1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 89th season of play. The Canadiens made the playoffs and advanced to the Conference Semifinals after winning 4 games to 2 in Conference Quarterfinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, their first playoff series win since the 1992–93 Stanley Cup title year. However, in the semifinals, they were swept in four games by the Buffalo Sabres.

1997–98 Montreal Canadiens
Division4th Northeast
Conference7th Eastern
1997–98 record37–32–13
Home record15–17–9
Road record22–15–4
Goals for235
Goals against208
Team information
General managerRejean Houle
CoachAlain Vigneault
CaptainVincent Damphousse
ArenaMolson Centre
Average attendance20,771
Minor league affiliate(s)Fredericton Canadiens
New Orleans Brass
Team leaders
GoalsMark Recchi (32)
AssistsSaku Koivu (43)
PointsMark Recchi (74)
Penalty minutesScott Thornton (158)
Plus/minusDave Manson (+22)
WinsJocelyn Thibault (19)
Goals against averageJocelyn Thibault (2.47)

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings
Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Pittsburgh Penguins8240241822818898
2Boston Bruins8239301322119491
3Buffalo Sabres8236291721118789
4Montreal Canadiens8237321323520887
5Ottawa Senators8234331519320083
6Carolina Hurricanes823341820021974
Eastern Conference[1]
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

