1988–89 Detroit Red Wings season

1988–89 Detroit Red Wings
Norris Division champions
Division	1st Norris
Conference	4th Campbell
1988–89 record	34–34–12
Home record	20–14–6
Road record	14–20–6
Goals for	313
Goals against	316
Team information
General manager	Jim Devellano
Coach	Jacques Demers
Captain	Steve Yzerman
Alternate captains	Gerard Gallant Mike O'Connell
Arena	Joe Louis Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Steve Yzerman (65)
Assists	Steve Yzerman (90)
Points	Steve Yzerman (155)
Penalty minutes	Gerard Gallant (230)
Plus/minus	Larry Trader (20)
Wins	Greg Stefan (21)
Goals against average	Glen Hanlon (3.56)
←  1987–88 1989–90  →

The 1988–89 Detroit Red Wings season saw the Red Wings finish in first place in the Norris Division with a record of 34 wins, 34 losses, and 12 ties for 80 points. They were the only team even to have at least a .500 record, but they lost the Division Semi-finals four games to two to the Chicago Blackhawks. ^{[1] [2]}

Offseason

NHL Draft

See also: 1988 NHL entry draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	17	Kory Kocur (RW)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2	38	Serge Anglehart (D)	Canada	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3	47	Guy Dupuis (D)	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
3	59	Petr Hrbek (RW)	Czechoslovakia	Sparta Prague (Czechoslovakia)
4	80	Sheldon Kennedy (RW)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
7	143	Kelly Hurd (RW)	Canada	Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
8	164	Brian McCormack (D)	United States	St. Paul's School (USHS-NH)
9	185	Jody Praznik (D)	Canada	Colorado College (WCHA)
10	206	Glen Goodall (C)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
11	227	Darren Colbourne (RW)	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
12	248	Don Stone (C)	United States	University of Michigan (CCHA)
S	22	Gary Shuchuk (C)	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

Regular season

• October 6, 1988: In a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Wayne Gretzky made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky scored on his first shot, and contributed 3 assists in an 8–2 victory. ^[3]

Final standings

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Detroit Red Wings	80	34	34	12	313	316	80
St. Louis Blues	80	33	35	12	275	285	78
Minnesota North Stars	80	27	37	16	258	278	70
Chicago Blackhawks	80	27	41	12	297	335	66
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	28	46	6	259	342	62

^[4] 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

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Norris Division 1988–89 NHL records [5] Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total Chicago — 4–2–2 4–2–2 1–6–1 3–3–2 12–13–7 Detroit 2–4–2 — 5–3 3–3–2 5–3 15–13–4 Minnesota 2–4–2 3–5 — 2–3–3 3–4–1 10–16–6 St. Louis 6–1–1 3–3–2 3–2–3 — 6–2 18–8–6 Toronto 3–3–2 3–5 4–3–1 2–6 — 12–17–3

Vs. Smythe Division 1988–89 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total Chicago 0–3 2–0–1 0–3 1–2 3–0 6–8–1 Detroit 0–3 2–1 0–3 0–0–3 2–0–1 4–7–4 Minnesota 0–2–1 0–1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 5–7–3 St. Louis 0–3 0–3 2–1 0–3 1–1–1 3–11–1 Toronto 1–0–2 0–3 0–3 2–1 0–3 3–10–2

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division 1988–89 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Chicago 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–1–2 2–0–1 4–8–3 Detroit 2–0–1 0–3 1–2 2–1 1–2 6–8–1 Minnesota 2–0–1 1–0–2 1–2 0–1–2 1–2 5–5–5 St. Louis 0–3 2–1 0–1–2 0–2–1 3–0 5–7–3 Toronto 0–3 1–2 1–2 1–2 3–0 6–9–0

Vs. Patrick Division 1988–89 NHL records Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Chicago 1–2 3–0 0–2–1 0–3 0–3 1–2 5–12–1 Detroit 0–2–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 0–2–1 1–1–1 9–6–3 Minnesota 1–1–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 7–9–2 St. Louis 1–2 2–1 0–3 3–0 1–1–1 0–2–1 7–9–2 Toronto 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 7–10–1

Playoffs

The Red Wings won their second straight division championship and went against Chicago in the first round in a best of seven series and lost in 6 games, or 2–4.

