1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1995–96
Year:	1995
Team:	Tampa Bay Lightning
Record:	38–32–12
Homerecord:	22–14–5
Roadrecord:	16–18–7
Conferencerank:	8th
Divisionrank:	5th
Goalsfor:	238
Goalsagainst:	248
Attendance:	18,880
Goalsleader:	Alexander Selivanov (31)
Assistsleader:	Brian Bradley (56)
Pointsleader:	Brian Bradley (79)
Pimleader:	Enrico Ciccone (258)
Plusminusleader:	Rob Zamuner (+11)
Winsleader:	Daren Puppa (29)
Gaaleader:	Daren Puppa (2.46)

The 1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning fourth season of operation in the National Hockey League. 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).^[1]

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

|- align="center" |1||T||October 7, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 12, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||1–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|3||L||October 14, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||1–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|4||L||October 15, 1995||4–7 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||1–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|5||L||October 17, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||1–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 19, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||2–3–1 || |- align="center" |7||T||October 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||2–3–2 || |- align="center" |8||T||October 26, 1995||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||2–3–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|9||L||October 28, 1995||2–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||2–4–3 || |- align="center" |10||T||October 31, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||2–4–4 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|11||L||November 1, 1995||0–10 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||2–5–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||November 3, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||3–5–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|13||L||November 5, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||3–6–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|14||L||November 8, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||3–7–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|15||L||November 10, 1995||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||3–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|16||L||November 12, 1995||4–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||3–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||November 14, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||4–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|18||L||November 16, 1995||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||4–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |19||W||November 18, 1995||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||5–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |20||W||November 22, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||6–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 24, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||7–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |22||W||November 25, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||8–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |23||W||November 27, 1995||2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||9–10–4 || |- align="center" |24||T||November 29, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||9–10–5 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|25||L||December 1, 1995||1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||9–11–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|26||L||December 3, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||9–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |27||W||December 6, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||10–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |28||W||December 8, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||11–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |29||W||December 11, 1995||6–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||12–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |30||W||December 13, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||13–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|31||L||December 14, 1995||0–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||13–13–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|32||L||December 16, 1995||2–7 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||13–14–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |33||W||December 19, 1995||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||14–14–5 || |- align="center" |34||T||December 21, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||14–14–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|35||L||December 23, 1995||5–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||14–15–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |36||W||December 28, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||15–15–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |37||W||December 31, 1995||3–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||16–15–6 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|38||L||January 2, 1996||0–10 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||16–16–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |39||W||January 3, 1996||5–0 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||17–16–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|40||L||January 6, 1996||2–9 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||17–17–6 || |- align="center" |41||T||January 8, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||17–17–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |42||W||January 13, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||18–17–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|43||L||January 15, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||18–18–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |44||W||January 17, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||19–18–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |45||W||January 22, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||20–18–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|46||L||January 25, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||20–19–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|47||L||January 27, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||20–20–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |48||W||January 31, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||21–20–7 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|49||L||February 3, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||21–21–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |50||W||February 4, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||22–21–7 || |- align="center" |51||T||February 7, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||22–21–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|52||L||February 10, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||22–22–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|53||L||February 11, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||22–23–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|54||L||February 13, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||22–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |55||W||February 15, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||23–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |56||W||February 17, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||24–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |57||W||February 19, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||25–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |58||W||February 21, 1996||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||26–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |59||W||February 23, 1996||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||27–24–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|60||L||February 24, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||27–25–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |61||W||February 28, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||28–25–8 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |62||W||March 1, 1996||7–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||29–25–8 || |- align="center" |63||T||March 3, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||29–25–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |64||W||March 5, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||30–25–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |65||W||March 7, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||31–25–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |66||W||March 10, 1996||1–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||32–25–9 || |- align="center" |67||T||March 13, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||32–25–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|68||L||March 15, 1996||0–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||32–26–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|69||L||March 17, 1996||0–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||32–27–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|70||L||March 18, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||32–28–10 || |- align="center" |71||T||March 21, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||32–28–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |72||W||March 23, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||33–28–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|73||L||March 26, 1996||4–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||33–29–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |74||W||March 30, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||34–29–11 || |- align="center" |75||T||March 31, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||34–29–12 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |76||W||April 3, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||35–29–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|77||L||April 5, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||35–30–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|78||L||April 6, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||35–31–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |79||W||April 8, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||36–31–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |80||W||April 10, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||37–31–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |81||W||April 12, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||38–31–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|82||L||April 14, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||38–32–12 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 1 ||L|| April 16, 1996 || 3–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2 ||W|| April 18, 1996 || 2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Series tied 1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 3 ||W|| April 21, 1996 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Lightning lead 2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 4 ||L|| April 23, 1996 || 1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Series tied 2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 5 ||L|| April 25, 1996 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 6 ||L|| 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		scope=colgroup colspan=6	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=6	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	scope=colgroup colspan=10	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=9	Playoffs
93		57	29	16	9	1605	131	2.46	.918	5	3189	4	1	3	86	14	4.85	.837	0	173
1		19	7	7	1	464	54	3.26	.884	0	994	5	1	1	100	12	3.64	.880	0	198
30		12	2	6	2	250	42	4.23	.832	0	595	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
35		4	0	3	0	105	15	4.50	.857	0	200	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Records

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

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Aaron Gavey	October 7, 1995	^[3]
	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	^[4]

Draft picks

Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.^[5]

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	5	Daymond Langkow		Tri-City Americans (WHL)
2	30	Mike McBain		Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
3	56	Shane Willis		Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
5	108	Konstantin Golokhvastov		Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
6	134	Eduard Pershin		Moscow Dynamo (Russia)
7	160	Cory Murphy		Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
8	186	Joe Cardarelli		Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
9	212	Zac Bierk		Peterborough Petes (OHL)

See also

• 1995–96 NHL season

References

• Web site: Tampa Bay Lightning 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 12, 2023.
• Web site: 1995-96 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . August 12, 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1995-96 NHL Summary.
2. Web site: 1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters . Hockey-Reference.com . August 29, 2024.
3. Web site: 1995-96 NHL Debuts . Hockey-Reference.com . October 6, 2024.
4. Web site: Buckley . Tim . TONIGHT: LIGHTNING VS. PENGUINS . Tampa Bay Times . August 27, 2023 . January 31, 1996 . Milestone: Lightning wing Brian Bellows plays in his 1,000th NHL game tonight. The former Minnesota and Montreal forward will be honored in a pregame ceremony..
5. Web site: 1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 28, 2023.