1995–96 Florida Panthers season

The 1995–96 Florida Panthers season was the 3rd season of the franchise that was established in 1993 and their most successful season ever. In only their third season in the National Hockey League, the Panthers qualified for the playoffs, and won three playoff series to become Eastern Conference champions. In the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, Florida lost to the Colorado Avalanche in four games. The Panthers would not win another playoff series until 2022.

1995–96 Florida Panthers
Eastern Conference champions
Division3rd Atlantic
Conference4th Eastern
1995–96 record41–31–10
Home record25–12–4
Road record16–19–6
Goals for254
Goals against234
Team information
General managerBryan Murray
CoachDoug MacLean
CaptainBrian Skrudland
Alternate captainsScott Mellanby
Gord Murphy
ArenaMiami Arena
Average attendance13,278
Minor league affiliate(s)Carolina Monarchs
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
Detroit Falcons
Team leaders
GoalsScott Mellanby (32)
AssistsRobert Svehla (49)
PointsScott Mellanby (70)
Penalty minutesPaul Laus (236)
Plus/minusBill Lindsay (+13)
WinsJohn Vanbiesbrouck (26)
Goals against averageJohn Vanbiesbrouck (2.68)

Offseason

Head coach Roger Neilson was fired on June 8.[1] Player-development director Doug MacLean was named his replacement on July 24.[2]

Regular season

Year of the Rat

A very unusual goal celebration developed in Miami. On the night of the Panthers' 1995–96 home opener, a rat scurried across the Florida locker room. Panthers winger Scott Mellanby reacted by "one-timing" the rat against the wall, killing it . That night he scored two goals, which goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck quipped was "a rat trick". Two nights later, as the story found its way into the world, a few fans threw rubber rats on the ice in celebration of a goal. The rubber rat count went from 16 for the third home game to over 2,000 during the playoffs. In an amusing coincidence, 1996 was also year of the Rat according to Chinese astrology.

In the 1996 playoffs, as the fourth seed, the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins in five games, then upset the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in six and the second-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Their opponents, the Colorado Avalanche, eliminated the Panthers in four games.

Final standings
Atlantic Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Philadelphia Flyers82452413282208103
2New York Rangers8241271427223796
3Florida Panthers8241311025423492
4Washington Capitals8239321123420489
5Tampa Bay Lightning8238321223824888
6New Jersey Devils8237331221520286
7New York Islanders8222501022931554
Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Philadelphia FlyersATL82452413282208103
2Pittsburgh PenguinsNE8249294362284102
3New York RangersATL8241271427223796
4Florida PanthersATL8241311025423492
5Boston BruinsNE8240311128226991
6Montreal CanadiensNE8240321026524890
7Washington CapitalsATL8239321123420489
8Tampa Bay LightningATL8238321223824888
9New Jersey DevilsATL8237331221520286
10Hartford WhalersNE823439923725977
11Buffalo SabresNE823342724726273
12New York IslandersATL8222501022931554
13Ottawa SenatorsNE821859519129141

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

The fifth-seeded Boston Bruins had one of the best offenses in the Eastern Conference, scoring 282 goals lead by Cam Neely (26 goals) and Adam Oates (25 goals, 67 assists). The Panthers won their first-ever playoff game 6-3 before a sold out Miami Arena,[4] and soon built a 3–0 lead despite being outshot by the Bruins on all games.[5] The Bruins stepped up to win Game 4 with a 6-2 blowout before the Boston crowd.[6] Game 5 was tied 3-3 when with 4:57 left, Bill Lindsay scored with a dive through the air goal while being tripped by star defenseman Ray Bourque, giving the Panthers their first-ever playoff series victory.[7] This was the last year in a record 29 consecutive seasons in the playoffs for the Bruins, as they missed the 1997 post-season.[8]

Eastern Conference Semifinals

The Philadelphia Flyers finished atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season with 103 points, led by the high-scoring "Legion of Doom" and the strong goaltending of Garth Snow and Ron Hextall. Philadelphia had just eliminated the other Florida team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in 5 games a 2–1 series deficit.[9]

