1996–97 New York Islanders season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1996–97 1996 New York Islanders 29–41–12 19–18–4 10–23–8 Eastern 12th Atlantic 7th 240 250 Mike Milbury Mike Milbury (Oct.–Jan.) Rick Bowness (Jan.–Apr.) Vacant Nassau Coliseum 12,494 Utah Grizzlies Zigmund Palffy (48) Zigmund Palffy (42) Zigmund Palffy (90) Rich Pilon (179) Zigmund Palffy (+21) Tommy Salo (20) Tommy Salo (2.82) The 1996–97 New York Islanders season was the 25th season in the franchise's history. It saw the withdrawal of the "Fisherman" logo from 1995 at the start of the season and the return of the original logo. For the third consecutive year, the Islanders failed to make the playoffs. Offseason Captain Patrick Flatley leaves Long Island, signing with the rival New York Rangers. The team does not name a new captain until the 1997–98 season. Regular season Final standings NYI NYI Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 New York Islanders Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 20, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; October: 1–5–4 (home: 1–3–1; road: 0–2–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 4, 1996||0–1|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||0–1–0 || 1996020003 L |- |2||October 5, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||0–1–1 || 1996020014 T |- |3||October 9, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||0–1–2 || 1996020028 T |- |4||October 12, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||1–1–2 || 1996020046 W |- |5||October 17, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||1–2–2 || 1996020070 L |- |6||October 19, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||1–3–2 || 1996020084 L |- |7||October 22, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–4–2 || 1996020094 L |- |8||October 26, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||1–4–3 || 1996020117 T |- |9||October 30, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||1–4–4 || 1996020135 T |- |10||October 31, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||1–5–4 || 1996020147 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; November: 5–5–4 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |11||November 2, 1996||6–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||2–5–4 || 1996020159 W |- |12||November 4, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||3–5–4 || 1996020172 W |- |13||November 6, 1996||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||3–5–5 || 1996020177 T |- |14||November 9, 1996||0–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||3–6–5 || 1996020197 L |- |15||November 11, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||3–7–5 || 1996020209 L |- |16||November 13, 1996||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||4–7–5 || 1996020217 W |- |17||November 15, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||4–7–6 || 1996020232 T |- |18||November 16, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||4–8–6 || 1996020238 L |- |19||November 20, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||4–8–7 || 1996020262 T |- |20||November 22, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||4–9–7 || 1996020273 L |- |21||November 23, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||4–9–8 || 1996020281 T |- |22||November 27, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||5–9–8 || 1996020295 W |- |23||November 29, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||6–9–8 || 1996020308 W |- |24||November 30, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||6–10–8 || 1996020316 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; December: 6–7–0 (home: 5–3–0; road: 1–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |25||December 3, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||7–10–8 || 1996020328 W |- |26||December 5, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||7–11–8 || 1996020343 L |- |27||December 7, 1996||2–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||8–11–8 || 1996020357 W |- |28||December 10, 1996||8–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||9–11–8 || 1996020368 W |- |29||December 11, 1996||5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||10–11–8 || 1996020376 W |- |30||December 14, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||10–12–8 || 1996020395 L |- |31||December 17, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||11–12–8 || 1996020410 W |- |32||December 19, 1996||0–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||11–13–8 || 1996020422 L |- |33||December 21, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||11–14–8 || 1996020437 L |- |34||December 23, 1996||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||11–15–8 || 1996020447 L |- |35||December 26, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||12–15–8 || 1996020458 W |- |36||December 28, 1996||1–7 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||12–16–8 || 1996020471 