The 2012–13 Detroit Red Wings season was the 87th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 48 due to a lockout. This was the first time since the 1990–91 season that the Red Wings did not have Nicklas Lidstrom on their roster although the Red Wings drafted Lidstrom in the 1989 NHL entry draft but Lidstrom didn't made his Red Wings debut until the 1991–92 season, Lidstrom retired during the 2012 offseason. Henrik Zetterberg was appointed as team captain.
As of 2026, this is the most recent season that the Red Wings won a playoff series.
Off-season On May 31, 2012, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom announced his retirement from the NHL after 20 seasons.Lidstrom retires after 20 seasons Lidstrom won four Stanley Cups and seven Norris Trophies during his Hall of Fame career, all with the Red Wings.
Regular season
Schedule and results 2012–13 Game Log January: 3–2–1 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 1 January 19 Detroit L 0–6 St. Louis Howard 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 January 21 Detroit W 4–3 Columbus SO Howard 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 January 22 Dallas L 1–2 Detroit Howard 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 January 25 Minnesota W 5–3 Detroit Howard 2–2–0 4 Recap 5 January 27 Detroit L 1–2 Chicago OT Howard 2–2–1 5 Recap 6 January 29 Dallas W 1–4 Detroit Howard 3–2–1 7 Recap February: 7–6–2 (Home: 5–3–1; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 7 February 1 St. Louis W 3–5 Detroit Howard 4–2–1 9 Recap 8 February 2 Detroit L 2–4 Columbus Howard 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 February 5 Calgary L 4–1 Detroit Howard 4–4–1 9 Recap 10 February 7 Detroit W 5–1 St. Louis Mrazek 5–4–1 11 Recap 11 February 9 Edmonton W 1–2 Detroit Howard 6–4–1 13 Recap 12 February 10 Los Angeles W2–3 Detroit Howard 7–4–1 15 Recap 13 February 13 St. Louis L 4–3 Detroit OT Howard 7–4–2 16 Recap 14 February 15 Anaheim L 5–2 Detroit Howard 7–5–2 16Recap 15 February 17 Detroit L 2–3 Minnesota Mrazek 7–6–2 16Recap 16 February 19 Detroit L 3–4 Nashville OT Howard 7–6–3 17 Recap 17 February 21 Columbus L 3–2 Detroit Howard 7–7–3 19 Recap 18 February 23 Nashville W 0–4 Detroit Howard 8–7–3 19 Recap 19 February 24 Vancouver W 3–8 Detroit Howard 9–7–3 21 Recap 20 February 27 Detroit L 1–2 Los Angeles Howard 9–8–3 21 Recap 21 February 28 Detroit W 2–1 San Jose OT Gustavsson 10–8–3 23 Recap March: 7–5–2 (Home: 2–2–2; Road: 5–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 22 March 3 Chicago L 2–1 Detroit SO Howard 10–8–4 24 Recap 23 March 5 Colorado W 1–2 Detroit Howard 11–8–4 26 Recap 24 March 7 Edmonton W 0–3 Detroit Howard 12–8–4 28 Recap 25 March 9 Detroit L 0–3 Columbus Gustavsson 12–9–4 28 Recap 26 March 10 Columbus L 3–2 Detroit SO Howard 12–9–5 29 Recap 27 March 13 Detroit L 2–5 Calgary Gustavsson 12–10–5 29 Recap 28 March 15 Detroit W 3–2 Edmonton OT Howard 13–10–5 31 Recap 29 March 16 Detroit W 5–2 Vancouver Howard 14–10–5 33 Recap 30 March 20 Minnesota L 4–2 Detroit Howard 14–11–5 33 Recap 31 March 22 Detroit W 5–1 Anaheim Howard 15–11–5 35 Recap 32 March 24 Detroit W 2–1 Anaheim Howard 16–11–5 37 Recap 33 March 25 Detroit W 3–2 Phoenix Gustavsson 17–11–5 39 Recap 34 March 28 Detroit L 0–2 San Jose Howard 17–12–5 39 Recap 35 March 31 Chicago L 7–1 Detroit Howard 17–13–5 39 Recap April: 7–3–3 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 3–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts Recap 36 April 1 Colorado W 2–3 Detroit Howard 18–13–5 41 Recap 37 April 4 Detroit L 2–4 Phoenix Howard 18–14–5 41 Recap 38 April 5 Detroit