Vanbiesbrouck posted a 2–0 shutout in Game 1,[10] and it took until midway through Game 2 for the Flyers to get rolling offensively in a narrow 3–2 win.[11] Game 3 saw Flyers veterans Dan Quinn, Dale Hawerchuk, Eric Desjardins and Hextall set the tone in a 3–1 victory.[9] With young defenseman Ed Jovanovski tightly covering Flyers superstar Eric Lindros, the Panthers reversed the tide,[12] defeating the Flyers in overtime in Game 4 and double-overtime in Game 5, in what would turn out to be the last Flyers game at the Spectrum.[13] Lindros promised to win game 6 to return the series to Philadelphia, but the Panthers won with a 4–1 score. Florida became the third team to reach the conference finals in their third season – following fellow expansion team New York Islanders in 1975 and the Quebec Nordiques in 1982.[14]

Eastern Conference Finals

The 2-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins were energized by the return of Mario Lemieux, who missed the entire 1994–95 season due to injury, and had the league's best offense, scoring 362 goals, and the most wins in the Eastern conference with 49, finishing just one point behind the Flyers. The Penguins advanced to the third round for the first time since 1992, defeating the Washington Capitals in six games and the New York Rangers in five games.

Despite being outshot 33–25 in game one the Panthers came out on top with an impressive 5–1 win, with 32 saves by Vanbiesbrouck and two goals by forward Tom Fitzgerald. The Penguins wanting to avoid going down two games to none against the Panthers came out with a better effort in game two and won the game 3–2 and evened the series at one game each. In game three the Panthers fired an incredible 61 shots on Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso and it paid off as the Panthers won 5–2 – two goals by Stu Barnes – to take a 2–1 series lead. The Penguins tied game four on Brad Lauer's goal with 11:03 remaining in regulation, and Bryan Smolinski scored with 3:31 to go to give the Penguins a 2–1 lead, tying the series. In game five the Penguins shut out the Panthers 3–0, with Barrasso stopping 28 shots.

Leading the series three games to two Pittsburgh looked to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in game six. The Penguins led 2–1 in the second period but the Panthers scored three of the next four goals and edged the Penguins 4–3 to tie the series at 3–3. In game seven Florida got a 1–0 lead on Mike Hough's goal at 13:13 of the first period. After a scoreless second period Pittsburgh tied the game on Petr Nedvěd's power-play goal at 1:23 of the third period. The Panthers regained the lead on Tom Fitzgerald's bizarre 58-foot slapshot at 6:18 and got an insurance goal from Johan Garpenlov at 17:23. Florida hung on to win the game 3–1, with a total of 39 saves by Vanbiesbrouck, and closed the series four games to three.[15]

By reaching the finals in only their third season, the Panthers became the fastest expansion team to do so since the St. Louis Blues reached the Stanley Cup finals in their first three seasons. Many Panthers players were managing their first trips to the finals after long careers, such as Vanbiesbrouck (13 years).

Stanley Cup Finals

In the first Stanley Cup Finals where neither team had ever reached the decision before, the Panthers faced the Colorado Avalanche, who were in their inaugural season after relocating from Quebec City. Led by captain Joe Sakic, forward Peter Forsberg and defenceman Adam Foote, the Avalanche got even stronger once goaltender Patrick Roy joined the team in December 1995. The Avalanche finished the season with a 47–25–10 record for 104 points, won the Pacific Division and finished second in the Western Conference. On their way to the Western title, the Avs beat the Vancouver Canucks, the Chicago Blackhawks and Presidents' Trophy winners Detroit Red Wings, all in six games.[16]

The series started in Denver, and the Avs dominated the Panthers at the McNichols Sports Arena. On game 1, Vanbiesbrouck shut out Colorado for half the game, before three goals were scored in a stretch of 3:49 minutes in the second period, leading to a 3–1 victory. The following game was an 8–1 blowout, starting with three power play goals in the first period as Florida incurred in bad penalties that forced Vanbiesbrouck to be pulled out in favor of Mark Fitzpatrick. Returning to Miami, Game 3 was closer, with Florida scoring twice in the first period. But the Avs still came through, taking over the lead with a Joe Sakic goal early in the second period and holding on to a 3–2 victory.[17]

With their backs to the wall, the Panthers played a defensive game four. Vanbiesbrouck and Roy stood out, combining for 118 saves, and the two teams played a marathon game that took until the third overtime period. Uwe Krupp's unassisted goal at 4:31 ended 44 minutes and 31 seconds of overtime and gave the Avalanche a 1–0 win and a four-games-to-none series win. Goaltender Patrick Roy stopped all 63 shots he faced. Colorado outscored Florida 15–4 in the series, and Patrick Roy stopped 147 of 151 shots, for a save percentage of .974. Joe Sakic was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, having led all skaters in goals with 18, and points with 34. For both Patrick Roy and Claude Lemieux, it was their third Stanley Cup win in eleven years.

