1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season

The 1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season was the Avalanche's third season.

Regular season

Season standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 1, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||0–0–1 ||

|2||October 3, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||1–0–1 ||

|3||October 5, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||2–0–1 ||

|4||October 7, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||3–0–1 ||

|5||October 9, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||4–0–1 ||

|6||October 11, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||4–0–2 ||

|7||October 15, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||5–0–2 ||

|8||October 17, 1997||5–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||5–1–2 ||

|9||October 19, 1997||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||5–1–3 ||

|10||October 22, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||6–1–3 ||

|11||October 24, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||6–1–4 ||

|12||October 25, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||6–2–4 ||

|13||October 28, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||7–2–4 ||

|14||October 30, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||7–2–5 ||

|15||November 1, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||7–2–6 ||

|16||November 5, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||7–3–6 ||

|17||November 8, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||8–3–6 ||

|18||November 11, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||9–3–6 ||

|19||November 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||10–3–6 ||

|20||November 14, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||10–4–6 ||

|21||November 16, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||10–5–6 ||

|22||November 18, 1997||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||10–5–7 ||

|23||November 21, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||11–5–7 ||

|24||November 23, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||11–6–7 ||

|25||November 26, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||11–6–8 ||

|26||November 28, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||12–6–8 ||

|27||November 29, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||13–6–8 ||

|28||December 2, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||14–6–8 ||

|29||December 4, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||15–6–8 ||

|30||December 6, 1997||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||16–6–8 ||

|31||December 8, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||16–7–8 ||

|32||December 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||16–7–9 ||

|33||December 12, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||16–8–9 ||

|34||December 13, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||17–8–9 ||

|35||December 15, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||18–8–9 ||

|36||December 17, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||18–8–10 ||

|37||December 19, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||18–8–11 ||

|38||December 23, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||19–8–11 ||

|39||December 27, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||20–8–11 ||

|40||December 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||20–8–12 ||

|41||December 31, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||21–8–12 ||

|42||January 2, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||21–8–13 ||

|43||January 3, 1998||5–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||22–8–13 ||

|44||January 6, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||22–9–13 ||

|45||January 8, 1998||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||22–9–14 ||

|46||January 10, 1998||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||22–9–15 ||

|47||January 12, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||23–9–15 ||

|48||January 14, 1998||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||24–9–15 ||

|49||January 15, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||24–9–16 ||

|50||January 21, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–10–16 ||

|51||January 22, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||24–11–16 ||

|52||January 24, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–12–16 ||

|53||January 26, 1998||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||25–12–16 ||

|54||January 28, 1998||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||26–12–16 ||

|55||January 31, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||26–13–16 ||

|56||February 2, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||27–13–16 ||

|57||February 5, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||28–13–16 ||

|58||February 7, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||29–13–16 ||

|59||February 25, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||30–13–16 ||

|60||February 26, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||31–13–16 ||

|61||February 28, 1998||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||31–14–16 ||

|62||March 2, 1998||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||31–15–16 ||

|63||March 4, 1998||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||32–15–16 ||

|64||March 5, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||32–16–16 ||

|65||March 7, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||33–16–16 ||

|66||March 9, 1998||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||33–17–16 ||

|67||March 11, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||34–17–16 ||

|68||March 14, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||34–18–16 ||

|69||March 15, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||34–19–16 ||

|70||March 19, 1998||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||35–19–16 ||

|71||March 21, 1998||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||36–19–16 ||

|72||March 26, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||36–20–16 ||

|73||March 28, 1998||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||37–20–16 ||

|74||March 30, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||37–21–16 ||

|75||April 1, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||37–22–16 ||

|76||April 2, 1998||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||37–23–16 ||

|77||April 4, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||37–24–16 ||

|78||April 6, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||37–25–16 ||

|79||April 11, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||37–26–16 ||

|80||April 13, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||37–26–17 ||

|81||April 16, 1998||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||38–26–17 ||

|82||April 18, 1998||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||39–26–17 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 22, 1998 || 2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Oilers lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 24, 1998 || 5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || April 26, 1998 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || April 28, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 3–1 ||

| 5 || April 30, 1998 || 1–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || May 2, 1998 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Series tied 3–3 ||

| 7 || May 4, 1998 || 0–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Oilers win 4–3 ||

Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; 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 Avalanche only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only. Player Regular season Playoffs 21 C 72 25 66 91 6 94 7 6 5 11 3 12 13 LW 75 26 40 66 −2 60 7 2 3 5 1 18 19 C 64 27 36 63 0 50 6 2 3 5 0 6 22 RW 78 26 27 53 −7 115 7 3 3 6 2 8 8 D 66 13 38 51 −12 65 7 0 7 7 −3 14 18 RW 73 22 21 43 0 125 7 2 0 2 −1 4 28 LW 82 16 15 31 0 84 7 0 0 0 −2 6 4 D 78 9 22 31 21 38 7 0 1 1 2 4 20 LW 68 16 12 28 8 133 2 0 0 0 0 2 26 C 81 7 15 22 −10 48 7 1 0 1 −3 12 17 RW 70 5 17 22 6 12 4 0 0 0 −1 0 52 D 77 3 14 17 −3 124 7 0 0 0 −1 23 29 LW 62 4 12 16 4 20 24 D 67 6 8 14 −3 30 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 D 72 4 10 14 9 42 7 0 1 1 1 6 16 RW 68 5 8 13 5 213 6 0 0 0 −1 25 12 RW 47 5 7 12 3 48 11 RW 23 3 7 10 −4 22 7 0 0 0 −1 13 2 D 81 0 10 10 2 48 7 0 0 0 −1 4 10 C 11 2 5 7 0 4 3 D 55 2 2 4 0 51 7 0 0 0 0 8 9 C 6 0 4 4 0 2 14 RW 11 2 1 3 0 22 7 0 1 1 −2 20 27 D 50 1 2 3 −3 140 33 G 65 0 3 3 39 7 0 1 1 0 6 D 8 1 1 2 −3 27 15 LW 2 1 0 1 1 0 7 D 15 0 1 1 −2 18 1 G 23 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 40 LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 RW 5 0 0 0 0 6 10 LW 8 0 0 0 −1 23 6 0 0 0 −2 24

Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 33 Patrick Roy 65 31 19 13 1825 153 2.39 .916 4 3835 7 3 4 191 18 2.51 .906 0 430 1 Craig Billington 23 8 7 4 588 45 2.32 .923 1 1162 1 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 1

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) NHL First All-Star Team Peter Forsberg (Center) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Forsberg Valeri Kamensky Jari Kurri Sandis Ozolinsh Patrick Roy Joe Sakic NHL Rookie of the Month Eric Messier (October)

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Pascal Trepanier October 1, 1997 Brad Larsen March 21, 1998

Transactions

Draft picks Colorado'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)126Kevin GrimesKingston Frontenacs (OHL)253Graham BelakEdmonton Ice (WHL)355Rick BerrySeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)378Ville NieminenTappara (Finland)487Brad LarsenSwift Current Broncos (WHL)5133Aaron MiskovichGreen Bay Gamblers (USHL)6161David AebischerHC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland)8217Doug SchmidtWaterloo Black Hawks (USHL)9243Kyle KidneySalisbury School (USHS-CT)9245Steve LafleurBelleville Bulls (OHL)

See also 1997–98 NHL season

Notes

References