[Ry1997]

**1995-96 NHL season**

### **1995-96 NHL Regular Season Recap**

The 1995-96 NHL season was **dominated by the Philadelphia Flyers**, who finished with a league-best **127 points**.

### **Regular Season Standings**

Wales Conference
### ***Adams Division**
Boston Bruins 56-25-1 113 PTS (P)
Montreal Canadiens 44-31-7 95 PTS (P)
Toronto Maple Leafs 37-40-5 79 PTS (P)
Ottawa Senators 33-43-6 72 PTS
Hartford Whalers 32-43-7 71 PTS
Quebec Nordiques 28-45-9 65 PTS
Florida Panthers 22-52-8 52 PTS
Tampa Bay Lightning 15-59-8 38 PTS

### **Patrick Division**
Philadelphia Flyers 61-16-5 127 PTS (P)
Pittsburgh Penguins 50-26-6 106 PTS (P)
Buffalo Sabres 44-30-8 96 PTS (P)
NJ Devils 40-33-9 89 PTS (WC)
NY Islanders 38-35-9 85 PTS (WC)
Washington Capitals 33-40-9 75 PTS
NY Rangers 32-41-9 73 PTS
Cincinnati Stingers 25-49-8 58 PTS

Campbell Conference
### **Norris Division**
Detroit Red Wings 58-15-9 125 PTS (P)
St. Louis Blues 54-24-4 112 PTS (P)
Houston Aeros 39-36-7 85 PTS (P)
Birmingham Bulls 35-35-12 82 (WC)
Minnesota North Stars 31-43-8 70 PTS
Colorado Avalanche 31-44-7 69 PTS
Chicago Blackhawks 31-47-4 66 PTS

### **Smythe Division**
Winnipeg Jets 47-31-4 98 PTS (P)
San Jose Sharks 46-30-6 98 (P)
LA Kings 41-33-8 90 PTS (P)
Edmonton Oilers 4-35-7 87 PTS (WC)
Vancouver Canucks 35-32-5 75 PTS
Calgary Flames 29-41-12 70 PTS
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 16-59-7 39 PTS

### **Season Highlights & Storylines**

✅ **Philadelphia’s Dominance:**
- The Flyers finished **61-16-5 (127 points)**, the best record in the league. However, they suffered a shocking **first-round upset** against the Islanders.

✅ **Birmingham Bulls Make the Playoffs:**
- The Bulls, a former WHA team, secured **the final Wild Card spot in the Norris** and faced Detroit in the first round, ending a eight year drought.

✅ **Houston’s Breakthrough Season:**
- The Aeros made the playoffs as a **third seed in the Norris**, then upset the **112-point St. Louis Blues** and the **125-point Detroit Red Wings** before falling in the Conference Final.
### **1995-96 NHL Playoffs Recap**

## **Campbell Conference Playoffs**

### **Norris Division Bracket:**
1. **Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Birmingham Bulls (4, WC)**
- **Series Result:** **Detroit wins 4-1**
- Detroit’s firepower overwhelmed Birmingham, winning four straight after dropping Game 1.

2. **St. Louis Blues (2) vs. Houston Aeros (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Houston wins 4-1**
- Houston pulled off a stunning upset, knocking out the 112-point Blues in just five games.

#### **Norris Division Final:**
3. **Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Houston Aeros (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Houston wins 4-3**
- The Aeros shocked the powerhouse Red Wings in a seven-game thriller, sealing the series in Detroit.

### **Smythe Division Bracket:**
1. **Winnipeg Jets (1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (4, WC)**
- **Series Result:** **Winnipeg wins 4-2**
- A physical battle saw Winnipeg take control late, winning Games 5 and 6.

2. **San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Los Angeles wins 4-1**
- The Kings controlled the series and sent the Sharks home early.

#### **Smythe Division Final:**
3. **Winnipeg Jets (1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Winnipeg wins 4-0**
- A **dominant sweep** by the Jets, who looked unstoppable heading to the Campbell Conference Final.

### **Campbell Conference Final:**
- **Winnipeg Jets (1) vs. Houston Aeros (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Winnipeg wins 4-3**
- The Jets **survived a Game 7 battle** against Houston, punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

## **Wales Conference Playoffs**

### **Adams Division Bracket:**
1. **Boston Bruins (1) vs. New Jersey Devils (4, WC)**
- **Series Result:** **Boston wins 4-2**
- The Bruins controlled the series, led by strong goaltending.

2. **Montreal Canadiens (2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Montreal wins 4-2**
- A classic rivalry saw the Canadiens eliminate Toronto in six games.

#### **Adams Division Final:**
3. **Boston Bruins (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (2)**
- **Series Result:** **Boston wins 4-2**
- Boston proved too strong for their division rivals, advancing to the Wales Final.

### **Patrick Division Bracket:**
1. **Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs. New York Islanders (4, WC)**
- **Series Result:** **New York wins 4-2**
- **Biggest upset of the playoffs!** The Islanders took down the **127-point Flyers** in a shocking first-round win.

2. **Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (3)**
- **Series Result:** **Buffalo wins 4-2**
- The Sabres, led by strong defensive play, eliminated Pittsburgh.

#### **Patrick Division Final:**
3. **New York Islanders (4) vs. Buffalo Sabres (3)**
- **Series Result:** **New York wins 4-3**
- Another **Game 7 thriller** saw the Islanders **continue their Cinderella run**.

### **Wales Conference Final:**
- **Boston Bruins (1) vs. New York Islanders (4)**
- **Series Result:** **New York wins 4-3**
- The Islanders **stunned another top seed**, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final after another Game 7 win.

## **Stanley Cup Final**
- **Winnipeg Jets (1) vs. New York Islanders (4, WC)**
- **Series Result:** **Winnipeg wins 4-0**
- The Jets **completed a dominant postseason**, sweeping the Islanders for their first-ever Stanley Cup.

### **Key Playoff Storylines:**
- **Winnipeg’s dominance:** The Jets won **their last eight games**, including sweeps of the Kings and Islanders.
- **Islanders’ Cinderella run:** As a **wild card team**, they upset the **top-seeded Flyers, Sabres, and Bruins** before running out of gas in the Final.
- **Houston’s deep run:** The Aeros shocked Detroit and took Winnipeg to seven games in the Conference Final.