1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1996–97 1996 Tampa Bay Lightning 32–40–10 15–18–8 17–22–2 Eastern 11th Atlantic 6th 217 247 Phil Esposito Terry Crisp Paul Ysebaert Ice Palace 17,442 Adirondack Red Wings Dino Ciccarelli (35) John Cullen (37) Chris Gratton (62) Chris Gratton (201) Bill Houlder (+16) Rick Tabaracci (20) Rick Tabaracci (2.75) The 1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning's fifth season of operation. The Lightning were unable to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season despite making their first playoff appearance the previous year and losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. Regular season Final standings TBL TBL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 22, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; October: 5–4–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 4–1–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 5, 1996||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||1–0–0 || 1996020006 W |- |2||October 11, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||1–1–0 || 1996020039 L |- |3||October 12, 1996||7–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||2–1–0 || 1996020050 W |- |4||October 15, 1996||4–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||3–1–0 || 1996020059 W |- |5||October 20, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||4–1–0 || 1996020087 W |- |6||October 22, 1996||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–1–0 || 1996020094 W |- |7||October 24, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||5–2–0 || 1996020108 L |- |8||October 26, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||5–3–0 || 1996020118 L |- |9||October 29, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||5–3–1 || 1996020133 T |- |10||October 31, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||5–4–1 || 1996020148 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; November: 2–10–1 (home: 1–5–1; road: 1–5–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |11||November 2, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||5–5–1 || 1996020160 L |- |12||November 4, 1996||5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||6–5–1 || 1996020171 W |- |13||November 6, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||6–6–1 || 1996020178 L |- |14||November 8, 1996||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||6–6–2 || 1996020190 T |- |15||November 10, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||6–7–2 || 1996020205 L |- |16||November 14, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||6–8–2 || 1996020227 L |- |17||November 16, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||6–9–2 || 1996020239 L |- |18||November 19, 1996||3–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||7–9–2 || 1996020254 W |- |19||November 23, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||7–10–2 || 1996020278 L |- |20||November 25, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||7–11–2 || 1996020287 L |- |21||November 27, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||7–12–2 || 1996020297 L |- |22||November 29, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||7–13–2 || 1996020309 L |- |23||November 30, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||7–14–2 || 1996020317 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; December: 5–5–3 (home: 2–1–3; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |24||December 4, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||7–15–2 || 1996020340 L |- |25||December 5, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||8–15–2 || 1996020345 W |- |26||December 7, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||9–15–2 || 1996020361 W |- |27||December 12, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||9–15–3 || 1996020383 T |- |28||December 14, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||10–15–3 || 1996020395 W |- |29||December 16, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||11–15–3 || 1996020405 W |- |30||December 18, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||11–16–3 || 1996020414 L |- |31||December 19, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||11–17–3 || 1996020420 L |- |32||December 21, 1996||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||11–18–3 || 1996020433 L |- |33||December 23, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||11–19–3 || 1996020449 L |- |34||December 26, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||11–19–4 || 1996020459 T |- |35||December 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||11–19–5 || 1996020474 T |- |36||December 31, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||12–19–5 || 1996020491 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; January: 6–5–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 4–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |37||January 3, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–19–5 || 1996020510 W |- |38||January 4, 1997||3–7 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||13–20–5 || 1996020515 L |- |39||January 6, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||14–20–5 || 1996020525 W |- |40||January 8, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||15–20–5 || 1996020535 W |- |41||January 9, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||16–20–5 || 1996020542 W |- |42||January 11, 1997||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||16–20–6 || 1996020556 T |- |43||January 13, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||17–20–6 || 1996020570 W |- |44||January 15, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||17–21–6 || 1996020581 L |- |45||January 21, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||18–21–6 || 1996020594 W |- |46||January 25, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||18–22–6 || 1996020622 L |- |47||January 27, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||18–23–6 || 1996020628 L |- |48||January 30, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||18–24–6 || 1996020646 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; February: 6–6–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 1–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |49||February 1, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||18–25–6 || 1996020658 L |- |50||February 4, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||19–25–6 || 1996020678 W |- |51||February 5, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||19–26–6 || 1996020683 