1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning fourth season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Lightning finished with a record of 38-32-12 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

It would also be the Lightning's third and final season in the ThunderDome before moving into their next and current home, the Ice Palace.

Regular season The Lightning tied the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators for fewest short-handed goals scored (6).

Final standings

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) Tampa Bay Lightning The series opened up in Philadelphia. The Flyers won Game 1 7–3, but the Lightning rebounded in Game 2 by a 2–1 overtime win. Games 3 and 4 were in Tampa Bay. The Lightning won again in overtime in Game 3, but this time, by a score of 5–4. However, the series was tied up at 2-2 thanks to Philadelphia's 4–1 win in Game 4. The series shifted back to Philadelphia, where the Flyers won 4-1 again in Game 5. In Game 6, Philadelphia won 6-1 and won the series 4–2.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 7, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||0–0–1 ||

|2||October 12, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||1–0–1 ||

|3||October 14, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||1–1–1 ||

|4||October 15, 1995||4–7 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||1–2–1 ||

|5||October 17, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||1–3–1 ||

|6||October 19, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||2–3–1 ||

|7||October 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||2–3–2 ||

|8||October 26, 1995||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||2–3–3 ||

|9||October 28, 1995||2–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||2–4–3 ||

|10||October 31, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||2–4–4 ||

|11||November 1, 1995||0–10 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||2–5–4 ||

|12||November 3, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||3–5–4 ||

|13||November 5, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||3–6–4 ||

|14||November 8, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||3–7–4 ||

|15||November 10, 1995||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||3–8–4 ||

|16||November 12, 1995||4–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||3–9–4 ||

|17||November 14, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||4–9–4 ||

|18||November 16, 1995||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||4–10–4 ||

|19||November 18, 1995||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||5–10–4 ||

|20||November 22, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||6–10–4 ||

|21||November 24, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||7–10–4 ||

|22||November 25, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||8–10–4 ||

|23||November 27, 1995||2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||9–10–4 ||

|24||November 29, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||9–10–5 ||

|25||December 1, 1995||1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||9–11–5 ||

|26||December 3, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||9–12–5 ||

|27||December 6, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||10–12–5 ||

|28||December 8, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||11–12–5 ||

|29||December 11, 1995||6–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||12–12–5 ||

|30||December 13, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||13–12–5 ||

|31||December 14, 1995||0–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||13–13–5 ||

|32||December 16, 1995||2–7 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||13–14–5 ||

|33||December 19, 1995||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||14–14–5 ||

|34||December 21, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||14–14–6 ||

|35||December 23, 1995||5–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||14–15–6 ||

|36||December 28, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||15–15–6 ||

|37||December 31, 1995||3–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||16–15–6 ||

|38||January 2, 1996||0–10 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||16–16–6 ||

|39||January 3, 1996||5–0 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||17–16–6 ||

|40||January 6, 1996||2–9 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||17–17–6 ||

|41||January 8, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||17–17–7 ||

|42||January 13, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||18–17–7 ||

|43||January 15, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||18–18–7 ||

|44||January 17, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||19–18–7 ||

|45||January 22, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||20–18–7 ||

|46||January 25, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||20–19–7 ||

|47||January 27, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||20–20–7 ||

|48||January 31, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||21–20–7 ||

|49||February 3, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||21–21–7 ||

|50||February 4, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||22–21–7 ||

|51||February 7, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||22–21–8 ||

|52||February 10, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||22–22–8 ||

|53||February 11, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||22–23–8 ||

|54||February 13, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||22–24–8 ||

|55||February 15, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||23–24–8 ||

|56||February 17, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||24–24–8 ||

|57||February 19, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||25–24–8 ||

|58||February 21, 1996||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||26–24–8 ||

|59||February 23, 1996||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||27–24–8 ||

|60||February 24, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||27–25–8 ||

|61||February 28, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||28–25–8 ||

|62||March 1, 1996||7–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||29–25–8 ||

|63||March 3, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||29–25–9 ||

|64||March 5, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||30–25–9 ||

|65||March 7, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||31–25–9 ||

|66||March 10, 1996||1–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||32–25–9 ||

|67||March 13, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||32–25–10 ||

|68||March 15, 1996||0–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||32–26–10 ||

|69||March 17, 1996||0–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||32–27–10 ||

