The 2011–12 Detroit Red Wings season was the 86th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Red Wings finished the season with a 48–28–6 record and for the first time since 1990–91 season, the Red Wings did not finish first or second in their division, finishing third. Also, the Red Wings had their earliest playoff exit since 2006 against the Edmonton Oilers, losing to the Nashville Predators in five games.

Off-season On July 19, 2011, goaltender Chris Osgood announced his retirement from the NHL after 17 seasons.Osgood retires Osgood won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and will remain with the Red Wings organization, working with Detroit's goaltending prospects.

Regular season On February 12, against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Red Wings tied an NHL record of 20 consecutive home wins. The only two other teams to accomplish this feat was the 1930 Boston Bruins and the 1976 Philadelphia Flyers. On February 14, against the Dallas Stars, the Red Wings broke the NHL record of 20 consecutive home wins, becoming the first team to record 21 straight home wins. The streak was extended to 23 on February 19 with a win over the San Jose Sharks. The streak started on November 5, 2011, against the Anaheim Ducks. However, the streak ended at 23 games with a 4–3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on February 23, 2012.

The Red Wings tied the Tampa Bay Lightning for the fewest shorthanded goals scored during the regular season with two.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Regular season 2011–12 game log October: 5–4–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–3–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Ottawa Senators W 5–3 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 8 @ Colorado Avalanche W 3–0 Conklin Pepsi Center 18,007 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 13 Vancouver Canucks W 2–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 15 @ Minnesota Wild W 3–2 OT Howard Xcel Energy Center 17,104 4–0–0 8 Recap 5 October 21 Columbus Blue Jackets W 5–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 5–0–0 10 Recap 6 October 22 @ Washington Capitals L 1–7 Conklin Verizon Center 18,506 5–1–0 10 Recap 7 October 25 @ Columbus Blue Jackets L 1–4 Conklin Nationwide Arena 15,100 5–2–0 10 Recap 8 October 28 San Jose Sharks L 2–4 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 5–3–0 10 Recap 9 October 29 @ Minnesota Wild L 0–1 Howard Xcel Energy Center 17,233 5–4–0 10 Recap November: 10–3–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 3–2–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Minnesota Wild L 1–2 OT Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 5–4–1 11 Recap 11 November 3 Calgary Flames L 1–4 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 5–5–1 11 Recap 12 November 5 Anaheim Ducks W 5–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 6–5–1 13 Recap 13 November 8 Colorado Avalanche W 5–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 7–5–1 15 Recap 14 November 11 Edmonton Oilers W 3–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 8–5–1 17 Recap 15 November 12 Dallas Stars W 5–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 9–5–1 19 Recap 16 November 15 @ St. Louis Blues L 1–2 Howard Scottrade Center 19,150 9–6–1 19 Recap 17 November 17 @ San Jose Sharks L 2–5 Howard HP Pavilion at San Jose 17,562 9–7–1 19 Recap 18 November 19 @ Los Angeles Kings W 4–1 Howard Staples Center 18,118 10–7–1 21 Recap 19 November 20 @ Anaheim Ducks W 4–2 Howard Honda Center 17,229 11–7–1 23 Recap 20 November 23 Calgary Flames W 5–3 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 12–7–1 25 Recap 21 November 25 @ Boston Bruins W 3–2 SO Howard TD Garden 17,565 13–7–1 27 Recap 22 November 26 Nashville Predators W 4–1 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 14–7–1 29 Recap 23 November 30 Tampa Bay Lightning W 4–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 15–7–1 31 Recap December: 9–6–0 (home: 5–0–0; road: 4–6–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 @ Buffalo Sabres W 4–1 Howard First Niagara Center 18,690 16–7–1 33 Recap 25 December 4 @ Colorado Avalanche L 2–4 Conklin Pepsi Center 17,014 16–8–1 33 Recap 26 December 6 @ St. Louis Blues L 2–3 Howard Scottrade Center 19,150 16–9–1 33 Recap 27 December 8 Phoenix Coyotes W 5–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 17–9–1 35 Recap 28 December 10 Winnipeg Jets W 7–1 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 18–9–1 37 Recap 29 December 13 @ Pittsburgh Penguins W 4–1 Howard Consol Energy Center 18,592 19–9–1 39 Recap 30 December 15 @ Nashville Predators L 3–4 Howard Bridgestone Arena 17,113 19–10–1 39 Recap 31 December 17 Los Angeles Kings W 8–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 20–10–1 41 Recap 32 December 19 @ Edmonton Oilers W 3–2 Howard Rexall Place 16,839 21–10–1 43 Recap 33 December 21 @ Vancouver Canucks L 2–4 Howard Rogers Arena 18,890 21–11–1 43 Recap 34 December 22 @ Calgary Flames L 2–3 Conklin Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 21–12–1 