1997–98 Phoenix Coyotes season

The 1997–98 Phoenix Coyotes season was the Coyotes' second season in Phoenix, the franchise's 19th season in the NHL, its second season in Phoenix, and its 26th season overall. The Coyotes made the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs, losing in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

This was the team's final season of its original tenure in the Central Division, which it had joined while still based in Winnipeg, before being realigned into the Pacific Division the following season. The Coyotes would return to the Central in 2021.

Regular season

Final standings

Playoffs The series began in Detroit. In Game 1, Detroit won 6–3, but in Game 2, the Coyotes came back and won 7–4. The series then shifted to Phoenix, where the Coyotes were victorious in Game 3, 3–2. However, the Coyotes' 2–1 series lead was short lived, as Detroit won 4–2 in Game 4. For Game 5 back in Detroit, the Red Wings won 3–1. In Game 6, the series went back to Phoenix, where Detroit won the game 5–2 and the series 4–2.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|1||October 1, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||1–0–0 ||

|2||October 3, 1997||2–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||1–1–0 ||

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

|4||October 8, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||2–2–0 ||

|5||October 11, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||2–2–1 ||

|6||October 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||3–2–1 ||

|7||October 19, 1997||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||4–2–1 ||

|8||October 21, 1997||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||4–3–1 ||

|9||October 23, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||4–3–2 ||

|10||October 26, 1997||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||5–3–2 ||

|11||October 29, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||5–4–2 ||

|12||October 30, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||5–5–2 ||

|13||November 2, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||6–5–2 ||

|14||November 5, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||6–6–2 ||

|15||November 6, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||6–7–2 ||

|16||November 8, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||7–7–2 ||

|17||November 11, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||8–7–2 ||

|18||November 13, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||8–8–2 ||

|19||November 15, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||9–8–2 ||

|20||November 17, 1997||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||10–8–2 ||

|21||November 20, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||10–9–2 ||

|22||November 22, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||11–9–2 ||

|23||November 25, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||12–9–2 ||

|24||November 27, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||12–10–2 ||

|25||November 29, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||12–11–2 ||

|26||December 1, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||13–11–2 ||

|27||December 3, 1997||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||13–12–2 ||

|28||December 5, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||13–12–3 ||

|29||December 6, 1997||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||13–13–3 ||

|30||December 8, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||13–14–3 ||

|31||December 10, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||13–14–4 ||

|32||December 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||13–14–5 ||

|33||December 14, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||13–14–6 ||

|34||December 17, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||13–15–6 ||

|35||December 19, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||14–15–6 ||

|36||December 20, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||14–16–6 ||

|37||December 23, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||14–16–7 ||

|38||December 26, 1997||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||15–16–7 ||

|39||December 27, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||16–16–7 ||

|40||December 29, 1997||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||17–16–7 ||

|41||January 1, 1998||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||18–16–7 ||

|42||January 3, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||19–16–7 ||

|43||January 6, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||19–17–7 ||

|44||January 8, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||19–18–7 ||

|45||January 9, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||20–18–7 ||

|46||January 11, 1998||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||20–18–8 ||

|47||January 14, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||21–18–8 ||

|48||January 20, 1998||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||21–19–8 ||

|49||January 21, 1998||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||22–19–8 ||

|50||January 24, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||22–20–8 ||

|51||January 26, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||23–20–8 ||

|52||January 28, 1998||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||23–20–9 ||

|53||January 30, 1998||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||23–20–10 ||

|54||January 31, 1998||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||24–20–10 ||

|55||February 3, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||24–21–10 ||

|56||February 5, 1998||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||24–22–10 ||

|57||February 7, 1998||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||24–22–11 ||

|58||February 25, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||24–23–11 ||

|59||February 26, 1998||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||24–24–11 ||

|60||February 28, 1998||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–25–11 ||

|61||March 2, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||24–26–11 ||

|62||March 6, 1998||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||24–27–11 ||

|63||March 8, 1998||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–27–12 ||

|64||March 10, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||24–28–12 ||

|65||March 12, 1998||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||25–28–12 ||

