1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season

1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning
Division	6th Atlantic
Conference	11th Eastern
1996–97 record	32–40–10
Home record	15–18–8
Road record	17–22–2
Goals for	217
Goals against	247
Team information
General manager	Phil Esposito
Coach	Terry Crisp
Captain	Paul Ysebaert
Arena	Ice Palace
Average attendance	17,442
Minor league affiliate(s)	Adirondack Red Wings
Team leaders
Goals	Dino Ciccarelli (35)
Assists	John Cullen (37)
Points	Chris Gratton (62)
Penalty minutes	Chris Gratton (201)
Plus/minus	Bill Houlder (+16)
Wins	Rick Tabaracci (20)
Goals against average	Rick Tabaracci (2.75)

The 1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning's fifth season of operation. The Lightning were unable to qualify for the playoffs despite making their first playoff appearance the previous year and losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.

Regular season

Final standings

Atlantic Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	New Jersey Devils	82	45	23	14	231	182	104
2	3	Philadelphia Flyers	82	45	24	13	274	217	103
3	4	Florida Panthers	82	35	28	19	221	201	89
4	5	New York Rangers	82	38	34	10	258	231	86
5	9	Washington Capitals	82	33	40	9	214	231	75
6	11	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	32	40	10	217	247	74
7	12	New York Islanders	82	29	41	12	240	250	70

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	New Jersey Devils	ATL	82	45	23	14	231	182	104
2	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	40	30	12	237	208	92
3	Philadelphia Flyers	ATL	82	45	24	13	274	217	103
4	Florida Panthers	ATL	82	35	28	19	221	201	89
5	New York Rangers	ATL	82	38	34	10	258	231	86
6	Pittsburgh Penguins	NE	82	38	36	8	285	280	84
7	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	31	36	15	226	234	77
8	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	31	36	15	249	276	77
9	Washington Capitals	ATL	82	33	40	9	214	231	75
10	Hartford Whalers	NE	82	32	39	11	226	256	75
11	Tampa Bay Lightning	ATL	82	32	40	10	217	247	74
12	New York Islanders	ATL	82	29	41	12	240	250	70
13	Boston Bruins	NE	82	26	47	9	234	300	61