L |- |37||December 30, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||12–17–8 || 1996020486 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; January: 4–9–1 (home: 2–3–0; road: 2–6–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |38||January 2, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||12–18–8 || 1996020500 L |- |39||January 4, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||12–19–8 || 1996020516 L |- |40||January 7, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||12–20–8 || 1996020529 L |- |41||January 10, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||12–21–8 || 1996020548 L |- |42||January 11, 1997||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||12–21–9 || 1996020556 T |- |43||January 13, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||13–21–9 || 1996020568 W |- |44||January 15, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||13–22–9 || 1996020579 L |- |45||January 20, 1997||4–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||13–23–9 || 1996020589 L |- |46||January 22, 1997||8–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||14–23–9 || 1996020599 W |- |47||January 24, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||15–23–9 || 1996020610 W |- |48||January 25, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||16–23–9 || 1996020620 W |- |49||January 28, 1997||3–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||16–24–9 || 1996020636 L |- |50||January 30, 1997||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||16–25–9 || 1996020649 L |- |51||January 31, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||16–26–9 || 1996020653 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; February: 4–6–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 1–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |52||February 4, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||17–26–9 || 1996020675 W |- |53||February 5, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||17–27–9 || 1996020681 L |- |54||February 8, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||17–28–9 || 1996020698 L |- |55||February 11, 1997||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||17–28–10 || 1996020712 T |- |56||February 12, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||18–28–10 || 1996020717 W |- |57||February 15, 1997||1–0 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||19–28–10 || 1996020735 W |- |58||February 17, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||19–29–10 || 1996020748 L |- |59||February 21, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||19–30–10 || 1996020772 L |- |60||February 23, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||20–30–10 || 1996020784 W |- |61||February 26, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||20–31–10 || 1996020800 L |- |62||February 28, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||20–32–10 || 1996020812 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; March: 8–4–1 (home: 4–1–1; road: 4–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |63||March 2, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||21–32–10 || 1996020826 W |- |64||March 4, 1997||3–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||21–33–10 || 1996020833 L |- |65||March 6, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||22–33–10 || 1996020845 W |- |66||March 8, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||23–33–10 || 1996020856 W |- |67||March 11, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||23–34–10 || 1996020876 L |- |68||March 13, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||24–34–10 || 1996020887 W |- |69||March 15, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||24–35–10 || 1996020895 L |- |70||March 16, 1997||4–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||24–36–10 || 1996020907 L |- |71||March 19, 1997||7–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||25–36–10 || 1996020916 W |- |72||March 22, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||25–36–11 || 1996020938 T |- |73||March 26, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||26–36–11 || 1996020956 W |- |74||March 27, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||27–36–11 || 1996020962 W |- |75||March 29, 1997||8–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||28–36–11 || 1996020974 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#FE5000 2px solid; April: 1–5–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 0–3–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |76||April 2, 1997||4–5 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||28–37–11 || 1996020996 L |- |77||April 3, 1997||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||28–37–12 || 1996021003 T |- |78||April 5, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||28–38–12 || 1996021014 L |- |79||April 7, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||28–39–12 || 1996021024 L |- |80||April 9, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||28–40–12 || 1996021032 L |- |81||April 11, 1997||6–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||29–40–12 || 1996021045 W |- |82||April 12, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||29–41–12 || 1996021056 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T 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 Islanders only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 16 Zigmund Palffy Žigmund Pálffy RW 80 48 42 90 21 43 39 Travis Green C 79 23 41 64 −5 38 15 Bryan Smolinski C 64 28 28 56 9 25 27 Derek King LW 70 23 30 53 −6 20 34 Bryan Berard D 82 8 40 48 1 86 32 Niklas Andersson LW 74 12 31 43 4 57 18 Marty McInnis RW 70 20 22 42 −7 20 4 Bryan McCabe D 82 8 20 28 −2 165 44 Todd Bertuzzi RW 64 10 13 23 −3 68 3 Kenny Jonsson Kenny Jönsson D 81 3 18 21 10 24 21 Robert Reichel C 12 5 14 19 7 4 13Lapointe wore number 48 on October 31. Claude Lapointe C 73 13 5 18 −12 49 7 Scott Lachance D 81 3 11 14 −7 47 14 Derek Armstrong ice hockey C 50 6 7 13 −8 33 42Plante wore number 21 through December 5. Dan Plante RW 67 4 9 13 −6 75 11Wood wore number 10 through November 16. Randy Wood ice hockey LW 65 6 5 11 −7 61 20 Brent Hughes ice hockey, born 1966 LW 51 7 3 10 −4 57 6 Doug Houda D 70 2 8 10 1 99 24 Paul Kruse LW 48 4 2 6 −5 111 2Pilon wore number 47 in his first two games. Rich Pilon D 52 1 4 5 4 179 62 Steve Webb ice hockey RW 41 1 4 5 −10 144 11 Darius Kasparaitis D 18 0 5 5 −7 16 38 Andreas Johansson ice hockey C 15 2 2 4 −6 0 28Vaske wore number 37 in his first five games. Dennis Vaske D 17 0 4 4 3 12 10 Dave McLlwain C 4 1 1 2 −2 0 33 Ken Belanger LW 18 0 2 2 −1 102 46 Jason Holland ice hockey D 4 1 0 1 1 0 12 Mick Vukota RW 17 1 0 1 −2 71 35 Tommy Salo G 58 0 1 1 4 24 Dave Archibald C 7 0 0 0 −4 4 36 Jarrett Deuling LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 Mike Donnelly LW 3 0 0 0 0 2 28 Jim Dowd ice hockey C 3 0 0 0 −1 0 1 Eric Fichaud Éric Fichaud G 34 0 0 0 2 10Foster wore number 6 in his first five games. Corey Foster D 7 0 0 0 −2 2 30 Tommy Soderstrom Tommy Söderström G 1 0 0 0 0 25 Chris Taylor ice hockey C 1 0 0 0 0 0 21 Nick Vachon C 1 0 0 0 −1 0 42 Andrei Vasilyev ice hockey LW 3 0 0 0 −3 2 Goaltending No. Jersey number Player Regular season GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on ice 35 Tommy Salo 58 20 27 8 1576 151 2.82 .904 5 3208 1 Eric Fichaud 34 9 14 4 897 91 3.10 .899 0 1759 30 Tommy Soderstrom 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 1 Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) Calder Memorial Trophy Bryan BerardCalder Memorial Trophy https://records.nhl.com/awards/trophies/calder-memorial-trophy records.nhl.com July 27, 2023 NHL All-Rookie Team Bryan Berard (Defense)Postseason All-Star Teams https://records.nhl.com/awards/phwa-all-star-teams?season=19961997 records.nhl.com July 26, 2023 League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Scott Lachance1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Zigmund PalffyPalffy did not play and was replaced by Lachance.SPORTS BRIEFS https://www.deseret.com/1997/1/16/19289615/sports-briefs Deseret News July 27, 2023 January 16, 1997 New York Islanders defenseman Scott Lachance also was added to the Eastern Conference team as a replacement for injured teammate Zigmund Palffy. Team Bob Nystrom Award Claude LapointeNew York Islanders – Awards and Honors https://islanders.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43590 https://web.archive.org/web/20161013103916/http://islanders.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43590 dead October 13, 2016 New York Islanders August 9, 2022 Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Bryan Berard October 4, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Nicholas Vachon December 17, 1996 Jason Holland December 30, 1996 Steve Webb January 7, 1997 Draft picks New York's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html www.hockeydb.com July 27, 2023 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)13Jean-Pierre DumontCanadaVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)229Dan LaCoutureUnited StatesEnfield Jr. Whalers (EJHL)356Zdeno CharaDukla Trenčín (Slovakia)483Tyrone GarnerCanadaOshawa Generals (OHL)5109Andrew BerenzweigUnited StatesUniversity of Michigan (CCHA)5128Petr SachlHC České Budějovice (Czech Republic)6138Todd MillerCanadaSarnia Sting (OHL)7165J. R. PrestifilippoUnited StatesHotchkiss School (USHS-CT)8192Evgeny KorolevRussiaPeterborough Petes (OHL)9218Mike MuzechkaCanadaCalgary Hitmen (WHL) Notes References New York Islanders 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000521997.html www.hockeydb.com July 20, 2023 1996-97 New York Islanders Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYI/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 20, 2023 1996-97 Category:1996–97 NHL season by team Category:1996 in sports in New York (state) Category:1997 in sports in New York (state)