Detroit Red Wings

The Five: When The Red Wings Gave Up 10 (Or More) At Home

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2022

Bob Duff

Saturday's 10-7 Red WIngs loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena was just the 6th time the team allowed 10 goals at home.

Saturday was an historic moment in Detroit Red Wings, albeit not one that will be warmly embraced by the faithful. Losing 10-7 to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena the Red Wings gave up double digits on home ice for just the sixth time in franchise history. And that’s a history dating back to 1926, so we’re talking about a lot of games played.

“I’ve never been a part of something like that,” Red Wings defenseman Marc Staal said. “It was like, whatever. I don’t know how to answer those questions.”

It was the 19th time this season that the Wings have surrendered five or more goals in a game. Detroit has allowed 15 goals in the club’s last four periods against Toronto.

Let’s look back at the other five occasions in which the Wings ended up fishing 10 (or more pucks) out of their net at home.

St. Louis Blues 10 Red Wings 3

Date: March 30, 2011

Location: Joe Louis Arena

The Wings were sitting second overall in the NHL’s Western Conference. The Blues, who’d played the night before, were 10 points out of the playoffs and playing out the string.

“It was disgraceful,” Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said of the team’s performance.

Making his NHL debut coming in for starter Joey MacDonald, Tom McCollum allowed three goals on eight shots for a .625 save percentage. It was the first time in two decades that the Wings surrendered double digits in a game.

“It was disgusting actually to play a game like that,” Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said.

Philadelphia Flyers 11 Detroit 7

Date: Feb. 23, 1988

Location: Joe Louis Arena

The Wings held 3-0 and 5-1 leads. Entering the third period, Detroit was still ahead 6-4. Then it all came crumbling down. Philly outscored Detroit 7-0 over the final 20 minutes. The Flyers scored seven goals on 13 third-period shots. Philadelphia netted 10 goals in a span of 21:59.

“The last 40 minutes seemed like four hours,” Wings coach Jacques Demers said.

Seriously underrated Mark Howe was a great player even when he played in his slacks. Ah, Cooperalls….#Flyers pic.twitter.com/nmLu3GoBAu

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) May 28, 2021

Former Wing Murray Craven and future Wing Mark Howe each scored twice for the Flyers.

“That is one of the strangest games I’ve ever been involved in,” Flyers coach Mike Keenan said.

Minnesota North Stars 10 Red Wings 2

Date: Dec. 11, 1985

Location: Joe Louis Arena

This night would mark the third time during Detroit’s forgettable 1985-86 campaign that they’d surrendered 10 goals in a game but the first time at home. Brian Bellows scored four for the North Stars and Scott Bjugstad added a hat-trick.

The Wings actually outshot Minny 29-25.

“All I can say if we were in a total goals tournament, we’d be dead,” Detroit coach Harry Neale said.

Boston Bruins 11 Detroit 4

Date: March 16, 1971

Location: Olympia Stadium

The 1970-71 Bruins set an NHL record for breaking records. They shattered 16 NHL team and 21 individual records. Boston finished with the top four finishers in the NHL scoring race and the Bruins brought their wrath down upon the woeful Wings during a late-season encounter.

Before 15,547 – the largest crowd in Olympia Stadium history – Boston crushed the Wings 11-4. The Bruins scored six third-period goals to break open a 5-3 game. Former Wing John Bucyk netted his 50th of the season for Boston.

Gary Bergman crashes Glenn Hall's crease as Doug Robinson and Pat Stapleton go in to help out Mr. Goalie. #LGRW #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/hu6Ld5axcT

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) January 21, 2022

Both Gordie Howe and Mickey Redmond tallied for the Wings but after the game, the talk was about who wasn’t there. Defenseman Gary Bergman was sent home after the first period following an incident on the Detroit bench with coach Doug Barkley.

Toronto Maple Leafs 11 Red Wings 7

Date: March 17, 1946

Location: Olympia Stadium

There were future Hall of Famers in both nets – Harry Lumley for Detroit and Turk Broda for Toronto – and by the end of the night, so were 18 pucks.

A meaningless season-ending game and a rematch of the 1944-45 Cup final series saw the defending champion Leafs again get the better of the Wings. Gaye Stewart scored three times. His 37 goals gave him a new Toronto single-season record.

Gus Bodnar counted two goals and three assists for the Leafs. The 18 combined goals and 11 Toronto goals were both NHL season highs.