# 1994–95 Boston Bruins season

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. They also allowed the fewest powerplay goals (24) and had the best penalty-killing % (86.89%) of all 26 teams.

## 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 |
Eastern Conference :
| 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.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1994–95 regular season :
January: 3–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WJanuary 22, 19954–1Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)1–0–0Recap
2WJanuary 23, 19952–1@ New York Rangers (1994–95)2–0–0Recap
3WJanuary 26, 19951–0 OTNew Jersey Devils (1994–95)3–0–0Recap
4LJanuary 28, 19951–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)3–1–0Recap
5LJanuary 30, 19951–2Florida Panthers (1994–95)3–2–0Recap :
February: 7–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
6WFebruary 2, 19956–4Ottawa Senators (1994–95)4–2–0Recap
7WFebruary 4, 19955–4Hartford Whalers (1994–95)5–2–0Recap
8WFebruary 7, 19957–4Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)6–2–0Recap
9LFebruary 9, 19953–4Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)6–3–0Recap
10TFebruary 11, 19951–1 OTWashington Capitals (1994–95)6–3–1Recap
11WFebruary 12, 19952–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)7–3–1Recap
12LFebruary 14, 19953–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)7–4–1Recap
13WFebruary 17, 19955–4@ Florida Panthers (1994–95)8–4–1Recap
14LFebruary 18, 19951–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)8–5–1Recap
15LFebruary 22, 19952–3 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1994–95)8–6–1Recap
16WFebruary 23, 19953–2@ New Jersey Devils (1994–95)9–6–1Recap
17TFebruary 25, 19951–1 OT@ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)9–6–2Recap
18WFebruary 27, 19952–0@ Ottawa Senators (1994–95)10–6–2Recap :
March: 7–6–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
19WMarch 2, 19957–2New Jersey Devils (1994–95)11–6–2Recap
20LMarch 4, 19953–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)11–7–2Recap
21WMarch 5, 19955–2@ Hartford Whalers (1994–95)12–7–2Recap
22LMarch 7, 19951–3Washington Capitals (1994–95)12–8–2Recap
23LMarch 9, 19952–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)12–9–2Recap
24LMarch 11, 19950–2Florida Panthers (1994–95)12–10–2Recap
25WMarch 16, 19956–0Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)13–10–2Recap
26WMarch 18, 19954–3New York Islanders (1994–95)14–10–2Recap
27LMarch 19, 19953–4 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1994–95)14–11–2Recap
28LMarch 22, 19952–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)14–12–2Recap
29WMarch 24, 19954–3 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)15–12–2Recap
30WMarch 28, 19955–1Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95)16–12–2Recap
31WMarch 30, 19953–2@ New York Islanders (1994–95)17–12–2Recap :
April: 8–6–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 3–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
32LApril 1, 19952–3New York Rangers (1994–95)17–13–2Recap
33LApril 2, 19951–2@ Washington Capitals (1994–95)17–14–2Recap
34TApril 6, 19951–1 OTBuffalo Sabres (1994–95)17–14–3Recap
35WApril 8, 19955–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1994–95)18–14–3Recap
36WApril 9, 19956–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)19–14–3Recap
37LApril 12, 19950–4Quebec Nordiques (1994–95)19–15–3Recap
38LApril 14, 19953–5@ New York Rangers (1994–95)19–16–3Recap
39WApril 15, 19953–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)20–16–3Recap
40WApril 19, 19954–1Buffalo Sabres (1994–95)21–16–3Recap
41WApril 20, 19956–5@ Ottawa Senators (1994–95)22–16–3Recap
42WApril 23, 19955–4New York Rangers (1994–95)23–16–3Recap
43LApril 24, 19953–5@ New York Islanders (1994–95)23–17–3Recap
44WApril 26, 19951–0Hartford Whalers (1994–95)24–17–3Recap
45LApril 28, 19951–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)24–18–3Recap
46WApril 30, 19955–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1994–95)25–18–3Recap :
May: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
47WMay 1, 19955–4Ottawa Senators (1994–95)26–18–3Recap
48WMay 3, 19954–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1994–95)27–18–3Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1995 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceSeriesRecap
1LMay 7, 19950–5New Jersey Devils14,448Devils lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 8, 19950–3New Jersey Devils14,448Devils lead 2–0Recap
3WMay 10, 19953–2@ New Jersey Devils16,523Devils lead 2–1Recap
4LMay 12, 19950–1 OT@ New Jersey Devils19,040Devils lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 14, 19952–3New Jersey Devils14,448Devils win 4–1Recap :
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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | 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 |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star team | Ray Bourque (Defense) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Blaine Lacher (February) |
| Team | Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | Cam Neely |
| Team | Seventh Player Award | Blaine Lacher |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Cam Neely (1st) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Ray Bourque (2nd) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Blaine Lacher (3rd) |

### Milestones

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

## Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft in Hartford, Connecticut.
| 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) |