1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins season

Despite the absence of Mario Lemieux, the 1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins season started the off strong, by winning their first seven games. They remained undefeated in their first 13 games, going 12–0–1. However, after such a red-hot start to the season, the Penguins had a lukewarm record in their final 35 games, going 17–16–2. Jaromir Jagr won the Art Ross Trophy for most points (70), captain Ron Francis led the league in assists (48) and plus/minus (+30), and goaltender Ken Wregget led the league in wins (25). In a 7–3 Penguins' win over the Florida Panthers on February 7, Joe Mullen recorded an assist and became the first American-born NHL player to reach 1,000 points. Nine days later, Luc Robitaille scored four goals in a 5–2 Penguins win over the Hartford Whalers.

1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division2nd Northeast
Conference3rd Eastern
1994–95 record29–16–3
Home record18–5–1
Road record11–11–2
Goals for181
Goals against158
Team information
General managerCraig Patrick
CoachEddie Johnston
CaptainRon Francis
Alternate captainsUlf Samuelsson
Kevin Stevens
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJaromir Jagr (32)
AssistsRon Francis (48)
PointsJaromir Jagr (70)
Penalty minutesFrancois Leroux (114)
Plus/minusRon Francis (+30)
WinsKen Wregget (25)
Goals against averageKen Wregget (3.21)

Regular season

The Penguins had the highest shooting percentage in the NHL during the regular season, scoring 181 goals on just 1,400 shots (12.9%).[1]

Playoffs

Despite finding themselves in a three-games-to-one series deficit against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, the Penguins won Game 5 at home in overtime, 6–5, via Luc Robitaille's goal at 4:30 of the first overtime period. Peter Bondra, Dale Hunter, Jaromir Jagr and Kevin Stevens each scored twice in the game. Pittsburgh went on to win Game 6 in Washington, 7–1, and then closed out the series at home with a 3–0 victory in Game 7. It was the second time in four years that the Penguins had come back to defeat the Capitals after being down three games to one. The Penguins faced the New Jersey Devils in the second round, and won the opening game, 3–2. With only 1:15 remaining in Game 2, Jaromir Jagr tied the game at 2–2. The game seemed certain to head to overtime until a breakaway-goal by Devils captain Scott Stevens with just 29 seconds remaining. Claude Lemieux added an empty-net goal and the Devils tied the series with a 4–2 win. In the final three games of the series, the Penguins managed to score only three goals and were ultimately eliminated at home in Game 5, 4–1.

Final standings

Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11Quebec Nordiques483013518513465
23Pittsburgh Penguins482916318115861
34Boston Bruins482718315012757
47Buffalo Sabres482219713011951
510Hartford Whalers481924512714143
611Montreal Canadiens481823712514843
714Ottawa Senators48934511717423

[2]

Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Quebec NordiquesNE483013518513465
2Philadelphia FlyersAT482816415013260
3Pittsburgh PenguinsNE482916318115861
4Boston BruinsNE482718315012757
5New Jersey DevilsAT482218813612152
6Washington CapitalsAT482218813612052
7Buffalo SabresNE482219713011951
8New York RangersAT482223313913447
9Florida PanthersAT482022611512746
10Hartford WhalersNE481924512714143
11Montreal CanadiensNE481823712514843
12Tampa Bay LightningAT481728312014437
13New York IslandersAT481528512615835
14Ottawa SenatorsNE48934511717423

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1994–95 Schedule
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Suspensions

PlayerLengthDate
Luc Robitaille2 gamesFebruary 2, 1995

Injuries

PlayerInjuryDate
Mario Lemieux1–year leave for Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatmentAugust 29, 1994
Wayne McBeanWrist surgery (Out indefinitely)October 1, 1994
Tom BarrassoWrist surgery (Out indefinitely)January 20, 1995
Greg AndrusakSeparated shoulder (DTD)March 15, 1995
Tom BarrassoSore wrist (DTD)May 3, 1995
Drake BerehowskyKnee surgery (Out indefinitely)July 1, 1995

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ken Wregget382208:2825921183.2112190.90300014
Wendell Young10496:38360273.262550.8940002
Philippe DeRouville160:0010033.00270.8890000
Tom Barrasso2125:0001183.84750.8930000
Total2890:06291631563.2415760.90100016
Playoffs[7]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ken Wregget11660:35560333.003490.9051007
Tom Barrasso280:0001086.00410.8050002
Total740:35570413.323900.8951009

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season:[8]

Trades

July 29, 1994 To Los Angeles Kings

Rick Tocchet
1995 2nd round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Luc Robitaille

February 16, 1995 To Tampa Bay Lightning

future considerations

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Wendell Young

April 7, 1995 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Grant Jennings

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Drake Berehowsky

April 7, 1995 To Winnipeg Jets

Greg Brown

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

April 7, 1995 To Ottawa Senators

Martin Straka

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Norm Maciver
Troy Murray

Free agents

Player Acquired from Lost to Date
Jeff ChristianNew Jersey DevilsAugust 2, 1994
Mike RamseyBuffalo SabresAugust 3, 1994
John CullenToronto Maple LeafsAugust 3, 1994
Len BarrieFlorida PanthersAugust 15, 1994

Signings

Player Date
Joe DziedzicAugust 10, 1994
Brian FarrellSeptember 20, 1994
Ryan SavoiaApril 7, 1995

Other

Name Date Details
Allen PedersenSeptember 20, 1994Released
Doug BrownJanuary 18, 1995Lost in waiver draft (to Detroit Red Wings)
Chris JosephJanuary 18, 1995Claimed in waiver draft (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
Francois LerouxJanuary 18, 1995Claimed in waiver draft (from Ottawa Senators)
Mike HudsonJanuary 18, 1995Claimed in waiver draft (from New York Rangers)
Wayne McBeanJanuary 18, 1995Claimed in waiver draft (from Winnipeg Jets)
Micah AivazoffJanuary 18, 1995Claimed in waiver draft (from Detroit Red Wings)
Micah AivazoffJanuary 18, 1995Lost in waiver draft (to Edmonton Oilers)

Roster

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age NHL Draft Birthplace
37 Greg Andrusak D R 25 1988 Cranbrook, British Columbia
35 Tom Barrasso G R 30 1983 Boston, Massachusetts
9 Len Barrie C L 26 1988 Kimberley, British Columbia
44 Drake Berehowsky D R 23 1990 Toronto, Ontario
34 Jeffrey Christian LW L 24 1988 Burlington, Ontario
11 John Cullen C R 30 1986 Puslinch, Ontario
30 Philippe De Rouville G L 20 1992 Victoriaville, Quebec
34 Rusty Fitzgerald C L 22 1991 Minneapolis, Minnesota
10 Ron Francis (C) C L 32 1981 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
4 Greg Hawgood D L 26 1986 Edmonton, Alberta
16 Mike Hudson C L 28 1986 Guelph, Ontario
68 Jaromir Jagr RW L 23 1990 Kladno, Czech Republic
23 Chris Joseph D R 25 1987 Burnaby, British Columbia
18 Francois Leroux D L 25 1988 Ste-Adele, Quebec
22 Norm MacIver D L 30 Undrafted Thunder Bay, Ontario
15 Shawn McEachern LW L 26 1987 Waltham, Massachusetts
33 Jim McKenzie LW L 25 1989 Gull Lake, Saskatchewan
7 Joe Mullen RW R 38 Undrafted New York City, New York
55 Larry Murphy D R 34 1980 Scarborough, Ontario
12 Troy Murray C R 32 1980 Calgary, Alberta
29 Markus Naslund LW L 21 1991 Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
26 Richard Park RW R 19 1994 Seoul, South Korea
20 Luc Robitaille LW L 29 1984 Montreal, Quebec
28 Kjell Samuelsson D R 36 1984 Tyngsryd, Sweden
5 Ulf Samuelsson (A) D L 31 1982 Fagerstad, Sweden
17 Tomas Sandstrom RW L 30 1982 Jakobstad, Finland
25 Kevin Stevens (A) LW L 30 1983 Brockton, Massachusetts
32 Peter Taglianetti D L 31 1983 Framingham, Massachusetts
2 Chris Tamer D L 24 1990 Dearborn, Michigan
31 Ken Wregget G L 31 1982 Brandon, Manitoba
1 Wendell Young G L 31 1981 Halifax, Nova Scotia

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.[9]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
124Chris WellsCenter CanadaSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
250Richard ParkRight Wing United StatesBelleville Bulls (OHL)
357[a]Sven ButenschonDefense GermanyBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
373[b]Greg CrozierLeft Wing CanadaLawrence Academy (USHS–MA)
376Alexei KrivchenkovDefense RussiaCSKA Moscow (Russia)
4102Tom O'ConnorDefense United StatesSpringfield Olympics (EJHL)
5128Clint JohnsonLeft Wing United StatesEast High School (Duluth) (USHS–MN)
6154Valentin MorozovCenter RussiaCSKA Moscow (Russia)
7161[c]Serge AubinCenter CanadaGranby Bisons (QMJHL)
7180Drew PalmerDefense United StatesSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
8206Boris ZelenkoLeft Wing RussiaCSKA Moscow (RUssia)
9232Jason GodboutDefense United StatesHill-Murray School (USHS–MN)
10258Mikhail KazakevichCenter RussiaTorpedo Yaroslavl (Russia)
11284Brian LeitzaGoaltender United StatesSioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Draft notes[10]
  • a The Hartford Whalers' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a March 10, 1992, trade that sent Frank Pietrangelo to the Whalers in exchange for a seventh-round pick and this pick.
  • b The Boston Bruins' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of an October 8, 1993, trade that sent Paul Stanton to the Bruins in exchange for this pick.
  • c The Hartford Whalers' seventh-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a March 10, 1992, trade that sent Frank Pietrangelo to the Whalers in exchange for a third-round pick and this pick.

See also

References

  • "1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  • Penguins on Hockey Database
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