# 1995–96 New York Islanders season

The 1995–96 New York Islanders season was the 24th season in the franchise's history. This season saw the Islanders finish in last place with a record of 22–50–10 and miss the playoffs for the second straight year. During the season, team management fired General Manager Don Maloney, whom fans blamed for the team's downfall, and gave Mike Milbury total control of hockey operations as both head coach and general manager.

## Offseason

Before the 1995–96 season, Don Maloney fired Lorne Henning and named Mike Milbury head coach. The same year, the Isles' attempt at updating their look resulted in the unveiling of the "fisherman" logo. It proved to be such a disaster that the team announced less than a year after unveiling it that they would go back to their original logo as soon as league rules could allow. Rangers fans still mock the Islanders with chants of "we want fishsticks", a reference to the way the logo resembled the Gorton's fisherman.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 282 | 208 | 103 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 82 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 272 | 237 | 96 |
| 3 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 254 | 234 | 92 |
| 4 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 234 | 204 | 89 |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 238 | 248 | 88 |
| 6 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 215 | 202 | 86 |
| 7 | New York Islanders | 82 | 22 | 50 | 10 | 229 | 315 | 54 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 282 | 208 | 103 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 362 | 284 | 102 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 272 | 237 | 96 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 254 | 234 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 282 | 269 | 91 |
| 6 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 40 | 32 | 10 | 265 | 248 | 90 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 234 | 204 | 89 |
| 8 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 238 | 248 | 88 |
| 9 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 215 | 202 | 86 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 237 | 259 | 77 |
| 11 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 247 | 262 | 73 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 22 | 50 | 10 | 229 | 315 | 54 |
| 13 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 18 | 59 | 5 | 191 | 291 | 41 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

1995–96 regular season :
October: 2–6–2 (home: 1–3–1; road: 1–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 7, 19954–4 OT@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)0–0–1Recap
2LOctober 10, 19953–7@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)0–1–1Recap
3LOctober 14, 19950–3Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)0–2–1Recap
4LOctober 15, 19953–5@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)0–3–1Recap
5LOctober 17, 19951–5New York Rangers (1995–96)0–4–1Recap
6WOctober 20, 19952–0Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)1–4–1Recap
7LOctober 25, 19951–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)1–5–1Recap
8LOctober 26, 19955–7Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)1–6–1Recap
9TOctober 28, 19955–5 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)1–6–2Recap
10WOctober 31, 19955–4 OT@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)2–6–2Recap :
November: 3–9–1 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11LNovember 3, 19953–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)2–7–2Recap
12LNovember 4, 19952–3Washington Capitals (1995–96)2–8–2Recap
13LNovember 7, 19952–5Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)2–9–2Recap
14LNovember 10, 19951–4@ New York Rangers (1995–96)2–10–2Recap
15LNovember 11, 19951–4St. Louis Blues (1995–96)2–11–2Recap
16WNovember 14, 19955–3@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)3–11–2Recap
17LNovember 16, 19952–9@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)3–12–2Recap
18LNovember 17, 19951–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)3–13–2Recap
19WNovember 22, 19955–2Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)4–13–2Recap
20TNovember 24, 19951–1 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)4–13–3Recap
21LNovember 25, 19951–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)4–14–3Recap
22LNovember 28, 19953–7Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)4–15–3Recap
23WNovember 30, 19955–3@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)5–15–3Recap :
December: 4–7–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 2–5–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24WDecember 2, 19954–1New Jersey Devils (1995–96)6–15–3Recap
25LDecember 5, 19953–6Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)6–16–3Recap
26LDecember 6, 19954–7@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)6–17–3Recap
27LDecember 9, 19952–4@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)6–18–3Recap
28WDecember 10, 19956–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)7–18–3Recap
29LDecember 12, 19951–3Florida Panthers (1995–96)7–19–3Recap
30LDecember 14, 19953–4 OT@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)7–20–3Recap
31TDecember 16, 19953–3 OTHartford Whalers (1995–96)7–20–4Recap
32LDecember 19, 19951–4@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)7–21–4Recap
33TDecember 21, 19953–3 OT@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)7–21–5Recap
34WDecember 23, 19953–1Washington Capitals (1995–96)8–21–5Recap
35TDecember 26, 19953–3 OTBoston Bruins (1995–96)8–21–6Recap
36LDecember 27, 19953–5@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)8–22–6Recap
37WDecember 31, 19955–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)9–22–6Recap :
January: 4–5–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 0–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38TJanuary 4, 19962–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1995–96)9–22–7Recap
39WJanuary 6, 19965–4Ottawa Senators (1995–96)10–22–7Recap
40TJanuary 9, 19963–3 OTChicago Blackhawks (1995–96)10–22–8Recap
41WJanuary 11, 19964–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)11–22–8Recap
42WJanuary 15, 19963–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)12–22–8Recap
43LJanuary 17, 19963–6Hartford Whalers (1995–96)12–23–8Recap
44LJanuary 22, 19963–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)12–24–8Recap
45LJanuary 24, 19961–4@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)12–25–8Recap
46LJanuary 26, 19961–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)12–26–8Recap
47LJanuary 27, 19963–6@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)12–27–8Recap
48WJanuary 30, 19965–4 OTBuffalo Sabres (1995–96)13–27–8Recap :
February: 5–8–0 (home: 4–5–0; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
49LFebruary 3, 19965–6 OT@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)13–28–8Recap
50WFebruary 4, 19965–3Dallas Stars (1995–96)14–28–8Recap
51LFebruary 6, 19962–4New York Rangers (1995–96)14–29–8Recap
52LFebruary 8, 19962–6@ New York Rangers (1995–96)14–30–8Recap
53WFebruary 10, 19964–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)15–30–8Recap
54LFebruary 12, 19961–4Ottawa Senators (1995–96)15–31–8Recap
55LFebruary 15, 19963–6Calgary Flames (1995–96)15–32–8Recap
56WFebruary 17, 19964–2San Jose Sharks (1995–96)16–32–8Recap
57WFebruary 22, 19965–3@ New York Rangers (1995–96)17–32–8Recap
58LFebruary 23, 19962–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)17–33–8Recap
59WFebruary 25, 19962–0Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)18–33–8Recap
60LFebruary 27, 19962–6Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)18–34–8Recap
61LFebruary 29, 19961–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)18–35–8Recap :
March: 2–12–0 (home: 1–4–0; road: 1–8–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62LMarch 1, 19962–6@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)18–36–8Recap
63LMarch 3, 19965–7Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)18–37–8Recap
64WMarch 5, 19965–3Boston Bruins (1995–96)19–37–8Recap
65LMarch 7, 19963–4@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)19–38–8Recap
66WMarch 9, 19964–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)20–38–8Recap
67LMarch 16, 19962–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)20–39–8Recap
68LMarch 17, 19961–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)20–40–8Recap
69LMarch 19, 19961–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)20–41–8Recap
70LMarch 21, 19962–3@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)20–42–8Recap
71LMarch 23, 19962–3 OTNew Jersey Devils (1995–96)20–43–8Recap
72LMarch 25, 19961–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)20–44–8Recap
73LMarch 26, 19961–7Washington Capitals (1995–96)20–45–8Recap
