1995–96 Montreal Canadiens season – Wikipedia

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NHL hockey team season

The 1995–96 Montreal Canadiens season was the club’s 87th season. This season was notable for the trade of star goaltender Patrick Roy, as well as being their final season in the Montreal Forum before moving to the new Molson Centre. The club qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the New York Rangers.

Offseason[edit]

Regular season[edit]

  • At the beginning of the season, captain Mike Keane was subject to media scrutiny after speaking with Mathias Brunet of La Presse (a French language newspaper). Keane said he didn’t know how to speak French; but the journalist misunderstood him, and reported him as refusing to learn how to speak French.[1]
  • October 17, 1995: Canadiens president Ronald Corey fired general manager Serge Savard and his assistants Andre Boudrias and Carol Vadnais.[2] Head coach Jacques Demers was also relieved of his duties, while assistant coach Charles Thiffault was reassigned. This comes after the Habs surrendered 20 goals in the first 4 games of the season.
  • October 21, 1995: Corey hired Rejean Houle to become the Canadiens’ new general manager. Mario Tremblay was hired as the new head coach, and Yvan Cournoyer was hired as an assistant coach.[3] Tremblay had been goaltender Patrick Roy’s roommate during his rookie season.[4] On that same day, they beat their chief rival the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in their last appearance at the Forum.
  • In his first 15 starts with Tremblay as head coach, Roy had 12 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. The one tie came against the Colorado Avalanche.[5] Despite this hot start, Roy and Tremblay clashed multiple times. While in Edmonton, Tremblay spotted Roy in the hotel bar and told him that he wanted him to leave.[6] A conflict ensued in Montreal when Tremblay told Roy that he was not allowed to visit the trainer’s room and speak to teammates unless he was injured.[5]
  • November 28, 1995: The day before the a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Mario Tremblay spoke to Mario Leclerc of Le Journal de Montreal. Tremblay mentioned that he was resentful of current Red Wings head coach Scotty Bowman. The first five years of Tremblay’s career were played under Bowman, and Tremblay told Leclerc that Bowman always threatened to send him to the minors.[7] When Leclerc approached Cournoyer, he stated that he did not want to speak about Bowman.[8] The Canadiens lost the game by a score of 3–2. The next day, the Journal de Montreal had a headline that stated “Bowman has the last word”.[8]
  • February 5, 1996: Patrick Roy played the Canadiens for the first time since he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche.[9] Roy stopped 37 of 39 shots in a 4–2 win. After the game, Roy took the game puck and flipped it to Mario Tremblay.[10]

Patrick Roy’s final game[edit]

  • On December 2, 1995, head coach Mario Tremblay kept goaltender Patrick Roy in goal as he conceded 9 goals on 26 shots during an 11–1 loss to Scotty Bowman’s Detroit Red Wings.[11] This was the last straw for Roy in what was already a contentious relationship with the rookie head coach. Friction between the two dated back to Roy’s rookie year, when Tremblay used to needle the young Quebecer on his broken English and was critical of Roy through much of his career. The two had almost come to blows in a Long Island coffee shop before Tremblay was announced as a coach, and Tremblay’s first appearance in the dressing room was greeted with snickers from Roy. They almost fought a second time after Tremblay fired a shot at Roy’s throat during practice.
  • After Roy was replaced midway through the second period, he went over to Canadiens president Ronald Corey[12] and stated that he had played his final game with the Canadiens. He later elaborated by saying that he would not play for Montreal as long as Tremblay was coach.

Le Trade[edit]

  • On December 6, four days after the incident, Roy was traded to Colorado (along with team captain Mike Keane) in exchange for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko, a deal known in Montreal as “Le Trade”.[13] Roy’s relationship with the Canadiens remained strained until 2008, when it was announced that his #33 jersey would be retired. The trade benefited Colorado, as Roy helped the Avalanche win the 1996 Stanley Cup.

Final game at the Forum[edit]

  • On March 11, 1996, the Canadiens played their last game at the Montreal Forum, defeating the Dallas Stars 4–1 on a Monday night. The game was televised on TSN and TQS in Canada, and on ESPN in the United States. After the game, many previous hockey greats were presented to the crowd. The largest ovation of the night was left at the end for legendary Canadiens star Maurice “Rocket” Richard, at over 16 minutes in length.

