1997–98 NHL season
Template:Infobox NHL season The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Washington Capitals in four games.
League business
This was the first season for the Carolina Hurricanes, who were previously known as the Hartford Whalers. The Hurricanes played their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, a temporary home while awaiting the construction of their permanent home arena in Raleigh. They would remain in the Northeast Division. It was the last time for 14 years an NHL team would move.
This was the first season for Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who until the 2012–13 season was the longest-tenured NHL coach.
The controversial "FoxTrax" puck system was last used this season as well. In August 1998, the NHL signed a five-year, $600 million rights agreement with ABC Sports/ESPN. FOX elected not to use the system in the subsequent "lame duck" season.
This was the last season the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the Western Conference.
This was the last season of the four-division quasi-geographic alignment inherited from the traditional Adams/Patrick/Norris/Smythe set. The league would change the following season to a six-division, more purely geographic alignment.
For the first time since 1968–69 season, the Chicago Blackhawks missed the playoffs.
Regular season
The all-time record for most shutouts in a season, set at 127 just a year earlier,[1] was broken again as 160 shutouts were recorded, 13 of which were earned by Dominik Hasek,[2] who set a League record with 11 teams shut-out. He zeroed the New York Rangers three times, and Los Angeles, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Boston, Calgary, Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Edmonton once each. Only two teams, the St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings, averaged more than three goals scored per game.[3] In addition, only one player, Jaromir Jagr, reached the 100-point plateau during the regular season.[4]
Highlights
Jari Kurri reached 600 goals in his career, finishing with 601.
The Vancouver Canucks and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim opened the season with a two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, the first time the NHL played games outside of North America.
Final standings
- Eastern Conference
No. | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
2 | 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
3 | 4 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
4 | 10 | New York Islanders | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
5 | 11 | New York Rangers | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
6 | 12 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
7 | 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
2 | 5 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
3 | 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
4 | 7 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
5 | 8 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
6 | 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
4 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
6 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
7 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
8 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
9 | Carolina Hurricanes | NE | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
10 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
11 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
12 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs
- Western Conference
No. | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
2 | 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
3 | 4 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
4 | 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
5 | 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
6 | 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
2 | 5 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
3 | 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
4 | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
5 | 11 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
6 | 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
7 | 13 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | p – Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
2 | x – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
5 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
6 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
8 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
9 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
11 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
13 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Playoffs
Stanley Cup Final
The 1998 Stanley Cup Final was played in the 105th year of the Stanley Cup. The series was played between the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. The Red Wings were led by captain Steve Yzerman, Head Coach Scotty Bowman and goaltender Chris Osgood. The Capitals were led by captain Dale Hunter, Head Coach Ron Wilson and goaltender Olaf Kolzig. Detroit swept the series in four games and Steve Yzerman won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Date | Away | Score | Home | OT | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 9 | Washington | 1 – 2 | Detroit | ||
June 11 | Washington | 4 – 5 | Detroit | OT | |
June 13 | Detroit | 2 – 1 | Washington | ||
June 16 | Detroit | 4 – 1 | Washington | ||
Detroit wins series 4–0 and Stanley Cup |
Playoff bracket
Awards
The NHL Awards took place in Toronto, Ontario
All-Star teams
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Source: NHL.[7] |
|
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
Leading goaltenders
Regular season
Player | Team | GP | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ed Belfour | Dallas | 65 | 3581 | 112 | 9 | 1.88 |
Martin Brodeur | New Jersey | 70 | 4128 | 130 | 10 | 1.89 |
Tom Barrasso | Pittsburgh | 63 | 3542 | 122 | 7 | 2.07 |
Dominik Hasek | Buffalo | 72 | 4220 | 147 | 13 | 2.09 |
Ron Hextall | Philadelphia | 46 | 2688 | 97 | 4 | 2.17 |
Trevor Kidd | Carolina | 47 | 2685 | 97 | 3 | 2.17 |
Jamie McLennan | St. Louis | 30 | 1658 | 60 | 2 | 2.17 |
