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 Conference semifinals, they were swept in four games by the Buffalo Sabres. Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 1, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators||0–0–1 ||

|2||October 4, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||1–0–1 ||

|3||October 8, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||2–0–1 ||

|4||October 11, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||2–1–1 ||

|5||October 15, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||2–1–2 ||

|6||October 17, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||3–1–2 ||

|7||October 18, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||3–2–2 ||

|8||October 22, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| Florida Panthers||4–2–2 ||

|9||October 23, 1997||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils||4–3–2 ||

|10||October 25, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||5–3–2 ||

|11||October 27, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks||6–3–2 ||

|12||October 29, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders||6–4–2 ||

|13||November 1, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs||7–4–2 ||

|14||November 3, 1997||6–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars||8–4–2 ||

|15||November 5, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes||9–4–2 ||

|16||November 7, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks||10–4–2 ||

|17||November 8, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings||11–4–2 ||

|18||November 12, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||12–4–2 ||

|19||November 13, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes||13–4–2 ||

|20||November 15, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||13–5–2 ||

|21||November 17, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning||14–5–2 ||

|22||November 19, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||14–6–2 ||

|23||November 22, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings||14–7–2 ||

|24||November 24, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| San Jose Sharks||14–7–3 ||

|25||November 26, 1997||6–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||15–7–3 ||

|26||November 28, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings||15–8–3 ||

|27||November 29, 1997||3–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||15–9–3 ||

|28||December 1, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||15–10–3 ||

|29||December 3, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings||16–10–3 ||

|30||December 6, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers||16–10–4 ||

|31||December 8, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche||17–10–4 ||

|32||December 10, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues||18–10–4 ||

|33||December 12, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils||18–11–4 ||

|34||December 13, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||18–12–4 ||

|35||December 15, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||18–13–4 ||

|36||December 19, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||18–14–4 ||

|37||December 20, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators||19–14–4 ||

|38||December 22, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers||19–14–5 ||

|39||December 23, 1997||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||19–15–5 ||

|40||December 27, 1997||1–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||20–15–5 ||

|41||December 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche||20–15–6 ||

|42||December 31, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames||21–15–6 ||

|43||January 2, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers||22–15–6 ||

|44||January 3, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks||23–15–6 ||

|45||January 7, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins||23–16–6 ||

|46||January 8, 1998||8–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||24–16–6 ||

|47||January 12, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||25–16–6 ||

|48||January 14, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||25–16–7 ||

|49||January 21, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||26–16–7 ||

|50||January 24, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes||26–17–7 ||

|51||January 25, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||26–18–7 ||

|52||January 29, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||27–18–7 ||

|53||January 31, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators||27–19–7 ||

|54||February 1, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||28–19–7 ||

|55||February 4, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||28–20–7 ||

|56||February 7, 1998||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||28–21–7 ||

|57||February 25, 1998||2–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||28–22–7 ||

|58||February 28, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||28–23–7 ||

|59||March 4, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars||29–23–7 ||

|60||March 5, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues||29–24–7 ||

|61||March 7, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||29–25–7 ||

|62||March 9, 1998||6–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers||30–25–7 ||

|63||March 11, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks||30–25–8 ||

|64||March 12, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers||31–25–8 ||

|65||March 14, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||32–25–8 ||

|66||March 16, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames||32–25–9 ||

|67||March 18, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers||32–26–9 ||

|68||March 19, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||32–27–9 ||

|69||March 21, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||32–28–9 ||

|70||March 25, 1998||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||33–28–9 ||

|71||March 26, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers||33–29–9 ||

|72||March 28, 1998||8–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning||34–29–9 ||

|73||March 31, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||34–29–10 ||

|74||April 1, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers||35–29–10 ||

|75||April 4, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes||35–30–10 ||

|76||April 6, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||35–30–11 ||

|77||April 7, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers||36–30–11 ||

|78||April 10, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||36–31–11 ||

|79||April 11, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders||36–31–12 ||

|80||April 15, 1998||2–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||36–32–12 ||

|81||April 16, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||37–32–12 ||

|82||April 18, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||37–32–13 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 23, 1998 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Penguins lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 25, 1998 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || April 27, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || April 29, 1998 || 3–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Series tied 2–2 ||

| 5 || May 1, 1998 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || May 3, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens win 4–2 ||

| 1 || May 8, 1998 || 2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || May 10, 1998 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 2–0 ||

| 3 || May 12, 1998 || 4–5 2OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 3–0 ||

| 4 || May 14, 1998 || 1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres win 4–0 ||