W 3–2 Colorado OT Howard 19–14–5 43 Recap 39 April 7 St. Louis L 1–0 Detroit Howard 19–15–5 43 Recap 40 April 11 San Jose L 3–2 Detroit SO Howard 19–15–6 44 Recap 41 April 12 Detroit L 2–3 Chicago SO Howard 19–15–7 45 Recap 42 April 14 Detroit W 3–0 Nashville Howard 20–15–7 47 Recap 43 April 17 Detroit L 2–3 Calgary Howard 20–16–7 47 Recap 44 April 20 Detroit L 1–2 Vancouver SO Howard 20–16–8 48 Recap 45 April 22 Phoenix W 0–4 Detroit Howard 21–16–8 50 Recap 46 April 24 Los Angeles W 1–3 Detroit Howard 22–16–8 52 Recap 47 April 25 Nashville W 2–5 Detroit Howard 23–16–8 54 Recap 48 April 27 Detroit W 3–0 Dallas Howard 24–16–8 56 RecapLegend:
Playoffs 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Anaheim Ducks – Detroit won series 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 April 30 Detroit 1–3 Anaheim Howard 0–1 Recap 2 May 2 Detroit 5–4 Anaheim OT Howard 1–1 Recap 3 May 4 Anaheim 4–0 Detroit Howard 1–2 Recap 4 May 6 Anaheim 2–3 Detroit OT Howard 2–2 Recap 5 May 8 Detroit 2–3 Anaheim OT Howard 2–3 Recap 6 May 10 Anaheim 3–4 Detroit OT Howard 3–3 Recap 7 May 12 Detroit 3–2 Anaheim Howard 4–3 Recap Western Conference Semifinals vs. (1) Chicago Blackhawks – Chicago won series 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 May 15 Detroit 1–4 Chicago Howard 0–1 Recap 2 May 18 Detroit 4–1 Chicago Howard 1–1 Recap 3 May 20 Chicago 1–3 Detroit Howard 2–1 Recap 4 May 23 Chicago 0–2 Detroit Howard 3–1 Recap 5 May 25 Detroit 1–4 Chicago Howard 3–2 Recap 6 May 27 Chicago 4–3 Detroit Howard 3–3 Recap 7 May 29 Detroit 1–2 Chicago OT Howard 3–4 Recap
Player statistics
Skaters
Regular season Player 47 15 34 49 21 14 46 11 37 48 2 18 41 14 17 31 13 41 48 5 24 29 −5 44 44 12 14 26 −6 12 41 9 8 17 −4 6 48 9 6 15 −6 40 45 3 10 13 6 29 41 4 9 13 15 28 48 10 3 13 6 34 42 3 5 8 0 78 34 2 6 8 −1 4 44 4 4 8 −8 2 48 5 3 8 −1 4 34 0 8 8 1 36 38 3 5 8 2 8 18 4 3 7 2 4 22 3 3 6 0 6 31 1 4 5 −10 15 25 2 2 4 5 4 7 2 1 3 3 2 36 1 2 3 7 18 4 0 1 1 −3 0 6 0 1 1 −4 2 11 0 1 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 11 0 0 0 −3 4
Playoffs Player 14 4 8 12 3 8 14 4 6 10 −1 2 14 3 6 9 2 4 14 5 4 9 2 4 14 2 4 6 −4 4 14 4 2 6 −7 8 14 1 4 5 4 10 14 2 3 5 −3 10 14 1 4 5 2 10 14 2 3 5 3 2 14 0 3 3 2 2 13 1 2 3 −1 4 12 2 1 3 4 33 5 1 1 2 −1 2 14 0 2 2 −1 4 14 0 2 2 −3 12 6 1 1 2 1 2 9 0 1 1 3 2 13 0 1 1 −2 4 6 0 0 0 −2 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltenders Regular season Player 42 42 2445:44 21 13 7 87 2.13 1,129 .923 5 0 1 0 7 4 349:15 2 2 1 17 2.92 140 .879 0 0 1 2 2 2 119:09 1 1 0 4 2.02 51 .922 0 0 0 0
Goaltenders Playoffs Player 14 14 859:28 7 7 35 2.44 461 .924 1 0 0 2
†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
Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded Jimmy Howard NHL First Star of the Week April 29, 2013 Henrik Zetterberg NHL Second Star of the Week April 29, 2013
Records 24 consecutive home wins
Milestones
Regular season Player Milestone Reached Brian Lashoff 1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Goal January 21, 2013 Damien Brunner 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point January 22, 2013 Kent Huskins 300th Career NHL Game January 22, 2013 Damien Brunner 1st Career NHL Assist January 27, 2013 Daniel Cleary 500th Career NHL Game February 2, 2013 Jimmy Howard 200th Career NHL Game February 2, 2013 Todd Bertuzzi 1,100th Career NHL Game February 7, 2013 Petr Mrazek 1st Career NHL Game1st Career NHL Win February 7, 2013 Tomas Tatar 1st Career NHL Assist February 7, 2013 Niklas Kronwall 50th Career NHL Goal February 9, 2013 Jordin Tootoo 500th Career NHL Game February 15, 2013 Joakim Andersson 