Schedule and results

1988–89 regular season [6]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 L October 6, 1988 2–8 @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 0–1–0 2 T October 8, 1988 3–3 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 0–1–1 3 L October 10, 1988 2–5 @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) 0–2–1 4 T October 14, 1988 8–8 OT St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 0–2–2 5 W October 15, 1988 5–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 1–2–2 6 W October 18, 1988 4–3 OT Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 2–2–2 7 L October 21, 1988 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 2–3–2 8 T October 23, 1988 3–3 OT New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 2–3–3 9 W October 26, 1988 4–2 Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 3–3–3 10 W October 28, 1988 4–1 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 4–3–3 11 L October 29, 1988 2–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 4–4–3
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 12 T November 1, 1988 3–3 OT Washington Capitals (1988–89) 4–4–4 13 L November 4, 1988 3–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 4–5–4 14 W November 6, 1988 5–2 Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 5–5–4 15 W November 9, 1988 6–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 6–5–4 16 W November 12, 1988 5–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 7–5–4 17 W November 13, 1988 5–3 @ New York Rangers (1988–89) 8–5–4 18 W November 16, 1988 4–3 @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 9–5–4 19 W November 18, 1988 5–2 Boston Bruins (1988–89) 10–5–4 20 W November 20, 1988 5–4 OT @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) 11–5–4 21 L November 23, 1988 3–8 Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 11–6–4 22 W November 25, 1988 6–3 Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 12–6–4 23 L November 27, 1988 3–4 Washington Capitals (1988–89) 12–7–4 24 W November 29, 1988 5–3 New York Islanders (1988–89) 13–7–4
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 25 W December 1, 1988 7–3 Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 14–7–4 26 L December 3, 1988 4–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 14–8–4 27 L December 5, 1988 2–7 @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 14–9–4 28 W December 9, 1988 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 15–9–4 29 W December 10, 1988 8–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 16–9–4 30 W December 13, 1988 5–4 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 17–9–4 31 L December 16, 1988 4–6 Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) 17–10–4 32 L December 17, 1988 2–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 17–11–4 33 W December 20, 1988 6–3 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 18–11–4 34 T December 22, 1988 4–4 OT @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 18–11–5 35 L December 23, 1988 2–7 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 18–12–5 36 L December 28, 1988 1–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 18–13–5 37 L December 30, 1988 3–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 18–14–5 38 L December 31, 1988 2–3 Hartford Whalers (1988–89) 18–15–5
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 39 W January 4, 1989 4–2 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 19–15–5 40 T January 6, 1989 2–2 OT Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 19–15–6 41 L January 7, 1989 2–5 @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 19–16–6 42 W January 9, 1989 3–2 Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) 20–16–6 43 T January 11, 1989 2–2 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 20–16–7 44 T January 14, 1989 5–5 OT @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) 20–16–8 45 W January 15, 1989 8–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) 21–16–8 46 L January 17, 1989 1–7 Calgary Flames (1988–89) 21–17–8 47 L January 20, 1989 2–3 Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 21–18–8 48 W January 22, 1989 4–3 @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) 22–18–8 49 L January 25, 1989 3–6 Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 22–19–8 50 W January 27, 1989 8–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 23–19–8 51 L January 28, 1989 5–10 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 23–20–8 52 L January 30, 1989 3–4 Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) 23–21–8