74LMarch 30, 19961–3@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)20–46–8Recap
75LMarch 31, 19961–4New York Rangers (1995–96)20–47–8Recap :
April: 2–3–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 1–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76LApril 2, 19962–6Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)20–48–8Recap
77LApril 5, 19962–4@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)20–49–8Recap
78WApril 6, 19963–0Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)21–49–8Recap
79LApril 8, 19963–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)21–50–8Recap
80WApril 10, 19966–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)22–50–8Recap
81TApril 12, 19961–1 OTFlorida Panthers (1995–96)22–50–9Recap
82TApril 13, 19965–5 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)22–50–10Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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 Islanders only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Zigmund Palffy | RW | 81 | 43 | 44 | 87 | −17 | 56 |
| 39 | Travis Green | C | 69 | 25 | 45 | 70 | −20 | 42 |
| 72 | Mathieu Schneider‡ | D | 65 | 11 | 36 | 47 | −18 | 93 |
| 18 | Marty McInnis | RW | 74 | 12 | 34 | 46 | −11 | 39 |
| 17 | Wendel Clark‡ | LW | 58 | 24 | 19 | 43 | −12 | 60 |
| 44 | Todd Bertuzzi | RW | 76 | 18 | 21 | 39 | −14 | 83 |
| 28 | Alexander Semak | C | 69 | 20 | 14 | 34 | −4 | 68 |
| 27 | Derek King | LW | 61 | 12 | 20 | 32 | −10 | 23 |
| 32 | Niklas Andersson | LW | 47 | 14 | 12 | 26 | −3 | 12 |
| 4 | Bryan McCabe | D | 82 | 7 | 16 | 23 | −24 | 156 |
| 26 | Patrick Flatley | RW | 56 | 8 | 9 | 17 | −24 | 21 |
| 7 | Scott Lachance | D | 55 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −19 | 54 |
| 20 | Bob Sweeney‡ | C | 66 | 6 | 6 | 12 | −23 | 59 |
| 82 | Martin Straka†‡ | C | 22 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −6 | 6 |
| 6 | Chris Luongo | D | 74 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −23 | 55 |
| 24 | Brent Severyn | LW | 65 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 180 |
| 21 | Dan Plante | RW | 73 | 5 | 3 | 8 | −22 | 50 |
| 11 | Darius Kasparaitis | D | 46 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −12 | 93 |
| 9 | Kirk Muller‡ | LW | 15 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −10 | 15 |
| 34 | Andrei Vasilyev | LW | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| 37 | Dennis Vaske | D | 19 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −13 | 21 |
| 17 | Darby Hendrickson† | C | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −6 | 33 |
| 2 | Bob Beers | D | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −2 | 10 |
| 14 | Derek Armstrong | C | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −6 | 14 |
| 3 | Kenny Jonsson† | D | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −5 | 10 |
| 33 | Milan Tichy | D | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 15 | Brad Dalgarno | RW | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 14 |
| 75 | Brett Lindros | RW | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −6 | 47 |
| 47 | Rich Pilon | D | 27 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −9 | 72 |
| 25 | Pat Conacher† | LW | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 0 |
| 12 | Mick Vukota | RW | 32 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 106 |
| 10 | Craig Darby | C | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 14 | Danton Cole‡ | RW | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Micah Aivazoff | C | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −6 | 6 |
| 3 | Dean Chynoweth‡ | D | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 40 |
| 34 | Jarrett Deuling | LW | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 11 |
| 1 | Eric Fichaud | G | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 34 | Jason Herter | D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 38 | Andreas Johansson | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 43 | Chris Taylor | C | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 33 | Ken Belanger† | LW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 27 |
| 36 | Bob Halkidis† | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 30 |
| 43 | Mike MacWilliam | LW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 14 |
| 29 | Jamie McLennan | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 32 | Grigori Panteleev | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 35 | Tommy Salo | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Tommy Soderstrom | G | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 7 |
| 36 | Jason Strudwick | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 34 | Jason Widmer | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 30 | Tommy Soderstrom | 51 | 11 | 22 | 6 | 1370 | 167 | 3.87 | .878 | 2 | 2590 |
| 1 | Eric Fichaud | 24 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 659 | 68 | 3.31 | .897 | 1 | 1234 |
| 29 | Jamie McLennan | 13 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 342 | 39 | 3.68 | .886 | 0 | 636 |
| 35 | Tommy Salo | 10 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 250 | 35 | 4.01 | .860 | 0 | 523 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Ken Morrow |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mathieu Schneider |
| Team | Bob Nystrom Award | Dan Plante |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Todd Bertuzzi | October 7, 1995 |
| First game | Bryan McCabe | October 7, 1995 |
| First game | Jason Herter | December 6, 1995 |
| First game | Eric Fichaud | January 30, 1996 |
| First game | Jarrett Deuling | February 25, 1996 |
| First game | Mike MacWilliam | March 17, 1996 |
| First game | Jason Strudwick | March 30, 1996 |
| First game | Andreas Johansson | April 5, 1996 |

## Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 2 | Wade Redden | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 2 | 28 | Jan Hlavac | Czech Republic | Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) |
| 2 | 41 | D. J. Smith | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) |
| 5 | 106 | Vladimir Orszagh | Slovakia | Iskra Banská Bystrica (Slovakia) |
| 7 | 158 | Andrew Taylor | Canada | Detroit Junior Red Wings (OHL) |
| 9 | 210 | David MacDonald | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 9 | 211 | Mike Broda | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |