1994–95 Boston Bruins season

1994–95 Boston Bruins
Division3rd Northeast
Conference4th Eastern
1994–95 record27–18–3
Home record15–7–2
Road record12–11–1
Goals for150
Goals against127
Team information
General managerHarry Sinden
CoachBrian Sutter
CaptainRay Bourque
Alternate captainsCam Neely
Adam Oates
ArenaBoston Garden
Average attendance14,300
Minor league affiliate(s)Providence Bruins
Team leaders
GoalsCam Neely (27)
AssistsAdam Oates (41)
PointsAdam Oates (53)
Penalty minutesBrent Hughes (139)
Plus/minusDave Reid (+8)
WinsBlaine Lacher (19)
Goals against averageBlaine Lacher (2.41)

The 1994–95 Boston Bruins season was the team's 71st season. The Bruins had a solid season, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference with 57 points. During the regular season, they had the most shots on goal (1,651) and allowed the fewest shots on goal (1,168) of any team in the league.[1] They also allowed the fewest powerplay goals (24) and had the best penalty-killing % (86.89%) of all 26 teams.[1]

Offseason

Regular season

This season was the last at the historic Boston Garden for the Bruins before its closure as the team moved to the Fleet Center the following year.

Final standings

Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 Quebec Nordiques 48 30 13 5 185 134 65
2 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 48 29 16 3 181 158 61
3 4 Boston Bruins 48 27 18 3 150 127 57
4 7 Buffalo Sabres 48 22 19 7 130 119 51
5 10 Hartford Whalers 48 19 24 5 127 141 43
6 11 Montreal Canadiens 48 18 23 7 125 148 43
7 14 Ottawa Senators 48 9 34 5 117 174 23

[2]

Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Quebec Nordiques NE 48 30 13 5 185 134 65
2 Philadelphia Flyers AT 48 28 16 4 150 132 60
3 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 48 29 16 3 181 158 61
4 Boston Bruins NE 48 27 18 3 150 127 57
5 New Jersey Devils AT 48 22 18 8 136 121 52
6 Washington Capitals AT 48 22 18 8 136 120 52
7 Buffalo Sabres NE 48 22 19 7 130 119 51
8 New York Rangers AT 48 22 23 3 139 134 47
9 Florida Panthers AT 48 20 22 6 115 127 46
10 Hartford Whalers NE 48 19 24 5 127 141 43
11 Montreal Canadiens NE 48 18 23 7 125 148 43
12 Tampa Bay Lightning AT 48 17 28 3 120 144 37
13 New York Islanders AT 48 15 28 5 126 158 35
14 Ottawa Senators NE 48 9 34 5 117 174 23

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs


Playoffs

The Bruins were favored to win their quarterfinal playoff series against the New Jersey Devils, but were shocked by the Devils in the first two games at the Boston Garden by scores of 5–0 and 3–0. The Bruins won game three at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, 3–2, despite being outshot 33 to 17. Boston goaltender Blaine Lacher was solid in net, stopping 31 New Jersey shots. Game four on Friday, May 12 at the Meadowlands started out as a goaltending battle between Lacher and Martin Brodeur. The two teams skated to a 0–0 tie after three regulation periods. This game would prove to be the turning point in the series, as a Boston goal would tie the series at two games apiece and give the Bruins home-ice advantage once again; a New Jersey goal would put the Bruins down three games to one in the series and give the Devils a chance to take the series in game five in Boston. Devils forward Randy McKay ended up scoring the winner at 8:51 of the first overtime period. The Devils closed out the series in game five on Sunday, May 14, in what was the last official NHL game ever played at the Boston Garden.[4][5][6][7][8]

