1997–98 New York Rangers season

The 1997–98 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 72nd season. The Rangers posted a 25–39–18 record in the regular season and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.[1] New York missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season.[2]

1997–98 New York Rangers
Division5th Atlantic
Conference11th Eastern
1997–98 record25–39–18
Home record14–18–9
Road record11–21–9
Goals for197
Goals against231
Team information
General managerNeil Smith
CoachColin Campbell (Oct–Feb)
John Muckler (Feb–Apr)
CaptainBrian Leetch
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Average attendance18,189
Minor league affiliate(s)Hartford Wolf Pack
Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
GoalsAdam Graves/Wayne Gretzky/
Alexei Kovalev/Pat LaFontaine (23)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (67)
PointsWayne Gretzky (90)
Penalty minutesDarren Langdon (197)
Plus/minusTim Sweeney (+7)
WinsMike Richter (21)
Goals against averageDan Cloutier (2.50)

The Rangers fired head coach Colin Campbell during the season and replaced him with former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup-winning coach John Muckler.[3] This was also the first season since the 1990–91 campaign that the Rangers did not have Mark Messier; after a contentious negotiating period, the Rangers elected not to re-sign Messier and he instead joined the Vancouver Canucks.[4]

Regular season

The Rangers were the only team in the league not to score a short-handed goal.[5]

Final standings
Atlantic Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey Devils82482311225166107
2Philadelphia Flyers8242291124219395
3Washington Capitals8240301221920292
4New York Islanders8230411121222571
5New York Rangers8225391819723168
6Florida Panthers8224431520325663
7Tampa Bay Lightning8217551015126944
Eastern Conference[6]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82482311225166107
2Pittsburgh PenguinsNE8240241822818898
3Philadelphia FlyersATL8242291124219395
4Washington CapitalsATL8240301221920292
5Boston BruinsNE8239301322119491
6Buffalo SabresNE8236291721118789
7Montreal CanadiensNE8237321323520887
8Ottawa SenatorsNE8234331519320083
9Carolina HurricanesNE823341820021974
10New York IslandersATL8230411121222571
11New York RangersATL8225391819723168
12Florida PanthersATL8224431520325663
13Tampa Bay LightningATL8217551015126944

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results
1997–98 regular season[7]
October: 3–6–5 (home: 2–3–3; road: 1–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
1October 3, 1997New York Islanders2–2 OT0–0–1Recap
2October 5, 1997Los Angeles Kings2–2 OT0–0–2Recap
3October 8, 1997@ Edmonton Oilers3–3 OT0–0–3Recap
4October 9, 1997@ Calgary Flames1–1 OT0–0–4Recap
5October 11, 1997@ Vancouver Canucks6–31–0–4Recap
6October 14, 1997Pittsburgh Penguins1–01–1–4Recap
7October 15, 1997@ Ottawa Senators5–11–2–4Recap
8October 18, 1997@ St. Louis Blues5–31–3–4Recap
9October 20, 1997Carolina Hurricanes4–22–3–4Recap
10October 22, 1997Chicago Blackhawks1–02–4–4Recap
11October 24, 1997Tampa Bay Lightning4–33–4–4Recap
12October 26, 1997Mighty Ducks of Anaheim3–3 OT3–4–5Recap
13October 28, 1997Dallas Stars3–23–5–5Recap
14October 30, 1997@ New York Islanders5–33–6–5Recap
November: 5–5–4 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
15November 3, 1997Edmonton Oilers2–2 OT3–6–6Recap
16November 5, 1997@ Colorado Avalanche4–24–6–6Recap
17November 7, 1997@ Dallas Stars2–2 OT4–6–7Recap
18November 12, 1997New Jersey Devils3–24–7–7Recap
19November 14, 1997Pittsburgh Penguins3–15–7–7Recap
20November 16, 1997Colorado Avalanche4–16–7–7Recap
21November 18, 1997@ Florida Panthers3–17–7–7Recap
22November 19, 1997@ Tampa Bay Lightning6–37–8–7Recap
23November 21, 1997@ Carolina Hurricanes4–38–8–7Recap
24November 22, 1997@ Pittsburgh Penguins4–3 OT8–9–7Recap
25November 25, 1997Vancouver Canucks4–28–10–7Recap
26November 26, 1997@ New York Islanders4–18–11–7Recap
27November 28, 1997@ Buffalo Sabres3–3 OT8–11–8Recap
28November 30, 1997Florida Panthers1–1 OT8–11–9Recap
December: 4–7–3 (home: 3–4–1; road: 1–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
29December 2, 1997Washington Capitals3–2 OT8–12–9Recap
30December 5, 1997Philadelphia Flyers4–4 OT8–12–10Recap
31December 6, 1997@ Montreal Canadiens3–3 OT8–12–11Recap
32December 8, 1997Phoenix Coyotes3–19–12–11Recap
33December 10, 1997Calgary Flames4–19–13–11Recap
34December 12, 1997Florida Panthers4–39–14–11Recap
35December 16, 1997@ New Jersey Devils4–39–15–11Recap
36December 17, 1997@ Florida Panthers4–210–15–11Recap
37December 20, 1997@ Tampa Bay Lightning2–2 OT10–15–12Recap
38December 21, 1997Buffalo Sabres2–010–16–12Recap
39December 23, 1997Tampa Bay Lightning4–111–16–12Recap
40December 26, 1997@ Buffalo Sabres3–011–17–12Recap
41December 28, 1997Boston Bruins4–312–17–12Recap
42December 31, 1997@ Tampa Bay Lightning2–012–18–12Recap
January: 4–4–3 (home: 3–2–2; road: 1–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
43January 3, 1998@ Washington Capitals3–213–18–12Recap
44January 6, 1998Carolina Hurricanes4–214–18–12Recap
45January 8, 1998Washington Capitals5–314–19–12Recap
46January 12, 1998Toronto Maple Leafs3–215–19–12Recap
47January 14, 1998@ New Jersey Devils4–115–20–12Recap
48January 20, 1998St. Louis Blues3–116–20–12Recap
49January 22, 1998Philadelphia Flyers4–316–21–12Recap
50January 24, 1998New Jersey Devils3–3 OT16–21–13Recap
51January 26, 1998Washington Capitals2–2 OT16–21–14Recap
52January 29, 1998@ Ottawa Senators2–2 OT16–21–15Recap
53January 31, 1998@ Boston Bruins4–216–22–15Recap
February: 2–3–1 (home: 0–1–0; road: 2–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
54February 2, 1998@ San Jose Sharks3–217–22–15Recap
55February 4, 1998@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim3–217–23–15Recap
56February 5, 1998@ Los Angeles Kings3–117–24–15Recap
57February 7, 1998@ Phoenix Coyotes1–1 OT17–24–16Recap
58February 26, 1998@ Toronto Maple Leafs5–218–24–16Recap
59February 28, 1998Philadelphia Flyers3–118–25–16Recap
March: 4–9–2 (home: 3–4–1; road: 1–5–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
60March 2, 1998Buffalo Sabres1–018–26–16Recap
61March 4, 1998@ Florida Panthers4–319–26–16Recap
62March 7, 1998@ New Jersey Devils6–319–27–16Recap
63March 9, 1998New Jersey Devils2–2 OT19–27–17Recap
64March 11, 1998San Jose Sharks5–320–27–17Recap
65March 12, 1998@ Montreal Canadiens4–120–28–17Recap
66March 14, 1998@ Boston Bruins5–120–29–17Recap
67March 16, 1998Ottawa Senators5–421–29–17Recap
68March 18, 1998Montreal Canadiens2–1 OT22–29–17Recap
69March 21, 1998Detroit Red Wings4–322–30–17Recap
70March 22, 1998@ Philadelphia Flyers5–4 OT22–31–17Recap
71March 25, 1998Ottawa Senators3–2 OT22–32–17Recap
72March 26, 1998@ Carolina Hurricanes4–122–33–17Recap
73March 28, 1998@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–2 OT22–33–18Recap
74March 30, 1998Tampa Bay Lightning3–122–34–18Recap
April: 3–5–0 (home: 1–2–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordRecap
75April 1, 1998Boston Bruins4–222–35–18Recap
76April 4, 1998@ New York Islanders3–022–36–18Recap
77April 5, 1998@ Chicago Blackhawks2–1 OT23–36–18Recap
78April 7, 1998Montreal Canadiens3–223–37–18Recap
79April 11, 1998@ Detroit Red Wings5–223–38–18Recap
80April 14, 1998@ Washington Capitals3–123–39–18Recap
81April 15, 1998New York Islanders4–224–39–18Recap
82April 18, 1998@ Philadelphia Flyers2–125–39–18Recap
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 Rangers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
Regular season
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM
99Wayne GretzkyC82236790−1128
16Pat LaFontaineC67233962−1636
27Alexei KovalevLW73233053−2244
2Brian LeetchD76173350−3632
24Niklas SundstromRW70192847024
17Kevin StevensLW80142741−7130
9Adam GravesLW72231235−3041
37Tim SweeneyRW56111829726
33Bruce DriverD7551520−346
12Mike Keane‡RW7081018−1247
5Ulf SamuelssonD7339121122
20Brian Skrudland‡C595611−439
32Mike Eastwood‡C485510−216
25Alexander KarpovtsevD473710−138
18Bill BergC671910−1555
26Jeff FinleyD63167−355
15Darren LangdonLW703360197
10Marc SavardC28156−44
28P. J. Stock†C382354114
23Jeff BeukeboomD63055−25195
39Vladimir VorobievRW15224−106
21Johan LindbomLW38134428
6Doug LidsterD36044224
29Eric CairnsD39033−392
36Daniel GoneauLW11202−44
14Geoff SmithD15112−46
8Ryan VandenBussche‡RW16101−238
4Maxim GalanovD601112
35Mike RichterG720112
30Sylvain BlouinD100005
34Dan CloutierG1200019
12Bob Errey†RW12000−57
14Peter Ferraro†RW1000−22
31Jason Muzzatti‡G600010
36Pierre SevignyLW300002
8Brad Smyth†RW100000
38Ronnie SundinD100000
32Harry York†C2000−10

