1963–64 Detroit Red Wings season



The 1963–64 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 38th season. The Red Wings finished 4th in the league with a record of 30 wins, 29 losses, and 11 ties. They defeated the Chicago Black Hawks in seven games in the Semi-finals before losing the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games.

Regular Season
The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on November 10th. While the Wings were a man short, Gordie Howe scored on Charlie Hodge for his 545th career goal, breaking Maurice Richard's record. Yet another record was tied by Terry Sawchuk when he recorded his 94th career NHL shutout, tying him with George Hainsworth as the all-time NHL shutout leader.

There was a lengthy delay in the start of a game between Detroit and Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens on November 30th while the ice surface was repaired. A rodeo had been held and the cleaning job took longer than expected. Despite a terrible ice surface, a ragged game was played that ended in a 1-1 tie. Roger Crozier was hit with a slap shot by Frank Mahovlich but returned after a ten minute rest. The plucky goalkeeper sustained a double fracture of the cheekbone and was unable to play the next night. The game was delayed for 20 minutes while Hank Bassen was located to replace Crozier. Toronto won the game 4-1.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Playoffs

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * Gordie Howe, NHL Second Team All-Star

Notable Games

 * Montreal 9 Detroit 3:Feb. 1, 1964

Farm Teams

 * Cincinnati Wings, Central Professional Hockey League
 * Edmonton Oil Kings, Central Alberta Hockey League
 * Hamilton Red Wings, Ontario Hockey Association
 * Pittsburgh Hornets, American Hockey League
 * Weyburn Red Wings, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Trivia

 * The Red Wings and Boston Bruins were scheduled to play on November 24, 1963 but the game was postponed to honor the memory of U.S. President John Kennedy.