1995–96 Colorado Avalanche season

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1995–96 Colorado Avalanche
Stanley Cup champions
Western Conference champions
Pacific Division champions
Division1st place Pacific
Conference2nd place Western
1995–96 record47–25–10
Home record24–10–7
Road record23–15–3
Goals for326 (2nd place in NHL)
Goals against240 (T-8th)
Team information
General managerPierre Lacroix
CoachMarc Crawford
CaptainJoe Sakic
Alternate captainsMike Ricci
Sylvain Lefebvre
ArenaMcNichols Sports Arena
Average attendance16,017 (99.7%)
Total: 656,708
Minor league affiliate(s)Cornwall Aces (AHL)
Team leaders
GoalsJoe Sakic (51)
AssistsPeter Forsberg (86)
PointsJoe Sakic (120)
Penalty minutesChris Simon (250)
WinsPatrick Roy
Stephane Fiset (22)
Goals against averagePatrick Roy (2.68)

The 1995–1996 Colorado Avalanche season was the first season of the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise after moving from Quebec City to Denver. As a result, the Avalanche were assigned to the Pacific Division of the NHL's Western Conference.

Regular season[]

The Avalanche played their first game in the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver on October 6, 1995, winning 3–2 against the Detroit Red Wings.[1] Led by captain Joe Sakic, forward Peter Forsberg and defenceman Adam Foote on the ice, Pierre Lacroix as the general manager, and Marc Crawford as the head coach, the Avalanche got stronger when former Montreal Canadiens goalie Patrick Roy joined the team. Feeling humiliated for being left in the net after having conceded 9 goals on 26 shots during a Canadiens game against the Red Wings, Roy joined the Avalanche on December 6, 1995, together with ex-Montreal captain Mike Keane in a trade for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko.[2] Roy would prove a pivotal addition for Colorado in the years to come.

On January 3, 1996, the Avalanche lost at home, 1–0, to the New Jersey Devils. It was the first time in 123 consecutive regular-season games that the team was shut out; the last time the team had been shut out was while they were the Quebec Nordiques. That game took place on January 27, 1994, and the Nordiques lost on the road, 3–0, to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Avalanche finished the regular season with a 47–25–10 record for 104 points, won the Pacific Division and finished second in the Western Conference. They scored 326 goals: an average of nearly 4 per game. Despite allowing the most short-handed goals in the league, with 22, they also scored the most short-handed goals, with 21.[3] Four Avalanche players scored at least 30 goals.[4]

  • December 11, 1995: Patrick Roy earned his first victory in net as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.[5] It was a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In November 1990, Brian Hayward was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for defenseman Jayson More.[6]

  • February 5, 1996: Patrick Roy played the Canadiens for the first time since he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.[7] Roy stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 4-2 win. After the game, Roy took the game puck and flipped it to Canadiens head coach Mario Tremblay.[8]

Season standings[]

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

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[9]
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


Schedule and results[]

1995–96 Game log
October: 7–3–1 (home: 5–0–1; road: 2–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
1 October 6 Detroit 2 – 3 Colorado Fiset 1–0–0 2
2 October 7 Colorado 2 – 4 Los Angeles Fiset 1–1–0 2
3 October 9 Pittsburgh 6 – 6 Colorado OT Fiset 1–1–1 3
4 October 11 Boston 1 – 3 Colorado Fiset 2–1–1 5
5 October 13 Colorado 1 – 3 Washington Fiset 2–2–1 5
6 October 14 Colorado 1 – 4 St. Louis Thibault 2–3–1 5
7 October 18 Washington 2 – 4 Colorado Fiset 3–3–1 7
8 October 23 Anaheim 1 – 3 Colorado Fiset 4–3–1 9
9 October 25 Colorado 3 – 2 Calgary Fiset 5–3–1 11
10 October 27 Buffalo 4 – 5 Colorado Fiset 6–3–1 13
11 October 30 Colorado 6 – 1 Dallas Thibault 7–3–1 15
November: 8–2–3 (home: 3–0–1; road: 5–2–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
12 November 1 Calgary 1 – 6 Colorado Thibault 8–3–1 17
13 November 3 Colorado 5 – 2 Winnipeg Fiset 9–3–1 19
14 November 5 Colorado 7 – 3 Chicago Fiset 10–3–1 21
15 November 9 Dallas 1 – 1 Colorado OT Thibault 10–3–2 22
16 November 11 Colorado 8 – 4 Vancouver Fiset 11–3–2 24
17 November 15 Colorado 3 – 7 Anaheim Thibault 11–4–2 24
18 November 17 Colorado 5 – 3 Calgary Fiset 12–4–2 26
19 November 18 Calgary 2 – 5 Colorado Fiset 13–4–2 28
20 November 20 Colorado 3 – 3 Edmonton OT Fiset 13–4–3 29
21 November 22 Chicago 2 – 6 Colorado Fiset 14–4–3 31
22 November 25 Colorado 2 – 2 Montreal OT Thibault 14–4–4 32
23 November 28 Colorado 7 – 3 NY Islanders Thibault 15–4–4 34
24 November 29 Colorado 3 – 4 New Jersey OT Thibault 15–5–4 34
December: 7–6–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
25 December 1 Colorado 3 – 5 NY Rangers Thibault 15–6–4 34
26 December 3 Dallas 7 – 6 Colorado Fiset 15–7–4 34
27 December 5 San Jose 2 – 12 Colorado Fiset 16–7–4 36
28 December 7 Edmonton 5 – 3 Colorado Roy 16–8–4 36
29 December 9 Colorado 7 – 3 Ottawa Fiset 17–8–4 38
30 December 11 Colorado 5 – 1 Toronto Roy 18–8–4 40
31 December 13 Colorado 3 – 4 Buffalo Roy 18–9–4 40
32 December 15 Colorado 2 – 4 Hartford Fiset 18–10–4 40
33 December 18 Vancouver 4 – 2 Colorado Roy 18–11–4 40
34 December 20 Colorado 4 – 1 Edmonton Roy 19–11–4 42
35 December 22 St. Louis 1 – 2 Colorado Roy 20–11–4 44
36 December 23 Colorado 2 – 2 Los Angeles OT Fiset 20–11–5 45
37 December 26 Colorado 5 – 1 San Jose Roy 21–11–5 47
38 December 29 Toronto 2 – 3 Colorado Roy 22–11–5 49
January: 4–4–4 (home: 1–1–4; road: 3–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
39 January 3 New Jersey 1 – 0 Colorado Roy 22–12–5 49
40 January 4 Philadelphia 2 – 2 Colorado OT Fiset 22–12–6 50
41 January 6 Colorado 2 – 5 Toronto Roy 22–13–6 50
42 January 9 Colorado 3 – 0 Boston Fiset 23–13–6 52
43 January 10 Florida 4 – 4 Colorado OT Roy 23–13–7 53
44 January 14 Calgary 4 – 4 Colorado OT Fiset 23–13–8 54
45 January 16 Colorado 5 – 2 Pittsburgh Roy 24–13–8 56
46 January 17 Colorado 2 – 3 Detroit Roy 24–14–8 56
47 January 22 NY Islanders 3 – 4 Colorado Roy 25–14–8 58
48 January 25 Vancouver 2 – 2 Colorado OT Fiset 25–14–9 59
49 January 27 Colorado 4 – 3 San Jose OT Roy 26–14–9 61
50 January 31 Colorado 1 – 2 Anaheim Roy 26–15–9 61
February: 9–3–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 2–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
51 February 1 Winnipeg 4 – 6 Colorado Fiset 27–15–9 63
52 February 3 NY Rangers 1 – 7 Colorado Roy 28–15–9 65
53 February 5 Montreal 2 – 4 Colorado Roy 29–15–9 67
54 February 7 Tampa Bay 4 – 4 Colorado OT Fiset 29–15–10 68
55 February 9 Hartford 3 – 2 Colorado OT Roy 29–16–10 68
56 February 11 Colorado 5 – 3 Philadelphia Fiset 30–16–10 70
57 February 15 Colorado 2 – 4 Tampa Bay Roy 30–17–10 70
58 February 16 Colorado 5 – 4 Florida OT Fiset 31–17–10 72
59 February 19 Edmonton 5 – 7 Colorado Roy 32–17–10 74
60 February 23 Los Angeles 2 – 6 Colorado Fiset 33–17–10 76
61 February 25 Ottawa 2 – 4 Colorado Roy 34–17–10 78
62 February 26 Anaheim 2 – 3 Colorado Roy 35–17–10 80
63 February 29 Colorado 3 – 4 Chicago Roy 35–18–10 80
March: 8–5–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 5–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
64 March 1 Chicago 3 – 5 Colorado Roy 36–18–10 82
65 March 3 Toronto 0 – 4 Colorado Roy 37–18–10 84
66 March 5 San Jose 5 – 3 Colorado Fiset 37–19–10 84
67 March 8 Detroit 4 – 2 Colorado Roy 37–20–10 84
68 March 9 Colorado 7 – 5 Vancouver Fiset 38–20–10 86
69 March 13 Colorado 0 – 4 Anaheim Roy 38–21–10 86
70 March 17 Edmonton 1 – 8 Colorado Roy 39–21–10 88
71 March 19 Colorado 4 – 3 Vancouver Roy 40–21–10 90
72 March 20 Colorado 5 – 2 Los Angeles Fiset 41–21–10 92
73 March 22 Colorado 0 – 7 Detroit Roy 41–22–10 92
74 March 24 Colorado 5 – 2 Winnipeg Roy 42–22–10 94
75 March 27 Winnipeg 3 – 1 Colorado Fiset 42–23–10 94
76 March 28 Colorado 8 – 3 San Jose Roy 43–23–10 96
April: 4–2–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Pts
77 April 3 St. Louis 6 – 3 Colorado Roy 43–24–10 96
78 April 6 San Jose 1 – 5 Colorado Roy 44–24–10 98
79 April 7 Colorado 4 – 1 Dallas Roy 45–24–10 100
80 April 10 Anaheim 3 – 7 Colorado Roy 46–24–10 102
81 April 11 Colorado 3 – 2 St. Louis Fiset 47–24–10 104
82 April 14 Los Angeles 5 – 4 Colorado OT Roy 47–25–10 104

