The 1995–96 St. Louis Blues season was the 29th in franchise history. The Blues hired head coach Mike Keenan as general manager. One of Keenan's first moves was trading Brendan Shanahan to the Hartford Whalers for Chris Pronger. Late in the season, Keenan acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings, reuniting him with former Oilers such as Glenn Anderson , Charlie Huddy , Craig MacTavish , and Grant Fuhr . Fuhr was hurt in the final game of the regular season and only played 2 games in the playoffs.
The Blues defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Western Conference Quarter-finals in the last playoff series ever played at Maple Leaf Gardens . In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Blues lost to the President's Trophy winners, the Detroit Red Wings , in seven games. The Blues had seven eventual Hockey Hall of Fame members during the season (Gretzky, Hull, MacInnis, Anderson, Fuhr, Hawerchuk and Pronger).
Regular season
Wayne Gretzky trade
On February 27, the St. Louis Blues acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Los Angeles Kings for Craig Johnson , Patrice Tardif , Roman Vopat and draft picks.[ 1] In 18 regular season games with the Blues, Gretzky recorded 21 points as the Blues qualified for the playoffs for the 17th straight season with a record of 32–34–16. He scored 14 points in 13 playoff games for the team, and the Blues lost Game 7 of the conference semifinals in overtime. He also served as the team's captain (replacing Corson) during his short tenure with the Blues.
On July 12, he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier .
Final 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
Schedule and results
No.
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
L
October 7, 1995
1–4
@ Washington Capitals (1995–96 )
0–1–0
2
W
October 10, 1995
5–3
Edmonton Oilers (1995–96 )
1–1–0
3
W
October 12, 1995
3–1
@ Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
2–1–0
4
W
October 14, 1995
4–1
Colorado Avalanche (1995–96 )
3–1–0
5
L
October 17, 1995
4–7
Boston Bruins (1995–96 )
3–2–0
6
T
October 19, 1995
1–1 OT
Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
3–2–1
7
L
October 21, 1995
1–4
Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96 )
3–3–1
8
L
October 22, 1995
2–5
@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96 )
3–4–1
9
W
October 25, 1995
4–2
@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96 )
4–4–1
10
W
October 27, 1995
4–2
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96 )
5–4–1
11
L
October 29, 1995
1–3
Washington Capitals (1995–96 )
5–5–1
12
L
November 1, 1995
0–3
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96 )
5–6–1
13
L
November 4, 1995
3–7
@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96 )
5–7–1
14
L
November 7, 1995
0–1
Los Angeles Kings (1995–96 )
5–8–1
15
W
November 10, 1995
3–2
Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
6–8–1
16
W
November 11, 1995
4–1
@ New York Islanders (1995–96 )
7–8–1
17
T
November 14, 1995
1–1 OT
New York Rangers (1995–96 )
7–8–2
18
W
November 16, 1995
3–1
San Jose Sharks (1995–96 )
8–8–2
19
L
November 18, 1995
2–5
@ Boston Bruins (1995–96 )
8–9–2
20
L
November 21, 1995
2–5
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
8–10–2
21
L
November 23, 1995
2–3
Vancouver Canucks (1995–96 )
8–11–2
22
T
November 25, 1995
2–2 OT
Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
8–11–3
23
L
November 27, 1995
0–2
Buffalo Sabres (1995–96 )
8–12–3
24
W
November 29, 1995
5–4
Montreal Canadiens (1995–96 )
9–12–3
25
W
November 30, 1995
4–1
@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
10–12–3
26
W
December 2, 1995
7–3
@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96 )
11–12–3
27
T
December 5, 1995
1–1 OT
@ Calgary Flames (1995–96 )
11–12–4
28
W
December 8, 1995
6–3
@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96 )
12–12–4
29
W
December 9, 1995
2–1
@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96 )
13–12–4
30
L
December 12, 1995
2–5
Detroit Red Wings (1995–96 )
13–13–4
31
T
December 14, 1995
3–3 OT
Calgary Flames (1995–96 )
13–13–5
32
W
December 16, 1995
3–2
San Jose Sharks (1995–96 )
14–13–5
33
W
December 19, 1995
4–1
New York Islanders (1995–96 )
15–13–5
34
L
December 22, 1995
1–2
@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96 )
15–14–5
35
L
December 23, 1995
1–2
@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
15–15–5
36
L
December 26, 1995
2–3
@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96 )
15–16–5
37
W
December 28, 1995
4–1
Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
16–16–5
38
L
December 30, 1995
3–4 OT
Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
16–17–5
39
W
January 4, 1996
3–1
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96 )
17–17–5
40
W
January 6, 1996
3–2
Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96 )
18–17–5
41
L
January 9, 1996
2–4
@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96 )
18–18–5
42
T
January 11, 1996
4–4 OT
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96 )
18–18–6
43
T
January 13, 1996
3–3 OT
