1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins season saw the return of Mario Lemieux after missing an entire season due to injuries. The Penguins improved to first in the Northeast Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference. In the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins progressed to the Conference Finals before losing to the Florida Panthers.

1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins
Northeast Division champions
Division1st Northeast
Conference2nd Eastern
1995–96 record49–29–4
Home record32–9–0
Road record17–20–4
Goals for362
Goals against284
Team information
General managerCraig Patrick
CoachEddie Johnston
CaptainMario Lemieux
Alternate captainsRon Francis
Jaromir Jagr
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance16,238
Minor league affiliate(s)Cleveland Lumberjacks
Hampton Roads Admirals
Team leaders
GoalsMario Lemieux (69)
AssistsMario Lemieux (92)
PointsMario Lemieux (161)
Penalty minutesFrancois Leroux (161)
Plus/minusPetr Nedved (+37)
WinsTom Barrasso (29)
Goals against averageKen Wregget (3.24)

Off-season

Regular season

Mario Lemieux's return to the NHL after missing the entire 1994–95 season energized the Penguins and re-instituted the team's finesse game for the 1995–96 season. The Penguins finished second in the Eastern Conference with 102 points, leading all League teams in goals (362), even-strength goals (235), power-play goals (109), power-play percentage (25.95%) and shooting percentage while scoring 362 goals on just 2,645 shots (13.7%).[1] Despite missing 12 regular-season games, Lemieux led the NHL in goals (69), assists (92), points (161) power-play goals (31) and shorthanded goals (8). Czech superstar Jaromir Jagr had a career year, scoring 62 goals (second in the League), 87 assists (third in the League) and 149 points (second in the League). The third 100-point scorer on the team was Ron Francis, who tallied 27 goals and 92 assists (tied for first in the NHL with Lemieux) for 119 points. Petr Nedved scored 45 goals and had 54 assists for 99 points in 80 games—he finished second in the NHL in shooting percentage, with 22.1%.[1] Despite missing over a quarter of the season, Tomas Sandstrom also had a strong year, scoring 35 goals and picking up 35 assists for 70 points in 58 games.

Lemieux scored three goals or more in a game six times, and four goals or more in a game twice. On March 26, 1996, he scored five goals in a home game against the St. Louis Blues. Lemieux tallied two even-strength goals, two power-play goals and one short-handed goal in the game, which the Penguins won 8–4.

Season standings
Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA PTS
1Pittsburgh Penguins8249294362284102
2Boston Bruins8240311128226991
3Montreal Canadiens8240321026524890
4Hartford Whalers823439923725977
5Buffalo Sabres823342724726272
6Ottawa Senators821859519129141
Eastern Conference[2]
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

In the 1996 Playoffs, 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. In the Eastern Conference finals, the heavily favored Penguins were upset in seven games by the defense-oriented Florida Panthers.