Regular season
1997–98 regular season[2]
October: 6–4–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 1, 19972–2 OTOttawa Senators0–0–1Recap
2WOctober 4, 19974–1@ Boston Bruins1–0–1Recap
3WOctober 8, 19973–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–0–1Recap
4LOctober 11, 19972–6Philadelphia Flyers2–1–1Recap
5TOctober 15, 19971–1 OTPittsburgh Penguins2–1–2Recap
6WOctober 17, 19975–1@ Buffalo Sabres3–1–2Recap
7LOctober 18, 19972–3Washington Capitals3–2–2Recap
8WOctober 22, 19973–0Florida Panthers4–2–2Recap
9LOctober 23, 19971–2 OT@ New Jersey Devils4–3–2Recap
10WOctober 25, 19974–2@ Ottawa Senators5–3–2Recap
11WOctober 27, 19974–2Chicago Blackhawks6–3–2Recap
12LOctober 29, 19972–5New York Islanders6–4–2Recap
November: 9–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13WNovember 1, 19975–1Toronto Maple Leafs7–4–2Recap
14WNovember 3, 19976–4Dallas Stars8–4–2Recap
15WNovember 5, 19974–2Phoenix Coyotes9–4–2Recap
16WNovember 7, 19974–3@ San Jose Sharks10–4–2Recap
17WNovember 8, 19974–1@ Los Angeles Kings11–4–2Recap
18WNovember 12, 19974–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim12–4–2Recap
19WNovember 13, 19975–2@ Phoenix Coyotes13–4–2Recap
20LNovember 15, 19972–3Washington Capitals13–5–2Recap
21WNovember 17, 19974–1Tampa Bay Lightning14–5–2Recap
22LNovember 19, 19971–2@ Carolina Hurricanes14–6–2Recap
23LNovember 22, 19972–5Detroit Red Wings14–7–2Recap
24TNovember 24, 19972–2 OTSan Jose Sharks14–7–3Recap
25WNovember 26, 19976–5@ Washington Capitals15–7–3Recap
26LNovember 28, 19970–2@ Detroit Red Wings15–8–3Recap
27LNovember 29, 19973–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins15–9–3Recap
December: 6–6–3 (home: 4–2–2; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28LDecember 1, 19970–1Pittsburgh Penguins15–10–3Recap
29WDecember 3, 19972–0Los Angeles Kings16–10–3Recap
30TDecember 6, 19973–3 OTNew York Rangers16–10–4Recap
31WDecember 8, 19974–2Colorado Avalanche17–10–4Recap
32WDecember 10, 19974–3 OTSt. Louis Blues18–10–4Recap
33LDecember 12, 19972–5@ New Jersey Devils18–11–4Recap
34LDecember 13, 19972–4@ Boston Bruins18–12–4Recap
35LDecember 15, 19971–3Philadelphia Flyers18–13–4Recap
36LDecember 19, 19970–1@ Buffalo Sabres18–14–4Recap
37WDecember 20, 19974–1Ottawa Senators19–14–4Recap
38TDecember 22, 19973–3 OTEdmonton Oilers19–14–5Recap
39LDecember 23, 19973–4 OT@ Ottawa Senators19–15–5Recap
40WDecember 27, 19971–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins20–15–5Recap
41TDecember 29, 19971–1 OT@ Colorado Avalanche20–15–6Recap
42WDecember 31, 19973–2@ Calgary Flames21–15–6Recap
January: 6–4–1 (home: 1–4–0; road: 5–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
43WJanuary 2, 19985–3@ Edmonton Oilers22–15–6Recap
44WJanuary 3, 19984–2@ Vancouver Canucks23–15–6Recap
45LJanuary 7, 19981–2 OTBoston Bruins23–16–6Recap
46WJanuary 8, 19988–2@ New York Islanders24–16–6Recap
47WJanuary 12, 19986–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning25–16–6Recap
48TJanuary 14, 19983–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers25–16–7Recap
49WJanuary 21, 19984–2Boston Bruins26–16–7Recap
50LJanuary 24, 19983–4Carolina Hurricanes26–17–7Recap
51LJanuary 25, 19981–3New Jersey Devils26–18–7Recap
52WJanuary 29, 19983–2@ Philadelphia Flyers27–18–7Recap
53LJanuary 31, 19983–4Ottawa Senators27–19–7Recap
February: 1–4–0 (home: 0–2–0; road: 1–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54WFebruary 1, 19986–3@ Carolina Hurricanes28–19–7Recap
55LFebruary 4, 19982–4@ New York Islanders28–20–7Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19981–4Buffalo Sabres28–21–7Recap
57LFebruary 25, 19982–6Pittsburgh Penguins28–22–7Recap
58LFebruary 28, 19980–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs28–23–7Recap
March: 6–6–3 (home: 4–2–2; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59WMarch 4, 19983–1@ Dallas Stars29–23–7Recap
60LMarch 5, 19980–4@ St. Louis Blues29–24–7Recap
61LMarch 7, 19981–2Buffalo Sabres29–25–7Recap
62WMarch 9, 19986–1Florida Panthers30–25–7Recap
63TMarch 11, 19982–2 OTVancouver Canucks30–25–8Recap
64WMarch 12, 19984–1New York Rangers31–25–8Recap
65WMarch 14, 19984–2New Jersey Devils32–25–8Recap
66TMarch 16, 19983–3 OTCalgary Flames32–25–9Recap
67LMarch 18, 19981–2 OT@ New York Rangers32–26–9Recap
68LMarch 19, 19980–1@ Chicago Blackhawks32–27–9Recap
69LMarch 21, 19984–5Mighty Ducks of Anaheim32–28–9Recap
70WMarch 25, 19982–1 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning33–28–9Recap
71LMarch 26, 19984–5@ Florida Panthers33–29–9Recap
72WMarch 28, 19988–2Tampa Bay Lightning34–29–9Recap
73TMarch 31, 19983–3 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes34–29–10Recap
April: 3–3–3 (home: 0–2–2; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 1, 19984–3@ Florida Panthers35–29–10Recap
75LApril 4, 19980–1Carolina Hurricanes35–30–10Recap
76TApril 6, 19982–2 OT@ Washington Capitals35–30–11Recap
77WApril 7, 19983–2@ New York Rangers36–30–11Recap
78LApril 10, 19981–2@ Buffalo Sabres36–31–11Recap
79TApril 11, 19983–3 OTNew York Islanders36–31–12Recap
80LApril 15, 19982–6Boston Bruins36–32–12Recap
81WApril 16, 19982–0@ Ottawa Senators37–32–12Recap
82TApril 18, 19983–3 OTBuffalo Sabres37–32–13Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs
1998 Stanley Cup playoffs[2]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins – Canadiens win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 23, 19982–3@ Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 25, 19984–1@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 27, 19983–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCanadiens lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 29, 19983–6Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5WMay 1, 19985–2@ Pittsburgh PenguinsCanadiens lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 3, 19983–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCanadiens win 4–2Recap
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 8, 19982–3 OT@ Buffalo SabresSabres lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 10, 19983–6@ Buffalo SabresSabres lead 2–0Recap
3LMay 12, 19984–5 2OTBuffalo SabresSabres lead 3–0Recap
4LMay 14, 19981–3Buffalo SabresSabres win 4–0Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring
  • Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Canadiens only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
8Mark RecchiRW82324274115110481226
25Vincent DamphousseC76184159145810369−422
11Saku KoivuC69144357848623542
27Shayne CorsonLW62213455210810369326
26Martin RucinskyLW78213253138410303−24
38Vladimir MalakhovD7413314416709347−310
49Brian SavageLW6426174311369022−26
43Patrice BriseboisD79102737166710101−50
22Dave MansonD81430342212210011014
17Benoit BrunetLW681220321161810114
20Valeri Bure‡RW5072229−533——————
28Marc BureauC741361901210123−16
5Stephane QuintalD71610161397902224
24Scott ThorntonLW67691501589022010
71Sebastien BordeleauC5368145365000−12
44Jonas Hoglund†LW2865112610202−10
37Patrick Poulin†C344610−183000−10
23Turner StevensonRW634610−811010347112
44Stephane Richer‡RW1454915——————
34Peter PopovicD69268−6381011222
12Darcy Tucker‡RW39156−657——————
3Zarley Zalapski†D28156−1226011−34
52Craig RivetD61022−3935000−22
41Jocelyn ThibaultG47022020110
29Brett ClarkD41101−320——————
15Eric HoudeC9101−30——————
3David Wilkie‡D5101−14——————
55Igor Ulanov†D4011−21210145312
21Jassen Cullimore‡D300004——————
48Francois GroleauD100010——————
46Matt HigginsC1000−10——————
51David Ling‡RW1000−10——————
35Andy MoogG42000490000
14Terry RyanLW4000031——————
21Mick Vukota†RW22000−476100000
60Jose TheodoreG——————30000

