1995–96 New Jersey Devils season

The 1995–96 New Jersey Devils season was the 22nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 14th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season.^[1] After winning the Stanley Cup in the previous season, and qualifying for the playoffs for six seasons, the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1989, losing their last game of the season with a chance to qualify for the postseason. They became the first defending Stanley Cup champions to fail to make the playoffs since the 1969-70 Montreal Canadiens.

1995–96 New Jersey Devils
Division	6th Atlantic
Conference	9th Eastern
1995–96 record	37–33–12
Home record	22–17–2
Road record	15–16–10
Goals for	215
Goals against	202
Team information
General manager	Lou Lamoriello
Coach	Jacques Lemaire
Captain	Scott Stevens
Alternate captains	Ken Daneyko John MacLean
Arena	Continental Airlines Arena
Average attendance	16,219
Minor league affiliate(s)	Albany River Rats Raleigh IceCaps
Team leaders
Goals	Steve Thomas (26)
Assists	Steve Thomas (35)
Points	Steve Thomas (61)
Penalty minutes	Mike Peluso (146)
Plus/minus	Bobby Holík and Brian Rolston (+9)
Wins	Martin Brodeur (34)
Goals against average	Corey Schwab (2.18)
← 1994–95 1996–97 →

Regular season

The Devils were the least penalized team during the regular season, being shorthanded only 319 times.^[2] They also had the lowest shooting percentage in the NHL, scoring only 215 goals on 2,636 shots (8.2%).^[2]

Final standings

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

Eastern Conference^[3]

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

Schedule and results

1995–96 regular season^[4]
October: 6–4–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–1–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 1 W October 7, 1995 4–0 Florida Panthers 1–0–0 Recap 2 W October 12, 1995 4–1 Winnipeg Jets 2–0–0 Recap 3 W October 14, 1995 4–1 @ Montreal Canadiens 3–0–0 Recap 4 W October 15, 1995 4–3 @ Buffalo Sabres 4–0–0 Recap 5 L October 17, 1995 1–3 Edmonton Oilers 4–1–0 Recap 6 W October 19, 1995 4–2 Detroit Red Wings 5–1–0 Recap 7 W October 21, 1995 4–1 Ottawa Senators 6–1–0 Recap 8 L October 25, 1995 2–4 Vancouver Canucks 6–2–0 Recap 9 L October 28, 1995 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3–0 Recap 10 L October 31, 1995 1–2 @ Edmonton Oilers 6–4–0 Recap
November: 5–6–3 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–4–3) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 11 T November 2, 1995 3–3 OT @ San Jose Sharks 6–4–1 Recap 12 W November 4, 1995 4–2 @ Los Angeles Kings 7–4–1 Recap 13 L November 5, 1995 1–6 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 7–5–1 Recap 14 L November 8, 1995 1–2 Calgary Flames 7–6–1 Recap 15 W November 11, 1995 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers 8–6–1 Recap 16 W November 12, 1995 3–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers 9–6–1 Recap 17 W November 14, 1995 1–0 Hartford Whalers 10–6–1 Recap 18 T November 16, 1995 2–2 OT @ Boston Bruins 10–6–2 Recap 19 L November 18, 1995 4–5 Buffalo Sabres 10–7–2 Recap 20 L November 21, 1995 3–4 @ Florida Panthers 10–8–2 Recap 21 L November 22, 1995 1–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 10–9–2 Recap 22 L November 25, 1995 0–2 @ Dallas Stars 10–10–2 Recap 23 T November 27, 1995 1–1 OT @ New York Rangers 10–10–3 Recap 24 W November 29, 1995 4–3 OT Colorado Avalanche 11–10–3 Recap
December: 4–9–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 0–6–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 25 W December 1, 1995 5–1 Tampa Bay Lightning 12–10–3 Recap 26 L December 2, 1995 1–4 @ New York Islanders 12–11–3 Recap 27 L December 6, 1995 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens 12–12–3 Recap 28 L December 7, 1995 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 12–13–3 Recap 29 W December 9, 1995 4–2 New York Islanders 13–13–3 Recap 30 L December 11, 1995 1–2 Florida Panthers 13–14–3 Recap 31 L December 15, 1995 1–3 @ Detroit Red Wings 13–15–3 Recap 32 L December 16, 1995 2–3 Buffalo Sabres 13–16–3 Recap 33 W December 19, 1995 5–4 OT Philadelphia Flyers 14–16–3 Recap 34 T December 21, 1995 2–2 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning 14–16–4 Recap 35 L December 23, 1995 1–2 @ Florida Panthers 14–17–4 Recap 36 W December 27, 1995 5–3 New York Islanders 15–17–4 Recap 37 L December 29, 1995 3–5 @ Winnipeg Jets 15–18–4 Recap 38 L December 31, 1995 0–5 @ Chicago Blackhawks 15–19–4 Recap
January: 7–3–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 2–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 39 W January 3, 1996 1–0 @ Colorado Avalanche 16–19–4 Recap 40 W January 6, 1996 3–1 Washington Capitals 17–19–4 Recap 41 W January 9, 1996 4–2 St. Louis Blues 18–19–4 Recap 42 L January 11, 1996 1–2 San Jose Sharks 18–20–4 Recap 43 L January 13, 1996 2–3 @ Boston Bruins 18–21–4 Recap 44 W January 14, 1996 7–2 Dallas Stars 19–21–4 Recap 45 L January 16, 1996 2–4 Boston Bruins 19–22–4 Recap 46 W January 23, 1996 3–1 Los Angeles Kings 20–22–4 Recap 47 W January 25, 1996 3–1 Washington Capitals 21–22–4 Recap 48 T January 27, 1996 4–4 OT @ Hartford Whalers 21–22–5 Recap 49 W January 30, 1996 3–2 OT @ Vancouver Canucks 22–22–5 Recap
February: 5–3–3 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–1–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 50 T February 1, 1996 1–1 OT @ Calgary Flames 22–22–6 Recap 51 W February 3, 1996 3–2 OT @ Ottawa Senators 23–22–6 Recap 52 T February 7, 1996 1–1 OT Pittsburgh Penguins 23–22–7 Recap 53 W February 10, 1996 3–0 New York Rangers 24–22–7 Recap 54 L February 11, 1996 2–4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 24–23–7 Recap 55 T February 16, 1996 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres 24–23–8 Recap 56 W February 18, 1996 3–0 Washington Capitals 25–23–8 Recap 57 L February 19, 1996 1–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers 25–24–8 Recap 58 L February 21, 1996 1–4 Florida Panthers 25–25–8 Recap 59 W February 23, 1996 6–5 Montreal Canadiens 26–25–8 Recap 60 W February 24, 1996 2–1 @ Washington Capitals 27–25–8 Recap
March: 7–4–4 (home: 2–2–1; road: 5–2–3) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 61 W March 1, 1996 6–2 New York Islanders 28–25–8 Recap 62 W March 2, 1996 4–1 @ Ottawa Senators 29–25–8 Recap 63 T March 4, 1996 2–2 OT @ New York Rangers 29–25–9 Recap 64 T March 6, 1996 2–2 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs 29–25–10 Recap 65 W March 9, 1996 4–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins 30–25–10 Recap 66 W March 10, 1996 3–2 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers 31–25–10 Recap 67 T March 13, 1996 1–1 OT Montreal Canadiens 31–25–11 Recap 68 W March 15, 1996 5–0 Tampa Bay Lightning 32–25–11 Recap 69 L March 17, 1996 0–3 @ Florida Panthers 32–26–11 Recap 70 L March 20, 1996 1–2 Boston Bruins 32–27–11 Recap 71 L March 22, 1996 2–4 Chicago Blackhawks 32–28–11 Recap 72 W March 23, 1996 3–2 OT @ New York Islanders 33–28–11 Recap 73 W March 26, 1996 6–4 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 34–28–11 Recap 74 T March 28, 1996 4–4 OT @ St. Louis Blues 34–28–12 Recap 75 L March 30, 1996 1–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 34–29–12 Recap
April: 3–4–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 2–1–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 76 L April 2, 1996 1–3 @ New York Rangers 34–30–12 Recap 77 L April 4, 1996 0–1 Hartford Whalers 34–31–12 Recap 78 W April 6, 1996 6–3 @ Hartford Whalers 35–31–12 Recap 79 W April 7, 1996 4–2 New York Rangers 36–31–12 Recap 80 L April 10, 1996 1–5 Philadelphia Flyers 36–32–12 Recap 81 W April 11, 1996 3–2 @ Washington Capitals 37–32–12 Recap 82 L April 13, 1996 2–5 Ottawa Senators 37–33–12 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.

			Regular season
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
32	Steve Thomas	LW	81	26	35	61	−2	98
12	Bill Guerin	RW	80	23	30	53	7	116
15	John MacLean	RW	76	20	28	48	3	91
17	Petr Sykora	RW	63	18	24	42	7	32
27	Scott Niedermayer	D	79	8	25	33	5	46
44	Stephane Richer	RW	73	20	12	32	−8	30
16	Bobby Holik	C	63	13	17	30	9	58
4	Scott Stevens	D	82	5	23	28	7	100
14	Brian Rolston	C	58	13	11	24	9	8
9	Neal Broten	C	55	7	16	23	−3	14
29	Shawn Chambers	D	64	2	21	23	1	18
21	Randy McKay	RW	76	11	10	21	7	145
6	Phil Housley†	D	22	1	15	16	−4	8
25	Valeri Zelepukin	LW	61	6	9	15	−10	107
23	Dave Andreychuk†	LW	15	8	5	13	2	10
11	Jim Dowd‡	C	28	4	9	13	−1	17
6	Tommy Albelin‡	D	53	1	12	13	0	14
8	Mike Peluso	LW	57	3	8	11	4	146
19	Bob Carpenter	C	52	5	5	10	−10	14
24	Steve Sullivan	RW	16	5	4	9	3	8
18	Sergei Brylin	LW	50	4	5	9	−2	26
3	Ken Daneyko	D	80	2	4	6	−10	115
33	Reid Simpson	LW	23	1	5	6	2	79
28	Kevin Dean	D	41	0	6	6	4	28
10	Denis Pederson	C	10	3	1	4	−1	0
20	Scott Pellerin	LW	6	2	1	3	1	0
5	Ricard Persson	D	12	2	1	3	5	8
26	Jason Smith	D	64	2	1	3	5	86
10	Esa Tikkanen†‡	LW	9	0	2	2	−6	4
30	Martin Brodeur	G	77	0	1	1		6
11	Jocelyn Lemieux†‡	RW	18	0	1	1	−7	4
24	Patrik Elias	LW	1	0	0	0	−1	0
2	Cale Hulse‡	D	8	0	0	0	−2	15
35	Corey Schwab	G	10	0	0	0		31
31	Chris Terreri‡	G	4	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.

		Regular season
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
30	Martin Brodeur	77	34	30	12	1954	173	2.34	.911	6	4433
35	Chris Terreri‡	4	3	0	0	92	9	2.57	.902	0	210
31	Corey Schwab	10	0	3	0	119	12	2.18	.899	0	331

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL All-Rookie Team	Petr Sykora (Forward)	^[5]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Martin Brodeur^[a]	^[7]
		Scott Stevens^[a]
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Petr Sykora (December)	^[8]
Team	Devils' Players' Player	Steve Thomas	^[9]
	Hugh Delano Unsung Hero	Shawn Chambers	^[9]
	Most Valuable Devil	Martin Brodeur	^[9]
	Three-Star Award	Martin Brodeur	^[9]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
1,000th game played	Scott Stevens	January 9, 1996	^[10]
1,000th point	Dave Andreychuk	April 7, 1996	^[11]
1,000th game played	Dave Andreychuk	April 11, 1996	^[12]

Transactions

Draft picks

New Jersey's picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at Edmonton Coliseum.^[13]

Rd #	Pick #	Player	Nat	Pos	Team (league)	Notes
1	18	Petr Sykora	Czech Republic	C	Detroit Vipers (IHL)
2	44	Nathan Perrott	Canada	RW	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
3	70	Sergei Vyshedkevich	Russia	D	Dynamo Moscow (RSL)
3	78	David Gosselin	Canada	LW	Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL)	^[b]
4	79	Alyn McCauley	Canada	C	Ottawa 67's (OHL)	^[c]
4	96	Henrik Rehnberg	Sweden	D	Färjestad BK Jrs. (Elitserien)
5	122	Chris Mason	Canada	G	Prince George Cougars (WHL)
6	148	Adam Young	Canada	LW	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
7	174	Richard Rochefort	Canada	C	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
8	200	Frederic Henry	Canada	G	Granby Bisons (QMJHL)
9	226	Colin O'Hara	Canada	D	Winnipeg Saints (MJHL)

See also

• 1995–96 NHL season

Notes

1. Brodeur and Stevens were voted to the starting lineup.^[6]
2. The Devils acquired the 1995 third-round pick from Detroit for Viacheslav Fetisov on April 3, 1995.
3. The Devils acquired the 1995 fourth-round pick from Ottawa for Jaroslav Modry on July 8, 1995. The official Devils transaction page incorrectly lists McCauley's pick as the fifth round.^[14]

References

• "New Jersey Devils 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
• "1995-96 New Jersey Devils Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

1. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
2. "1995-96 NHL Summary". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
3. "1995–1996 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
4. "1995-96 New Jersey Devils Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
5. "Postseason All-Star Teams". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
6. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
7. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1996". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
8. "NHL Rookies of the Month". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
9. Levine, Mike (ed.), 2009-10 New Jersey Devils Media Guide, New Jersey Devils Hockey Club, p. 225
10. Yannis, Alex (January 10, 1996). "HOCKEY;The Devils Find a Way to Solve Keenan". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2023. SCOTT STEVENS, the Devils' captain, played the 1,000th game of his career.
11. "Devils 4, Rangers 2 – UPI Archives". UPI. April 7, 1996. Retrieved August 27, 2023. Andreychuk picked up his 1,000th career point on the play.
12. "1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Dave Andreychuk". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023. Played in 1,000th career NHL game for New Jersey on April 11, 1996, at Washington.
13. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
14. McCauley's profile at HockeyDB.com