Legend:

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. Player Regular season Playoffs 8 RW 82 32 42 74 11 51 10 4 8 12 2 6 25 C 76 18 41 59 14 58 10 3 6 9 −4 22 11 C 69 14 43 57 8 48 6 2 3 5 4 2 27 LW 62 21 34 55 2 108 10 3 6 9 3 26 26 LW 78 21 32 53 13 84 10 3 0 3 −2 4 38 D 74 13 31 44 16 70 9 3 4 7 −3 10 49 LW 64 26 17 43 11 36 9 0 2 2 −2 6 43 D 79 10 27 37 16 67 10 1 0 1 −5 0 22 D 81 4 30 34 22 122 10 0 1 1 0 14 17 LW 68 12 20 32 11 61 8 1 0 1 1 4 20 RW 50 7 22 29 −5 33 28 C 74 13 6 19 0 12 10 1 2 3 −1 6 5 D 71 6 10 16 13 97 9 0 2 2 2 4 24 LW 67 6 9 15 0 158 9 0 2 2 0 10 71 C 53 6 8 14 5 36 5 0 0 0 −1 2 44 LW 28 6 5 11 2 6 10 2 0 2 −1 0 37 C 34 4 6 10 −1 8 3 0 0 0 −1 0 23 RW 63 4 6 10 −8 110 10 3 4 7 1 12 44 RW 14 5 4 9 1 5 34 D 69 2 6 8 −6 38 10 1 1 2 2 2 12 RW 39 1 5 6 −6 57 3 D 28 1 5 6 −1 22 6 0 1 1 −3 4 52 D 61 0 2 2 −3 93 5 0 0 0 −2 2 41 G 47 0 2 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 29 D 41 1 0 1 −3 20 15 C 9 1 0 1 −3 0 3 D 5 1 0 1 −1 4 55 D 4 0 1 1 −2 12 10 1 4 5 3 12 21 D 3 0 0 0 0 4 48 D 1 0 0 0 1 0 46 C 1 0 0 0 −1 0 51 RW 1 0 0 0 −1 0 35 G 42 0 0 0 4 9 0 0 0 0 14 LW 4 0 0 0 0 31 21 RW 22 0 0 0 −4 76 1 0 0 0 0 0 60 G 3 0 0 0 0

Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 41 Jocelyn Thibault 47 19 15 8 1109 109 2.47 .902 2 2652 2 0 0 16 4 5.53 .750 0 43 35 Andy Moog 42 18 17 5 1024 97 2.49 .905 3 2337 9 4 5 204 24 3.04 .882 1 474 60 Jose Theodore — — — — — — — — — — 3 0 1 35 1 0.50 .971 0 120

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Shayne Corson Saku Koivu Mark Recchi Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Patrice BriseboisMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Marc Bureau Molson Cup Mark RecchiMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Brett Clark October 4, 1997 Matt Higgins November 26, 1997 Draft picks Montreal'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)111Jason WardErie Otters (OHL)237Gregor BaumgartnerLaval Titan College Francais (QMJHL)365Ilkka MikkolaKarpat (Finland)491Daniel TetraultBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)5118Konstantin SidulovMechel Chelyabinsk (Russia)5122Gennady RazinKamloops Blazers (WHL)6145Jonathan DesrochesGranby Predateurs (QMJHL)7172Ben GuiteUniversity of Maine (Hockey East)8197Petr KubosPetra Vsetin (Czech Republic)8202Andrei SidyakinSalavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia)9228Jarl-Espen YgranesFuruset (Norway)

See also 1997–98 NHL season

References