1995–96 Vancouver Canucks season

1995–96 Vancouver Canucks
Division	3rd Pacific
Conference	7th Western
1995–96 record	32–35–15
Home record	15–19–7
Road record	17–16–8
Goals for	278
Goals against	278
Team information
General manager	Pat Quinn
Coach	Rick Ley Pat Quinn (interim)
Captain	Trevor Linden
Alternate captains	Dave Babych Pavel Bure Martin Gelinas Dana Murzyn
Arena	General Motors Place
Average attendance	17,795
Minor league affiliate(s)	Syracuse Crunch
Team leaders
Goals	Alexander Mogilny (55)
Assists	Alexander Mogilny (52)
Points	Alexander Mogilny (107)
Penalty minutes	Gino Odjick (181)
Plus/minus	Russ Courtnall (+25)
Wins	Corey Hirsch (17)
Goals against average	Corey Hirsch (2.93)

The 1995–96 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 26th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It marked the year they played their first season in General Motors Place, the year future star Markus Naslund joined the team, and Cliff Ronning's final season with the Canucks.

Regular season

Standings

Pacific Division

No.		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Colorado Avalanche	82	47	25	10	326	240	104
2	Calgary Flames	82	34	37	11	241	240	79
3	Vancouver Canucks	82	32	35	15	278	278	79
4	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	82	35	39	8	234	247	78
5	Edmonton Oilers	82	30	44	8	240	304	68
6	Los Angeles Kings	82	24	40	18	256	302	66
7	San Jose Sharks	82	20	55	7	252	357	47

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	62	13	7	325	181	131
2	Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	47	25	10	326	240	104
3	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	40	28	14	273	220	94
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	34	36	12	247	252	80
5	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	32	34	16	219	248	80
6	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	34	37	11	241	240	79
7	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	32	35	15	278	278	79
8	Winnipeg Jets	CEN	82	36	40	6	275	291	78
9	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	35	39	8	234	247	78
10	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	30	44	8	240	304	68
11	Dallas Stars	CEN	82	26	42	14	227	280	66
12	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	24	40	18	256	302	66
13	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	20	55	7	252	357	47

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results

Regular season schedule
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 9, 1995	3–5	Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	0–1–0
2	T	October 12, 1995	7–7 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	0–1–1
3	W	October 14, 1995	7–6	@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	1–1–1
4	T	October 15, 1995	3–3 OT	Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	1–1–2
5	W	October 18, 1995	5–1	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	2–1–2
6	L	October 21, 1995	4–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	2–2–2
7	L	October 24, 1995	2–5	@ New York Rangers (1995–96)	2–3–2
8	W	October 25, 1995	4–2	@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)	3–3–2
9	L	October 28, 1995	1–4	Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	3–4–2
10	W	October 30, 1995	4–3	San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	4–4–2
11	T	November 1, 1995	3–3 OT	Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	4–4–3
12	T	November 3, 1995	4–4 OT	Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	4–4–4
13	T	November 4, 1995	4–4 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)	4–4–5
14	W	November 7, 1995	5–2	@ New York Islanders (1995–96)	5–4–5
15	L	November 9, 1995	2–5	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)	5–5–5
16	L	November 11, 1995	4–8	Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	5–6–5
17	L	November 12, 1995	2–4	Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)	5–7–5
18	T	November 16, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)	5–7–6
19	L	November 18, 1995	4–5 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)	5–8–6
20	L	November 19, 1995	2–3 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)	5–9–6
21	L	November 22, 1995	3–4	@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)	5–10–6
22	W	November 23, 1995	3–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	6–10–6
23	L	November 25, 1995	2–7	@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	6–11–6
24	T	November 29, 1995	2–2 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)	6–11–7
25	W	December 1, 1995	7–2	San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	7–11–7
26	W	December 5, 1995	6–2	Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	8–11–7
27	L	December 8, 1995	3–6	St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	8–12–7
28	W	December 9, 1995	4–3	@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)	9–12–7
29	T	December 13, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	9–12–8
30	W	December 17, 1995	4–1	Ottawa Senators (1995–96)	10–12–8
31	W	December 18, 1995	4–2	@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	11–12–8
32	T	December 20, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	11–12–9
33	W	December 22, 1995	6–2	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	12–12–9
34	L	December 23, 1995	0–1	Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	12–13–9
35	L	December 26, 1995	2–4	Calgary Flames (1995–96)	12–14–9
36	L	December 28, 1995	2–3	New York Rangers (1995–96)	12–15–9
37	T	December 31, 1995	5–5 OT	Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)	12–15–10
38	W	January 3, 1996	7–2	Florida Panthers (1995–96)	13–15–10
39	W	January 6, 1996	9–2	Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)	14–15–10
40	L	January 8, 1996	5–8	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)	14–16–10
41	T	January 10, 1996	2–2 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)	14–16–11
42	W	January 13, 1996	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	15–16–11
43	W	January 15, 1996	6–0	@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)	16–16–11
44	L	January 16, 1996	0–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)	16–17–11
45	L	January 22, 1996	4–6	Dallas Stars (1995–96)	16–18–11
46	L	January 24, 1996	1–2 OT	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	16–19–11
47	T	January 25, 1996	2–2 OT	@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	16–19–12
48	W	January 27, 1996	6–3	New York Islanders (1995–96)	17–19–12
49	L	January 30, 1996	2–3 OT	New Jersey Devils (1995–96)	17–20–12
50	T	February 1, 1996	2–2 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	17–20–13
51	W	February 2, 1996	5–4	@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)	18–20–13
52	W	February 4, 1996	4–2	@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	19–20–13
53	L	February 7, 1996	3–5	Hartford Whalers (1995–96)	19–21–13
54	W	February 9, 1996	3–2 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	20–21–13
55	T	February 10, 1996	4–4 OT	Washington Capitals (1995–96)	20–21–14
56	W	February 13, 1996	5–4	Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	21–21–14
57	W	February 15, 1996	5–3	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	22–21–14
58	L	February 17, 1996	1–4	Boston Bruins (1995–96)	22–22–14
59	L	February 19, 1996	3–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	22–23–14
60	W	February 21, 1996	5–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	23–23–14
61	W	February 23, 1996	3–1	San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	24–23–14
62	L	February 27, 1996	4–7	Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)	24–24–14
63	T	February 29, 1996	2–2 OT	St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	24–24–15
64	W	March 2, 1996	3–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	25–24–15
65	W	March 3, 1996	3–0	@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)	26–24–15
66	W	March 6, 1996	5–2	Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)	27–24–15
67	L	March 9, 1996	5–7	Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	27–25–15
68	L	March 12, 1996	0–9	@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)	27–26–15
69	L	March 14, 1996	1–5	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)	27–27–15
70	L	March 15, 1996	0–2	@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)	27–28–15
71	L	March 17, 1996	2–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	27–29–15
72	L	March 19, 1996	3–4	Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	27–30–15
73	W	March 22, 1996	5–2	Dallas Stars (1995–96)	28–30–15
74	L	March 23, 1996	0–4	Calgary Flames (1995–96)	28–31–15
75	W	March 25, 1996	4–1	Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	29–31–15
76	L	March 27, 1996	2–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	29–32–15
77	W	March 29, 1996	4–2	Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)	30–32–15
78	L	April 1, 1996	2–6	Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	30–33–15
79	L	April 3, 1996	3–4	@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)	30–34–15
80	W	April 6, 1996	4–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	31–34–15
81	L	April 8, 1996	0–2	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	31–35–15
82	W	April 13, 1996	5–0	Calgary Flames (1995–96)	32–35–15