L |- |52||February 8, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||19–27–6 || 1996020700 L |- |53||February 12, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||19–28–6 || 1996020719 L |- |54||February 14, 1997||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||19–29–6 || 1996020731 L |- |55||February 15, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||20–29–6 || 1996020737 W |- |56||February 17, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||20–29–7 || 1996020750 T |- |57||February 20, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||21–29–7 || 1996020765 W |- |58||February 22, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||22–29–7 || 1996020778 W |- |59||February 23, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||23–29–7 || 1996020786 W |- |60||February 25, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||24–29–7 || 1996020793 W |- |61||February 27, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||24–30–7 || 1996020804 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; March: 5–8–1 (home: 3–6–0; road: 2–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |62||March 1, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||25–30–7 || 1996020818 W |- |63||March 4, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||26–30–7 || 1996020833 W |- |64||March 6, 1997||0–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||26–31–7 || 1996020847 L |- |65||March 8, 1997||4–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||26–32–7 || 1996020857 L |- |66||March 9, 1997||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||27–32–7 || 1996020864 W |- |67||March 13, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||27–33–7 || 1996020887 L |- |68||March 15, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||27–34–7 || 1996020900 L |- |69||March 16, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||27–35–7 || 1996020906 L |- |70||March 19, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||27–36–7 || 1996020923 L |- |71||March 21, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||28–36–7 || 1996020934 W |- |72||March 22, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||28–37–7 || 1996020941 L |- |73||March 25, 1997||5–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||29–37–7 || 1996020954 W |- |74||March 27, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||29–38–7 || 1996020964 L |- |75||March 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||29–38–8 || 1996020976 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid; April: 3–2–2 (home: 1–0–1; road: 2–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |76||April 1, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||29–38–9 || 1996020988 T |- |77||April 4, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||29–39–9 || 1996021007 L |- |78||April 5, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||30–39–9 || 1996021014 W |- |79||April 8, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||30–39–10 || 1996021029 T |- |80||April 10, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||31–39–10 || 1996021043 W |- |81||April 11, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||32–39–10 || 1996021046 W |- |82||April 13, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||32–40–10 || 1996021061 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 Lightning only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 77 Chris Gratton C 82 30 32 62 −28 201 22 Dino Ciccarelli RW 77 35 25 60 −11 116 12 John Cullen C 70 18 37 55 −14 95 7 Rob Zamuner LW 82 17 33 50 3 56 44 Roman Hamrlik Roman Hamrlík D 79 12 28 40 −29 57 11 Shawn Burr LW 74 14 21 35 5 106 29 Alex Selivanov RW 69 15 18 33 −3 61 18 Daymond Langkow C 79 15 13 28 1 35 28 Patrick Poulin C 73 12 14 26 −16 56 2 Bill Houlder D 79 4 21 25 16 30 19 Brian Bradley ice hockey, born 1965 C 35 7 17 24 2 16 34 Mikael Andersson ice hockey, born 1966 LW 70 5 14 19 1 8 15 Paul Ysebaert C 39 5 12 17 1 4 55 Drew Bannister D 64 4 13 17 −21 44 24 Jason Wiemer C 63 9 5 14 −13 134 27 David Shaw ice hockey D 57 1 10 11 1 72 9 Jeff Toms C 34 2 8 10 2 10 4 Cory Cross D 72 4 5 9 6 95 5 Igor Ulanov D 59 1 7 8 2 108 20 Rudy Poeschek RW 60 0 6 6 −3 120 6 Jeff Norton D 13 0 5 5 0 16 74 Brantt Myhres RW 47 3 1 4 1 136 23 Brian Bellows LW 7 1 2 3 −4 0 92 Aaron Gavey C 16 1 2 3 −1 12 17 Brent Peterson ice hockey, born 1972 LW 17 2 0 2 −4 4 8 Jamie Huscroft D 13 0 1 1 −4 34 32 Corey Schwab G 31 0 1 1 10 31 Rick Tabaracci G 55 0 1 1 12 10 Paul Brousseau RW 6 0 0 0 −4 0 25 Allan Egeland C 4 0 0 0 −3 5 93 Daren Puppa G 6 0 0 0 2 26 Jay Wells D 21 0 0 0 −3 13 35 Derek Wilkinson ice hockey G 5 0 0 0 0 6 Craig Wolanin D 15 0 0 0 −9 8 Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. 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 31 Rick Tabaracci 55 20 25 6 1415 138 2.75 .902 4 3012 32 Corey Schwab 31 11 12 1 719 74 3.04 .897 2 1462 93 Daren Puppa 6 1 1 2 150 14 2.59 .907 0 325 35 Derek Wilkinson 5 0 2 1 72 12 4.26 .833 0 169 Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Dino CiccarelliCiccarelli was voted to the starting lineup.NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986) https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 NHL.com August 29, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322193353/https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 March 22, 20231997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 NHL Rookie of the Month Daymond Langkow (February)Bruins Let Oates Have His Way The Spokesman-Review https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/02/bruins-let-oates-have-his-way/ www.spokesman.com July 27, 2023 March 2, 1997 Tampa Bay Lightning center Daymond Langkow was named NHL rookie of the month. Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Brent Peterson November 2, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Draft picks Tampa Bay'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)116Mario LarocqueHull Olympiques (QMJHL)369Curtis TiplerRegina Pats (WHL)5125Jason RobinsonNiagara Falls Thunder (OHL)6152Nikolai IgnatovCSKA Moscow (Russia)6157Xavier DelisleGranby Predateurs (QMJHL)7179Pavel KubinaHC Vitkovice (Czech Republic) See also 1996–97 NHL season Notes References Tampa Bay Lightning 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000551997.html www.hockeydb.com July 22, 2023 1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 22, 2023 T Category:Tampa Bay Lightning seasons Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning Category:1990s in Tampa, Florida