1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 88th season and the first full season at the Molson Centre. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs despite a sub-.500 season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals (the first round) by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1. Regular season On Wednesday, October 16, 1996, the Canadiens scored three short-handed goals in a 4–2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Pierre Turgeon was traded on October 29, 1996, to the St. Louis Blues. Veteran forward Vincent Damphousse was named the new captain.

The Canadiens finished the regular season 26th in both power-play goals allowed (71) and penalty-killing percentage (79.54%).

Final standings

Playoffs In the first game of the series against New Jersey, on April 17, 1997, with the Devils up by two goals late in the game, Martin Brodeur fired the puck the length of the ice and into the Canadiens' empty net to ensure a 5-2 victory. It was only the second time in NHL history that a goaltender had scored in the playoffs, and the fifth time overall.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 5, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||0–0–1 ||

|2||October 7, 1996||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||0–0–2 ||

|3||October 9, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings||1–0–2 ||

|4||October 12, 1996||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers||2–0–2 ||

|5||October 15, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils||2–1–2 ||

|6||October 16, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames||3–1–2 ||

|7||October 19, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators||3–2–2 ||

|8||October 24, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||3–3–2 ||

|9||October 26, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||4–3–2 ||

|10||October 28, 1996||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes||4–4–2 ||

|11||October 30, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings||4–5–2 ||

|12||November 2, 1996||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks||4–6–2 ||

|13||November 3, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes||4–6–3 ||

|14||November 6, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||5–6–3 ||

|15||November 7, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings||5–7–3 ||

|16||November 9, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche||5–8–3 ||

|17||November 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers||6–8–3 ||

|18||November 13, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers||6–9–3 ||

|19||November 15, 1996||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||6–10–3 ||

|20||November 16, 1996||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks||7–10–3 ||

|21||November 20, 1996||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||7–11–3 ||

|22||November 21, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||8–11–3 ||

|23||November 23, 1996||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||9–11–3 ||

|24||November 25, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning||10–11–3 ||

|25||November 27, 1996||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||10–11–4 ||

|26||November 30, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals||10–12–4 ||

|27||December 1, 1996||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||10–13–4 ||

|28||December 4, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||10–14–4 ||

|29||December 6, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||11–14–4 ||

|30||December 7, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks||12–14–4 ||

|31||December 11, 1996||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||12–15–4 ||

|32||December 14, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils||12–15–5 ||

|33||December 16, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning||12–16–5 ||

|34||December 21, 1996||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers||12–17–5 ||

|35||December 23, 1996||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||12–18–5 ||

|36||December 26, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||12–18–6 ||

|37||December 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||12–18–7 ||

|38||December 29, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers||13–18–7 ||

|39||January 1, 1997||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars||14–18–7 ||

|40||January 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues||14–18–8 ||

|41||January 4, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders||15–18–8 ||

|42||January 6, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||16–18–8 ||

|43||January 9, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||16–19–8 ||

|44||January 11, 1997||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||17–19–8 ||

|45||January 13, 1997||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars||17–20–8 ||

|46||January 14, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||17–21–8 ||

|47||January 20, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings||18–21–8 ||

|48||January 22, 1997||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||18–22–8 ||

|49||January 25, 1997||1–8 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues||18–23–8 ||

|50||January 26, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||18–24–8 ||

|51||January 28, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers||18–25–8 ||

|52||January 30, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||19–25–8 ||

|53||February 1, 1997||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||19–25–9 ||

|54||February 3, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers||19–25–10 ||

|55||February 5, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||19–26–10 ||

|56||February 6, 1997||5–9 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||19–27–10 ||

|57||February 8, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||20–27–10 ||

|58||February 10, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks||21–27–10 ||

|59||February 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||21–27–11 ||

|60||February 15, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||21–28–11 ||

|61||February 17, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||22–28–11 ||

|62||February 22, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs||22–29–11 ||

|63||February 25, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks||23–29–11 ||

|64||February 28, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames||23–30–11 ||

|65||March 1, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers||24–30–11 ||

|66||March 5, 1997||3–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche||24–31–11 ||

|67||March 7, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||24–32–11 ||

|68||March 8, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||24–32–12 ||

|69||March 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||24–32–13 ||

|70||March 13, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||25–32–13 ||

|71||March 15, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||25–32–14 ||

|72||March 19, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||26–32–14 ||

|73||March 22, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals||26–33–14 ||

|74||March 24, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||27–33–14 ||

|75||March 26, 1997||8–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||28–33–14 ||

|76||March 29, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators||28–34–14 ||

|77||April 2, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||29–34–14 ||

|78||April 5, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||29–35–14 ||

|79||April 7, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders||30–35–14 ||

|80||April 9, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||31–35–14 ||

|81||April 10, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||31–36–14 ||

|82||April 12, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||31–36–15 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

|1|| April 17, 1997 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 1–0 ||

|2|| April 19, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 2–0 ||

|3|| April 22, 1997 || 4–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 3–0 ||

|4|| April 24, 1997 || 4–3 3OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 3–1 ||

|5|| April 26, 1997 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils win 4–1 ||

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 25 C 82 27 54 81 −6 82 5 0 0 0 −5 2 8 RW 82 34 46 80 −1 58 5 4 2 6 2 2 49 LW 81 23 37 60 −14 39 5 1 1 2 1 0 11 C 50 17 39 56 7 38 5 1 3 4 1 10 26 LW 70 28 27 55 1 62 5 0 0 0 −5 4 44 RW 63 22 24 46 0 32 5 0 0 0 −3 0 18 RW 64 14 21 35 4 6 5 0 1 1 −4 2 38 D 65 10 20 30 3 43 5 0 0 0 −3 6 17 LW 39 10 13 23 6 14 4 1 3 4 4 4 5 D 71 7 15 22 1 100 5 0 1 1 −1 6 30 RW 65 8 13 21 −14 97 5 1 1 2 1 2 27 LW 47 6 15 21 −5 80 5 1 0 1 −5 4 24 LW 73 10 10 20 −19 128 5 1 0 1 1 2 42 RW 73 7 13 20 −5 110 4 0 0 0 0 0 28 C 43 6 9 15 4 16 3 D 61 6 9 15 −9 63 2 0 0 0 0 2 43 D 49 2 13 15 −7 24 3 1 1 2 3 24 34 D 78 1 13 14 9 32 3 0 0 0 −3 2 71 C 28 2 9 11 −3 2 77 C 9 1 10 11 4 2 35 D 49 2 6 8 4 42 2 0 0 0 −1 2 22 RW 56 4 2 6 −8 114 36 D 60 1 5 6 −16 107 52 D 35 0 4 4 7 54 5 0 1 1 −2 14 37 D 9 1 1 2 −1 23 5 0 0 0 6 17 20 C 13 0 2 2 1 2 53 D 6 0 1 1 −2 6 35 LW 10 0 0 0 −2 38 32 D 8 0 0 0 −1 22 48 D 5 0 0 0 0 4 39 G 17 0 0 0 0 51 RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 14 LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 15 LW 13 0 0 0 0 5 60 G 16 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 41 G 61 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 37 G 1 0 0 0 0

Goaltending = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only. Player Regular season Playoffs 41 Jocelyn Thibault 61 22 24 11 1815 164 2.90 .910 1 3397 3 0 3 101 13 4.36 .871 0 179 60 Jose Theodore 16 5 6 2 508 53 3.87 .896 0 821 2 1 1 108 7 2.51 .935 0 168 39 Pat Jablonski 17 4 6 2 438 50 3.98 .886 0 754 — — — — — — — — — 37 Tomas Vokoun 1 0 0 0 14 4 12.00 .714 0 20 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Mark Recchi Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Stephane QuintalMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Molson Cup Mark RecchiMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Terry Ryan October 26, 1996 Eric Houde December 29, 1996 Brad Brown January 11, 1997 David Ling Tomas Vokoun February 6, 1997 Draft picks Montreal's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 18 Matt Higgins Centre Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 2 44 Mathieu Garon Goalie Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) 3 71 Arron Asham Right wing Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 4 92 Kim Staal Left wing Malmö IF (Sweden) 4 99 Etienne Drapeau Centre Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) 5 127 Daniel Archambault Defence Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) 6 154 Brett Clark Defence University of Maine (NCAA) 7 181 Timo Vertala Left wing JYP (Finland) 8 207 Mattia Baldi Left wing Ambri-Piotta (Swiss) 9 233 Michel Tremblay Left wing Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

See also 1996–97 NHL season

Notes

References