kevin Miller | 80 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 53 |
| Bob Probert | 63 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 276 |
| Gerard Gallant | 69 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 187 |
| Keith Primeau | 35 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 83 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Nicklas Lidstrom | 80 | 11 | 49 | 60 | 22 |
| Steve Chiasson | 62 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 136 |
| Vladimir Konstantinov | 79 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 172 |
| Brad McCrimmon | 79 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 118 |
| Yves Racine | 61 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 94 |
| Doug Crossman | 26 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 14 |
| Brad Marsh | 55 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 53 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Tim Cheveldae | 72 | 38 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 3.20 |
| Greg Millen | 10 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2.71 |

## Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft held at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 10 | Martin Lapointe | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 32 | Jamie Pushor | Canada | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) |
| 3 | 54 | Chris Osgood | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 4 | 76 | Mike Knuble | Canada | Kalamazoo Wings (NAHL) |
| 5 | 98 | Dmitri Motkov | Soviet Union | CSKA Moscow (USSR) |
| 7 | 142 | Igor Malykhin | Soviet Union | CSKA Moscow (USSR) |
| 9 | 186 | Jim Bermingham | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 208 | Jason Firth | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 11 | 230 | Bart Tuner | United States | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 12 | 252 | Andrew Miller | Canada | Wexford Raiders (OJHL) |
| S | 16 | Kelly Sorensen | Canada | Ferris State University (CCHA) |