|66||March 14, 1998||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||26–28–12 ||

|67||March 16, 1998||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||26–29–12 ||

|68||March 19, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||26–30–12 ||

|69||March 21, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||26–31–12 ||

|70||March 22, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||27–31–12 ||

|71||March 24, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||28–31–12 ||

|72||March 28, 1998||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||28–32–12 ||

|73||April 1, 1998||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||29–32–12 ||

|74||April 3, 1998||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||30–32–12 ||

|75||April 5, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||30–33–12 ||

|76||April 7, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||31–33–12 ||

|77||April 9, 1998||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||31–34–12 ||

|78||April 11, 1998||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||32–34–12 ||

|79||April 12, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||33–34–12 ||

|80||April 14, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||34–34–12 ||

|81||April 16, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||35–34–12 ||

|82||April 18, 1998||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||35–35–12 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 22, 1998 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 24, 1998 || 7–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || April 26, 1998 || 3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Coyotes lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || April 28, 1998 || 2–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Series tied 2–2 ||

| 5 || April 30, 1998 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || May 3, 1998 || 2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Red Wings win 4–2 ||

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 Coyotes only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only. Player Regular season Playoffs 7 LW 69 40 26 66 9 147 6 3 3 6 −1 10 97 C 79 24 32 56 5 103 6 5 3 8 −1 4 77 C 80 11 44 55 5 36 6 1 3 4 −1 4 15 C 68 10 43 53 5 12 6 0 3 3 −2 0 27 D 82 11 40 51 25 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 92 RW 68 26 19 45 1 157 6 6 2 8 0 25 11 RW 60 11 29 40 17 71 4 0 1 1 −4 2 22 RW 60 12 15 27 −4 24 5 1 0 1 −2 18 21 C 76 12 9 21 −7 28 6 1 0 1 −3 4 10 D 46 7 12 19 1 12 6 0 7 7 −2 0 4 D 78 8 10 18 14 118 6 0 2 2 −4 20 16 LW 66 9 8 17 4 102 5 0 0 0 −1 2 26 D 55 3 14 17 −3 24 34 LW 58 2 12 14 4 26 5 0 1 1 −1 4 36 C 55 1 11 12 −3 10 19 RW 33 5 6 11 −3 35 6 1 0 1 −2 6 5 D 32 4 7 11 −6 16 6 D 41 5 5 10 0 53 14 C 64 5 5 10 −4 36 6 0 0 0 0 2 44 D 41 2 6 8 −11 38 6 0 1 1 0 2 33 LW 64 3 4 7 −7 146 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 D 20 1 6 7 5 18 6 0 0 0 −3 4 24 D 32 4 2 6 −4 77 5 0 0 0 −1 8 32 RW 30 3 3 6 0 27 2 D 45 1 5 6 −10 106 6 0 2 2 2 6 8 D 16 2 1 3 0 18 18 C 7 1 2 3 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 35 G 70 0 2 2 22 4 0 1 1 0 54 C 5 1 0 1 1 2 55 D 4 0 1 1 −4 12 48 D 5 0 1 1 1 14 18 LW 10 0 1 1 −2 4 72 LW 1 0 0 0 −1 0 20 RW 20 0 0 0 −7 47 3 0 0 0 0 4 31 G 3 0 0 0 0 29 RW 2 0 0 0 −1 5 39 D 1 0 0 0 1 0 28 G 17 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 0

Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 35 70 30 28 10 1835 184 2.74 .900 4 4026 4 2 1 106 13 4.21 .877 0 185 28 17 5 6 1 322 28 2.12 .913 1 793 4 0 3 97 11 3.85 .887 0 171 31 3 0 1 1 60 10 4.39 .833 0 137 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) NHL Second All-Star Team Keith Tkachuk (Left wing) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Nikolai Khabibulin Keith Tkachuk Team Hardest Working Player Award Dallas DrakeArizona Coyotes 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.290 Leading Scorer Award Keith Tkachuk Man of the Year Award Jim McKenzie Team MVP Award Keith Tkachuk Three-Star Award Keith Tkachuk

Milestones