1995–96 NHL season

1995–96 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 5, 1995 – June 10, 1996
Number of games 82
Number of teams 26
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Detroit Red Wings
Season MVP Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
Top scorer Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Florida Panthers
  Eastern runners-up Pittsburgh Penguins
Western champions Colorado Avalanche
  Western runners-up Detroit Red Wings
Playoffs Playoffs MVP Joe Sakic (Colorado)
Stanley Cup
Champions Colorado Avalanche
  Runners-up Florida Panthers

The 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. 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. They played at McNichols Arena, the building that the New Jersey Devils played in from 1976 to 1982 when they were known as the Colorado Rockies. The Avs would play in that building until they moved to the Pepsi Center in 1999.

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. The NHL would not return to Manitoba until the Atlanta Thrashers moved there to become the "new" Winnipeg Jets following the 2010–11 season.

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. The Boston Bruins played their first season at Fleetcenter after spending the last 67 at the old Boston Garden, and the Vancouver Canucks played their first game at General Motors Place.

During the 1992–93 and 1993-94 seasons, each team played 84 games (including two neutral site games). Starting in the 1995–96 season, the neutral site games were eliminated, which reduced the regular season to 82 games per team.

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 NHL record for most wins ever in the regular season (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 . 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 one player would score at least 60 goals (Jagr and Lemieux) until 2008.[1] The New Jersey Devils became the first team since the 1969–70 Montreal Canadiens to miss the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.

Final standings

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 24 13 282 208 103
2 New York Rangers 82 41 27 14 272 237 96
3 Florida Panthers 82 41 31 10 254 234 92
4 Washington Capitals 82 39 32 11 234 204 89
5 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 38 32 12 238 248 88
6 New Jersey Devils 82 37 33 12 215 202 86
7 New York Islanders 82 22 50 10 229 315 54
Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA PTS
1 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 49 29 4 362 284 102
2 Boston Bruins 82 40 31 11 282 269 91
3 Montreal Canadiens 82 40 32 10 265 248 90
4 Hartford Whalers 82 34 39 9 237 259 77
5 Buffalo Sabres 82 33 42 7 247 262 72
6 Ottawa Senators 82 18 59 5 191 291 41
Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 282 208 103
2 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 49 29 4 362 284 102
3 New York Rangers ATL 82 41 27 14 272 237 96
4 Florida Panthers ATL 82 41 31 10 254 234 92
5 Boston Bruins NE 82 40 31 11 282 269 91
6 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 40 32 10 265 248 90
7 Washington Capitals ATL 82 39 32 11 234 204 89
8 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 38 32 12 238 248 88
9 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 37 33 12 215 202 86
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 34 39 9 237 259 77
11 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 33 42 7 247 262 73
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 22 50 10 229 315 54
13 Ottawa Senators NE 82 18 59 5 191 291 41

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Western Conference
Central Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings 82 62 13 7 325 181 131
2 Chicago Blackhawks 82 40 28 14 273 220 94
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 34 36 12 247 252 80
4 St. Louis Blues 82 32 34 16 219 248 80
5 Winnipeg Jets 82 36 40 6 275 291 78
6 Dallas Stars 82 26 42 14 227 280 66
Pacific Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Colorado Avalanche 82 47 25 10 326 240 104
2 Calgary Flames 82 34 37 11 241 240 79
3 Vancouver Canucks 82 32 35 15 278 278 79
4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 82 35 39 8 234 247 78
5 Edmonton Oilers 82 30 44 8 240 304 68
6 Los Angeles Kings 82 24 40 18 256 302 66
7 San Jose Sharks 82 20 55 7 252 357 47
Western Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Detroit Red Wings CEN 82 62 13 7 325 181 131
2 Colorado Avalanche PAC 82 47 25 10 326 240 104
3 Chicago Blackhawks CEN 82 40 28 14 273 220 94
4 Toronto Maple Leafs CEN 82 34 36 12 247 252 80
5 St. Louis Blues CEN 82 32 34 16 219 248 80
6 Calgary Flames PAC 82 34 37 11 241 240 79
7 Vancouver Canucks PAC 82 32 35 15 278 278 79
8 Winnipeg Jets CEN 82 36 40 6 275 291 78
9 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim PAC 82 35 39 8 234 247 78
10 Edmonton Oilers PAC 82 30 44 8 240 304 68
11 Dallas Stars CEN 82 26 42 14 227 280 66
12 Los Angeles Kings PAC 82 24 40 18 256 302 66
13 San Jose Sharks PAC 82 20 55 7 252 357 47

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

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.

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Final

The Colorado Avalanche swept the final series over the Florida Panthers in the minimum four games. Both teams were making their first appearance in the Final. For Colorado, it followed the team's first season in Denver, Colorado after moving from Quebec City.

