Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, among the longest-serving of the current Detroit Red Wings, succinctly summed up Saturday’s 10-1 drubbing at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
“Today was just embarrassing,” Kronwall told CBC. “I don't know another word to describe it.”
Where does it rank among the club’s all-time embarrassments? Surprisingly, not all that high. In fact, it barely cracks the top 10.
Red Wings Most Lopsided Losses
Jan. 2, 1971
Detroit 0 at Toronto Maple Leafs 13
The Leafs scored seven third-period goals and went four-for-five on the power play. Ex-Wings Norm Ullman and Paul Henderson each scored twice.
“When it got to 13, I sat there waiting for the Leafs to kick the extra point,” lamented Wings assistant GM Baz Bastien to the Windsor Star.
Feb. 2, 1974
Detroit 2 at Philadelphia Flyers 12
Bobby Clarke and Ross Lonsberry each recorded hat-tricks as the Flyers pelted the Detroit net with 55 shots.
“I can’t think of one bright spot,” Wings coach Alex Delvecchio told the Detroit Free Press. “We lacked everything.”
Mar. 14, 1986
Detroit 3 at Edmonton Oilers 12
Future Wing Paul Coffey tied two NHL records for defensemen with six assists and eight points.
“It’s hard to get up for a game when you’re out of the playoffs,” Wings coach Brad Park told the Detroit Free Press.
“How would you know?” countered assistant coach Colin Campbell. “You’ve never missed the playoffs.”
“I’m a quick learner,” Park responded.
Jan. 25, 1942
Detroit 2 at New York Rangers 11
Rookie Grant Warwick fired a hat-trick as the first-place Rangers handed the Wings what was at the time the worst setback in franchise history.
“Never in my career in amateur or pro hockey as a player or manager have I been beaten that badly,” Wings coach-GM Jack Adams told the Detroit Free Press.
Mar. 16, 1971
Boston Bruins 11 at Detroit 4
Former Wing John Bucyk netted his 49th and 50th goals of the season as the Bruins handed the Wings their most one-sided home-ice defeat in the history of the franchise.
The Bruins seemed unimpressed by their performance “What was it . . . 11 goals?” Boston forward John McKenzie, another ex-Wing, asked Jack Dulmage of the Windsor Star. “Well that’s 32 or 33 for these four road games.”
Jan. 20, 1981
Detroit 4 at Los Angeles Kings 11
The Wings actually led 2-0 after one period before the dam burst. The Kings tied a club record for goals, as ex-Wings Marcel Dionne (two goals) and Garry Unger (one) and future Wing Larry Murphy (one) all scored.
“You can’t say a hell of a lot after a loss like that,” Wings coach Wayne Maxner told the Canadian Press.
Feb. 23, 1988
Philadelphia Flyers 11 at Detroit 6
Former Wing Murray Craven and future Wing Mark Howe each scored twice. The Flyers tallied seven goals in the third period, as the Wings squandered a 5-1 lead.
“I call it just a total lapse,” Wings coach Jacques Demers told the Detroit Free Press. “But it was just a bad game.”
Mar. 17, 1946
Toronto Maple Leafs 11 at Detroit 7
Sloppy hockey was on display in a meaningless game to close out the regular season. Future Wing Gaye Stewart fired a hat-trick to finish the season with an NHL-leading 37 goals. He’s the most recent Leaf to lead the NHL in goal scoring.
The Wings had the last laugh. Though. The defending Stanley Cup champion Leafs missed the playoffs, the first time that had happened in 16 seasons.
Jan. 15, 1981
Detroit 0 at Calgary Flames 10
Kent Nilsson netted a hat-trick and Kevin Lavallee added five points for the Flames.
“We were not ready for it tonight and it showed,” Wings coach Maxner told Canadian Press.
Dec 2, 2017
Detroit 1 at Montreal Canadiens 10
Paul Bryon scored three times and 14 Canadiens figured in the scoring as Montreal completed a home-and-home sweep of the Wings, outscoring Detroit 16-4.
“From the top guy to the last guy, not only did we embarrass ourselves, we embarrassed the organization,” Kronwall said.
Oct. 23, 1974
Detroit 1 at Atlanta Flames 10
Future Wing Eric Vail and Curt Bennett each had hat-tricks. It was just the second loss of the season for the Wings, who still maintained a one-point lead atop the Norris Division.
“That was the best kind of hockey you’re ever going to see,” Flames coach Bernie Geoffrion proclaimed to Associated Press. Wings fans no doubt would beg to differ.
Mar. 27, 1980
Detroit 1 at Buffalo Sabres 10
Former Wing Don Luce and future Wings captain Danny Gare led the Sabres with two goals apiece.
“It was a total breakdown all over the ice,” Wings GM Ted Lindsay told the Windsor Star.
Oct. 17, 1985
Detroit 1 at Minnesota North Stars 10
One of two engines on the Wings plane failed shortly takeoff for the trip to the game, requiring an emergency landing. “It’s good for them” Wings coach Harry Neale told the Windsor Star.
“They’ll play better.”
He couldn’t have been more wrong. Dennis Maruk scored twice in the blowout win. “It was a pathetic performance shared by all,” Neale said.
Nov. 30, 1985
Detroit 1 at Montreal Canadiens 10
John Ogrodnick gave the Wings a 1-0 lead, but it was all downhill after that.
“They started to panic when they got behind,” Canadiens defenseman Larry Robinson told Canadian Press. “They were dumping the puck without pressing us and we were able to make our plays.”
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