@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96 )
18–18–7
44
T
January 14, 1996
3–3 OT
@ New York Rangers (1995–96 )
18–18–8
45
L
January 16, 1996
1–5
Edmonton Oilers (1995–96 )
18–19–8
46
W
January 24, 1996
6–5
@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
19–19–8
47
W
January 27, 1996
2–1
Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96 )
20–19–8
48
L
January 29, 1996
2–4
@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96 )
20–20–8
49
W
January 31, 1996
4–0
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
21–20–8
50
T
February 1, 1996
2–2 OT
Vancouver Canucks (1995–96 )
21–20–9
51
L
February 3, 1996
3–7
Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96 )
21–21–9
52
L
February 6, 1996
2–5
Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
21–22–9
53
L
February 8, 1996
1–6
Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96 )
21–23–9
54
W
February 10, 1996
6–3
@ Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
22–23–9
55
T
February 11, 1996
2–2 OT
@ Florida Panthers (1995–96 )
22–23–10
56
W
February 13, 1996
3–2
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96 )
23–23–10
57
W
February 16, 1996
4–3
Detroit Red Wings (1995–96 )
24–23–10
58
W
February 18, 1996
3–0
Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
25–23–10
59
L
February 20, 1996
1–7
Ottawa Senators (1995–96 )
25–24–10
60
W
February 22, 1996
4–3 OT
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96 )
26–24–10
61
T
February 24, 1996
2–2 OT
Los Angeles Kings (1995–96 )
26–24–11
62
T
February 29, 1996
2–2 OT
@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96 )
26–24–12
63
W
March 3, 1996
4–3
@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96 )
27–24–12
64
W
March 5, 1996
2–0
Florida Panthers (1995–96 )
28–24–12
65
L
March 7, 1996
2–4
Calgary Flames (1995–96 )
28–25–12
66
W
March 9, 1996
6–3
Hartford Whalers (1995–96 )
29–25–12
67
L
March 12, 1996
2–4
@ Calgary Flames (1995–96 )
29–26–12
68
W
March 15, 1996
4–2
@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96 )
30–26–12
69
L
March 17, 1996
1–5
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96 )
30–27–12
70
W
March 18, 1996
3–1
@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96 )
31–27–12
71
L
March 20, 1996
1–2
@ Dallas Stars (1995–96 )
31–28–12
72
L
March 22, 1996
1–6
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96 )
31–29–12
73
T
March 24, 1996
2–2 OT
Detroit Red Wings (1995–96 )
31–29–13
74
L
March 26, 1996
4–8
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96 )
31–30–13
75
T
March 28, 1996
4–4 OT
New Jersey Devils (1995–96 )
31–30–14
76
L
March 31, 1996
1–8
@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96 )
31–31–14
77
W
April 3, 1996
6–3
@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96 )
32–31–14
78
L
April 4, 1996
1–3
Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
32–32–14
79
L
April 6, 1996
1–5
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96 )
32–33–14
80
T
April 8, 1996
2–2 OT
Winnipeg Jets (1995–96 )
32–33–15
81
L
April 11, 1996
2–3
Colorado Avalanche (1995–96 )
32–34–15
82
T
April 14, 1996
2–2 OT
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96 )
32–34–16
Playoffs
In the playoffs, Gretzky would provide a spark as the Blues overcame an injury to goalie Grant Fuhr in Game 1 to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games. Backup goalie Jon Casey continued to keep the Blues hopes alive as they jumped out to a 3–2 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings . However, the Wings would rally and win the series in double overtime in Game 7 on Steve Yzerman 's goal.
April 21
Toronto Maple Leafs
2–3
OT
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
April 23
Toronto Maple Leafs
1–5
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
April 27
Toronto Maple Leafs
1–2
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
May 8
Detroit Red Wings
4–5
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
May 10
Detroit Red Wings
0–1
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
May 14
Detroit Red Wings
4–2
St. Louis Blues
Kiel Center
Player statistics
Regular season
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
T
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Grant Fuhr
4365
79
30
28
16
209
2.87
3
2157
1948
.903
Jon Casey
395
9
2
3
0
25
3.80
0
180
155
.861
Pat Jablonski
8
1
0
0
0
1
7.50
0
5
4
.800
Bruce Racine
230
11
0
3
0
12
3.13
0
101
89
.881
Team:
4998
82
32
34
16
247
2.97
3
2443
2196
.899
Playoffs
Scoring
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Jon Casey
747
12
6
6
36
2.89
1
378
342
.905
Grant Fuhr
69
2
1
0
1
0.87
0
45
44
.978
Bruce Racine
1
1
0
0
0
0.00
0
0
0
Team:
817
13
7
6
37
2.72
1
423
386
.913
[ 3]
Transactions
July 28, 1995 – Doug Lidster was traded by the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jay Wells .
Draft picks
The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton , Canada . The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last.
See also
References
Northeast Atlantic Central Pacific See also
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