1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks season

1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks
Division	5th Central
Conference	9th Western
1997–98 record	30–39–13
Home record	14–19–8
Road record	16–20–5
Goals for	192
Goals against	199
Team information
General manager	Bob Murray
Coach	Craig Hartsburg
Captain	Chris Chelios
Arena	United Center
Average attendance	18,350
Minor league affiliate(s)	Indianapolis Ice Columbus Chill
Team leaders
Goals	Tony Amonte (31) Eric Daze (31)
Assists	Tony Amonte (42)
Points	Tony Amonte (73)
Penalty minutes	Jim Cummins (178)
Plus/minus	Tony Amonte (+21)
Wins	Jeff Hackett (21)
Goals against average	Jeff Hackett (2.20)

The 1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 72nd season of operation of the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League. The Blackhawks did not qualify for the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which snapped their 28 year playoff streak.

Regular season

The Blackhawks were shut out a league-high 11 times, tied with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the 10 shutouts that Blackhawks goaltenders recorded, a total of 21 of Chicago's 82 regular-season games ended in a shutout. The Blackhawks also tied the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most short-handed goals allowed, with 16. Also, the Blackhawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1969.

Final standings

Central Division

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

Western Conference

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

Schedule and results

1997–98 regular season
October: 4–10–0 (home: 3–5–0; road: 1–5–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 1 L October 1, 1997 2–6 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 0–1–0 Recap 2 L October 4, 1997 2–3 @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 0–2–0 Recap 3 L October 9, 1997 1–4 Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 0–3–0 Recap 4 L October 10, 1997 0–7 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 0–4–0 Recap 5 L October 13, 1997 1–2 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 0–5–0 Recap 6 L October 15, 1997 0–2 Washington Capitals (1997–98) 0–6–0 Recap 7 L October 17, 1997 0–2 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 0–7–0 Recap 8 W October 19, 1997 5–2 Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 1–7–0 Recap 9 W October 22, 1997 1–0 @ New York Rangers (1997–98) 2–7–0 Recap 10 L October 24, 1997 0–2 Dallas Stars (1997–98) 2–8–0 Recap 11 L October 26, 1997 2–3 Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 2–9–0 Recap 12 L October 27, 1997 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 2–10–0 Recap 13 W October 29, 1997 3–0 Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 3–10–0 Recap 14 W October 31, 1997 5–3 San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 4–10–0 Recap
November: 6–3–4 (home: 2–1–2; road: 4–2–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 15 W November 2, 1997 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 5–10–0 Recap 16 W November 6, 1997 2–1 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 6–10–0 Recap 17 W November 8, 1997 4–2 @ New York Islanders (1997–98) 7–10–0 Recap 18 T November 10, 1997 1–1 OT Calgary Flames (1997–98) 7–10–1 Recap 19 L November 11, 1997 2–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 7–11–1 Recap 20 L November 13, 1997 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 7–12–1 Recap 21 T November 16, 1997 3–3 OT Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 7–12–2 Recap 22 W November 19, 1997 4–0 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 8–12–2 Recap 23 L November 20, 1997 3–4 @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 8–13–2 Recap 24 W November 22, 1997 5–4 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 9–13–2 Recap 25 T November 25, 1997 2–2 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 9–13–3 Recap 26 T November 27, 1997 2–2 OT @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 9–13–4 Recap 27 W November 29, 1997 3–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 10–13–4 Recap
December: 4–5–3 (home: 1–4–2; road: 3–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 28 L December 4, 1997 1–2 Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 10–14–4 Recap 29 T December 7, 1997 3–3 OT Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 10–14–5 Recap 30 T December 10, 1997 3–3 OT Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 10–14–6 Recap 31 L December 12, 1997 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 10–15–6 Recap 32 L December 14, 1997 1–2 San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 10–16–6 Recap 33 L December 16, 1997 3–4 OT @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 10–17–6 Recap 34 T December 17, 1997 0–0 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 10–17–7 Recap 35 W December 20, 1997 5–0 @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 11–17–7 Recap 36 L December 22, 1997 0–1 Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 11–18–7 Recap 37 W December 26, 1997 4–1 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 12–18–7 Recap 38 W December 28, 1997 2–0 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 13–18–7 Recap 39 W December 30, 1997 6–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 14–18–7 Recap
January: 7–4–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 3–2–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 40 T January 1, 1998 3–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 14–18–8 Recap 41 W January 4, 1998 3–1 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 15–18–8 Recap 42 T January 5, 1998 1–1 OT Calgary Flames (1997–98) 15–18–9 Recap 43 L January 9, 1998 2–4 Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 15–19–9 Recap 44 W January 10, 1998 4–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 16–19–9 Recap 45 W January 12, 1998 3–2 Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 17–19–9 Recap 46 W January 14, 1998 4–1 @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 18–19–9 Recap 47 L January 15, 1998 2–3 @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) 18–20–9 Recap 48 W January 20, 1998 5–2 New York Islanders (1997–98) 19–20–9 Recap 49 L January 22, 1998 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 19–21–9 Recap 50 W January 24, 1998 5–4 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 20–21–9 Recap 51 W January 29, 1998 3–0 @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 21–21–9 Recap 52 L January 31, 1998 0–3 @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 21–22–9 Recap
February: 2–4–0 (home: 0–1–0; road: 2–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 53 L February 1, 1998 3–4 OT @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 21–23–9 Recap 54 W February 3, 1998 4–2 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 22–23–9 Recap 55 L February 5, 1998 2–4 @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 22–24–9 Recap 56 L February 7, 1998 1–3 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 22–25–9 Recap 57 L February 26, 1998 4–7 Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 22–26–9 Recap 58 W February 28, 1998 4–0 @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 23–26–9 Recap
March: 6–7–3 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–4–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 59 T March 1, 1998 2–2 OT Dallas Stars (1997–98) 23–26–10 Recap 60 L March 3, 1998 3–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 23–27–10 Recap 61 T March 5, 1998 2–2 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 23–27–11 Recap 62 W March 7, 1998 2–1 @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) 24–27–11 Recap 63 L March 9, 1998 3–4 OT Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 24–28–11 Recap 64 L March 12, 1998 0–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 24–29–11 Recap 65 L March 14, 1998 0–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 24–30–11 Recap 66 W March 15, 1998 8–4 @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 25–30–11 Recap 67 W March 17, 1998 5–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 26–30–11 Recap 68 W March 19, 1998 1–0 Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 27–30–11 Recap 69 W March 22, 1998 1–0 Boston Bruins (1997–98) 28–30–11 Recap 70 T March 23, 1998 5–5 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 28–30–12 Recap 71 L March 25, 1998 2–3 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 28–31–12 Recap 72 W March 27, 1998 2–1 Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 29–31–12 Recap 73 L March 29, 1998 0–4 Florida Panthers (1997–98) 29–32–12 Recap 74 L March 31, 1998 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 29–33–12 Recap
April: 1–6–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 0–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 75 W April 2, 1998 2–1 Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 30–33–12 Recap 76 L April 4, 1998 2–3 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 30–34–12 Recap 77 L April 5, 1998 1–2 OT New York Rangers (1997–98) 30–35–12 Recap 78 L April 9, 1998 2–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 30–36–12 Recap 79 L April 12, 1998 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 30–37–12 Recap 80 L April 15, 1998 2–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 30–38–12 Recap 81 T April 16, 1998 1–1 OT New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 30–38–13 Recap 82 L April 18, 1998 1–3 @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 30–39–13 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 Blackhawks only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.

			Regular season
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
10	Tony Amonte	RW	82	31	42	73	21	66
36	Alexei Zhamnov	C	70	21	28	49	16	61
55	Eric Daze	RW	80	31	11	42	4	22
20	Gary Suter	D	73	14	28	42	1	74
7	Chris Chelios	D	81	3	39	42	−7	151
22	Greg Johnson†	C	69	11	22	33	−2	38
11	Jeff Shantz	C	61	11	20	31	0	36
25	Sergei Krivokrasov	LW	58	10	13	23	−1	33
2	Eric Weinrich	D	82	2	21	23	10	106
19	Ethan Moreau	LW	54	9	9	18	0	73
14	Steve Dubinsky	C	82	5	13	18	−6	57
38	James Black	RW	52	10	5	15	−8	8
4	Keith Carney‡	D	60	2	13	15	−7	73
23	Jean-Yves Leroux	LW	66	6	7	13	−2	55
46	Dmitri Nabokov	C	25	7	4	11	−1	10
17	Kevin Miller	RW	37	4	7	11	−4	8
15	Chad Kilger†	C	22	3	8	11	2	6
3	Christian Laflamme	D	72	0	11	11	14	59
12	Brent Sutter	RW	52	2	6	8	−6	28
33	Reid Simpson†	LW	38	3	2	5	−1	102
54	Brian Felsner	LW	12	1	3	4	0	12
6	Michal Sykora	D	28	1	3	4	−10	12
24	Bob Probert	LW	14	2	1	3	−7	48
39	Craig Mills	RW	20	0	3	3	1	34
8	Cam Russell	D	41	1	1	2	3	79
15	Jim Cummins‡	RW	55	0	2	2	−9	178
4	Jayson More†	D	17	0	2	2	7	8
26	Todd White	C	7	1	0	1	0	2
5	Trent Yawney	D	45	1	0	1	−5	76
16	Jarrod Skalde†‡†‡	C	7	0	1	1	0	4
40	Chris Terreri	G	21	0	1	1		2
34	Ryan VandenBussche†	RW	4	0	1	1	0	5
32	Daniel Cleary	LW	6	0	0	0	−2	0
16	Martin Gendron†‡	RW	2	0	0	0	−1	0
31	Jeff Hackett	G	58	0	0	0		8
56	Ryan Huska	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0
29	Andrei Trefilov†	G	6	0	0	0		0
17	Petri Varis	LW	1	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

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

		Regular season
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
31	Jeff Hackett	58	21	25	11	1520	126	2.20	.917	8	3441
40	Chris Terreri	21	8	10	2	519	49	2.41	.906	2	1222
29	Andrei Trefilov†	6	1	4	0	145	17	3.41	.883	0	299

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Tony Amonte
		Chris Chelios

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
600th assist	Chris Chelios	March 7, 1998
1,000th game played	Chris Chelios	April 16, 1998

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	13	Daniel Cleary	Canada	Belleville Bulls (OHL)
1	16	Ty Jones	United States	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
2	39	Jeremy Reich	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
3	67	Michael Souza	United States	University of New Hampshire (Hockey East)
5	110	Ben Simon	United States	University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
5	120	Pete Gardiner	Canada	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC)
5	130	Kyle Calder	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
6	147	Heath Gordon	United States	Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
7	174	Jerad Smith	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
8	204	Sergei Shikhanov	Russia	Lada Togliatti (Russia)
9	230	Chris Feil	United States	Ohio State University (CCHA)

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• "Chicago Blackhawks 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
• "1997-98 Chicago Blackhawks Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.