1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs of the National Hockey League began on May 6 1995. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Stanley Cup. The series ended on 24 June 1995 with the New Jersey Devils sweeping the favoured Detroit Red Wings in four games to win their first championship.

coring leaders

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

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres

t. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks met in the 1995 Western Conference Finals. The Red Wings had just completed a four-game sweep of the San Jose Sharks, and the Blackhawks had just completed their sweep of the Vancouver Canucks. Detroit was having its best playoff since 1988, and was hoping to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1966. Chicago, on the other hand, was back in the Conference Finals for the first time since 1992, when they last made it to the Cup Finals.

Game one of the series at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit saw a goaltending battle between Ed Belfour of Chicago and Mike Vernon of Detroit. The two teams skated to a 1–1 tie after regulation before Nicklas Lidstrom scored the game-winning goal for Detroit at 1:01 of the first overtime period. It was the first overtime playoff game that Detroit had won at home since Tuesday, March 29, 1960. In game two, Chicago led by a score of 2–1 after two periods on goals by Chris Chelios and Tony Amonte. However, Detroit kept pressing and eventually tied the game on Doug Brown's goal. Kris Draper scored the winner for Detroit with just 1:45 remaining in regulation. In game three of the series at the United Center in Chicago, Detroit led 3–2 going into the third period, where Jeff Shantz scored at 8:33 to tie the game for Chicago. The game went to double overtime where Vladimir Konstantinov scored the game-winner for Detroit at 9:25. The win gave the Red Wings a commanding three-games-to-none series lead. The Blackhawks responded to the urgency and came out flying in game four. Denis Savard and Joe Murphy both scored twice and captain Dirk Graham had a goal to give Chicago a dominating 5–0 lead after 40 minutes. Detroit scored twice in the third period on goals by Kris Draper and Ray Sheppard, as the Blackhawks went on to win the game 5–2. They now trailed in the series 3 games to 1. In game five in Detroit on Sunday, June 11th, Chicago jumped out to a 1–0 lead on Denis Savard's power play goal at 10:18 of the first period. Detroit then tied the game on Steve Yzerman's goal at 11:36 of the second. After a scoreless third period, the game went into double overtime where Vyacheslav Kozlov scored at 2:25 to give the Red Wings a 2–1 win and a four-games-to-one series win.

Quotes of the series

tanley Cup Finals

ee also

*1994–95 NHL season
*List of NHL seasons