Schedule and results

Regular season

1994–95 regular season[9]
January: 3–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–1–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 W January 22, 1995 4–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95) 1–0–0 Recap
2 W January 23, 1995 2–1 @ New York Rangers (1994–95) 2–0–0 Recap
3 W January 26, 1995 1–0 OT New Jersey Devils (1994–95) 3–0–0 Recap
4 L January 28, 1995 1–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95) 3–1–0 Recap
5 L January 30, 1995 1–2 Florida Panthers (1994–95) 3–2–0 Recap
February: 7–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
6 W February 2, 1995 6–4 Ottawa Senators (1994–95) 4–2–0 Recap
7 W February 4, 1995 5–4 Hartford Whalers (1994–95) 5–2–0 Recap
8 W February 7, 1995 7–4 Montreal Canadiens (1994–95) 6–2–0 Recap
9 L February 9, 1995 3–4 Quebec Nordiques (1994–95) 6–3–0 Recap
10 T February 11, 1995 1–1 OT Washington Capitals (1994–95) 6–3–1 Recap
11 W February 12, 1995 2–1 @ Buffalo Sabres (1994–95) 7–3–1 Recap
12 L February 14, 1995 3–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95) 7–4–1 Recap
13 W February 17, 1995 5–4 @ Florida Panthers (1994–95) 8–4–1 Recap
14 L February 18, 1995 1–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95) 8–5–1 Recap
15 L February 22, 1995 2–3 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1994–95) 8–6–1 Recap
16 W February 23, 1995 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1994–95) 9–6–1 Recap
17 T February 25, 1995 1–1 OT @ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95) 9–6–2 Recap
18 W February 27, 1995 2–0 @ Ottawa Senators (1994–95) 10–6–2 Recap
March: 7–6–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 3–3–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
19 W March 2, 1995 7–2 New Jersey Devils (1994–95) 11–6–2 Recap
20 L March 4, 1995 3–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95) 11–7–2 Recap
21 W March 5, 1995 5–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1994–95) 12–7–2 Recap
22 L March 7, 1995 1–3 Washington Capitals (1994–95) 12–8–2 Recap
23 L March 9, 1995 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95) 12–9–2 Recap
24 L March 11, 1995 0–2 Florida Panthers (1994–95) 12–10–2 Recap
25 W March 16, 1995 6–0 Montreal Canadiens (1994–95) 13–10–2 Recap
26 W March 18, 1995 4–3 New York Islanders (1994–95) 14–10–2 Recap
27 L March 19, 1995 3–4 OT @ New Jersey Devils (1994–95) 14–11–2 Recap
28 L March 22, 1995 2–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95) 14–12–2 Recap
29 W March 24, 1995 4–3 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95) 15–12–2 Recap
30 W March 28, 1995 5–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95) 16–12–2 Recap
31 W March 30, 1995 3–2 @ New York Islanders (1994–95) 17–12–2 Recap
April: 8–6–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 3–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
32 L April 1, 1995 2–3 New York Rangers (1994–95) 17–13–2 Recap
33 L April 2, 1995 1–2 @ Washington Capitals (1994–95) 17–14–2 Recap
34 T April 6, 1995 1–1 OT Buffalo Sabres (1994–95) 17–14–3 Recap
35 W April 8, 1995 5–1 Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95) 18–14–3 Recap
36 W April 9, 1995 6–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1994–95) 19–14–3 Recap
37 L April 12, 1995 0–4 Quebec Nordiques (1994–95) 19–15–3 Recap
38 L April 14, 1995 3–5 @ New York Rangers (1994–95) 19–16–3 Recap
39 W April 15, 1995 3–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95) 20–16–3 Recap
40 W April 19, 1995 4–1 Buffalo Sabres (1994–95) 21–16–3 Recap
41 W April 20, 1995 6–5 @ Ottawa Senators (1994–95) 22–16–3 Recap
42 W April 23, 1995 5–4 New York Rangers (1994–95) 23–16–3 Recap
43 L April 24, 1995 3–5 @ New York Islanders (1994–95) 23–17–3 Recap
44 W April 26, 1995 1–0 Hartford Whalers (1994–95) 24–17–3 Recap
45 L April 28, 1995 1–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95) 24–18–3 Recap
46 W April 30, 1995 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95) 25–18–3 Recap
May: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
47 W May 1, 1995 5–4 Ottawa Senators (1994–95) 26–18–3 Recap
48 W May 3, 1995 4–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95) 27–18–3 Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1995 Stanley Cup playoffs[9]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–1
Game Result Date Score Opponent Attendance Series Recap
1 L May 7, 1995 0–5 New Jersey Devils 14,448 Devils lead 1–0 Recap
2 L May 8, 1995 0–3 New Jersey Devils 14,448 Devils lead 2–0 Recap
3 W May 10, 1995 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils 16,523 Devils lead 2–1 Recap
4 L May 12, 1995 0–1 OT @ New Jersey Devils 19,040 Devils lead 3–1 Recap
5 L May 14, 1995 2–3 New Jersey Devils 14,448 Devils win 4–1 Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

