1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1996–97 1996 Eastern 8th Northeast 4th 31–36–15 17–17–7 14–19–8 249 276 Rejean Houle Mario Tremblay Pierre Turgeon (Oct.)Vincent Damphousse (Oct.–Apr.) Molson Centre 21,001 (98.7%) Fredericton CanadiensWheeling Nailers Mark Recchi (34) Vincent Damphousse (54) Vincent Damphousse (81) Peter Popovic (+9) Scott Thornton (128) Jocelyn Thibault (22) Jocelyn Thibault (2.90) The 1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 88th season and the first full season at the Molson Centre. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs despite a sub-.500 season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals (the first round) by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1. Regular season On Wednesday, October 16, 1996, the Canadiens scored three short-handed goals in a 4–2 win over the Calgary Flames.https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199610160MTL.html Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens