1995–96 Calgary Flames season
NHL team season
The 1995–96 Calgary Flames season was the 16th National Hockey League season in Calgary . The Flames entered the season with their fifth coach in five seasons, hiring Pierre Page to replace Dave King .[ 1] Page, who had previously been an assistant coach with the Flames in the 1980s, left his head coaching position with the Quebec Nordiques to move west.
The Flames began the season with a disastrous start, posting a 4–15–5 record through the end of November. The team's poor start was exacerbated by the holdout of Joe Nieuwendyk , who was unable to reach a contract agreement with the Flames.[ 2] Also, the Flames began the season on a long, seven game road trip while renovations to the Olympic Saddledome were completed.[ 3] The Flames reached a low point on October 27, 1995, when they set a franchise record for futility, recording just eight shots in a 3–0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on home ice.[ 4]
The Nieuwendyk saga finally came to a close when the Flames dealt him to the Dallas Stars for Corey Millen , and Western Hockey League star Jarome Iginla on December 19. Nieuwendyk immediately ended his holdout, signing a five-year, $11 million contract with Dallas.[ 2]
The Flames began to turn the season around, led by Gary Roberts ' comeback from neck injuries that had kept him out most of the 1994–95 season . Roberts' comeback lasted only 35 games before he was again sidelined with bone spurs and nerve damage in his neck. Roberts would score an incredible 22 goals and 42 points during that time, earning him the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey.[ 5]
The Flames recovered from their woeful start to finish second in the Pacific Division, and as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Flames were swept, however, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs, as the team once again failed to win a playoff series since they won the Stanley Cup in 1989 . One notable player made his debut during the playoffs: Jarome Iginla, who would become a star for the Flames for years to come. The Flames would not qualify for the playoffs again until 2004 , missing the post season for the next seven years.[ 6]
Theoren Fleury represented the Flames at the 46th National Hockey League All-Star Game . It was the first since 1986 that the Flames had only one representative.[ 7]
Regular season
Season standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Playoffs
Despite finishing 2nd in the Pacific Division, the Flames were only the 6th seed in the playoffs. They met the 2nd-place finisher in the Central Division , the Chicago Blackhawks . It was the third time Calgary and Chicago had met in the playoffs, as the Flames had previously defeated the Blackhawks in 1981 , and 1989 . This time around, Chicago had the better of the Flames, sweeping Calgary out in four straight, and continuing the Flames playoff futility.
Looking for a spark, the Flames signed junior star Jarome Iginla to a contract before the third game, allowing him to make his NHL debut at home. Iginla scored a goal and an assist in his first two games.
This series was the Flames last playoff appearance for eight years, as Calgary did not return to the post season until 2004 .
Schedule and results
Regular season
1995–96 regular season[ 9]
October: 1–7–3 (home: 0–2–0; road: 1–5–3)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
1
October 7
Calgary
3 – 3
Tampa Bay
OT
Kidd
22,735
0–0–1
1
Recap
2
October 8
Calgary
3 – 4
Florida
Tabaracci
N/A
0–1–1
1
Recap
3
October 10
Calgary
3 – 7
Dallas
Kidd
15,702
0–2–1
1
Recap
4
October 15
Calgary
1 – 1
Chicago
OT
Kidd
17,309
0–2–2
2
Recap
5
October 17
Calgary
3 – 3
Detroit
OT
Kidd
19,638
0–2–3
3
Recap
6
October 19
Calgary
2 – 4
Ottawa
Kidd
8,424
0–3–3
3
Recap
7
October 20
Calgary
3 – 4
Toronto
OT
Tabaracci
15,746
0–4–3
3
Recap
8
October 25
Colorado
3 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
19,152
0–5–3
3
Recap
9
October 27
Detroit
3 – 0
Calgary
Kidd
N/A
0–6–3
3
Recap
10
October 29
Calgary
2 – 7
Anaheim
Kidd
17,060
0–7–3
3
Recap
11
October 31
Calgary
2 – 1
Los Angeles
Tabaracci
11,241
1–7–3
5
Recap
November: 3–8–2 (home: 1–4–2; road: 2–4–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
12
November 1
Calgary
1 – 6
Colorado
Tabaracci
15,390
1–8–3
5
Recap
13
November 4
Vancouver
4 – 4
Calgary
OT
Kidd
18,717
1–8–4
6
Recap
14
November 6
Calgary
2 – 4
NY Rangers
Tabaracci
18,200
1–9–4
6
Recap
15
November 8
Calgary
2 – 1
New Jersey
Kidd
15,611
2–9–4
8
Recap
16
November 9
Calgary
1 – 3
Philadelphia
Kidd
17,255
2–10–4
8
Recap
17
November 11
Montreal
4 – 0
Calgary
Kidd
19,646
2–11–4
8
Recap
18
November 14
Edmonton
2 – 4
Calgary
Kidd
17,570
3–11–4
10
Recap
19
November 17
Colorado
5 – 3
Calgary
Kidd
17,928
3–12–4
10
Recap
20
November 18
Calgary
2 – 5
Colorado
Tabaracci
16,061
3–13–4
10
Recap
21
November 21
Anaheim
3 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
17,584
3–14–4
10
Recap
22
November 24
Edmonton
5 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
18,436
3–15–4
10
Recap
23
November 26
Chicago
2 – 2
Calgary
Tabaracci
17,364
3–15–5
11
Recap
24
November 29
Calgary
5 – 3
San Jose
Tabaracci
17,190
4–15–5
13
Recap
December: 7–6–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 4–3–1)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
25
December 1
Calgary
8 – 2
Edmonton
Tabaracci
14,189
5–15–5
15
Recap
26
December 3
Calgary
2 – 5
Winnipeg
Tabaracci
8,721
5–16–5
15
Recap
27
December 5
St. Louis
1 – 1
Calgary
OT
Kidd
16,284
5–16–6
16
Recap
28
December 9
Vancouver
4 – 3
Calgary
Kidd
17,147
5–17–6
16
Recap
29
December 11
Los Angeles
2 – 6
Calgary
Tabaracci
17,349
6–17–6
18
Recap
30
December 13
Calgary
8 – 4
Dallas
Tabaracci
15,184
7–17–6
20
Recap
31
December 14
Calgary
3 – 3
St. Louis
OT
Tabaracci
17,197
7–17–7
21
Recap
32
December 16
Calgary
3 – 6
Boston
Kidd
17,392
7–18–7
21
Recap
33
December 19
Calgary
1 – 7
Pittsburgh
Kidd
7,170
7–19–7
21
Recap
34
December 20
Calgary
3 – 2
Hartford
Tabaracci
6,563
8–19–7
23
Recap
35
December 22
Detroit
5 – 1
Calgary
Tabaracci
17,302
8–20–7
23
Recap
36
December 26
Calgary
4 – 2
Vancouver
Kidd
18,422
9–20–7
25
Recap
37
December 27
Toronto
0 – 4
Calgary
Kidd
19,810
10–20–7
27
Recap
38
December 29
Philadelphia
3 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
19,989
10–21–7
27
Recap
39
December 31
NY Rangers
1 – 3
Calgary
Kidd
19,284
11–21–7
29
Recap
January: 7–2–2 (home: 6–2–0; road: 1–0–2)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
40
January 2
Tampa Bay
0 – 10
Calgary
Kidd
16,893
12–21–7
31
Recap
41
January 5
Anaheim
3 – 1
Calgary
Kidd
16,821
12–22–7
31
Recap
42
January 6
Florida
0 – 2
Calgary
Tabaracci
16,792
13–22–7
33
Recap
43
January 10
Hartford
2 – 3
Calgary
OT
Tabaracci
16,469
14–22–7
35
Recap
44
January 12
Buffalo
1 – 3
Calgary
Tabaracci
17,432
15–22–7
37
Recap
45
January 14
Calgary
4 – 4
Colorado
OT
Kidd
16,061
15–22–8
38
Recap
46
January 16
Calgary
5 – 5
Los Angeles
OT
Tabaracci
12,235
15–22–9
39
Recap
47
January 17
Calgary
4 – 1
Anaheim
Kidd
17,174
16–22–9
41
Recap
48
January 24
NY Islanders
1 – 4
Calgary
Kidd
17,348
17–22–9
43
Recap
49
January 26
Dallas
4 – 2
Calgary
Tabaracci
18,292
17–23–9
43
Recap
50
January 30
Edmonton
2 – 3
Calgary
OT
Kidd
17,724
18–23–9
45
Recap
February: 6–5–2 (home: 5–2–2; road: 1–3–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
51
February 1
New Jersey
1 – 1
Calgary
OT
Kidd
16,862
18–23–10
46
Recap
52
February 3
Los Angeles
1 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
18,923
19–23–10
48
Recap
53
February 6
Ottawa
1 – 3
Calgary
Kidd
16,442
20–23–10
50
Recap
54
February 8
Washington
4 – 4
Calgary
OT
Kidd
16,516
20–23–11
51
Recap
55
February 10
Winnipeg
3 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
N/A
20–24–11
51
Recap
56
February 11
Calgary
2 – 4
Edmonton
Tabaracci
N/A
20–25–11
51
Recap
57
February 13
Calgary
2 – 3
Washington
Kidd
9,272
20–26–11
51
Recap
58
February 15
Calgary
6 – 3
NY Islanders
Tabaracci
7,792
21–26–11
53
Recap
59
February 17
Calgary
1 – 5
Montreal
Kidd
17,959
21–27–11
53
Recap
60
February 20
San Jose
3 – 5
Calgary
Tabaracci
16,465
22–27–11
55
Recap
61
February 23
Anaheim
2 – 3
Calgary
Tabaracci
17,516
23–27–11
57
Recap
62
February 24
Boston
2 – 1
Calgary
Tabaracci
19,989
23–28–11
57
Recap
63
February 29
Pittsburgh
3 – 7
Calgary
Tabaracci
19,989
24–28–11
59
Recap
March: 7–6–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 5–2–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
64
March 3
Calgary
5 – 1
San Jose
Tabaracci
N/A
25–28–11
61
Recap
65
March 7
Calgary
4 – 2
St. Louis
Tabaracci
20,590
26–28–11
63
Recap
66
March 9
Calgary
3 – 4
Toronto
Tabaracci
15,706
26–29–11
63
Recap
67
March 12
St. Louis
2 – 4
Calgary
Kidd
19,989
27–29–11
65
Recap
68
March 15
Calgary
3 – 1
Buffalo
Tabaracci
15,587
28–29–11
67
Recap
69
March 17
Calgary
2 – 4
Detroit
Tabaracci
19,983
28–30–11
67
Recap
70
March 20
Calgary
3 – 2
Chicago
Kidd
20,367
29–30–11
69
Recap
71
March 22
