Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff is a heck of a hockey historian, so his off-day Red Wings notebook discusses the Wings’ all-time records in their first games vs. the NHL’s many expansion teams:
October 8, 1993: Red Wings 7 at Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 2: The Wings provided the opposition in the first game in Ducks history. Keith Primeau scored twice and Bob Probert fought Stu Grimson. While sitting out a penalty, Probert began grabbing pucks with the Ducks’ first game logo on them out of the timekeeper’s bucket and down his hockey pants. Probie was figuring they’d probably be worth money someday.
February 16, 1994: Florida Panthers 3 at Detroit 7: Steve Chiasson and Ray Sheppard each scored twice for the Wings. Steve Yzerman contributed three assists.
October 21,1998: Nashville Predators 2 at Detroit 5: Darren McCarty was leading the cause, scoring twice. Yzerman and Larry Murphy each dished out a pair of assists.
October 7, 1999: Red Wings 7 at Atlanta Thrashers 1: Seven different Detroit players shared in the goal scoring against former Wings netminder Norm Maracle. Fedorov and Tomas Holmstrom each tallied a goal and two assists. Yzerman collected three assists.
