The 1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 30th in the National Hockey League (NHL). This was the final season for Mario Lemieux before his first retirement.
Regular season The 1996–97 season featured Mario Lemieux in his final season before his first retirement. Lemieux won his sixth (and final) Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, with 122 points. The Penguins had an up-and-down season en route to a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. A 2–9–0 start was followed by a hot middle-of-the-season stretch, highlighted by the play of rookie phenom goaltender Patrick Lalime. A shoulder injury to Tom Barrasso ended his season after five unmemorable games and led to the promotion of Lalime from the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL). Lalime debuted in relief of Ken Wregget in a loss to the New York Rangers on November 16. His first win came in relief of Wregget on December 6, and the next day, on December 7, he was given the start against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, beating the Mighty Ducks and setting him well on his way to setting the NHL record for consecutive games unbeaten to begin a career for an NHL goaltender, going 14–0–2 (16 games). However, the Penguins cooled down after that, as the team did not win a road game after February 5, which led to a coaching change on March 4. Eddie Johnston was relieved of his duties as head coach after losing eight of his last nine games and was replaced on an interim basis by General Manager Craig Patrick. Patrick went 7–10–3 down the stretch, enough to get the Penguins into the playoffs as the sixth seed at 38–36–8. The Penguins finished the season first in scoring, with 285 goals for.
Final standings
Playoffs In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Penguins lost, in five games, to the third-seeded Philadelphia Flyers, who went on to win the Eastern Conference championship. The Penguins' only win in the series was in Game 4 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, in which Lemieux scored on a breakaway against Flyers goaltender Garth Snow in the closing minutes for his final goal, at home, before his first retirement.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Hartford Whalers || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Ottawa Senators || 0–3–0 || 0 ||
| 4 || October 12 || Ottawa Senators || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3–0 || 2 ||
| 5 || October 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–8 || New York Rangers || 1–4–0 || 2 ||
| 6 || October 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–5–0 || 2 ||
| 7 || October 19 || Washington Capitals || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5–0 || 4 ||
| 8 || October 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–6–0 || 4 ||
| 9 || October 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–7 || Calgary Flames || 2–7–0 || 4 ||
| 10 || October 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Vancouver Canucks || 2–8–0 || 4 ||
| 11 || November 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Washington Capitals || 2–9–0 || 4 ||
| 12 || November 2 || Ottawa Senators || 3–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–9–0 || 6 ||
| 13 || November 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–9–0 || 8 ||
| 14 || November 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–5 OT || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–9–1 || 9 ||
| 15 || November 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Florida Panthers || 4–10–1 || 9 ||
| 16 || November 12 || Buffalo Sabres || 0–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–10–1 || 11 ||
| 17 || November 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 OT || Boston Bruins || 5–11–1 || 11 ||
| 18 || November 16 || New York Rangers || 8–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–12–1 || 11 ||
| 19 || November 19 || St. Louis Blues || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–12–1 || 13 ||
| 20 || November 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–13–1 || 13 ||
| 21 || November 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–1 || Hartford Whalers || 7–13–1 || 15 ||
| 22 || November 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–13–2 || 16 ||
| 23 || November 30 || Boston Bruins || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–13–2 || 18 ||
| 24 || December 3 || Hartford Whalers || 4–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–13–3 || 19 ||
| 25 || December 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Ottawa Senators || 9–13–3 || 21 ||
| 26 || December 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Washington Capitals || 10–13–3 || 23 ||
| 27 || December 7 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 11–13–3 || 25 ||
| 28 || December 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Los Angeles Kings || 12–13–3 || 27 ||
| 29 || December 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–3 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 13–13–3 || 29 ||
| 30 || December 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || San Jose Sharks || 14–13–3 || 31 ||
| 31 || December 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Chicago Blackhawks || 14–14–3 || 31 ||
| 32 || December 17 || Boston Bruins || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–15–3 || 31 ||
| 33 || December 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || St. Louis Blues || 15–15–3 || 33 ||
| 34 || December 21 || San Jose Sharks || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 16–15–3 || 35 ||
| 35 || December 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 17–15–3 || 37 ||
| 36 || December 26 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 17–15–4 || 38 ||
| 37 || December 28 || Buffalo Sabres || 0–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–15–4 || 40 ||
| 38 || December 30 || Washington Capitals || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 19–15–4 || 42 ||
| 39 || January 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–1 || New Jersey Devils || 20–15–4 || 44 ||
| 40 || January 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–15–4 || 46 ||
| 41 || January 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || New York Islanders || 22–15–4 || 48 ||
| 42 || January 10 || New York Islanders || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–15–4 || 50 ||
| 43 || January 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || Ottawa Senators || 23–15–5 || 51 ||
| 44 || January 14 || Dallas Stars || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–15–5 || 53 ||
| 45 || January 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–0 || Hartford Whalers || 25–15–5 || 55 ||
| 46 || January 21 || Calgary Flames || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–15–5 || 57 ||
| 47 || January 23 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–16–5 || 57 ||
| 48 || January 25 || New York Rangers || 7–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–17–5 || 57 ||
| 49 || January 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 27–17–5 || 59 ||
| 50 || January 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Buffalo Sabres || 27–18–5 || 59 ||
| 51 || February 1 || Phoenix Coyotes || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 28–18–5 || 61 ||
| 52 || February 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–18–5 || 63 ||
| 53 || February 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 30–18–5 || 65 ||
| 54 || February 8 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 30–19–5 || 65 ||
| 55 || February 12 || New York Islanders || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 30–20–5 || 65 ||
| 56 || February 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 30–21–5 || 65 ||
| 57 || February 16 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 30–22–5 || 65 ||
| 58 || February 18 || Florida Panthers || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–22–5 || 67 ||
| 59 || February 22 || Chicago Blackhawks || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–23–5 || 67 ||
| 60 || February 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || New York Islanders || 31–24–5 || 67 ||
| 61 || February 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Detroit Red Wings || 31–25–5 || 67 ||
| 62 || March 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || New Jersey Devils || 31–26–5 || 67 ||
| 63 || March 4 || New Jersey Devils || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–27–5 || 67 ||
| 64 || March 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Buffalo Sabres || 31–28–5 || 67 ||
| 65 || March 8 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–28–5 || 69 ||
| 66 || March 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–28–6 || 70 ||
| 67 || March 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–5 OT || Phoenix Coyotes || 32–28–7 || 71 ||
| 68 || March 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Colorado Avalanche || 32–29–7 || 71 ||
| 69 || March 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Dallas Stars || 32–30–7 || 71 ||
| 70 || March 18 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 33–30–7 || 73 ||
| 71 || March 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 34–30–7 || 75 ||
| 72 || March 22 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 34–31–7 || 75 ||
| 73 || March 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || New York Rangers || 34–32–7 || 75 ||
| 74 || March 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–8 || Montreal Canadiens || 34–33–7 || 75 ||
| 75 || March 29 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 35–33–7 || 77 ||
| 76 || March 31 || Florida Panthers || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–33–7 || 79 ||
| 77 || April 3 || Hartford Whalers || 5–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–33–8 || 80 ||
| 78 || April 5 || Ottawa Senators || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 37–33–8 || 82 ||
| 79 || April 8 || Boston Bruins || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 38–33–8 || 84 ||
| 80 || April 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 38–34–8 || 84 ||
| 81 || April 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Florida Panthers || 38–35–8 || 84 ||
| 82 || April 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–7 || Boston Bruins || 38–36–8 || 84 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–1 ||
| 2 || April 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–2 ||
| 3 || April 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 ||
| 4 || April 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 ||
| 5 || April 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–4 ||
Legend:
Player statistics Skaters
+ Regular season Player 76 50 72 122 27 65 63 47 48 95 22 40 81 27 63 90 7 20 74 33 38 71 66 80 15 39 54 11 103 † 62 17 22 39 16 † 57 6 30 36 3 28 † 51 7 20 27 21 24 ‡ 40 9 15 24 4 33 ‡ 66 11 11 22 24 54 7 15 22 0 4 † 55 5 15 20 76 † 57 2 16 18 24 84 59 9 9 18 63 ‡ 53 3 14 17 36 † 32 7 9 16 14 † 12 4 7 11 8 6 61 5 5 10 155 36 4 5 9 22 † 27 2 7 9 20 † 17 3 4 7 25 45 2 4 6 131 ‡ 15 1 5 6 24 35 1 4 5 3 79 11 2 2 4 13 †‡ 9 1 3 4 4 8 3 1 4 4 64 0 4 4 36 45 2 2 4 70 59 0 3 3 81 16 0 3 3 10 † 7 0 0 0 4 ‡ 13 0 0 0 0 49 23 0 0 0 36 6 0 0 0 0 8 ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 7 Total 285 495 780 — 1,480
+ Playoffs Player 5 4 4 8 4 5 3 3 6 4 5 1 2 3 1 4 5 0 3 3 0 5 1 2 3 12 5 1 2 3 2 5 1 1 2 4 5 0 1 1 2 5 1 0 1 12 5 0 1 1 0 0 5 1 0 1 2 5 0 1 1 4 4 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 5 0 0 0 6 5 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 Total 13 21 34 — 66
Goaltenders + Regular Season Player 39 2057:35 21 12 2 101 2.95 1166 0.913 3 0 0 0 46 2514:23 17 17 6 136 3.25 1383 0.902 2 0 1 6 5 269:37 0 5 0 26 5.79 186 0.860 0 0 0 0 2 111:08 0 2 0 6 3.24 66 0.909 0 0 0 0 Total 4952:43 38 36 8 269 3.26 2801 0.904 5 0 1 6 + Playoffs Player 5 297:28 1 4 0 18 3.63 211 0.915 0 0 0 2 Total 297:28 1 4 0 18 3.63 211 0.915 0 0 0 2 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Awards and records Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 600 goals for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–4 win over Vancouver on February 4, 1997. Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 1400 points for the Penguins. He did so with his first of 4 points in a 6–2 win over Boston on November 30, 1996.
Awards