Playoffs[]

Colorado progressed to the playoffs and won the series against the Vancouver Canucks, the Chicago Blackhawks and Presidents' Trophy winners Detroit Red Wings. In the Stanley Cup Final, the Avalanche met the Florida Panthers, who were also in their first Stanley Cup final. The Avalanche swept the series 4–0. In Game Four, during the third overtime and after more than 100 minutes of play with no goals, defenceman Uwe Krupp scored to claim the franchise's first Cup.[10] Joe Sakic was the playoff's scoring leader with 34 points (18 goals and 16 assists) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player to his team during the playoffs. The 1996 Stanley Cup was the first major professional championship won by a Denver team.[11] With the Stanley Cup win, Russians Alexei Gusarov and Valeri Kamensky and Swede Peter Forsberg became members of the "Triple Gold Club", the exclusive group of ice hockey players who have won Olympic gold, World Championship gold and the Stanley Cup.[12]

1996 Stanley Cup playoffs
Western Conference Quarter-final vs. Vancouver - Colorado wins 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Decision Series
1 April 16 Vancouver 2 – 5 Colorado 16,061 Roy 1 – 0
2 April 18 Vancouver 5 – 4 Colorado 16,061 Roy 1 – 1
3 April 20 Colorado 4 – 0 Vancouver 18,422 Roy 2 – 1
4 April 22 Colorado 3 – 4 Vancouver 18,422 Roy 2 – 2
5 April 25 Vancouver 4 – 5 Colorado OT 16,061 Roy 3 – 2
6 April 27 Colorado 3 – 2 Vancouver 18,422 Roy 4 – 2
Western Conference Semi-final vs. Chicago - Colorado wins 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Decision Series
1 May 2 Chicago 3 – 2 Colorado OT 16,061 Roy 0 – 1
2 May 4 Chicago 1 – 5 Colorado 16,061 Roy 1 – 1
3 May 6 Colorado 3 – 4 Chicago OT 20,797 Roy 1 – 2
4 May 8 Colorado 3 – 2 Chicago 3OT 22,454 Roy 2 – 2
5 May 11 Chicago 1 – 4 Colorado 16,061 Roy 3 – 2
6 May 13 Colorado 4 – 3 Chicago 2OT 21,356 Roy 4 – 2
Western Conference Final vs. Detroit - Colorado wins 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Decision Series
1 May 19 Colorado 3 – 2 Detroit OT 19,957 Roy 1 – 0
2 May 21 Colorado 3 – 0 Detroit 19,983 Roy 2 – 0
3 May 23 Detroit 6 – 4 Colorado 16,061 Roy 2 – 1
4 May 25 Detroit 2 – 4 Colorado 16,061 Roy 3 – 1
5 May 27 Colorado 2 – 5 Detroit 19,983 Roy 3 – 2
6 May 29 Detroit 1 – 4 Colorado 16,061 Roy 4 – 2
Stanley Cup Final vs. Florida - Colorado wins 4–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Attendance Decision Series
1 June 4 Florida 1 – 3 Colorado 16,061 Roy 1 – 0
2 June 6 Florida 1 – 8 Colorado 16,061 Roy 2 – 0
3 June 8 Colorado 3 – 2 Florida 14,703 Roy 3 – 0
4 June 10 Colorado 1 – 0 Florida 3OT 14,703 Roy 4 – 0

Player statistics[]

Skaters[]

Goaltending[]

Regular Season
Player GP GS TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Stephane Fiset 37 35 2,106:38 22 6 7 103 2.93 1,012 .898 1 0 1 2
Patrick Roy † 39 38 2,305:15 22 15 1 103 2.68 1,130 .909 1 0 0 4
Jocelyn Thibault ‡ 10 9 558:22 3 4 2 28 3.01 222 .874 0 0 0 0
Total 4,970:15 47 25 10 234 2.82 2,364 .901 2 0 1 6
Playoffs
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Patrick Roy 22 22 1,453:53 16 6 51 2.10 649 .921 3 0 0 0
Stephane Fiset 1 0 0:40 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1,454:33 16 6 51 2.10 649 .921 3 0 0 0

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

Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes;
      GS = Games Started; TOI = Time on Ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records[]

Team trophies[]

Player awards and trophies[]

1996 NHL All-Star Game[]

Colorado Avalanche NHL All-Star representatives in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game at the FleetCenter in Boston.

  • Joe Sakic, C, (Western Conference All-Stars)
  • Peter Forsberg, C, (Western Conference All-Stars)
  • Marc Crawford, Assistant Coach, (Western Conference All-Stars)

Transactions[]

Trades[]