Schedule and results

Regular season
1995–96 regular season[18]
October: 7–4–0 (home: 5–2–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 7, 19950–4@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)0–1–0Recap
2WOctober 8, 19954–3Calgary Flames (1995–96)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 11, 19956–1Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)2–1–0Recap
4WOctober 13, 19956–2Ottawa Senators (1995–96)3–1–0Recap
5WOctober 15, 19955–3New York Islanders (1995–96)4–1–0Recap
6LOctober 17, 19953–6Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)4–2–0Recap
7WOctober 21, 19953–0Hartford Whalers (1995–96)5–2–0Recap
8WOctober 24, 19956–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)6–2–0Recap
9LOctober 25, 19952–7@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)6–3–0Recap
10WOctober 28, 19954–1@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)7–3–0Recap
11LOctober 31, 19954–5 OTNew York Islanders (1995–96)7–4–0Recap
November: 10–2–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12WNovember 2, 19952–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)8–4–0Recap
13WNovember 3, 19953–2@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)9–4–0Recap
14WNovember 5, 19954–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)10–4–0Recap
15WNovember 7, 19954–2Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)11–4–0Recap
16WNovember 9, 19952–1Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)12–4–0Recap
17WNovember 11, 19954–1Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)13–4–0Recap
18WNovember 14, 19955–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)14–4–0Recap
19TNovember 16, 19952–2 OTVancouver Canucks (1995–96)14–4–1Recap
20LNovember 18, 19952–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)14–5–1Recap
21WNovember 19, 19954–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)15–5–1Recap
22WNovember 21, 19954–3New Jersey Devils (1995–96)16–5–1Recap
23WNovember 26, 19955–1Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)17–5–1Recap
24LNovember 29, 19951–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)17–6–1Recap
December: 8–4–1 (home: 3–1–1; road: 5–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25LDecember 1, 19951–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)17–7–1Recap
26WDecember 2, 19955–3@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)18–7–1Recap
27WDecember 5, 19954–3@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)19–7–1Recap
28TDecember 7, 19953–3 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)19–7–2Recap
29WDecember 9, 19953–1Boston Bruins (1995–96)20–7–2Recap
30WDecember 11, 19952–1@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)21–7–2Recap
31WDecember 12, 19953–1@ New York Islanders (1995–96)22–7–2Recap
32LDecember 14, 19954–6@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)22–8–2Recap
33WDecember 16, 19957–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)23–8–2Recap
34WDecember 21, 19956–1Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)24–8–2Recap
35WDecember 23, 19952–1New Jersey Devils (1995–96)25–8–2Recap
36LDecember 28, 19954–5Washington Capitals (1995–96)25–9–2Recap
37LDecember 30, 19955–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)25–10–2Recap
January: 6–4–3 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–3–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 3, 19962–7@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)25–11–2Recap
39WJanuary 5, 19963–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)26–11–2Recap
40LJanuary 6, 19960–2@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)26–12–2Recap
41WJanuary 8, 19965–2@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)27–12–2Recap
42TJanuary 10, 19964–4 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)27–12–3Recap
43TJanuary 12, 19966–6 OT@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)27–12–4Recap
44WJanuary 16, 19964–1San Jose Sharks (1995–96)28–12–4Recap
45TJanuary 22, 19961–1 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)28–12–5Recap
46WJanuary 23, 19965–4@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)29–12–5Recap
47LJanuary 25, 19962–6Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)29–13–5Recap
48WJanuary 27, 19966–3Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)30–13–5Recap
49WJanuary 29, 19962–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)31–13–5Recap
50LJanuary 31, 19961–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)31–14–5Recap
February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51TFebruary 1, 19962–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)31–14–6Recap
52WFebruary 3, 19965–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)32–14–6Recap
53LFebruary 6, 19962–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)32–15–6Recap
54WFebruary 8, 19963–1Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)33–15–6Recap
55TFebruary 11, 19962–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1995–96)33–15–7Recap
56LFebruary 14, 19962–4Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)33–16–7Recap
57LFebruary 16, 19964–5 OTColorado Avalanche (1995–96)33–17–7Recap
58WFebruary 18, 19966–4Dallas Stars (1995–96)34–17–7Recap
59WFebruary 21, 19964–1@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)35–17–7Recap
60LFebruary 24, 19960–4New York Rangers (1995–96)35–18–7Recap
61LFebruary 25, 19961–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)35–19–7Recap
62TFebruary 29, 19962–2 OTWashington Capitals (1995–96)35–19–8Recap
March: 3–9–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 0–6–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63LMarch 2, 19961–7@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)35–20–8Recap
64LMarch 5, 19960–2@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)35–21–8Recap
65LMarch 7, 19963–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)35–22–8Recap
66LMarch 10, 19961–4Boston Bruins (1995–96)35–23–8Recap
67LMarch 11, 19964–8@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)35–24–8Recap
68TMarch 13, 19963–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1995–96)35–24–9Recap
69WMarch 17, 19963–0New Jersey Devils (1995–96)36–24–9Recap
70WMarch 19, 19965–2Ottawa Senators (1995–96)37–24–9Recap
71WMarch 21, 19963–2New York Islanders (1995–96)38–24–9Recap
72LMarch 23, 19962–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)38–25–9Recap
73LMarch 27, 19960–3@ New York Rangers (1995–96)38–26–9Recap
74LMarch 28, 19962–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)38–27–9Recap
75LMarch 30, 19961–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)38–28–9Recap
April: 3–3–1 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76WApril 1, 19963–2Hartford Whalers (1995–96)39–28–9Recap
77LApril 3, 19962–3@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)39–29–9Recap
78LApril 6, 19961–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)39–30–9Recap
79WApril 8, 19965–3@ New York Rangers (1995–96)40–30–9Recap
80LApril 10, 19961–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)40–31–9Recap
81TApril 12, 19961–1 OT@ New York Islanders (1995–96)40–31–10Recap
82WApril 14, 19965–1New York Rangers (1995–96)41–31–10Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1996 Stanley Cup playoffs[18]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Boston Bruins – Panthers win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceDecisionSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19966–3Boston Bruins14,703VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 22, 19966–2Boston Bruins14,703VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 24, 19964–2@ Boston Bruins14,922VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 3–0Recap
4LApril 25, 19962–6@ Boston Bruins14,810VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 3–1Recap
5WApril 27, 19964–3Boston Bruins14,703VanbiesbrouckPanthers win 4–1Recap
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (1) Philadelphia Flyers – Panthers win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceDecisionSeriesRecap
1WMay 2, 19962–0@ Philadelphia Flyers17,380VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 4, 19960–2@ Philadelphia Flyers17,380VanbiesbrouckSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LMay 7, 19962–3Philadelphia Flyers14,703VanbiesbrouckFlyers lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 9, 19964–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers14,703VanbiesbrouckSeries tied 2–2Recap
5WMay 12, 19962–1 2OT@ Philadelphia Flyers17,380VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 14, 19964–1Philadelphia Flyers14,703VanbiesbrouckPanthers win 4–2Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins – Panthers win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceDecisionSeriesRecap
1WMay 18, 19965–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins17,355VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 20, 19962–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins17,181VanbiesbrouckSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 24, 19965–2Pittsburgh Penguins14,703VanbiesbrouckPanthers lead 2–1Recap
4LMay 26, 19961–2Pittsburgh Penguins14,703VanbiesbrouckSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LMay 28, 19960–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins17,355VanbiesbrouckPenguins lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 30, 19964–3Pittsburgh Penguins14,703VanbiesbrouckSeries tied 3–3Recap
7WJune 1, 19963–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins17,355VanbiesbrouckPanthers win 4–3Recap
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (W2) Colorado Avalanche – Avalanche win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceDecisionSeriesRecap
1LJune 4, 19961–3@ Colorado Avalanche16,061VanbiesbrouckAvalanche lead 1–0Recap
2LJune 6, 19961–8@ Colorado Avalanche16,061VanbiesbrouckAvalanche lead 2–0Recap
3LJune 8, 19962–3Colorado Avalanche14,703VanbiesbrouckAvalanche lead 3–0Recap
4LJune 10, 19960–1 3OTColorado Avalanche14,703VanbiesbrouckAvalanche win 4–0Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