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 Bruins only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only.
No. Player Pos Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12 Adam Oates C 48 12 41 53 −11 8 5 1 0 1 −6 2
77 Ray Bourque D 46 12 31 43 3 20 5 0 3 3 −5 0
8 Cam Neely RW 42 27 14 41 7 72 5 2 0 2 −4 2
20 Bryan Smolinski LW 44 18 13 31 −3 31 5 0 1 1 −2 4
19 Mariusz Czerkawski RW 47 12 14 26 4 31 5 1 0 1 0 0
26 Mats Naslund† LW 34 8 14 22 −4 4 5 1 0 1 −3 0
32 Don Sweeney D 47 3 19 22 6 24 5 0 0 0 −4 4
21 Ted Donato C 47 10 10 20 3 10 5 0 0 0 0 4
22 Jozef Stumpel C 44 5 13 18 4 8 5 0 0 0 −1 0
23 Steve Heinze RW 36 7 9 16 0 23 5 0 0 0 0 0
6 Alexei Kasatonov D 44 2 14 16 −2 33 5 0 0 0 0 2
18 Brent Hughes LW 44 6 6 12 6 139 5 0 0 0 −2 4
27 Steve Leach RW 35 5 6 11 −3 68 — — — — — —
38 Jon Rohloff D 34 3 8 11 1 39 5 0 0 0 −1 6
17 Dave Reid C 38 5 5 10 8 10 5 0 0 0 1 0
45 Sandy Moger RW 18 2 6 8 −1 6 — — — — — —
44 Glen Murray LW 35 5 2 7 −11 46 2 0 0 0 −1 2
34 David Shaw D 44 3 4 7 −9 36 5 0 1 1 −2 4
36 John Gruden D 38 0 6 6 3 22 — — — — — —
28 Jamie Huscroft D 34 0 6 6 −3 103 5 0 0 0 0 11
48 Fred Knipscheer LW 16 3 1 4 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0
42 Mikko Makela RW 11 1 2 3 0 0 — — — — — —
40 Daniel Lacroix‡ C 23 1 0 1 −2 38 — — — — — —
40 Brett Harkins C 1 0 1 1 0 0 — — — — — —
31 Blaine Lacher G 35 0 1 1 4 5 0 0 0 0
29 Marc Potvin RW 6 0 1 1 1 4 — — — — — —
1 Craig Billington† G 8 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
13 Grigori Panteleev LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 — — — — — —
37 Vincent Riendeau G 11 0 0 0 2 — — — — — —
49 Jeff Serowik D 1 0 0 0 1 0 — — — — — —
16 Cam Stewart C 5 0 0 0 0 2 — — — — — —
41 Guy Larose C — — — — — — 4 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltending

  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only.
No. Player Regular season Playoffs
GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
31 Blaine Lacher 35 34 19 11 2 805 79 2.41 .902 4 1,965:00 5 5 1 4 125 12 2.55 .904 0 282:48
1 Craig Billington† 8 6 5 1 0 140 19 3.05 .864 0 373:18 1 0 0 0 10 1 2.40 .900 0 25:01
37 Vincent Riendeau 11 8 3 6 1 221 27 2.86 .878 0 565:29 — — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual) 		NHL Second All-Star team Ray Bourque (Defense) [10]
League
(in-season) 		NHL Rookie of the Month Blaine Lacher (February) [11]
Team Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy Cam Neely [12]
Seventh Player Award Blaine Lacher [12]
Three Stars Awards Cam Neely (1st) [13]
Ray Bourque (2nd)
Blaine Lacher (3rd)

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Blaine Lacher January 22, 1995 [14]
Jon Rohloff January 30, 1995
Sandy Moger March 22, 1995
Brett Harkins April 24, 1995
600th assist Adam Oates April 8, 1995 [15]

Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft in Hartford, Connecticut.[16]

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
1 21 Evgeni Ryabchikov (G)  Russia Molot Perm (Russia)
2 47 Daniel Goneau (LW)  Canada Laval Titan (QMJHL)
4 99 Eric Nickulas (RW)  United States Cushing Academy (USHS-MA)
5 125 Darren Wright (D)  Canada Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
6 151 Andre Roy (RW)  United States Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
7 177 Jeremy Schaefer (LW)  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
9 229 John Grahame (G)  United States Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
10 255 Neil Savary (G)  Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
11 281 Andrei Yakhanov (D)  Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia)

References

  • "Boston Bruins 1994-95 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  • "1994-95 Boston Bruins Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  1. ^ a b "1994-95 NHL Summary". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0.
  3. ^ "1994-1995 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  4. ^ "New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins Box Score — May 7, 1995".
  5. ^ "New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins Box Score — May 8, 1995".
  6. ^ "Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils Box Score — May 10, 1995".
  7. ^ "Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils Box Score — May 12, 1995".
  8. ^ "New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins Box Score — May 14, 1995".
  9. ^ a b "1994-95 Boston Bruins Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "OILERS FACE MONEY WOES". Washington Post. March 4, 1995. Retrieved September 11, 2023. LACHER HONORED: Bruins G Blaine Lacher, 5-1-1 with a 2.54 goals-against average in February, is NHL rookie of the month.
  12. ^ a b Boston Bruins 2014–15 Guide & Record Book, p.239
  13. ^ Boston Bruins 2014–15 Guide & Record Book, p. 239–40
  14. ^ "1994-95 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  15. ^ "Elias Says ..." ESPN.com. January 19, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2023. Forsberg reached the 600-assist plateau in 670 games, the quickest that any player has done it since Adam Oates hit that milestone on April 8, 1995, in his 663rd game.
  16. ^ "1994 NHL Entry Draft". hockeydb.com.