1994–95 NHL season


The 1994–95 NHL season was the 78th regular season of the National Hockey League. The teams played a shortened season, due to a lockout of the players by the owners. In addition, the NHL All-Star Game, which had been scheduled to take place January 20–21, 1995, in San Jose, California, was canceled. San Jose was eventually selected as the venue for the 1997 NHL All-Star Game. The New Jersey Devils swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings for their first Stanley Cup win. It was also their first appearance in the finals overall.

League business

The Hartford Whalers were purchased by Peter Karmanos.
This was the last season in Quebec City for the Quebec Nordiques, as they announced that they would move to Denver after the season and become the Colorado Avalanche.
It was the first season with games televised by Fox, which they would do until the end of the 1998–99 season. It marked the first major American broadcast agreement for the NHL since 1975. Fox split Stanley Cup Finals games with ESPN.
The regular season was shortened because of a 103-day lockout, which ended on January 11, 1995. The season got underway nine days later.

New arenas

The Boston Bruins played their final season at the Boston Garden. They would then move to their current arena, the TD Garden.
The Vancouver Canucks played their last season at Pacific Coliseum. They would play at GM Place the following year.
The Chicago Blackhawks moved to the United Center.
The St. Louis Blues moved to the Kiel Center.

Events

Due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout, the league shortened the season length from 84 games, the length of the previous two seasons, to 48. Furthermore, the season would last from January 20 to May 3; this was the first and only time in NHL history that the regular season extended into May. Regular-season games would be limited to intra-conference play.

Final standings

Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

Final

The New Jersey Devils swept the series in the minimum four games. Detroit was making its first appearance in a Stanley Cup Finals since 1966. New Jersey won in its first appearance in a Finals.

Playoff bracket

Awards

The NHL Awards presentation took place on July 6, 1995.

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Leading goaltenders

Regular season
PlayerTeamGPMINGASOGAA
Dominik HasekBuffalo4124168552.11
Jim CareyWashington2816045742.13
Chris OsgoodDetroit1910874112.26
Ed BelfourChicago4224509352.28
Jocelyn ThibaultQuebec188983512.34
Dominic RousselPhiladelphia1910754212.34
Glenn HealyNew York Rangers178883512.36
Blaine LacherBoston3519657942.41
Andy MoogDallas3117707222.44
Martin BrodeurNew Jersey4021848932.45

Milestones

Debuts

The following is a list of who played their first NHL game in 1994–95, listed with their first team :
The following is a list of who played their last game in the NHL in 1994–95 :
Trading deadline: April 7, 1995.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference