| TEAM |
GP
Games played - Number of games the team has played
|
W
Wins - Games the team has won, either in regulation or in overtime
|
L
Losses - Games the team has lost in regulation
|
T
Ties - Games that have ended in a tie
|
PTS
Points - Team points, calculated from W, L, T, OTL and SOL; used to determine standings
|
GF
Goals for - Number of goals the team has scored
|
GA
Goals against - Number of goals scored against the team
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | 237 | 208 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 84 | 285 | 280 |
| Ottawa Senators | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 77 | 249 | 276 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 77 | 249 | 276 |
| Hartford Whalers | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 75 | 226 | 256 |
| Boston Bruins | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 61 | 234 | 300 |
| # | SKATERS |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
G
Goals - Number of goals the player has scored
|
A
Assists - Number of goals the player has assisted in
|
PTS
Points - Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Vincent Damphousse | 82 | 27 | 54 | 81 |
| 8 | Mark Recchi | 82 | 34 | 46 | 80 |
| 49 | Brian Savage | 81 | 23 | 37 | 60 |
| 11 | Saku Koivu | 50 | 17 | 39 | 56 |
| 26 | Martin Rucinsky | 70 | 28 | 27 | 55 |
| # | #1 GOALIE |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
RECORD
Record - Goalie record (W-L-T)
|
SO
Shutouts - Number of games where the goaltender has not allowed a goal
|
GAA
Goals against average - Mean goals-per-game scored on the goaltender
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Jocelyn Thibault | 61 | 22-24-11 | 1 | 2.90 |
| DATE | AWAY | HOME |
|---|
THE REGULAR SEASON
Before training camp even gets underway, the team reacquires Stephane Richer, traded away five years earlier, and sends Lyle Odelein to New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the revolving door for the team’s captains sends yet another leader packing. Pierre Turgeon is traded along with Rory Fitzpatrick and Craig Conroy to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Murray Baron and Shayne Corson, who returns for his second stint with the team.
The Canadiens struggle through the first half of the season. At the holiday break, the Habs are 11th overall in the Eastern Conference.
One of the highlights of the season is the standout play of Saku Koivu. In his second year in Montreal, the Finnish center leads the league in scoring at the beginning of December with 38 points. Unfortunately, he suffers a knee injury on December 7 in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks and misses the next 22 games.
The word “injury” figures prominently in any account of the team’s season as Montreal suffers a league-high 295 man-games lost.
While things don’t get any better for the Habs in January and February, with the team playing at well under .500, Canadiens fans can take some pride in watching the All-Star Game in San Jose. Mark Recchi, the team’s sole representative, scores a hat trick and becomes the fourth Montreal player to win the showcase game’s MVP award after Jean Béliveau, Henri Richard and Frank Mahovlich.
The Canadiens’ season doesn’t get much better after the break, though the team manages to cling to eighth place in the Eastern Conference. With 11 points in their last 20 games of the regular season, the Habs squeak into the playoffs.
THE PLAYOFFS
The Habs face the powerful New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs. The Devils take a quick 3-0 series lead behind the remarkable play of goalie Martin Brodeur. The Canadiens stave off elimination at home by winning the fourth game, 4-3, thanks to a standout performance by up-and-coming Jose Theodore who makes his playoff debut in Game 4 as Patrice Brisebois scores the winning goal in triple overtime, marking the Canadiens’ longest overtime game since 1961.
Montreal’s season comes to an end two days later on the road following a 4-0 loss.
Four days after the team’s elimination, coach Mario Tremblay announces his resignation.
| Conference quarter-finals - New Jersey Devils | ||||
| Date | AWAY | HOME | ||
| April 17th, 1997 | MTL 2 | NJ 5 | ||
| April 19th, 1997 | MTL 1 | NJ 4 | ||
| April 22nd, 1997 | NJ 6 | MTL 4 | ||
| April 24th, 1997 | NJ 3 | MTL 4 | ||
| April 26th, 1997 | MTL 0 | NJ 4 | ||
| New Jersey won best-of-seven series 4-1 | ||||
The St. Louis Blues were part of the NHL’s first expansion era in 1967-68. Despite the [...]
More
After a brief stay in the WHA (1972-79), the Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL in 1979. The [...]
More
The Florida Panthers joined the NHL in 1993-94. That year, the club recorded the best [...]
More