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point February 15, 2013 Brian Lashoff 1st Career NHL Assist February 17, 2013 Drew Miller 300th Career NHL Game February 27, 2013 Cory Emmerton 100th Career NHL Game March 13, 2013 Patrick Eaves 400th career NHL Game March 16, 2013 Pavel Datsyuk 250th Career NHL Goal500th Career NHL Assist March 22, 2013 Henrik Zetterberg 700th Career NHL Game March 24, 2013 Niklas Kronwall 500th Career NHL Game March 25, 2013 Ian White 500th Career NHL Game March 31, 2013 Johan Franzen 500th Career NHL Game March 31, 2013 Henrik Zetterberg 400th Career NHL Assist April 11, 2013 Danny DeKeyser 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point April 14, 2013 Johan Franzen 300th Career NHL Point April 14, 2013 Valtteri Filppula 100th Career NHL Goal April 25, 2013
Playoffs Player Milestone Reached Danny DeKeyser 1st Career NHL Playoff Game April 30, 2013 Jakub Kindl 1st Career NHL Playoff Assist April 30, 2013 Gustav Nyquist 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal May 2, 2013 Damien Brunner 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal May 2, 2013 Brian Lashoff 1st Career NHL Playoff Game May 4, 2013 Mikael Samuelsson 100th Career NHL Playoff Game May 4, 2013 Joakim Andersson 1st Career NHL Playoff Assist May 6, 2013 Brendan Smith 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal1st Career NHL Playoff Assist May 6, 2013 Gustav Nyquist 1st Career NHL Playoff Assist May 6, 2013 Pavel Datsyuk 100th Career NHL Playoff Point May 10, 2013 Valtteri Filppula 100th Career NHL Playoff Game May 18, 2013 Cory Emmerton 1st Career NHL Playoff Assist May 20, 2013 Jakub Kindl 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal May 23, 2013 Johan Franzen 100th Career NHL Playoff Game May 25, 2013 Joakim Andersson 1st Career NHL Playoff Goal May 27, 2013
Transactions The Red Wings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2012–13 season.
Trades Date June 10, 2012Wings trade Stuart's rights to Sharks To San Jose Sharks Brad Stuart To Detroit Red Wings Andrew MurrayConditional 7th-round pick in 2014 March 30, 2013Huskins is on the move again To Philadelphia Flyers Kent Huskins To Detroit Red Wings Conditional 7th-round pick in 2014
Free agents signed Player Former team Contract terms Ref Jonas Gustavsson Winnipeg Jets 2 years, $3 million Red Wings get a Monster Damien Brunner EV Zug 1 year, $925,000 Swiss star signs with Red Wings Mikael Samuelsson Florida Panthers 2 years, $6 million Samuelsson returns to Hockeytown Jordin Tootoo Nashville Predators 3 years, $5.7 million Wings add grit with Tootoo deal Carlo Colaiacovo St. Louis Blues 2 years, $5 million Colaiacovo signs with Red Wings Kent Huskins St. Louis Blues 1 year, $750,000 Wings sign Huskins to one-year deal Danny DeKeyser Western Michigan University 2 years, $1.85 million entry-level contract Red Wings agree to terms on DeKeyser two-year deal Jared Coreau Northern Michigan University 3 years, $2.3775 million entry-level contract Red Wings sign goaltender Jared Coreau; Recall defenseman Brian Lashoff
Free agents lost Player New team Contract terms Ref Jiri Hudler Calgary Flames 4 years, $16 million Flames sign Jiri Hudler Chris Conner Phoenix Coyotes 1 year, $650,000 Coyotes Sign Conner to One-Year, Two-Way Contract Andrew Murray St. Louis Blues 1 year, $600,000 Blues Sign Forward Andrew Murray, NHL.com (July 5, 2012)
Lost via waivers Player New team Date claimed off waivers Ref Joey MacDonald Calgary Flames February 11, 2013 Flames claim Joey MacDonald off of waivers
Lost via retirement Player Ref Nicklas Lidstrom Tomas Holmstrom
Player signings