Playoffs

Western Conference Quarterfinals: vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche

Colorado wins series 4–2

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Series
1	April 16	Vancouver	2 – 5	Colorado		McLean	16,061	0 – 1
2	April 18	Vancouver	5 – 4	Colorado		Hirsch	16,061	1 – 1
3	April 20	Colorado	4 – 0	Vancouver		Hirsch	18,422	1 – 2
4	April 22	Colorado	3 – 4	Vancouver		Hirsch	18,422	2 – 2
5	April 25	Vancouver	4 – 5	Colorado	OT	Hirsch	16,061	2 – 3
6	April 27	Colorado	3 – 2	Vancouver		Hirsch	18,422	2 – 4

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Alexander Mogilny	79	55	52	107	14	16
Trevor Linden	82	33	47	80	6	42
Cliff Ronning	79	22	45	67	16	42
Russ Courtnall	81	26	39	65	25	40
Martin Gelinas	81	30	26	56	8	59

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
Corey Hirsch	41	2338	17	14	6	114	1	.903	2.93
Kirk McLean	45	2645	15	21	9	156	2	.879	3.54

Playoffs

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Alexander Mogilny	6	1	8	9	-1	8
Trevor Linden	6	4	4	8	-1	6
Esa Tikkanen	6	3	2	5	-3	2
Gino Odjick	6	3	1	4	2	6
Russ Courtnall	6	1	3	4	-4	2

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
Corey Hirsch	6	338	2	3	21	0	.873	3.73
Kirk McLean	1	21	0	1	3	0	.750	8.57

Transactions

Trades

July 8, 1995	To Vancouver Canucks Alexander Mogilny 5th round pick in 1995 (Todd Norman)	To Buffalo Sabres Michael Peca Mike Wilson 1st round pick in 1995 (Jay McKee)
July 8, 1995	To Vancouver Canucks Mike Ridley	To Toronto Maple Leafs Sergio Momesso
November 23, 1995	To Vancouver Canucks Esa Tikkanen	To New Jersey Devils 2nd round pick in 1996 (Wesley Mason)
December 19, 1995	To Vancouver Canucks Jim Dowd Frantisek Kucera 2nd round pick in 1997 (Ryan Bonni)	To Hartford Whalers Jeff Brown 3rd round pick in 1998 (Paul Manning)
March 15, 1996	To Vancouver Canucks Mike Sillinger	To Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Roman Oksiuta
March 20, 1996	To Vancouver Canucks Jesse Belanger	To Florida Panthers 3rd round pick in 1996 (Oleg Kvasha) Future considerations
March 20, 1996	To Vancouver Canucks Joe Kocur	To New York Rangers Kay Whitmore
March 20, 1996	To Vancouver Canucks Markus Naslund	To Pittsburgh Penguins Alek Stojanov

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft in Edmonton, Alberta.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	NHL Team	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2	40	Chris McAllister (D)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
3	61	Larry Courville (LW)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks (from Chicago via Hartford)	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
3	66	Peter Schaefer (LW)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
4	92	Lloyd Shaw (D)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
5	120	Todd Norman (LW)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks (from Buffalo)	Guelph Storm (OHL)
6	144	Brent Sopel (D)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
7	170	Stu Boedker (C)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Colorado College (WCHA)
8	196	Tyler Willis (RW)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
9	222	Jason Cugnet (G)	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Kelowna Spartans (BCJHL)