Goaltending
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
41Jocelyn Thibault471915811091092.47.902226522001645.53.750043
35Andy Moog42181751024972.49.90532337945204243.04.8821474
60Jose Theodore——————————3013510.50.9710120

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honour Recipient Ref
League
(in-season)		 NHL All-Star Game selection Shayne Corson [3]
Saku Koivu
Mark Recchi
Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Patrice Brisebois [4]
Marc Bureau
Molson Cup Mark Recchi [5]

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[6]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
111Jason Ward CanadaErie Otters (OHL)
237Gregor Baumgartner AustriaLaval Titan College Francais (QMJHL)
365Ilkka Mikkola FinlandKarpat (Finland)
491Daniel Tetrault CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
5118Konstantin Sidulov RussiaMechel Chelyabinsk (Russia)
5122Gennady Razin UkraineKamloops Blazers (WHL)
6145Jonathan Desroches CanadaGranby Predateurs (QMJHL)
7172Ben Guite CanadaUniversity of Maine (Hockey East)
8197Petr Kubos Czech RepublicPetra Vsetin (Czech Republic)
8202Andrei Sidyakin RussiaSalavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia)
9228Jarl-Espen Ygranes NorwayFuruset (Norway)

See also

References
  • "Montreal Canadiens 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  • "1997-98 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  1. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  2. "1997-98 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1998". NHL.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
  5. Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
  6. "1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
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