The
1995–96 NHL season was the
79th regular
season of the
National Hockey
League. Twenty-six teams each played 82 games. The
Stanley Cup winners were the
Colorado Avalanche, who, in their
first year as the Avalanche, swept the
Florida Panthers in four games.
League business
1995–96 was the first season in Denver for the Avalanche, who had
relocated from Quebec City where they were previously known as the
Quebec Nordiques. Prior to the
season, Colorado was assigned to the Pacific Division of the
Western Conference.
It was
also the last season of existence for the Winnipeg Jets, as they announced that they
would be moving from Manitoba
to Arizona
and become
the Phoenix Coyotes at the season's
end.
1995–96
would mark the last season the Buffalo Sabres would play in the
Buffalo Memorial
Auditorium
, the Philadelphia Flyers at the CoreStates
Spectrum
, the
Senators at the Ottawa Civic Centre
, and the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum
. The Sabres made their new home at the
Marine Midland
Arena
, the Flyers at the CoreStates Center
, the Senators at the Corel Centre
, and the Canadiens at the Molson Centre
. The two latter arenas opened before the end
of this season.
With the Montreal Forum closed, The Maple Leaf
Gardens
was the last remaining arena from the Original Six at the time.
Regular season
The
Detroit Red Wings had a
spectacular season, finishing with the second-highest
regular-season point total in NHL history (131 points), and setting
the record for most wins ever in regular season NHL history (62).
However, they fell to the Avalanche in the
Western Conference final, the sixth
game of which marked the beginning of the heated
Detroit-Colorado
rivalry, which would last for years to come.
Jaromir Jagr broke the record for
assists and points by a right winger in a single season
[141458].Mario Lemieux had the NHL's last 150+
point season with 161 points in 70 games. This would be the last
season in which at least 1 player would get at least 60 goals {Jagr
and Lemieux] until 2008.
Final standings
GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts =
Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in
'bold
.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Head coaches of the Eastern Conference
Head coaches of the Western Conference
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A =
Assists, Pts = Points
Playoffs
Playoff bracket
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 16 |
Tampa Bay 3 |
7 Philadelphia |
April 18 |
Tampa Bay 2 |
1 Philadelphia |
OT |
April 21 |
Philadelphia 4 |
5 Tampa Bay |
OT |
April 23 |
Philadelphia 4 |
1 Tampa Bay |
April 25 |
Tampa Bay 1 |
4 Philadelphia |
April 27 |
Philadelphia 6 |
1 Tampa Bay |
Philadelphia wins series
4–2 |
|
Pittsburgh vs. Washington |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 17 |
Washington 6 |
4 Pittsburgh |
April 19 |
Washington 5 |
3 Pittsburgh |
April 22 |
Pittsburgh 4 |
1 Washington |
April 24 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
2 Washington |
4 OT |
April 26 |
Washington 1 |
4 Pittsburgh |
April 28 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
2 Washington |
Pittsburgh wins series
4–2 |
|
NY Rangers vs. Montreal |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 16 |
Montreal 3 |
2 NY Rangers |
OT |
April 18 |
Montreal 5 |
3 NY Rangers |
April 21 |
NY Rangers 2 |
1 Montreal |
April 23 |
NY Rangers 4 |
3 Montreal |
April 26 |
Montreal 2 |
3 NY Rangers |
April 28 |
NY Rangers 5 |
3 Montreal |
NY Rangers wins series
4–2 |
|
Florida vs. Boston |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 17 |
Boston 3 |
