1965–66 Detroit Red Wings season



The 1965–66 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 40th season. The Red Wings finished 4th in the league with a record of 31 wins, 27 losses, and 12 ties for 74 points. They defeated the Chicago Black Hawks in six games in the Semi-finals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in the 1966 Stanley Cup Final, also in six games. The Red Wings would not appear in the Final again until 1995.

Regular Season
During the November 21, 1965 game at Madison Square Garden, with the scored tied 1-1 between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers, at 9:50 of the third period, Ranger goalie Eddie Giacomin made what appeared to be a save. However, the goal judge signalled a goal, believing that Giacomin's glove crossed the goal line while the puck was in it. Rangers general manager Emile Francis was furious, left his seat and ran to the goal judge to protest. Along the way, he got into an altercation with some fans who started to punch him. Ten Ranger players scaled the glass and a melee of Rangers fighting with their own fans ensued. It took police fifteen minutes to break up the altercation. Francis suffered a cut over one eye which required stitches. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.

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

 * Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Alex Delvecchio
 * Conn Smythe Trophy: Roger Crozier
 * Gordie Howe, Right Wing, NHL First Team All-Star

Draft Picks
Detroit's draft picks at the 1965 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.