1995–96 New York Rangers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1995–96
Year:	1995
Team:	New York Rangers
Conferencerank:	3rd
Divisionrank:	2nd
Record:	41–27–14
Homerecord:	22–10–9
Roadrecord:	19–17–5
Goalsfor:	272
Goalsagainst:	237
Attendance:	18,200
Goalsleader:	Mark Messier (47)
Assistsleader:	Brian Leetch (70)
Pointsleader:	Mark Messier (99)
Pimleader:	Jeff Beukeboom (220)
Plusminusleader:	Mark Messier (+29) Pat Verbeek (+29)
Winsleader:	Mike Richter (24)
Gaaleader:	Mike Richter (2.68)

The 1995–96 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 70th season.^[1] During the regular season, the Rangers posted a 41–27–14 record, which placed them second in the Atlantic Division and gave them a berth in the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs.^[2] In the first round of the playoffs, New York defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the team lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games.^[2]

Regular season

The Rangers were shorthanded a league-high 495 times during the regular season, and tied the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning for fewest short-handed goals scored (6).^[2]

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 1 || October 7, 1995 || @ Hartford Whalers || 2–0 || 0–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2 || October 11, 1995 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–4 || 1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 3 || October 14, 1995 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–0 || 2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 4 || October 16, 1995 || Hartford Whalers || 7–5 || 2–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 5 || October 17, 1995 || @ New York Islanders || 5–1 || 3–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 6 || October 20, 1995 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 3–1 || 4–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 7 || October 22, 1995 || Ottawa Senators || 4–2 || 4–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 8 || October 24, 1995 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–2 || 5–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 9 || October 26, 1995 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–4 OT || 5–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 10 || October 29, 1995 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || 6–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 11 || October 31, 1995 || @ San Jose Sharks || 5–3 || 7–3–1 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 12 || November 2, 1995 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || 7–4–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 13 || November 3, 1995 || @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 7–4 || 7–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 14 || November 6, 1995 || Calgary Flames || 4–2 || 8–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 15 || November 8, 1995 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–4 || 9–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 16 || November 10, 1995 || New York Islanders || 4–1 || 10–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 17 || November 11, 1995 || @ Hartford Whalers || 4–1 || 11–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 18 || November 14, 1995 || @ St. Louis Blues || 1–1 OT || 11–5–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 19 || November 16, 1995 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 3–1 || 11–6–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 20 || November 17, 1995 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 6–3 || 11–7–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 21 || November 21, 1995 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–4 || 12–7–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 22 || November 22, 1995 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || 13–7–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 23 || November 25, 1995 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 2–0 || 13–8–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 24 || November 27, 1995 || New Jersey Devils || 1–1 OT || 13–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 25 || November 29, 1995 || Buffalo Sabres || 5–3 || 14–8–3 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 26 || December 1, 1995 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–3 || 15–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 27 || December 2, 1995 || @ Ottawa Senators || 4–2 || 16–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 28 || December 4, 1995 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 5–1 || 17–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 29 || December 6, 1995 || Chicago Blackhawks || 5–5 OT || 17–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 30 || December 8, 1995 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–1 OT || 18–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 31 || December 9, 1995 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || 18–8–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 32 || December 11, 1995 || Dallas Stars || 3–2 || 19–8–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 33 || December 13, 1995 || Boston Bruins || 4–2 || 20–8–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 34 || December 15, 1995 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 5–4 || 20–9–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 35 || December 16, 1995 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–2 || 20–10–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 36 || December 18, 1995 || Washington Capitals || 3–0 || 21–10–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 37 || December 21, 1995 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || 22–10–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 38 || December 22, 1995 || Hartford Whalers || 3–3 OT || 22–10–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 39 || December 26, 1995 || Ottawa Senators || 6–4 || 23–10–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 40 || December 28, 1995 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || 24–10–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 41 || December 30, 1995 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 8–3 || 25–10–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 42 || December 31, 1995 || @ Calgary Flames || 3–1 || 25–11–6 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 43 || January 3, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 7–4 || 26–11–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 44 || January 5, 1996 || @ Washington Capitals || 4–4 OT || 26–11–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 45 || January 10, 1996 || San Jose Sharks || 7–4 || 27–11–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 46 || January 13, 1996 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–0 || 28–11–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 47 || January 14, 1996 || St. Louis Blues || 3–3 OT || 28–11–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 48 || January 22, 1996 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–1 || 29–11–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 49 || January 24, 1996 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4 OT || 29–11–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 50 || January 27, 1996 || @ Boston Bruins || 5–3 || 30–11–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 51 || January 31, 1996 || @ Dallas Stars || 1–1 OT || 30–11–10 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 52 || February 3, 1996 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 7–1 || 30–12–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 53 || February 6, 1996 || @ New York Islanders || 4–2 || 31–12–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 54 || February 8, 1996 || New York Islanders || 6–2 || 32–12–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 55 || February 10, 1996 || @ New Jersey Devils || 3–0 || 32–13–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 56 || February 11, 1996 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 6–2 || 33–13–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 57 || February 15, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || 33–13–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 58 || February 17, 1996 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–1 OT || 34–13–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 59 || February 18, 1996 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 OT || 34–14–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 60 || February 22, 1996 || New York Islanders || 5–3 || 34–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 61 || February 24, 1996 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–0 || 35–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 62 || February 27, 1996 || Washington Capitals || 5–3 || 35–16–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 63 || February 28, 1996 || Boston Bruins || 3–1 || 35–17–11 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 64 || March 1, 1996 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 OT || 35–17–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 65 || March 4, 1996 || New Jersey Devils || 2–2 OT || 35–17–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 66 || March 7, 1996 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || 35–18–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 67 || March 9, 1996 || @ Washington Capitals || 6–1 || 36–18–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 68 || March 13, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 3–3 OT || 36–18–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 69 || March 16, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–2 || 36–19–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 70 || March 19, 1996 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–1 || 36–20–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 71 || March 23, 1996 || @ Boston Bruins || 5–4 || 37–20–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 72 || March 24, 1996 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–2 || 37–21–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 73 || March 27, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 3–0 || 38–21–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 74 || March 31, 1996 || @ New York Islanders || 4–1 || 39–21–14 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 75 || April 2, 1996 || New Jersey Devils || 3–1 || 40–21–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 76 || April 4, 1996 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || 40–22–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 77 || April 5, 1996 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || 41–22–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 78 || April 7, 1996 || @ New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || 41–23–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 79 || April 8, 1996 || Florida Panthers || 5–3 || 41–24–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 80 || April 10, 1996 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || 41–25–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 81 || April 12, 1996 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–2 || 41–26–14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 82 || April 14, 1996 || @ Florida Panthers || 5–1 || 41–27–14 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 1 || April 16, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 OT || Canadiens lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 2 || April 18, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–3 || Canadiens lead 2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 3 || April 21, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || Canadiens lead 2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 4 || April 23, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Series tied 2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 5 || April 26, 1996 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 || Rangers lead 3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 6 || April 28, 1996 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 5–3 || Rangers win 4–2 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 1 || May 3, 1996 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Penguins lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2 || May 5, 1996 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Series tied 1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 3 || May 7, 1996 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Penguins lead 2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 4 || May 9, 1996 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Penguins lead 3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 5 || May 11, 1996 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–3 || Penguins win 4–1 || |-|-| 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 Rangers only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.

	Player
	Player		scope=colgroup colspan=6	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=6	Playoffs
11		C	74	47	52	99	29	122	11	4	7	11	−10	16
2		D	82	15	70	85	12	30	11	1	6	7	−11	4
16		RW	69	41	41	82	29	129	11	3	6	9	−8	12
20		LW	77	23	46	69	13	80	11	1	5	6	1	8
27		RW	81	24	34	58	5	98	11	3	4	7	0	14
9		LW	82	22	36	58	18	100	10	7	1	8	−9	4
21		C	65	25	29	54	13	82
33		D	66	3	34	37	2	42	11	0	7	7	1	4
13		C	78	17	15	32	9	38	6	0	1	1	2	2
24		C	82	9	12	21	2	14	11	4	3	7	1	4
5		D	74	1	18	19	9	122	11	1	5	6	−1	16
25		D	40	2	16	18	12	26	6	0	1	1	−2	4
6		D	59	5	9	14	11	50	7	1	0	1	−4	6
23		D	82	3	11	14	19	220	11	0	3	3	−1	6
15		LW	64	7	4	11	2	175	2	0	0	0	0	0
18		RW	61	4	6	10	7	71
32		LW	19	4	4	8	−2	30	11	3	1	4	0	14
19		LW	42	3	4	7	1	77
32		LW	32	4	2	6	−4	22
4		D	53	1	5	6	20	76	10	0	4	4	5	4
12		RW	10	2	3	5	−3	4	6	0	0	0	0	0
17		RW	14	1	4	5	−4	2	11	3	5	8	−2	2
37		LW	25	2	2	4	−1	30
18		LW	18	2	1	3	0	8	10	1	0	1	−1	0
14		D	25	2	1	3	5	22
26		RW	38	1	2	3	−4	49
22		C	28	1	2	3	−5	53
55		D	9	0	2	2	−6	21	4	0	0	0	−1	0
14		RW	2	1	0	1	−3	0
21		C	5	0	1	1	−5	0
30		G	44	0	1	1		8
29		D	4	0	1	1	2	0
35		G	41	0	1	1		4	11	0	0	0		0
22		RW	10	0	0	0	−3	26	11	2	2	4	−2	14
22		C	5	0	0	0	−1	2
39		C	1	0	0	0	0	0
34		G	1	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

	Player
	Player	scope=colgroup colspan=10	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=9	Playoffs
35		41	24	13	3	1221	107	2.68	.912	3	2396	11	5	6	308	36	3.27	.883	0	661
30		44	17	14	11	1237	124	2.90	.900	2	2564	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
34		1	0	0	0	9	0	0.00	1.000	0	27	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Sources:^[3] ^[4]

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL Second All-Star team	Brian Leetch (Defense)	^[5]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Brian Leetch	^[6]
Mark Messier
Pat Verbeek
Team	Ceil Saidel Memorial Award	Adam Graves	^[7]
	Ceil Saidel Memorial Award	Glenn Healy	^[7]
	"Crumb Bum" Award	Jeff Beukeboom
	Frank Boucher Trophy	Mark Messier
	Good Guy Award	Glenn Healy
	Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award	Niklas Sundstrom
	Players' Player Award	Mark Messier
	Rangers MVP	Mark Messier
	Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award	Mark Messier

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Niklas Sundstrom	October 7, 1995	^[8]
	Peter Ferraro	October 16, 1995
	Jamie Ram	February 3, 1996
	Ken Gernander	March 9, 1996
	Barry Richter	April 5, 1996
	Chris Ferraro	April 8, 1996
400th goal	Pat Verbeek	January 10, 1996	^[9]

Transactions

July 31, 1995 – Doug Lidster was traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jay Wells.^[10]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft in Edmonton, Alberta, at the Edmonton Coliseum.^[11] ^[12]

Round		Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	39	Christian Dube	RW	Canada	Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL)
3	65	Mike Martin	D	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	91	Marc Savard	C	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
5	110	Alexei Vasiliev	D		Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
5	117	Dale Purinton	D	United States	Tacoma Rockets (WHL)
6	143	Peter Slamiar	RW	Slovakia	Zvolen Jrs. (Slovak Extraliga)
7	169	Jeff Heil	G	United States	University of Wisconsin–River Falls (NCAA)
8	195	Ilya Gorokhov	D		Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
9	221	Bob Maudie	C	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Notes and References

Web site: New York Rangers . Hockey-Reference.com . August 11, 2023.
Web site: 1995–96 NHL Summary . Hockey-Reference.com . August 11, 2023.
Web site: New York Rangers 1995–96 roster and statistics . www.hockeydb.com . August 11, 2023.
Web site: 1995–96 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics . Hockey-Reference.com . August 11, 2023.
Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . NHL.com . August 27, 2023.
Web site: 1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters . Hockey-Reference.com . August 29, 2024.
Book: 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. 349–352.
Web site: 1995–96 NHL Debuts . Hockey-Reference.com . October 6, 2024.
Web site: Rangers 7, Sharks 4 . United Press International . August 27, 2023 . January 10, 1996 . New York's Pat Verbeek scored his 400th and 401st career goals, both on the power play..
News: Yannis. Alex. Hockey; Rangers Regain Lidster by Dealing Wells. The New York Times. August 1, 1995. October 16, 2009.
Web site: 1995 NHL Entry Draft. Hockey-Reference.com. July 7, 2012.
Web site: NHL Draft History . National Hockey League . June 16, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010128131400/http://nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html . January 28, 2001 .

1995–96 New York Rangers season explained

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

Notes and References