Schedule and results

Regular season
1995–96 regular season[3]
October: 4–2–2 (home: 2–1–0 ; road: 2–1–2), 10 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
1Oct 7Toronto Maple Leafs3–8Pittsburgh Penguins1–0–02Recap
2Oct 9Pittsburgh Penguins6–6 OTColorado Avalanche1–0–13Recap
3Oct 12Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Chicago Blackhawks1–1–13Recap
4Oct 14Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2–5Pittsburgh Penguins2–1–15Recap
5Oct 20Pittsburgh Penguins2–2 OTHartford Whalers2–1–26Recap
6Oct 21Los Angeles Kings3–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins2–2–26Recap
7Oct 26Pittsburgh Penguins7–5New York Islanders3–2–28Recap
8Oct 28Pittsburgh Penguins5–3New Jersey Devils4–2–210Recap
November: 10–3–1 (home: 6–1–0 ; road: 4–2–1), 21 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
9Nov 1Tampa Bay Lightning0–10Pittsburgh Penguins5–2–212Recap
10Nov 3Pittsburgh Penguins3–3 OTBuffalo Sabres5–2–313Recap
11Nov 4Philadelphia Flyers4–7Pittsburgh Penguins6–2–315Recap
12Nov 8Pittsburgh Penguins7–1Ottawa Senators7–2–317Recap
13Nov 10Pittsburgh Penguins9–1San Jose Sharks8–2–319Recap
14Nov 11Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Los Angeles Kings8–3–319Recap
15Nov 14Dallas Stars2–4Pittsburgh Penguins9–3–321Recap
16Nov 17Pittsburgh Penguins3–2 OTWashington Capitals10–3–323Recap
17Nov 18Washington Capitals0–3Pittsburgh Penguins11–3–325Recap
18Nov 21Pittsburgh Penguins4–9New York Rangers11–4–325Recap
19Nov 22New York Rangers4–3Pittsburgh Penguins11–5–325Recap
20Nov 25Buffalo Sabres3–5Pittsburgh Penguins12–5–327Recap
21Nov 28Ottawa Senators2–7Pittsburgh Penguins13–5–329Recap
22Nov 30Pittsburgh Penguins9–6Boston Bruins14–5–331Recap
December: 10–4–0 (home: 7–1–0 ; road: 3–3–0), 20 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
23Dec 1Florida Panthers1–2Pittsburgh Penguins15–5–333Recap
24Dec 3Pittsburgh Penguins5–4Tampa Bay Lightning16–5–335Recap
25Dec 5Pittsburgh Penguins6–3New York Islanders17–5–337Recap
26Dec 7Montreal Canadiens5–7Pittsburgh Penguins18–5–339Recap
27Dec 9Hartford Whalers0–6Pittsburgh Penguins19–5–341Recap
28Dec 13Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Mighty Ducks of Anaheim19–6–341Recap
29Dec 15Pittsburgh Penguins5–1Dallas Stars20–6–343Recap
30Dec 17Pittsburgh Penguins5–6Philadelphia Flyers20–7–343Recap
31Dec 19Calgary Flames1–7Pittsburgh Penguins21–7–345Recap
32Dec 22Montreal Canadiens4–2Pittsburgh Penguins21–8–345Recap
33Dec 23Pittsburgh Penguins0–1Montreal Canadiens21–9–345Recap
34Dec 26Buffalo Sabres3–6Pittsburgh Penguins22–9–347Recap
35Dec 28Hartford Whalers4–9Pittsburgh Penguins23–9–349Recap
36Dec 30Florida Panthers5–6Pittsburgh Penguins24–9–351Recap
January: 7–7–0 (home: 5–3–0 ; road: 2–4–0), 14 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
37Jan 1Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Washington Capitals24–10–351Recap
38Jan 3Ottawa Senators1–4Pittsburgh Penguins25–10–353Recap
39Jan 5Detroit Red Wings2–5Pittsburgh Penguins26–10–355Recap
40Jan 6Pittsburgh Penguins2–3St. Louis Blues26–11–355Recap
41Jan 8Vancouver Canucks5–8Pittsburgh Penguins27–11–357Recap
42Jan 12Montreal Canadiens6–5Pittsburgh Penguins27–12–357Recap
43Jan 13San Jose Sharks10–8Pittsburgh Penguins27–13–357Recap
44Jan 16Colorado Avalanche5–2Pittsburgh Penguins27–14–357Recap
45Jan 17Pittsburgh Penguins1–0Buffalo Sabres28–14–359Recap
46Jan 22Boston Bruins6–7 OTPittsburgh Penguins29–14–361Recap
47Jan 24Pittsburgh Penguins4–3Ottawa Senators30–14–363Recap
48Jan 27Philadelphia Flyers4–7Pittsburgh Penguins31–14–365Recap
49Jan 29Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Florida Panthers31–15–365Recap
50Jan 31Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Tampa Bay Lightning31–16–365Recap
February: 6–5–1 (home: 4–0–0 ; road: 2–5–1), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
51Feb 3Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Detroit Red Wings31–17–365Recap
52Feb 6Boston Bruins5–6Pittsburgh Penguins32–17–367Recap
53Feb 7Pittsburgh Penguins1–1 OTNew Jersey Devils32–17–468Recap
54Feb 10Chicago Blackhawks3–6Pittsburgh Penguins33–17–470Recap