|70||March 18, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||32–28–10 ||

|71||March 21, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||32–28–11 ||

|72||March 23, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||33–28–11 ||

|73||March 26, 1996||4–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||33–29–11 ||

|74||March 30, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||34–29–11 ||

|75||March 31, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||34–29–12 ||

|76||April 3, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||35–29–12 ||

|77||April 5, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||35–30–12 ||

|78||April 6, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||35–31–12 ||

|79||April 8, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||36–31–12 ||

|80||April 10, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||37–31–12 ||

|81||April 12, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||38–31–12 ||

|82||April 14, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||38–32–12 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 16, 1996 || 3–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 18, 1996 || 2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || April 21, 1996 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Lightning lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || April 23, 1996 || 1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Series tied 2–2 ||

| 5 || April 25, 1996 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || April 27, 1996 || 1–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers win 4–2 ||

Legend:

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 Lightning only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. Player Regular season Playoffs 19 C 75 23 56 79 −11 77 5 0 3 3 −5 6 44 D 82 16 49 65 −24 103 5 0 1 1 −1 4 29 RW 79 31 21 52 3 93 6 2 2 4 2 6 85 W 67 22 30 52 −25 68 4 2 0 2 0 14 12 C 76 16 34 50 1 65 5 3 3 6 4 0 23 LW 79 23 26 49 −14 39 6 2 0 2 −2 4 77 C 82 17 21 38 −13 105 6 0 2 2 −3 27 7 LW 72 15 20 35 11 62 6 2 3 5 −1 10 15 C 55 16 15 31 −19 16 5 0 0 0 −6 0 11 LW 81 13 15 28 4 119 6 0 2 2 0 8 2 D 61 5 23 28 1 22 6 0 1 1 0 4 34 LW 64 8 11 19 0 2 6 1 1 2 0 0 24 C 66 9 9 18 −9 81 6 1 0 1 −3 28 4 D 75 2 14 16 4 66 6 0 0 0 −4 22 22 C 73 8 4 12 −6 56 6 0 0 0 −3 4 27 D 66 1 11 12 5 64 6 0 1 1 −4 4 95 D 45 4 7 11 −10 108 6 0 0 0 −3 20 14 C 63 3 7 10 −8 18 2 0 0 0 −1 2 39 D 55 2 3 5 −4 258 20 RW 57 1 3 4 −2 88 3 0 0 0 0 12 5 D 11 2 1 3 −1 24 5 0 0 0 −1 15 6 D 7 1 2 3 5 6 5 D 13 0 1 1 −1 4 18 C 4 0 1 1 −1 0 28 C 8 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 93 G 57 0 1 1 4 4 0 0 0 0 30 G 12 0 0 0 0 3 D 14 0 0 0 −6 18 25 C 5 0 0 0 0 2 28 D 16 0 0 0 −6 24 21 D 3 0 0 0 −1 7 26 D 21 0 0 0 −7 13 1 G 19 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 9 C 1 0 0 0 0 0 35 G 4 0 0 0 2

Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. Player Regular season Playoffs 93 Daren Puppa 57 29 16 9 1605 131 2.46 .918 5 3189 4 1 3 86 14 4.85 .837 0 173 1 Jeff Reese 19 7 7 1 464 54 3.26 .884 0 994 5 1 1 100 12 3.64 .880 0 198 30 Jean-Claude Bergeron 12 2 6 2 250 42 4.23 .832 0 595 — — — — — — — — — 35 Derek Wilkinson 4 0 3 0 105 15 4.50 .857 0 200 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Roman Hamrlik

Records The Tampa Bay Lightning tied its team record worst defeat from 1993, 2–9 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Aaron Gavey October 7, 1995 Daymond Langkow Derek Wilkinson November 8, 1995 Drew Bannister November 12, 1995 Allan Egeland January 22, 1996 Jeff Toms February 13, 1996 1,000th game played Brian Bellows January 31, 1996

Draft picks Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)15Daymond LangkowTri-City Americans (WHL)230Mike McBainRed Deer Rebels (WHL)356Shane WillisPrince Albert Raiders (WHL)5108Konstantin GolokhvastovDynamo Moscow (Russia)6134Eduard PershinMoscow Dynamo (Russia)7160Cory MurphySault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)8186Joe CardarelliSpokane Chiefs (WHL)9212Zac BierkPeterborough Petes (OHL)

See also 1995–96 NHL season

References