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

Playoff bracket

  Conference quarterfinals Conference semifinals Conference finals Stanley Cup Final
                                     
1  Philadelphia 4     2  Pittsburgh 4  
8  Tampa Bay 2     3  NY Rangers 1  
2  Pittsburgh 4 Eastern Conference
7  Washington 2  
    2  Pittsburgh 3  
  4  Florida 4  
3  NY Rangers 4  
6  Montreal 2  
4  Florida 4   1  Philadelphia 2
5  Boston 1     4  Florida 4  
  E4  Florida 0
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W2  Colorado 4
1  Detroit 4     1  Detroit 4
8  Winnipeg 2     5  St. Louis 3  
2  Colorado 4
7  Vancouver 2  
  1  Detroit 2
  2  Colorado 4  
3  Chicago 4  
6  Calgary 0   Western Conference
4  Toronto 2   2  Colorado 4
5  St. Louis 4     3  Chicago 2  

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 III, 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

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Regular season Playoffs
Player Team GP G A Pts
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh 70 69 92 161
Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 82 62 87 149
Joe Sakic Colorado 82 51 69 120
Ron Francis Pittsburgh 77 27 92 119
Peter Forsberg Colorado 82 30 86 116
Eric Lindros Philadelphia 73 47 68 115
Paul Kariya Anaheim 82 50 58 108
Teemu Selanne Winnipeg/
Anaheim 		79 40 68 108
Alexander Mogilny Vancouver 79 55 52 107
Sergei Fedorov Detroit 78 39 68 107

Source: NHL.[4]
Player Team GP G A Pts
Joe Sakic Colorado 22 18 16 34
Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh 18 11 16 27
Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 18 11 12 23
Valeri Kamensky Colorado 22 10 12 22
Peter Forsberg Colorado 22 10 11 21
Petr Nedved Pittsburgh 18 10 10 20
Steve Yzerman Detroit 18 8 12 20
Sergei Fedorov Detroit 19 2 18 20
Sandis Ozolinsh Colorado 22 5 14 19
Dave Lowry Florida 22 10 7 17
Mike Ricci Colorado 22 6 11 17
Adam Deadmarsh Colorado 22 5 12 17

Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Leading goaltenders

Regular season

Player Team GP MIN GA SO GAA
Ron Hextall Philadelphia 53 3102 112 4 2.17
Chris Osgood Detroit 50 2933 106 5 2.17
Jim Carey Washington 71 4069 153 9 2.26
Mike Vernon Detroit 32 1855 70 3 2.26
Martin Brodeur New Jersey 77 4433 173 6 2.34
Jeff Hackett Chicago 35 2000 80 4 2.40
Daren Puppa Tampa Bay 57 3189 131 5 2.46
Mike Richter New York Rangers 41 2396 107 3 2.68
John Vanbiesbrouck Florida 57 3178 142 2 2.68
Ed Belfour Chicago 50 2956 135 1 2.74

[5]

Milestones

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):

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):

Trading deadline

Trading deadline: March 20, 1996.[6]

Coaches

Head coaches of the Eastern Conference

Team Coach Comments
Boston Bruins Steve Kasper
Buffalo Sabres Ted Nolan
Florida Panthers Doug MacLean
Hartford Whalers Paul Holmgren Replaced midseason by Paul Maurice
Montreal Canadiens Jacques Demers Replaced early in the season by Mario Tremblay
New Jersey Devils Jacques Lemaire
New York Islanders Mike Milbury
New York Rangers Colin Campbell
Ottawa Senators Rick Bowness Replaced early in the season by Dave Allison, who would be replaced after 25 games by Jacques Martin
Philadelphia Flyers Terry Murray
Pittsburgh Penguins Eddie Johnston
Tampa Bay Lightning Terry Crisp
Washington Capitals Jim Schoenfeld

Head coaches of the Western Conference

Team Coach Comments
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Ron Wilson
Calgary Flames Pierre Page
Chicago Blackhawks Craig Hartsburg
Colorado Avalanche Marc Crawford
Dallas Stars Bob Gainey Replaced midseason by Ken Hitchcock
Detroit Red Wings Scotty Bowman
Edmonton Oilers Ron Low
Los Angeles Kings Larry Robinson
St. Louis Blues Mike Keenan
San Jose Sharks Kevin Constantine Replaced early in the season by Jim Wiley
Toronto Maple Leafs Pat Burns Replaced late in the season by Nick Beverley
Vancouver Canucks Rick Ley Replaced late in the season by Pat Quinn
Winnipeg Jets Terry Simpson

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2008032128&prov=ap
  2. ↑ "1995–1996 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  4. ↑ Dinger 2011, p. 154.
  5. ↑ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1996_leaders.html
  6. ↑ NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out

External links

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