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 53 L February 2, 1989 2–3 OT @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) 23–22–8 54 L February 3, 1989 5–8 @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 23–23–8 55 W February 5, 1989 6–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 24–23–8 56 L February 9, 1989 3–6 New Jersey Devils (1988–89) 24–24–8 57 W February 11, 1989 5–1 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 25–24–8 58 T February 13, 1989 2–2 OT Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) 25–24–9 59 W February 15, 1989 4–2 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 26–24–9 60 L February 17, 1989 3–5 Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 26–25–9 61 L February 19, 1989 4–8 @ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89) 26–26–9 62 W February 21, 1989 6–5 @ New York Islanders (1988–89) 27–26–9 63 T February 23, 1989 6–6 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) 27–26–10 64 W February 25, 1989 5–0 Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 28–26–10 65 T February 26, 1989 4–4 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 28–26–11
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 66 W March 1, 1989 6–5 New York Islanders (1988–89) 29–26–11 67 W March 4, 1989 5–4 OT @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 30–26–11 68 L March 7, 1989 3–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 30–27–11 69 W March 9, 1989 3–2 New York Rangers (1988–89) 31–27–11 70 L March 11, 1989 3–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 31–28–11 71 T March 14, 1989 2–2 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) 31–28–12 72 W March 15, 1989 8–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) 32–28–12 73 L March 18, 1989 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 32–29–12 74 L March 19, 1989 3–5 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) 32–30–12 75 W March 24, 1989 6–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 33–30–12 76 L March 25, 1989 5–6 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) 33–31–12 77 L March 27, 1989 2–3 St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 33–32–12 78 W March 29, 1989 4–3 New York Rangers (1988–89) 34–32–12 79 L March 31, 1989 1–5 Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) 34–33–12
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 80 L April 2, 1989 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) 34–34–12
Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season Player GP G A Pts +/– PIM Steve Yzerman 80 65 90 155 17 61 Gerard Gallant 76 39 54 93 7 230 Adam Oates 69 16 62 78 –1 14 Paul MacLean 76 36 35 71 7 118 Dave Barr 73 27 32 59 12 69 Steve Chiasson 65 12 35 47 –6 149 Shawn Burr 79 19 27 46 5 78 Lee Norwood 66 10 32 42 6 100 Petr Klima 51 25 16 41 5 44 Richard Zombo 75 1 20 21 22 106 Joey Kocur 60 9 9 18 –4 213 Michael O'Connell 66 1 15 16 –8 41 Miroslav Frycer ‡ 23 7 8 15 –4 47 James Nill 71 8 7 15 –1 83 Tim Higgins 42 5 9 14 0 62 Jeff Sharples 46 4 9 13 5 26 Doug Houda 57 2 11 13 17 67 John Chabot 52 2 10 12 –18 6 Adam Graves 56 7 5 12 –5 60 Jim Pavese ‡ 39 3 6 9 –1 130 Joe Murphy 26 1 7 8 –7 28 Bob Probert 25 4 2 6 –11 106 Dale Krentz 16 3 3 6 –3 4 Kris King 55 2 3 5 –7 168 Torrie Robertson † 12 2 2 4 0 63 Gilbert Delorme 42 1 3 4 –11 51 Brent Fedyk 5 2 0 2 –1 0 Douglas Halward ‡ 18 0 1 1 –11 36 John Mokosak 8 0 1 1 0 14 John Blum 6 0 0 0 –2 8 Scott King 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jeff Brubaker 1 0 0 0 0 0 Miroslav Ihnacak 1 0 0 0 0 0 Randall McKay 3 0 0 0 –1 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/– PIM Steve Yzerman 6 5 5 10 –7 2 Adam Oates 6 0 8 8 –1 2 Petr Klima 6 2 4 6 0 19 Dave Barr 6 3 1 4 1 6 Lee Norwood 6 1 2 3 2 16 Steve Chiasson 5 2 1 3 –3 6 Shawn Burr 6 1 2 3 2 6 Gerard Gallant 6 1 2 3 –2 40 Paul MacLean 5 1 1 2 –2 8 John Chabot 6 1 1 2 0 0 Doug Houda 6 0 1 1 –1 0 Joey Kocur 3 0 1 1 0 6 Gilbert Delorme 6 0 1 1 3 2 Torrie Robertson 6 1 0 1 –1 17 Richard Zombo 6 0 1 1 –3 16 Randall McKay 2 0 0 0 –2 2 Tim Higgins 1 0 0 0 0 0 Michael O'Connell 6 0 0 0 0 4 James Nill 6 0 0 0 –1 25 Kris King 2 0 0 0 0 2 Adam Graves 5 0 0 0 –1 4 Jeff Sharples 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltending

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Greg Stefan	46	2499	21	17	3	167	4.01	1290	0.871	0
Glen Hanlon	39	2092	13	14	8	124	3.56	1055	0.882	1
Sam St. Laurent	4	141	0	1	1	9	3.83	91	0.901	0
Tim Cheveldae	2	122	0	2	0	9	4.43	74	0.878	0

Playoffs

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Greg Stefan	5	294	2	3	18	3.67	151	0.881	0
Glen Hanlon	2	78	0	1	7	5.38	47	0.851	0

^[7]

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Red Wings. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

• Steve Yzerman, Club Record, Most Points in One Season (155)
• Steve Yzerman, Lester B. Pearson Award
• Gerard Gallant, Left Wing, NHL Second All-Star Team

References

• Red Wings on Hockey Database

1. "NHL Roundup – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
2. "There's nothing like scoring an important goal in a... – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
3. Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, ISBN   978-0-307-39729-4
4. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN   9781894801225.
5. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
6. "1988-89 Detroit Red Wings Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
7. 1988–89 Detroit Red Wings at Hockey Reference