Season standings[edit]

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results[edit]

# R Date Score Opponent Record
1 L Oct 7, 1995 1–7 Philadelphia Flyers 0–1–0
2 L Oct 11, 1995 1–6 @ Florida Panthers 0–2–0
3 L Oct 12, 1995 1–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 0–3–0
4 L Oct 14, 1995 1–4 New Jersey Devils 0–4–0
5 L Oct 20, 1995 0–2 @ New York Islanders 0–5–0
6 W Oct 21, 1995 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–5–0
7 W Oct 23, 1995 6–3 Los Angeles Kings 2–5–0
8 W Oct 25, 1995 7–2 Florida Panthers 3–5–0
9 W Oct 27, 1995 4–1 @ Hartford Whalers 4–5–0
10 W Oct 28, 1995 5–3 Chicago Blackhawks 5–5–0
11 W Oct 31, 1995 3–1 @ Boston Bruins 6–5–0
12 L Nov 1, 1995 2–5 @ Washington Capitals 6–6–0
13 W Nov 4, 1995 4–1 Boston Bruins 7–6–0
14 L Nov 8, 1995 2–3 OT Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 7–7–0
15 W Nov 11, 1995 4–0 @ Calgary Flames 8–7–0
16 W Nov 12, 1995 4–2 @ Vancouver Canucks 9–7–0
17 W Nov 15, 1995 4–1 @ Edmonton Oilers 10–7–0
18 W Nov 18, 1995 5–1 Ottawa Senators 11–7–0
19 W Nov 20, 1995 4–3 OT Hartford Whalers 12–7–0
20 L Nov 22, 1995 2–4 @ Hartford Whalers 12–8–0
21 T Nov 25, 1995 2–2 OT Colorado Avalanche 12–8–1
22 L Nov 28, 1995 2–3 @ Detroit Red Wings 12–9–1
23 L Nov 29, 1995 4–5 @ St. Louis Blues 12–10–1
24 L Dec 2, 1995 1–11 Detroit Red Wings 12–11–1
25 W Dec 6, 1995 4–2 New Jersey Devils 13–11–1
26 L Dec 7, 1995 5–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 13–12–1
27 T Dec 9, 1995 2–2 OT New York Rangers 13–12–2
28 W Dec 12, 1995 6–5 @ Winnipeg Jets 14–12–2
29 W Dec 15, 1995 4–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks 15–12–2
30 L Dec 16, 1995 2–4 Philadelphia Flyers 15–13–2
31 W Dec 18, 1995 3–2 Hartford Whalers 16–13–2
32 L Dec 20, 1995 1–2 @ Buffalo Sabres 16–14–2
33 W Dec 22, 1995 4–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 17–14–2
34 W Dec 23, 1995 1–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 18–14–2
35 L Dec 26, 1995 0–4 @ Washington Capitals 18–15–2
36 L Dec 28, 1995 1–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 18–16–2
37 W Dec 30, 1995 4–1 @ Ottawa Senators 19–16–2
38 L Jan 3, 1996 4–7 @ New York Rangers 19–17–2
39 T Jan 4, 1996 2–2 OT @ New York Islanders 19–17–3
40 L Jan 6, 1996 6–7 Buffalo Sabres 19–18–3
41 T Jan 8, 1996 3–3 OT Tampa Bay Lightning 19–18–4
42 T Jan 10, 1996 2–2 OT Vancouver Canucks 19–18–5
43 W Jan 12, 1996 6–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 20–18–5
44 T Jan 13, 1996 3–3 OT St. Louis Blues 20–18–6
45 W Jan 17, 1996 3–0 @ Ottawa Senators 21–18–6
46 L Jan 22, 1996 1–4 Tampa Bay Lightning 21–19–6
47 W Jan 25, 1996 6–2 @ Florida Panthers 22–19–6
48 W Jan 27, 1996 4–1 Winnipeg Jets 23–19–6
49 W Jan 28, 1996 5–4 Boston Bruins 24–19–6
50 W Jan 31, 1996 5–3 Washington Capitals 25–19–6
51 L Feb 1, 1996 2–3 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers 25–20–6
52 W Feb 3, 1996 4–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 26–20–6
53 L Feb 5, 1996 2–4 @ Colorado Avalanche 26–21–6
54 W Feb 7, 1996 4–2 @ Dallas Stars 27–21–6
55 L Feb 10, 1996 3–5 Ottawa Senators 27–22–6
56 W Feb 12, 1996 3–0 San Jose Sharks 28–22–6
57 T Feb 15, 1996 2–2 OT @ New York Rangers 28–22–7
58 W Feb 17, 1996 5–1 Calgary Flames 29–22–7
59 L Feb 21, 1996 3–5 @ Hartford Whalers 29–23–7
60 L Feb 23, 1996 5–6 @ New Jersey Devils 29–24–7
61 W Feb 24, 1996 7–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 30–24–7
62 L Feb 26, 1996 4–7 @ San Jose Sharks 30–25–7
63 L Feb 28, 1996 2–5 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 30–26–7
64 L Mar 2, 1996 4–5 @ Los Angeles Kings 30–27–7
65 W Mar 9, 1996 3–2 Ottawa Senators 31–27–7
66 W Mar 11, 1996 4–1 Dallas Stars 32–27–7
67 T Mar 13, 1996 1–1 OT @ New Jersey Devils 32–27–8
68 W Mar 16, 1996 4–2 New York Rangers 33–27–8
69 W Mar 18, 1996 3–2 Buffalo Sabres 34–27–8
70 W Mar 20, 1996 3–2 Hartford Whalers 35–27–8
71 W Mar 22, 1996 4–1 @ Buffalo Sabres 36–27–8
72 L Mar 23, 1996 5–6 Edmonton Oilers 36–28–8
73 W Mar 25, 1996 4–1 New York Islanders 37–28–8
74 L Mar 27, 1996 0–1 OT Washington Capitals 37–29–8
75 W Mar 28, 1996 4–3 OT @ Boston Bruins 38–29–8
76 W Mar 30, 1996 3–1 @ Ottawa Senators 39–29–8
77 L Apr 1, 1996 4–6 Buffalo Sabres 39–30–8
78 L Apr 3, 1996 1–4 Boston Bruins 39–31–8
79 T Apr 4, 1996 3–3 OT @ Boston Bruins 39–31–9
80 W Apr 6, 1996 2–1 Florida Panthers 40–31–9
81 L Apr 11, 1996 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers 40–32–9
82 T Apr 13, 1996 5–5 OT New York Islanders 40–32–10