Jeff Hackett | Chicago | 58 | 3441 | 126 | 8 | 2.20 |
Olaf Kolzig | Washington | 64 | 3788 | 139 | 5 | 2.20 |
Chris Osgood | Detroit | 64 | 3807 | 140 | 6 | 2.21 |
Milestones
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1997–98 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
- Joe Thornton, Boston Bruins
- Sergei Samsonov, Boston Bruins
- Derek Morris, Calgary Flames
- Olli Jokinen, Los Angeles Kings
- Brendan Morrison, New Jersey Devils
- Sheldon Souray, New Jersey Devils
- Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders
- Marc Savard, New York Rangers
- Chris Phillips, Ottawa Senators
- Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators
- Daniel Briere, Phoenix Coyotes
- Alexei Morozov, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Marco Sturm, San Jose Sharks
- Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks
- Pavel Kubina, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Danny Markov, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Mattias Ohlund, Vancouver Canucks
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1997–98 (listed with their last team):
- Brent Sutter, Chicago Blackhawks
- Jari Kurri, Colorado Avalanche
- Slava Fetisov, Detroit Red Wings
- Kevin Lowe, Edmonton Oilers
- Andy Moog, Montreal Canadiens
- Bruce Driver, New York Rangers
- Pat LaFontaine, New York Rangers
- Joel Otto, Philadelphia Flyers
- Michel Petit, Phoenix Coyotes
- Mike Gartner, Phoenix Coyotes
- Al Iafrate, San Jose Sharks
- Kelly Hrudey, San Jose Sharks
- Jeff Brown, Washington Capitals
- Bob Errey, New York Rangers
- Brian Bradley, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Randy Burridge, Buffalo Sabres
- Jim Johnson, Phoenix Coyotes
- Todd Krygier, Washington Capitals
- Norm Maciver, Phoenix Coyotes
- Troy Mallette, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Craig Muni, Dallas Stars
- Yves Racine, Tampa Bay Lightning
- David Shaw, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Darrin Shannon, Phoenix Coyotes
- Mick Vukota, Montreal Canadiens
- Craig Wolanin, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Jocelyn Lemieux, Phoenix Coyotes
- John Druce, Philadelphia Flyers
- Peter Douris, Dallas Stars
- Mike Peluso, New York Rangers
- Dennis Vial, Ottawa Senators
Trading deadline
- Trading Deadline: MARCH 24, 1998 [8]
- March 24, 1998: D Dave Babych traded from Vancouver to Philadelphia for Philadelphia’s third round pick in 1998 Entry Draft. Vancouver also returns the conditional pick previously acquired from Philadelphia in the Mike Sillinger trade dated Feb. 5, 1998.
- March 24, 1998: D Dmitri Mironov traded from Anaheim to Detroit for D Jamie Pushor and Detroit’s fourth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 24, 1998: G Kirk McLean traded from Carolina to Florida for RW Ray Sheppard.
- March 24, 1998: D Jeff Brown traded from Toronto to Washington for D Sylvain Cote.
- March 24, 1998: RW Jason Dawe traded from Buffalo to NY Islanders for D Jason Holland and LW Paul Kruse.
- March 24, 1998: D Dan McGillis and Edmonton’s second round pick in 1998 Entry Draft traded from Edmonton to Philadelphia for D Janne Niinimaa.
- March 24, 1998: C Mark Janssens traded from NY Islanders to Phoenix for Phoenix’s ninth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 24, 1998: LW Warren Rychel and a conditional pick in 1999 Entry Draft traded from Anaheim to Colorado for C Josef Marha.
- March 24, 1998: C Sean Pronger traded from Anaheim to Pittsburgh for the rights to G Patrick Lalime.
- March 24, 1998: D Todd Gill traded from San Jose to St. Louis for RW Joe Murphy.
- March 24, 1998: RW Andrei Nazarov and future considerations traded from San Jose to Tampa Bay for D Bryan Marchment, D David Shaw and a conditional exchange of first round picks in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 24, 1998: C Mike Eastwood traded from NY Rangers to St. Louis for C Harry York.
- March 24, 1998: RW Mike Kennedy traded from Toronto to Dallas for Dallas’ eighth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft.
- March 24, 1998: RW Sandy McCarthy, Calgary’s third round pick in 1998 Entry Draft and a fifth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft traded from Calgary to Tampa Bay for LW Jason Wiemer.
- March 24, 1998: RW Todd Harvey, LW Bob Errey and a fourth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft traded from Dallas to NY Rangers for C Brian Skrudland, RW Mike Keane and a conditional pick in either the 1998 or 1999 Entry Draft.
- March 24, 1998: RW Tom Fitzgerald traded from Florida to Colorado for the rights to LW Mark Parrish and Anaheim’s third round pick in 1998 Entry Draft (previously acquired).
- March 24, 1998: D Rich Brennan traded from San Jose to NY Rangers for G Jason Muzzatti.
- March 24, 1998: D Ryan Risidore traded from Chicago to NY Rangers for RW Ryan Vandenbussche.
- March 24, 1998: D Jamie Macoun traded from Toronto to Detroit for Tampa Bay’s fourth round pick in 1998 Entry Draft (previously acquired)
See also
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- 1997 NHL Entry Draft
- 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game
- National Hockey League All-Star Game
- NHL All-Rookie Team
- Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
- 1997 in sports
- 1998 in sports
References
- Diamond, Dan, ed. (2000). Total Hockey. Kingston, NY: Total Sports. ISBN 1-892129-85-X.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto, ON: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Dryden, Steve, ed. (2000). Century of hockey. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Ltd. ISBN 0-7710-4179-9.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley; Hughes, Morgan; Romain, Joseph; Duplacey, James (2003). The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Inc. ISBN 0-7853-9624-1.
- Notes
- ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_goalies.html
- ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998_goalies.html
- ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998.html
- ^ a b http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998_leaders.html
- ^ "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ "1997-1998 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
- ^ Dinger 2011, p. 154.
- ^ NHL trade deadline: Deals since 1980 | Habs Inside/Out