43 Recap 35 December 26 @ Nashville Predators W 4–1 Howard Bridgestone Arena 17,113 22–12–1 45 Recap 36 December 27 St. Louis Blues W 3–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 23–12–1 47 Recap 37 December 30 @ Chicago Blackhawks L 2–3 Howard United Center 22,166 23–13–1 47 Recap 38 December 31 St. Louis Blues W 3–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 24–13–1 49 Recap January: 10–3–0 (home: 5–0–0; road: 5–3–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 3 @ Dallas Stars W 5–4 Howard American Airlines Center 15,182 25–13–1 51 Recap 40 January 7 @ Toronto Maple Leafs L 3–4 Howard Air Canada Centre 19,536 25–14–1 51 Recap 41 January 8 @ Chicago Blackhawks W 3–2 OT Conklin United Center 21,858 26–14–1 53 Recap 42 January 10 @ New York Islanders L 1–5 Conklin Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,864 26–15–1 53 Recap 43 January 12 Phoenix Coyotes W 3–2 SO Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 27–15–1 55 Recap 44 January 14 Chicago Blackhawks W 3–2 OT Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 28–15–1 57 Recap 45 January 16 Buffalo Sabres W 5–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 29–15–1 59 Recap 46 January 17 @ Dallas Stars W 3–2 SO Conklin American Airlines Center 15,148 30–15–1 61 Recap 47 January 19 @ Phoenix Coyotes W 3–2 SO Howard Jobing.com Arena 15,067 31–15–1 63 Recap 48 January 21 Columbus Blue Jackets W 3–2 SO Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 32–15–1 65 Recap 49 January 23 St. Louis Blues W 3–1 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 33–15–1 67 Recap 50 January 25 @ Montreal Canadiens L 2–7 Howard Bell Centre 21,273 33–16–1 67 Recap 51 January 31 @ Calgary Flames W 3–1 Howard Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 34–16–1 69 Recap February: 8–3–2 (home: 6–1–1; road: 2–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 2 @ Vancouver Canucks W 4–3 SO Howard Rogers Arena 18,890 35–16–1 71 Recap 53 February 4 @ Edmonton Oilers L 4–5 SO MacDonald Rexall Place 16,839 35–16–2 72 Recap 54 February 6 @ Phoenix Coyotes L 1–3 MacDonald Jobing.com Arena 12,687 35–17–2 72 Recap 55 February 8 Edmonton Oilers W 4–2 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 36–17–2 74 Recap 56 February 10 Anaheim Ducks W 2–1 SO MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 37–17–2 76 Recap 57 February 12 Philadelphia Flyers W 4–3 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 38–17–2 78 Recap 58 February 14 Dallas Stars W 3–1 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 39–17–2 80 Recap 59 February 17 Nashville Predators W 2–1 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 40–17–2 82 Recap 60 February 19 San Jose Sharks W 3–2 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 41–17–2 84 Recap 61 February 21 @ Chicago Blackhawks L 1–2 Howard United Center 22,027 41–18–2 84 Recap 62 February 23 Vancouver Canucks L 3–4 SO Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 41–18–3 85 Recap 63 February 25 Colorado Avalanche L 3–4 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 41–19–3 85 Recap 64 February 28 @ Columbus Blue Jackets W 5–2 MacDonald Nationwide Arena 14,333 42–19–3 87 Recap March: 4–8–2 (home: 4–3–0; road: 0–5–2) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 Minnesota Wild W 6–0 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 43–19–3 89 Recap 66 March 4 Chicago Blackhawks L 1–2 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 43–20–3 89 Recap 67 March 6 @ Philadelphia Flyers L 2–3 MacDonald Wells Fargo Center 19,892 43–21–3 89 Recap 68 March 9 Los Angeles Kings W 4–3 MacDonald Joe Louis Arena 20,066 44–21–3 91 Recap 69 March 10 @ Nashville Predators L 2–3 MacDonald Bridgestone Arena 17,113 44–22–3 91 Recap 70 March 13 @ Los Angeles Kings L 2–5 Howard Staples Center 18,118 44–23–3 91 Recap 71 March 14 @ Anaheim Ducks L 0–4 MacDonald Honda Center 16,331 44–24–3 91 Recap 72 March 17 @ San Jose Sharks L 2–3 OT Howard HP Pavilion at San Jose 17,562 44–24–4 92 Recap 73 March 19 Washington Capitals L 3–5 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 44–25–4 92 Recap 74 March 21 @ New York Rangers L 1–2 OT Conklin Madison Square Garden 18,200 44–25–5 93 Recap 75 March 24 Carolina Hurricanes W 5–4 Conklin Joe Louis Arena 20,066 45–25–5 95 Recap 76 March 26 Columbus Blue Jackets W 7–2 Conklin Joe Louis Arena 20,066 46–25–5 97 Recap 77 March 28 @ Columbus Blue Jackets L 2–4 Conklin Nationwide Arena 12,432 46–26–5 97 Recap 78 March 30 Nashville Predators L 1–4 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 46–27–5 97 Recap April: 2–1–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 1–0–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 Florida Panthers W 2–1 SO Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 47–27–5 99 Recap 80 April 4 @ St. Louis Blues W 3–2 SO Howard Scottrade Center 18,755 48–27–5 101 Recap 81 April 5 New Jersey Devils L 1–2 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 48–28–5 101 Recap 82 April 7 Chicago Blackhawks L 2–3 SO Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 48–28–6 102 RecapLegend:

Playoffs 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference Quarter-final vs. (4) Nashville Predators: Nashville won series 4–1 Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Series Recap 1 April 11 @ Nashville Predators L 2–3 Howard Bridgestone Arena 17,113 0–1 Recap 2 April 13 @ Nashville Predators W 3–2 Howard Bridgestone Arena 17,113 1–1 Recap 3 April 15 Nashville Predators L 2–3 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 1–2 Recap 4 April 17 Nashville Predators L 1–3 Howard Joe Louis Arena 20,066 1–3 Recap 5 April 20 @ Nashville Predators L 1–2 Howard Bridgestone Arena 17,113 1–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 82 22 47 69 14 47 70 19 48 67 21 14 81 23 43 66 18 14 77 29 27 56 23 40 81 25 25 50 10 42 71 14 24 38 23 64 82 15 21 36 −2 38 70 11 23 34 21 28 75 12 21 33 2 30 77 7 25 32 23 22 68 9 17 26 5 12 80 14 11 25 6 20 74 11 13 24 −9 40 81 8 14 22 4 62 81 6 15 21 16 29 55 1 12 13 7 25 69 1 10 11 16 47 71 6 4 10 1 14 14 1 6 7 3 13 18 1 6 7 2 2 † 18 2 1 3 0 29 8 1 2 3 2 0 25 1 2 3 2 0 ‡ 17 0 2 2 3 21 9 0 1 1 2 6 10 0 1 1 0 2 5 0 1 1 −2 4 5 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 4

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 5 1 2 3 0 2 5 2 1 3 −3 4 5 1 1 2 0 2 5 0 2 2 −2 4 5 0 2 2 −3 2 5 2 0 2 −3 4 5 0 2 2 −2 6 5 0 1 1 −5 0 5 1 0 1 −2 0 5 0 1 1 0 2 5 1 0 1 −1 8 5 1 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 −5 9 5 0 0 0 −1 2 5 0 0 0 −1 6 5 0 0 0 −5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0

Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average Regular season Player GP TOI W L OT GA GAA SA Sv% SO G A PIM 57 3360 35 17 4 119 2.13 1496 .920 6 0 1 6 14 806 8 5 1 29 2.16 330 .912 0 0 0 0 15 805 5 6 1 44 3.28 378 .884 1 0 1 0

Playoffs Player GP TOI W L GA GAA SA Sv% SO G A PIM 5 295 1 4 13 2.64 116 .888 0 0 0 0

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

Awards and records

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Jimmy HowardSeguin, Howard, Toews are NHL's Three Stars NHL Second Star of the Week November 14, 2011 Niklas KronwallThree Stars: Miller, Kronwall, Emery earn honors NHL Second Star of the Week March 5, 2012

Records

Milestones