July 7, 1995 To Calgary Flames
David Ling
9th round pick in 1995 		To Colorado Avalanche
9th round pick in 1995
July 12, 1995 To Washington Capitals
3rd round pick in 1996 		To Colorado Avalanche
John Slaney
July 12, 1995 To Philadelphia Flyers
Garth Snow 		To Colorado Avalanche
3rd and 6th round picks in 1996
October 2, 1995 To Washington Capitals
Cash 		To Colorado Avalanche
Warren Rychel
October 3, 1995 To New York Islanders
Wendel Clark 		To Colorado Avalanche
Claude Lemieux
October 5, 1995 To Tampa Bay Lightning
Steven Finn 		To Colorado Avalanche
4th round pick in 1997
October 26, 1995 To San Jose Sharks
Owen Nolan 		To Colorado Avalanche
Sandis Ozolinsh
November 1, 1995 To Calgary Flames
Claude Lapointe 		To Colorado Avalanche
7th round pick in 1996
December 6, 1995 To Montreal Canadiens
Andrei Kovalenko
Jocelyn Thibault
Martin Rucinsky 		To Colorado Avalanche
Patrick Roy
Mike Keane
December 28, 1995 To Los Angeles Kings
John Slaney 		To Colorado Avalanche
Conditional draft pick in 1996
January 26, 1996 To Ottawa Senators
Janne Laukkanen 		To Colorado Avalanche
Brad Larsen
March 19, 1996 To Calgary Flames
Paxton Schulte 		To Colorado Avalanche
Vesa Viitakoski
March 20, 1996 To Buffalo Sabres
6th round pick in 1996 		To Colorado Avalanche
Dave Hannan
April 3, 1996 To Washington Capitals
Anson Carter 		To Colorado Avalanche
4th round pick in 1996

Other transactions[]

Date Player Transaction
August 8, 1995 Troy Murray Signed as a free agent
September 8, 1995 Andrei Kovalenko Signed as a free agent
September 8, 1995 Curtis Leschyshyn Signed as a free agent
September 9, 1995 Scott Young Signed as a free agent
October 2, 1995 Ted Drury Claimed by Ottawa in the waiver draft
October 2, 1995 Bill Huard Claimed by Dallas in the waiver draft

Draft picks[]

Colorado's picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Round # Player Position Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 25 Marc Denis G Canada Canada Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
2 51 Nic Beaudoin LW Canada Canada Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL)
3 77 John Tripp RW Canada Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL)
41 81 Tomi Kallio RW Finland Finland Kiekko-67 Turku (FinD1)
5 129 Brent Johnson G United States United States Owen Sound Platers (OHL).
6 155 John Cirjak RW Canada Canada Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
7 181 Dan Smith D Canada Canada University of British Columbia (CIAU)
8 207 Tomi Hirvonen C Finland Finland Ilves Jrs. (Finland)
92 228 Chris George RW Canada Canada Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Notes
  1. The Avalanche acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 20, 1994 that sent John Tanner to Anaheim in exchange for this pick.
  2. The Avalanche acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 7, 1995 that sent David Ling and a ninth-round pick in 1995 (233rd overall) to Calgary in exchange for this pick.
  • The Avalanche fourth-round pick went to the Ottawa Senators as the result of a trade on April 7, 1995 that sent Bill Huard to Quebec in exchange for the rights to Mika Stromberg and this pick (103rd overall).
  • The Avalanche ninth-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on July 7, 1995 that sent a ninth-round pick in 1995 (228rd overall) to Quebec in exchange for David Ling and this pick (233rd overall).

See also[]

References[]

General[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ "October 6, 1995 - Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche gamesheet". Colorado Avalanche Database. Retrieved 2007-06-17.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Sadowski, Rick (2006-06-29). "Roy gets call he's in Hall". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  3. ^ "1995-96 NHL Summary".
  4. ^ "1995-96 Colorado Avalanche Roster and Statistics".
  5. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.382, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  6. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.278, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  7. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.382 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  8. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.383 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  9. ^ "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  10. ^ Ulman, Howard (1996-06-11). "No stopping the Avalanche - Colorado completes Cup sweep of Panthers with 3OT victory". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  11. ^ "Miscellaneous/Community/Altitude" (PDF). Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved 2007-06-17.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Triple Gold Club" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  13. ^ "1995-96 Colorado Avalanche Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
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