Goaltending
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
Regular season
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35Mike Richter7221311518881842.66.90304143
34Dan Cloutier12451248232.50.9070551
31Jason Muzzatti‡6032156173.26.8910313

Sources:[1][8]

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 NHL Second All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky (Center) [9]
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzky [10]
Brian Leetch[lower-alpha 1]
Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves [12]
Frank Boucher Trophy Wayne Gretzky [12]
Good Guy Award Alexei Kovalev [12]
Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Marc Savard [12]
Players' Player Award Darren Langdon [12]
Rangers MVP Wayne Gretzky [12]
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Wayne Gretzky [12]

Milestones
Milestone Player Date Ref
1,000th point Pat LaFontaine January 22, 1998 [13]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Civic Arena.[14][15]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 19 Stefan Cherneski RW  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2 46 Wes Jarvis D  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 73 Burke Henry D  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
4 93 Tomi Kallarsson D  Finland HPK Junior (Finland)
5 126 Jason McLean G  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
5 134 Johan Lindbom RW  Sweden HV71 (SEL)
6 136 Mike York C  United States Michigan State University (NCAA)
6 154 Shawn Degagne G  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
7 175 Johan Holmqvist G  Sweden Brynäs IF (SEL)
7 182 Mike Mottau D  United States Boston College (NCAA)
8 210 Andrew Proskurnicki LW  Canada Sarnia Sting (OHL)
9 236 Richard Miller D  United States Providence College (NCAA)

See also

Notes
  1. Leetch was voted to the starting lineup.[11]

References
  1. "1997–98 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  2. Sandomir, Richard (April 8, 1998). "Hockey; For Garden, No Playoffs Means No Payoff". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  3. "Veteran Muckler Hired To Coach N.Y. Rangers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1998. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  4. Diamos, Jason (July 29, 1997). "A Bad Feeling Chases Messier Out of New York". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  5. "1997–98 NHL Season Summary". Hockey Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  7. "1997–98 New York Rangers Schedule and Results". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  8. "New York Rangers 1997-98 roster and statistics". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  9. "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries – 1998". NHL.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  11. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  12. 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
  13. "Flyers get victory, spoil LaFontaine feat". Deseret News. Associated Press. January 23, 1998. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. "1997 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  15. "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 28, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
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