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 Panthers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
27Scott MellanbyRW79323870416022369−1044
44Rob NiedermayerC82263561110722538−812
24Robert SvehlaD8184957−39422066332
29Johan GarpenlovLW82232851−103620426−28
14Stu BarnesC72192544−12462261016104
26Jesse Belanger‡C63172138−510——————
12Jody HullRW782017375251432540
21Tom FitzgeraldRW82132134−37522448334
11Bill LindsayRW731222341357225510618
6Jason WoolleyD5262834−93213268314
5Gord MurphyD70822305301404416
9Radek DvorakRW771314275201613420
20Brian SkrudlandC7972027612921134618
10Dave LowryLW63101424−2362210717839
18Mike HoughLW64716234372241558
55Ed JovanovskiD70101121−313722189252
2Terry CarknerD7331013108022044810
8Magnus SvenssonD272911−121——————
26[lower-alpha 1]Ray Sheppard†RW1482100421881644
25Geoff SmithD313710−4201000−12
3Paul LausD78369−223621268362
28Martin Straka†C122461613224−22
16Gilbert Dionne†LW512300——————
15Brett HarkinsLW8033−26——————
23[lower-alpha 2]Rhett WarrenerD280334462101130
19Brad SmythRW7112−34——————
51David NemirovskyRW9022−12——————
34John VanbiesbrouckG57022102201120
22Bob Kudelski‡RW1301110——————
40Steve WashburnC101110101100
7Mike Casselman†C3000−10——————
30Mark FitzpatrickG340001220000

Goaltending
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
34John Vanbiesbrouck572620714731422.68.90423178221210735502.25.93211332
30Mark Fitzpatrick3415113810882.96.891017862003066.00.800060

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 NHL All-Rookie Team Ed Jovanovski (Defense) [19]
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Doug MacLean (coach) [20]
Scott Mellanby
John Vanbiesbrouck

Transactions

Trades

The Panthers acquired Ray Sheppard from the San Jose Sharks on the trade deadline in 1996.

Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.[21]

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
110Radek Dvorak (RW) Czech RepublicHC České Budějovice (Czech)
236Aaron MacDonald (G) CanadaSwift Current Broncos (WHL)
362Mike O'Grady (D) CanadaLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
480Dave Duerden (LW) CanadaPeterborough Petes (OHL)
488Daniel Tjarnqvist (D) SwedenRögle BK (Sweden)
5114Francois Cloutier (LW) CanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)
7166Peter Worrell (LW) CanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)
8192Filip Kuba (D) Czech RepublicHC Vítkovice (Czech Republic)
9218David Lemanowicz (G) CanadaSpokane Chiefs (WHL)

Notes
  1. Sheppard wore number 16 in his first two games.
  2. Warrener wore number 45 in his first eleven games

References
  • "Florida Panthers 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  • "1995-96 Florida Panthers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  1. "Panthers fire coach Roger Neilson - UPI Archives". UPI. June 8, 1995. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  2. "MacLean hired to increase Panthers' roar". Tampa Bay Times. July 25, 1995. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  3. "1995–1996 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  4. "History: 1996 Playoffs". Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. "1996 N.H.L. PLAYOFFS;Panthers Put Bruins TO Wall". The New York Times. April 25, 1996. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. "Bruins 6, Panthers 2". UPI. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  7. "N.H.L. PLAYOFFS;Panthers Eliminate Bruins". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 28, 1996. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  8. "From Bruins to Ruins : After 30 Years, Another Boston Tradition--Playoff Hockey--Crumbles Beneath Weight of Inept Team". Los Angeles Times. April 8, 1997. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. "Inquirer.com: Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  10. "HOCKEY;Vanbiesbrouck Blanks Flyers as Panthers Jump on Top". The New York Times. May 3, 1996.
  11. "DUELING GOALIES: PANTHERS, FLYERS TIE AT 1". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  12. "Looking back at the Florida Panthers' 1996 playoff run". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  13. "Remembering the Spectrum: Flyers say goodbye after 29 years". Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  14. Nobles, Charlie (May 15, 1996). "NHL PLAYOFFS;Surprising Panthers Eliminate the Flyers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  15. "Florida Panthers' 1996 rat pack celebration a well-deserved honor | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
  16. Farber, Michael. "WITH BRILLIANT TRADES AND BLENDED TALENT, THE AVALANCHE CAPTURED THE STANLEY CUP, GIVING COLORADO ITS FIRST MAJOR PRO CHAMPIONSHIP". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  17. Farber, Michael. "SHOW STOPPERS COLORADO, A DYNASTY IN THE MAKING, SWEPT FLORIDA TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  18. "1995-96 Florida Panthers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  19. "Postseason All-Star Teams". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  20. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1996". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  21. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
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