55Feb 12Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Toronto Maple Leafs33–18–470Recap
56Feb 16Pittsburgh Penguins1–0Winnipeg Jets34–18–472Recap
57Feb 18New York Rangers3–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins35–18–474Recap
58Feb 21Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Buffalo Sabres35–19–474Recap
59Feb 23Hartford Whalers4–5Pittsburgh Penguins36–19–476Recap
60Feb 24Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Montreal Canadiens36–20–476Recap
61Feb 27Pittsburgh Penguins7–4Vancouver Canucks37–20–478Recap
62Feb 29Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Calgary Flames37–21–478Recap
March: 9–5–0 (home: 6–2–0 ; road: 3–3–0), 18 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
63Mar 1Pittsburgh Penguins5–4Edmonton Oilers38–21–480Recap
64Mar 5Winnipeg Jets4–9Pittsburgh Penguins39–21–482Recap
65Mar 7Ottawa Senators1–5Pittsburgh Penguins40–21–484Recap
66Mar 9New Jersey Devils4–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins40–22–484Recap
67Mar 13Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Hartford Whalers40–23–484Recap
68Mar 14Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Boston Bruins40–24–484Recap
69Mar 16New York Islanders2–4Pittsburgh Penguins41–24–486Recap
70Mar 21Edmonton Oilers4–5Pittsburgh Penguins42–24–488Recap
71Mar 23Buffalo Sabres7–5Pittsburgh Penguins42–25–488Recap
72Mar 24Pittsburgh Penguins8–2New York Rangers43–25–490Recap
73Mar 26St. Louis Blues4–8Pittsburgh Penguins44–25–492Recap
74Mar 28Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Florida Panthers45–25–494Recap
75Mar 30New Jersey Devils1–2Pittsburgh Penguins46–25–496Recap
76Mar 31Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Philadelphia Flyers46–26–496Recap
April: 3–3–0 (home: 2–1–0 ; road: 1–2–0), 6 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPointsRecap
77Apr 4Washington Capitals2–4Pittsburgh Penguins47–26–498Recap
78Apr 6Tampa Bay Lightning1–2Pittsburgh Penguins48–26–4100Recap
79Apr 8Pittsburgh Penguins4–5Hartford Whalers48–27–4100Recap
80Apr 10New York Islanders6–2Pittsburgh Penguins48–28–4100Recap
81Apr 11Pittsburgh Penguins5–3Ottawa Senators49–28–4102Recap
82Apr 14Pittsburgh Penguins5–6Boston Bruins49–29–4102Recap
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs
1996 Stanley Cup playoffs[3]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (7) Washington Capitals – Penguins win 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeAttendanceSeriesRecap
1Apr 17Washington Capitals6–4Pittsburgh Penguins16,2380–1Recap
2Apr 19Washington Capitals5–3Pittsburgh Penguins17,1810–2Recap
3Apr 22Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Washington Capitals18,1301–2Recap
4Apr 24Pittsburgh Penguins3–2 4OTWashington Capitals18,1302–2Recap
5Apr 26Washington Capitals1–4Pittsburgh Penguins17,2153–2Recap
6Apr 28Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Washington Capitals17,2564–2Recap
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (3) New York Rangers – Penguins win 4–1
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 3New York Rangers3–4Pittsburgh Penguins17,1811–0Recap
2May 5New York Rangers6–3Pittsburgh Penguins17,1810–1Recap
3May 7Pittsburgh Penguins3–2New York Rangers18,2002–1Recap
4May 9Pittsburgh Penguins4–1New York Rangers18,2003–1Recap
5May 11New York Rangers3–7Pittsburgh Penguins17,3554–1Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (4) Florida Panthers – Panthers win 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 18Florida Panthers5–1Pittsburgh Penguins17,3550–1Recap
2May 20Florida Panthers2–3Pittsburgh Penguins17,1811–1Recap
3May 24Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Florida Panthers14,7031–2Recap
4May 26Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Florida Panthers14,7032–2Recap
5May 28Florida Panthers0–3Pittsburgh Penguins17,3553–2Recap
6May 30Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Florida Panthers14,7033–3Recap
7Jun 1Florida Panthers3–1Pittsburgh Penguins17,3553–4Recap
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Suspensions
PlayerLengthDateReason
Ron Francis2 gamesFebruary 27, 1996Checking from behind