San Jose
2 – 1
Calgary
OT
Tabaracci
18,267
29–31–11
69
Recap
72
March 23
Calgary
4 – 0
Vancouver
Kidd
18,422
30–31–11
71
Recap
73
March 25
Toronto
4 – 2
Calgary
Kidd
19,989
30–32–11
71
Recap
74
March 27
Chicago
0 – 1
Calgary
Tabaracci
16,668
31–32–11
73
Recap
75
March 29
Los Angeles
4 – 3
Calgary
Tabaracci
18,280
31–33–11
73
Recap
76
March 31
Winnipeg
4 – 1
Calgary
Kidd
18,155
31–34–11
73
Recap
April: 3–3–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 2–2–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
77
April 3
Vancouver
3 – 4
Calgary
Tabaracci
18,300
32–34–11
75
Recap
78
April 6
Calgary
3 – 4
Winnipeg
Tabaracci
15,557
32–35–11
75
Recap
79
April 8
Calgary
3 – 2
Edmonton
Kidd
15,869
33–35–11
77
Recap
80
April 9
Dallas
4 – 3
Calgary
OT
Kidd
17,756
33–36–11
77
Recap
81
April 12
Calgary
6 – 0
San Jose
Tabaracci
17,190
34–36–11
79
Recap
82
April 13
Calgary
0 – 5
Vancouver
Tabaracci
18,422
34–37–11
79
Recap
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1996 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 9]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Chicago Blackhawks (3) – Chicago wins 4–0
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Series
Recap
1
April 17
Calgary
1 – 4
Chicago
Kidd
17,455
Chicago leads 1–0
Recap
2
April 19
Calgary
0 – 3
Chicago
Tabaracci
19,972
Chicago leads 2–0
Recap
3
April 21
Chicago
7 – 5
Calgary
Tabaracci
15,229
Chicago leads 3–0
Recap
4
April 23
Chicago
2 – 1
Calgary
3OT
Tabaracci
16,629
Chicago wins 4–0
Recap
Legend :
Win
Loss
Player statistics
Scoring
Position abbreviations: C = Centre ; D = Defence ; 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 Flames only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1995–96 season.
Trades
Free agents
Draft picks
Calgary's picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft , held in Edmonton, Alberta .[ 16]
Farm teams
The Baby Flames finished the 1995–96 American Hockey League season in second place in the Canadian Division with a 35–30–11–4 record. The tied the Prince Edward Island Senators in points, but lost out on the division title by virtue of having three fewer wins. The Flames defeated the St. John's Maple Leafs three games to one, then knocked off the Fredericton Canadiens four games to one before falling to the Portland Pirates in seven games.[ 17] Ladislav Kohn led the Flames with 28 goals and 73 points. Dwayne Roloson was the starting goaltender, posting a 33–22–11 record with a 2.83 GAA in 67 games.[ 18]
See also
Notes
^ Torgayev wore number 35 in his first three games.
^ Murray wore number 45 in his first seven games.
^ Bouchard wore number 34 in his first game.
^ Simpson wore number 40 in his first four games.
References
^ Flames turn to Page , New York Times, July 18, 1995, accessed January 29, 2007
^ a b Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames , cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed January 29, 2007
^ Calgary Flames history Archived 2007-01-27 at the Wayback Machine , calgaryflames.com, accessed January 29, 2007
^ Boxscore: Detroit 3, Calgary 0 , usatoday.com, accessed January 29, 2007
^ Legends of Hockey player profile: Gary Roberts , legendsofhockey.net, accessed January 29, 2007
^ Longtime Flames relish playoff opportunity , cbc sports, April 5, 2004, accessed January 29, 2007
^ All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide , pg. 22
^ "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings" . NHL.
^ a b "1995-96 Calgary Flames Schedule" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 23, 2023 .
^ "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved August 28, 2023 .
^ "1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean (eds.), 2010–11 Calgary Flames Media Guide , Calgary Flames Hockey Club, p. 143
^ "JAROME IGINLA SELECTED AS RECIPIENT OF RALPH SCURFIELD HUMANITARIAN AWARD" . Calgary Flames . April 9, 2002. Archived from the original on October 21, 2002. Retrieved June 9, 2023 .
^ "1995-96 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 6, 2024 .
^ "Jarome Iginla career timeline: Draft to retirement" . NHL.com . July 29, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2024 .
^ Calgary Flames draft history , hockeydb.com, accessed January 12, 2007
^ 1995–96 AHL playoffs @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 29, 2007
^ Saint John Flames player stats @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 29, 2007
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