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1996–97 regular season
October: 5–4–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 4–1–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 1 W October 5, 1996 4–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 1–0–0 Recap 2 L October 11, 1996 2–6 @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) 1–1–0 Recap 3 W October 12, 1996 7–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 2–1–0 Recap 4 W October 15, 1996 4–0 @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 3–1–0 Recap 5 W October 20, 1996 5–2 New York Rangers (1996–97) 4–1–0 Recap 6 W October 22, 1996 6–3 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 5–1–0 Recap 7 L October 24, 1996 2–5 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 5–2–0 Recap 8 L October 26, 1996 1–4 New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 5–3–0 Recap 9 T October 29, 1996 2–2 OT Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 5–3–1 Recap 10 L October 31, 1996 3–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 5–4–1 Recap
November: 2–10–1 (home: 1–5–1; road: 1–5–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 11 L November 2, 1996 1–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 5–5–1 Recap 12 W November 4, 1996 5–3 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 6–5–1 Recap 13 L November 6, 1996 1–2 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 6–6–1 Recap 14 T November 8, 1996 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 6–6–2 Recap 15 L November 10, 1996 2–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 6–7–2 Recap 16 L November 14, 1996 3–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 6–8–2 Recap 17 L November 16, 1996 3–6 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 6–9–2 Recap 18 W November 19, 1996 3–0 Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 7–9–2 Recap 19 L November 23, 1996 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 7–10–2 Recap 20 L November 25, 1996 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 7–11–2 Recap 21 L November 27, 1996 0–3 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 7–12–2 Recap 22 L November 29, 1996 1–2 Dallas Stars (1996–97) 7–13–2 Recap 23 L November 30, 1996 3–6 Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 7–14–2 Recap
December: 5–5–3 (home: 2–1–3; road: 3–4–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 24 L December 4, 1996 1–3 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 7–15–2 Recap 25 W December 5, 1996 2–1 @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 8–15–2 Recap 26 W December 7, 1996 4–3 @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 9–15–2 Recap 27 T December 12, 1996 2–2 OT Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 9–15–3 Recap 28 W December 14, 1996 4–1 New York Islanders (1996–97) 10–15–3 Recap 29 W December 16, 1996 4–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 11–15–3 Recap 30 L December 18, 1996 3–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 11–16–3 Recap 31 L December 19, 1996 0–3 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 11–17–3 Recap 32 L December 21, 1996 5–6 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 11–18–3 Recap 33 L December 23, 1996 1–3 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 11–19–3 Recap 34 T December 26, 1996 3–3 OT Florida Panthers (1996–97) 11–19–4 Recap 35 T December 28, 1996 4–4 OT Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 11–19–5 Recap 36 W December 31, 1996 4–2 New York Rangers (1996–97) 12–19–5 Recap
January: 6–5–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 4–4–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 37 W January 3, 1997 3–2 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 13–19–5 Recap 38 L January 4, 1997 3–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 13–20–5 Recap 39 W January 6, 1997 4–3 @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 14–20–5 Recap 40 W January 8, 1997 4–3 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 15–20–5 Recap 41 W January 9, 1997 3–1 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 16–20–5 Recap 42 T January 11, 1997 4–4 OT New York Islanders (1996–97) 16–20–6 Recap 43 W January 13, 1997 2–0 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 17–20–6 Recap 44 L January 15, 1997 2–4 @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 17–21–6 Recap 45 W January 21, 1997 3–2 OT Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 18–21–6 Recap 46 L January 25, 1997 2–3 @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 18–22–6 Recap 47 L January 27, 1997 3–5 @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 18–23–6 Recap 48 L January 30, 1997 1–4 Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 18–24–6 Recap