Injuries
PlayerInjuryDate
Tom BarrassoPulled Groin (DTD)December 7, 1995
Tom BarrassoShoulder injury (Out Indefinitely)February 5, 1996
Stefan BergkvistAppendectomyFebruary 21, 1996

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tom Barrasso492799:01291621603.4316260.90220318
Ken Wregget372132:15201321153.2412050.9053028
Total4931:16492942753.3528310.90350526
Playoffs[7]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ken Wregget9598:47720232.303280.930010
Tom Barrasso10557:30450262.803370.9231008
Total1156:171170492.546650.9261018

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 500 goals for the Penguins. He did so with a hat-trick in a 7–5 win over New York on October 3.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 800 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 8–4 win over St. Louis on March 26.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 1300 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–2 win over Detroit on January 5.
  • Jaromir Jagr set a new league record for most assists in a season by a winger (87). He broke the previous record of 83 set by Mike Bossy in 1982.
  • Jaromir Jagr set a new league record for most points in a season by a winger (149). He broke the previous record of 147 set by Mike Bossy in 1982.
  • Jaromir Jagr set a new league record for most points by a player born outside of North America (149). He broke the previous record of 139 set by Peter Stastny in 1982.

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 Art Ross Trophy Mario Lemieux [8]
Hart Memorial Trophy Mario Lemieux [9]
Lester B. Pearson Award Mario Lemieux [10]
NHL First All-Star team Jaromir Jagr (Right Wing) [11]
Mario Lemieux (Center)
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Ron Francis [12]
Jaromir Jagr[lower-alpha 1]
Eddie Johnston (coach)
Mario Lemieux[lower-alpha 1]
Team A. T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Award Mario Lemieux [14]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award Petr Nedved [15]
Bob Johnson Memorial Badger Bob Award Jaromir Jagr [15]
Leading Scorer Award Mario Lemieux
Michel Briere Memorial Rookie of the Year Trophy No winner [16]
Most Valuable Player Award Mario Lemieux [17]
Players' Player Award Ron Francis [16]
The Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award Dave Roche [14]

Transactions

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1995–96 season:[18]

Trades
July 8, 1995 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Larry Murphy

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dmitri Mironov
1996 2nd round pick

August 1, 1995 To Boston Bruins

Kevin Stevens
Shawn McEachern

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Glen Murray
Bryan Smolinski
1996 3rd round pick

August 31, 1995 To New York Rangers

Luc Robitaille
Ulf Samuelsson

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Petr Nedved
Sergei Zubov

December 28, 1995 To Winnipeg Jets

Norm MacIver

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Neil Wilkinson

March 1, 1996 To Ottawa Senators

1996 8th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dave McLlwain

March 20, 1996 To Vancouver Canucks

Markus Naslund

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Alek Stojanov

March 20, 1996 To St. Louis Blues

1996 6th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jean-Jacques Daigneault

March 20, 1996 To San Jose Sharks

1996 5th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Kevin Miller

Free agents
Player Acquired from Lost to Date
Troy MurrayColorado AvalancheAugust 7, 1995
Corey FosterOttawa SenatorsAugust 7, 1995
Peter TaglianettiBoston BruinsAugust 9, 1995
Peter AllenBoston BruinsAugust 10, 1995
Mike HudsonToronto Maple LeafsAugust 28, 1995
Joe MullenBoston BruinsSeptember 8, 1995
John CullenTampa Bay LightningSeptember 11, 1995
Ladislav KarabinBuffalo SabresSeptember 20, 1995

Signings
Player Date
Brad LauerAugust 10, 1995
Evgeny DavydovAugust 10, 1995
Troy CrowderAugust 10, 1995
Glen MurraySeptember 8, 1995

Other
Name Date Details
Evgeny DavydovSeptember 25, 1995Released
Perry GancharOctober 15, 1995Retired

Draft picks
See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.[19]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 24 Aleksey Morozov Right Wing  Russia Krylja Sovetov (Russia)
3 76 Jean-Sebastien Aubin Goaltender  Canada Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL)
4 102 Oleg Belov Center  Russia CSKA Moscow (Russia)
5 128 Jan Hrdina Center  Czech Republic Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
6 154 Alexei Kolkunov Center  Russia Krylja Sovetov (Russia)
7 180 Derrick Pyke Right Wing  Canada Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
8 206 Sergei Voronov Defense  Russia Moscow Dynamo (Russia)
9 232 Frank Ivankovic Goaltender  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Draft notes[20]

Farm teams

The Hampton Roads Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League finished in fifth place in the East Division, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Richmond Renegades.

The Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL) finished in third place in the Central Division, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Michigan K-Wings.

Notes
  1. Jagr and Lemieux were voted to the starting lineup.[13]

References
  • "Pittsburgh Penguins 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  • "1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  1. "1995-96 NHL Summary".
  2. "1995–1996 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  3. "1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  4. "1995–1996 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1995–1996 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "1995–1996 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. "1995–1996 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. "Art Ross Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  9. "Hart Memorial Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  10. "Ted Lindsay Award". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  11. "Postseason All-Star Teams". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  12. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1996". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  13. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  14. 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.313
  15. 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.312
  16. 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.311
  17. 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.314
  18. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". ProSportsTransactions. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  19. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  20. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
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