The 1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 31st in the National Hockey League (NHL). It was their first season under Head Coach Kevin Constantine and first after the initial retirement of Mario Lemieux.
Offseason Following the 1996–97 season which saw their Hall of Fame star Mario Lemieux retire, the Penguins attempted to continue keeping their recent success. Over the previous nine seasons, no NHL team had been more successful than Pittsburgh in terms of regular season points, although the team had not won a Stanley Cup since 1992 (part of the reason why Head Coach Eddie Johnston was asked to resign down following the 1996–97 season). Former San Jose Sharks Head Coach Kevin Constantine was hired as Johnston's successor, promising to replace his predecessor's free-form style of play with a more disciplined approach. Additionally, Ron Francis was named captain in Lemieux's absence, and the team acquired center Martin Straka via free agency to add offense. The team also acquired the rights to defensive-defenseman Jiri Slegr, who had spent the 1996–97 season playing for Sodertalje SK in Sweden.
Regular season The Penguins tied the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders for most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.
Final standings
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 1 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–0–1 || 1 ||
| 2 || October 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–0–1 || 3 ||
| 3 || October 4 || Florida Panthers || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1–1 || 3 ||
| 4 || October 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2–1 || 3 ||
| 5 || October 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–3–1 || 3 ||
| 6 || October 11 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3–1 || 5 ||
| 7 || October 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || New York Rangers || 3–3–1 || 7 ||
| 8 || October 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3–2 || 8 ||
| 9 || October 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–3–2 || 10 ||
| 10 || October 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Florida Panthers || 5–3–2 || 12 ||
| 11 || October 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || San Jose Sharks || 6–3–2 || 14 ||
| 12 || October 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Edmonton Oilers || 6–4–2 || 14 ||
| 13 || October 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || Vancouver Canucks || 7–4–2 || 16 ||
| 14 || October 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Calgary Flames || 7–5–2 || 16 ||
| 15 || November 1 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–7 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–5–2 || 18 ||
| 16 || November 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Chicago Blackhawks || 8–6–2 || 18 ||
| 17 || November 5 || Dallas Stars || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–7–2 || 18 ||
| 18 || November 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Detroit Red Wings || 8–7–3 || 19 ||
| 19 || November 8 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–7–4 || 20 ||
| 20 || November 12 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–8–4 || 20 ||
| 21 || November 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || New York Rangers || 8–9–4 || 20 ||
| 22 || November 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 9–9–4 || 22 ||
| 23 || November 19 || Boston Bruins || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–9–5 || 23 ||
| 24 || November 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–0 || Ottawa Senators || 10–9–5 || 25 ||
| 25 || November 22 || New York Rangers || 3–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 11–9–5 || 27 ||
| 26 || November 24 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 12–9–5 || 29 ||
| 27 || November 26 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–9–5 || 31 ||
| 28 || November 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–9–5 || 33 ||
| 29 || December 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || Montreal Canadiens || 15–9–5 || 35 ||
| 30 || December 4 || New Jersey Devils || 4–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 15–10–5 || 35 ||
| 31 || December 6 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 16–10–5 || 37 ||
| 32 || December 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Los Angeles Kings || 17–10–5 || 39 ||
| 33 || December 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–0 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 18–10–5 || 41 ||
| 34 || December 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Phoenix Coyotes || 18–10–6 || 42 ||
| 35 || December 16 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–10–7 || 43 ||
| 36 || December 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Colorado Avalanche || 18–10–8 || 44 ||
| 37 || December 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || St. Louis Blues || 18–11–8 || 44 ||
| 38 || December 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Washington Capitals || 19–11–8 || 46 ||
| 39 || December 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 19–12–8 || 46 ||
| 40 || December 29 || New York Islanders || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 20–12–8 || 48 ||
| 41 || December 31 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–12–8 || 50 ||
| 42 || January 3 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–13–8 || 50 ||
| 43 || January 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New York Islanders || 22–13–8 || 52 ||
| 44 || January 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || New Jersey Devils || 22–14–8 || 52 ||
| 45 || January 10 || New Jersey Devils || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–14–8 || 54 ||
| 46 || January 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Carolina Hurricanes || 24–14–8 || 56 ||
| 47 || January 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Boston Bruins || 24–15–8 || 56 ||
| 48 || January 20 || Ottawa Senators || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–15–9 || 57 ||
| 49 || January 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || New Jersey Devils || 25–15–9 || 59 ||
| 50 || January 24 || Boston Bruins || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–15–9 || 61 ||