February: 6–6–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 1–4–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 49 L February 1, 1997 0–3 Boston Bruins (1996–97) 18–25–6 Recap 50 W February 4, 1997 2–0 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 19–25–6 Recap 51 L February 5, 1997 0–4 @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) 19–26–6 Recap 52 L February 8, 1997 1–3 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 19–27–6 Recap 53 L February 12, 1997 2–5 @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 19–28–6 Recap 54 L February 14, 1997 4–5 OT @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) 19–29–6 Recap 55 W February 15, 1997 4–1 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 20–29–6 Recap 56 T February 17, 1997 3–3 OT Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 20–29–7 Recap 57 W February 20, 1997 5–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 21–29–7 Recap 58 W February 22, 1997 3–1 New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 22–29–7 Recap 59 W February 23, 1997 4–3 San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 23–29–7 Recap 60 W February 25, 1997 3–2 St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 24–29–7 Recap 61 L February 27, 1997 2–6 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 24–30–7 Recap
March: 5–8–1 (home: 3–6–0; road: 2–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 62 W March 1, 1997 2–0 Florida Panthers (1996–97) 25–30–7 Recap 63 W March 4, 1997 6–3 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 26–30–7 Recap 64 L March 6, 1997 0–5 Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 26–31–7 Recap 65 L March 8, 1997 4–6 Boston Bruins (1996–97) 26–32–7 Recap 66 W March 9, 1997 2–1 OT Calgary Flames (1996–97) 27–32–7 Recap 67 L March 13, 1997 0–3 New York Islanders (1996–97) 27–33–7 Recap 68 L March 15, 1997 2–5 Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 27–34–7 Recap 69 L March 16, 1997 1–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 27–35–7 Recap 70 L March 19, 1997 1–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 27–36–7 Recap 71 W March 21, 1997 4–3 OT @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) 28–36–7 Recap 72 L March 22, 1997 2–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 28–37–7 Recap 73 W March 25, 1997 5–0 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 29–37–7 Recap 74 L March 27, 1997 2–5 Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 29–38–7 Recap 75 T March 29, 1997 1–1 OT @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) 29–38–8 Recap
April: 3–2–2 (home: 1–0–1; road: 2–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 76 T April 1, 1997 1–1 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 29–38–9 Recap 77 L April 4, 1997 0–3 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 29–39–9 Recap 78 W April 5, 1997 3–2 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 30–39–9 Recap 79 T April 8, 1997 2–2 OT New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 30–39–10 Recap 80 W April 10, 1997 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 31–39–10 Recap 81 W April 11, 1997 4–2 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 32–39–10 Recap 82 L April 13, 1997 1–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 32–40–10 Recap
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 Lightning only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season
			GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
77	Chris Gratton	C	82	30	32	62	−28	201
22	Dino Ciccarelli	RW	77	35	25	60	−11	116
12	John Cullen	C	70	18	37	55	−14	95
7	Rob Zamuner	LW	82	17	33	50	3	56
44	Roman Hamrlik	D	79	12	28	40	−29	57
11	Shawn Burr	LW	74	14	21	35	5	106
29	Alex Selivanov	RW	69	15	18	33	−3	61
18	Daymond Langkow	C	79	15	13	28	1	35
28	Patrick Poulin	C	73	12	14	26	−16	56
2	Bill Houlder	D	79	4	21	25	16	30
19	Brian Bradley	C	35	7	17	24	2	16
34	Mikael Andersson	LW	70	5	14	19	1	8
15	Paul Ysebaert	C	39	5	12	17	1	4
55	Drew Bannister‡	D	64	4	13	17	−21	44
24	Jason Wiemer	C	63	9	5	14	−13	134
27	David Shaw	D	57	1	10	11	1	72
9	Jeff Toms	C	34	2	8	10	2	10
4	Cory Cross	D	72	4	5	9	6	95
5	Igor Ulanov	D	59	1	7	8	2	108
20	Rudy Poeschek	RW	60	0	6	6	−3	120
6	Jeff Norton†	D	13	0	5	5	0	16
74	Brantt Myhres	RW	47	3	1	4	1	136
23	Brian Bellows‡	LW	7	1	2	3	−4	0
92	Aaron Gavey‡	C	16	1	2	3	−1	12
17	Brent Peterson	LW	17	2	0	2	−4	4
8	Jamie Huscroft†	D	13	0	1	1	−4	34
32	Corey Schwab	G	31	0	1	1		10
31	Rick Tabaracci†	G	55	0	1	1		12
10	Paul Brousseau	RW	6	0	0	0	−4	0
25	Allan Egeland	C	4	0	0	0	−3	5
93	Daren Puppa	G	6	0	0	0		2
26	Jay Wells	D	21	0	0	0	−3	13
35	Derek Wilkinson	G	5	0	0	0		0
6	Craig Wolanin‡	D	15	0	0	0	−9	8

Goaltending

• † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.

No.	Player	Regular season
		GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
31	Rick Tabaracci†	55	20	25	6	1415	138	2.75	.902	4	3012
32	Corey Schwab	31	11	12	1	719	74	3.04	.897	2	1462
93	Daren Puppa	6	1	1	2	150	14	2.59	.907	0	325
35	Derek Wilkinson	5	0	2	1	72	12	4.26	.833	0	169

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Dino Ciccarelli
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Daymond Langkow (February)

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Brent Peterson	November 2, 1996

Draft picks

Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	16	Mario Larocque	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
3	69	Curtis Tipler	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
5	125	Jason Robinson	Canada	Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
6	152	Nikolai Ignatov	Russia	CSKA Moscow (Russia)
6	157	Xavier Delisle	Canada	Granby Predateurs (QMJHL)
7	179	Pavel Kubina	Czech Republic	HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic)

See also

• 1996–97 NHL season

References

• "Tampa Bay Lightning 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
• "1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.