Playoffs[edit]

NY Rangers vs. Montreal
Date Away Home
April 16 Montreal 3 2 NY Rangers OT
April 18 Montreal 5 3 NY Rangers
April 21 NY Rangers 2 1 Montreal
April 23 NY Rangers 4 3 Montreal
April 26 Montreal 2 3 NY Rangers
April 28 NY Rangers 5 3 Montreal
NY Rangers wins series 4–2

Player statistics[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Scoring
Goaltending

Playoffs[edit]

Scoring
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Jocelyn Thibault 311 6 2 4 18 3.47 0 188 170 .904
Pat Jablonski 49 1 0 0 1 1.22 0 17 16 .941
Team: 360 6 2 4 19 3.17 0 205 186 .907

[15]

Awards and records[edit]

Transactions[edit]

Draft picks[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.341, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  2. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.342, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  3. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, pp.343-4 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  4. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.339 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  5. ^ a b Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.347, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  6. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.348, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  7. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.350 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  8. ^ a b Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.351 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  9. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.382 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  10. ^ Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.383 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
  11. ^ “1984 NHL Entry Draft – Patrick Roy”. Hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  12. ^ “Dernier match de Roy avec Montréal”. YouTube. 2007-02-26. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  13. ^ “‘I’ve never been back there’“. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  14. ^ “1995–1996 Conference Standings”. National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  15. ^ “1995-96 Montreal Canadiens Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com”. hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.