| 51 || January 26 || St. Louis Blues || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 27–15–9 || 63 ||
| 52 || January 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Washington Capitals || 27–15–10 || 64 ||
| 53 || January 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Boston Bruins || 28–15–10 || 66 ||
| 54 || January 31 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–15–10 || 68 ||
| 55 || February 2 || New York Islanders || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–16–10 || 68 ||
| 56 || February 4 || Washington Capitals || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–16–11 || 69 ||
| 57 || February 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Buffalo Sabres || 29–16–12 || 70 ||
| 58 || February 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Ottawa Senators || 29–16–13 || 71 ||
| 59 || February 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 30–16–13 || 73 ||
| 60 || February 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Boston Bruins || 30–17–13 || 73 ||
| 61 || March 2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–17–13 || 75 ||
| 62 || March 5 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–17–14 || 76 ||
| 63 || March 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–17–14 || 78 ||
| 64 || March 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || 32–18–14 || 78 ||
| 65 || March 11 || Calgary Flames || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 33–18–14 || 80 ||
| 66 || March 14 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 34–18–14 || 82 ||
| 67 || March 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || Buffalo Sabres || 34–19–14 || 82 ||
| 68 || March 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 35–19–14 || 84 ||
| 69 || March 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–19–14 || 86 ||
| 70 || March 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–0 || Dallas Stars || 36–19–15 || 87 ||
| 71 || March 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || New York Islanders || 36–20–15 || 87 ||
| 72 || March 28 || New York Rangers || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–20–16 || 88 ||
| 73 || March 29 || Ottawa Senators || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–20–17 || 89 ||
| 74 || April 1 || San Jose Sharks || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–21–17 || 89 ||
| 75 || April 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 37–21–17 || 91 ||
| 76 || April 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Florida Panthers || 37–22–17 || 91 ||
| 77 || April 7 || Phoenix Coyotes || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 37–23–17 || 91 ||
| 78 || April 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Ottawa Senators || 37–24–17 || 91 ||
| 79 || April 11 || Florida Panthers || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 37–24–18 || 92 ||
| 80 || April 15 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 38–24–18 || 94 ||
| 81 || April 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Carolina Hurricanes || 39–24–18 || 96 ||
| 82 || April 18 || Boston Bruins || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 40–24–18 || 98 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 23 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–2 (OT) || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 ||
| 2 || April 25 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–2 ||
| 4 || April 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 ||
| 5 || May 1 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 ||
| 6 || May 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 ||
Legend:
Player statistics Skaters
Regular season Player 77 35 67 102 17 64 81 25 62 87 12 20 78 30 35 65 15 30 74 19 29 48 -3 66 75 19 23 42 -1 28 82 15 25 40 -1 59 76 6 27 33 13 42 76 13 13 26 -4 8 56 11 11 22 -9 35 † 51 9 13 22 6 14 58 7 13 20 4 54 71 3 15 18 15 46 73 5 12 17 10 109 50 5 10 15 4 20 81 4 8 12 3 127 30 5 2 7 -1 12 82 3 4 7 -3 112 ‡ 29 3 4 7 -2 12 46 3 4 7 -2 43 37 1 6 7 0 19 79 0 7 7 4 181 34 2 4 6 0 24 39 2 1 3 -3 33 22 1 2 3 3 25 ‡ 5 1 0 1 0 2 † 5 1 0 1 -1 2 8 0 0 0 -1 6 Total 228 397 625 — 1,193
Playoffs Player 6 4 5 9 5 2 6 3 3 6 2 2 6 1 5 6 5 2 6 0 4 4 3 2 6 0 3 3 0 2 6 0 3 3 -4 2 6 2 0 2 -3 4 6 2 0 2 -3 2 6 1 0 1 -4 4 6 1 0 1 1 12 6 1 0 1 -3 8 6 0 1 1 -1 4 6 0 1 1 0 4 6 0 1 1 -3 2 6 0 0 0 -1 2 5 0 0 0 -1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 -2 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 -5 2 Total 15 26 41 — 68
Goaltenders Regular season Player 63 61 3542:07 31 14 13 122 2.07 1556 0.922 7 0 2 14 17 12 851:23 6 4 3 26 1.83 341 0.924 0 0 1 2 15 9 611:26 3 6 2 28 2.75 293 0.904 0 0 0 6 Total 82 5004:56 40 24 18 176 2.11 2190 0.920 7 0 3 22 Playoffs Player 6 6 376:19 2 4 0 17 2.71 171 0.901 0 0 0 2 Total 6 376:19 2 4 0 17 2.71 171 0.901 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
Awards Type Award/honor Recipient Ref League(annual) Art Ross Trophy Jaromir Jagr Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Ron Francis NHL First All-Star Team Jaromir Jagr (Right wing) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Jaromir Jagr Team A. T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Award Jaromir Jagr 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.313 Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award Ron Francis 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.312 Bob Johnson Memorial Badger Bob Award Ron Francis Leading Scorer Award Jaromir Jagr Michel Briere Memorial Rookie of the Year Trophy Peter Skudra 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.311 Most Valuable Player Award Ron Francis 2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins Media Guide, p.314 Jaromir Jagr Players' Player Award Ron Francis The Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award Chris Tamer Tyler Wright
Milestones Milestone Player Date Ref First game Robert Dome October 1, 1997 Alexei Morozov Sven Butenschon October 19, 1997 Peter Skudra November 5, 1997 25th shutout Tom Barrasso November 15, 1997
Transactions The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season:
Trades
August 12, 1997 To Edmonton Oilers
1998 3rd-round pick To Pittsburgh Penguins
Jiri Slegr September 24, 1997 To Buffalo Sabres
Jason Woolley To Pittsburgh Penguins