6 Florida |
April 22 |
Boston 2 |
6 Florida |
April 24 |
Florida 4 |
2 Boston |
April 25 |
Florida 2 |
6 Boston |
April 27 |
Boston 3 |
4 Florida |
Florida wins series
4–1 |
|
Western Conference
Detroit vs. Winnipeg |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 17 |
Winnipeg 1 |
4 Detroit |
April 19 |
Winnipeg 0 |
4 Detroit |
April 21 |
Detroit 1 |
4 Winnipeg |
April 23 |
Detroit 6 |
1 Winnipeg |
April 26 |
Winnipeg 3 |
1 Detroit |
April 28 |
Detroit 4 |
1 Winnipeg |
Detroit wins series
4–2 |
|
Colorado vs. Vancouver |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 16 |
Vancouver 2 |
5 Colorado |
April 18 |
Vancouver 5 |
4 Colorado |
April 20 |
Colorado 4 |
0 Vancouver |
April 22 |
Colorado 3 |
4 Vancouver |
April 25 |
Vancouver 4 |
5 Colorado |
OT |
April 27 |
Colorado 3 |
2 Vancouver |
Colorado wins series
4–2 |
|
Chicago vs. Calgary |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 17 |
Calgary 1 |
4 Chicago |
April 19 |
Calgary 0 |
3 Chicago |
April 21 |
Chicago 7 |
5 Calgary |
April 23 |
Chicago 2 |
1 Calgary |
OT |
Chicago wins series
4–0 |
|
Toronto vs. St. Louis |
Date |
Away |
Home |
April 16 |
St. Louis 3 |
1 Toronto |
April 18 |
St. Louis 4 |
5 Toronto |
OT |
April 21 |
Toronto 2 |
3 St. Louis |
OT |
April 23 |
Toronto 1 |
5 St. Louis |
April 25 |
St. Louis 4 |
5 Toronto |
OT |
April 27 |
Toronto 1 |
2 St. Louis |
St. Louis wins series
4–2 |
|
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
Florida vs. Philadelphia |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 2 |
Florida 2 |
0 Philadelphia |
May 4 |
Florida 2 |
3 Philadelphia |
May 7 |
Philadelphia 3 |
1 Florida |
May 9 |
Philadelphia 3 |
4 Florida |
OT |
May 12 |
Florida 2 |
1 Philadelphia |
2OT |
May 14 |
Philadelphia 1 |
4 Florida |
Florida win series
4–2 |
|
NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 3 |
NY Rangers 1 |
4 Pittsburgh |
May 5 |
NY Rangers 6 |
3 Pittsburgh |
May 7 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
2 NY Rangers |
May 9 |
Pittsburgh 4 |
1 NY Rangers |
May 11 |
NY Rangers 3 |
7 Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh wins series
4–1 |
|
Western Conference
St. Louis vs. Detroit |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 3 |
St. Louis 2 |
3 Detroit |
May 5 |
St. Louis 3 |
8 Detroit |
May 8 |
Detroit 4 |
5 St. Louis |
OT |
May 10 |
Detroit 0 |
1 St. Louis |
May 12 |
St. Louis 3 |
2 Detroit |
May 14 |
Detroit 4 |
2 St. Louis |
May 16 |
St. Louis 0 |
1 Detroit |
2OT |
Detroit wins series
4–3 |
|
Chicago vs. Colorado |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 2 |
Chicago 3 |
2 Colorado |
OT |
May 4 |
Chicago 1 |
5 Colorado |
May 6 |
Colorado 3 |
4 Chicago |
OT |
May 8 |
Colorado 3 |
2 Chicago |
3OT |
May 11 |
Chicago 1 |
4 Colorado |
May 13 |
Colorado 4 |
3 Chicago |
2OT |
Colorado wins series
4–2 |
|
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
Florida vs. Pittsburgh |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 18 |
Florida 5 |
1 Pittsburgh |
May 20 |
Florida 2 |
3 Pittsburgh |
May 24 |
Pittsburgh 2 |
5 Florida |
May 26 |
Pittsburgh 2 |
1 Florida |
May 28 |
Florida 0 |
3 Pittsburgh |
May 30 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
4 Florida |
June 1 |
Florida 3 |
1 Pittsburgh |
Florida wins series
4–3
and Prince of Wales
Trophy |
|
Western Conference
Colorado vs. Detroit |
Date |
Away |
Home |
May 19 |
Colorado 3 |
2 Detroit |
OT |
May 21 |
Colorado 3 |
0 Detroit |
May 23 |
Detroit 6 |
4 Colorado |
May 25 |
Detroit 2 |
4 Colorado |
May 27 |
Colorado 2 |
5 Detroit |
May 29 |
Detroit 1 |
4 Colorado |
Colorado wins series 4–2
and
Clarence S.
Campbell
Bowl |
|
Stanley Cup finals
Colorado vs. Florida |
Date |
Away |
Score |
Home |
Score |
Notes |
June 4 |
Florida |
1 |
Colorado |
3 |
|
June 6 |
Florida |
1 |
Colorado |
8 |
|
June 8 |
Colorado |
3 |
Florida |
2 |
|
June 10 |
Colorado |
1 |
Florida |
0 |
3OT |
Colorado wins series
4–0
and Stanley Cup |
Joe
Sakic (Colorado)
wins Conn Smythe
Trophy |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A =
Assists, Pts = Points
NHL awards
Presidents' Trophy: |
Detroit Red Wings |
Prince of Wales
Trophy: |
Florida Panthers |
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: |
Colorado Avalanche |
Art Ross Trophy: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
Bill Masterton
Memorial Trophy: |
Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames |
Calder Memorial
Trophy: |
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators |
Conn Smythe Trophy: |
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche |
Frank J. Selke Trophy: |
Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red
Wings |
Hart Memorial Trophy: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
Jack Adams Award: |
Scotty Bowman, Detroit Red
Wings |
James Norris Memorial
Trophy: |
Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks |
King Clancy Memorial
Trophy: |
Kris King, Winnipeg Jets |
Lady Byng Memorial
Trophy: |
Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
Lester B. Pearson Award: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
NHL Plus/Minus Award: |
Vladimir Konstantinov,
Detroit Red Wings |
Vezina Trophy: |
Jim Carey, Washington Capitals |
William M. Jennings Trophy: |
Chris Osgood/Mike Vernon, Detroit Red Wings |
Lester Patrick
Trophy: |
George Gund, Ken Morrow, Milt
Schmidt |
All-Star teams
First team |
Position |
Second team |
Jim Carey, Washington Capitals |
G |
Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings |
Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks |
D |
Vladimir Konstantinov,
Detroit Red Wings |
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins |
D |
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
C |
Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers |
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh
Penguins |
RW |
Alexander Mogilny, Vancouver Canucks |
Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
LW |
John LeClair, Philadelphia
Flyers |
|
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first
NHL game in 1995–96 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*)
marks debut in playoffs):
- Kyle McLaren, Boston Bruins
- Jay McKee, Buffalo Sabres
- Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres
- Jarome Iginla*, Calgary
Flames
- Stephane Yelle, Colorado
Avalanche
- Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
- Miroslav Satan, Edmonton
Oilers
- Ed Jovanovski, Florida
Panthers
- Jeff O'Neill, Hartford Whalers
- Sami Kapanen, Hartford Whalers
- Darcy Tucker, Montreal
Canadiens
- Jose Theodore, Montreal
Canadiens
- Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens
- Patrik Elias, New Jersey
Devils
- Petr Sykora, New Jersey Devils
- Steve Sullivan, New Jersey
Devils
- Bryan McCabe, New York
Islanders
- Todd Bertuzzi, New York
Islanders
- Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa
Senators
- Daymond Langkow, Tampa Bay
Lightning
- Andrew Brunette, Washington
Capitals
- Brendan Witt, Washington
Capitals
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last
game in the NHL in 1995–96 (listed with their last team):
- Cam Neely, Boston Bruins
- Alexei Kasatonov, Boston
Bruins
- Troy Murray, Colorado Avalanche
- Paul Cavallini, Dallas Stars
- Bob Kudelski, Florida Panthers
- Jimmy Carson, Hartford Whalers
- Joe Cirella, Ottawa Senators
- Glenn Anderson, St. Louis
Blues
- Greg Gilbert, St. Louis Blues
- Jim Sandlak, Vancouver Canucks
1996 trading deadline
Trading deadline: March 20, 1996.
- March 20, 1996: C Jesse Belanger
traded from Florida to Vancouver for Vancouver's third round pick
in 1996 Entry Draft and future considerations.
- March 20, 1996: LW Ken
Baumgartner traded from Toronto to Anaheim for Winnipeg's
fourth round pick in 1996 Entry Draft (previously acquired).
- March 20, 1996: D J. J. Daigneault traded from St. Louis to
Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's sixth round pick in 1996 Entry
Draft.
- March 20, 1996: LW Kevin Miller traded from San Jose to
Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh's fifth round choice in 1996 Entry Draft
and future considerations.
- March 20, 1996: LW Pat Conacher and
Calgary's sixth round pick in 1997 Entry Draft traded from Calgary
to NY Islanders for C Bob Sweeney.
- March 20, 1996: RW Kirk Maltby
traded from Edmonton to Detroit for D Dan McGillis.
- March 20, 1996: D Jaroslav Modry and Ottawa's eighth round pick
in 1996 Entry Draft traded from Ottawa to Los Angeles for RW Kevin
Brown.
- March 20, 1996: LW Patrick Poulin, D Igor Ulanov and Chicago's second round pick in
1996 Entry Draft traded from Chicago to Tampa Bay for D Enrico
Ciccone and Tampa Bay's second round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
- March 20, 1996: LW Yuri Khmylev and
Buffalo's eighth round pick in 1996 Entry Draft traded from Buffalo
to St. Louis for D Jean-Luc Grand Pierre, Ottawa's second round
pick in 1996 Entry Draft (previously acquired) and St. Louis' third
round pick in 1997 Entry Draft.
- March 20, 1996: C Dave Hannan traded from Buffalo to Colorado
for Colorado's sixth round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
- March 20, 1996: RW Alek Stojanov traded from Vancouver to
Pittsburgh for RW Markus Naslund.
- March 20, 1996: RW Ravil Gusmanov traded from Winnipeg to
Chicago for Chicago's fourth round pick in 1996 Entry Draft.
- March 20, 1996: RW Joe Kocur traded
from NY Rangers to Vancouver for G Kay Whitmore.
See also
References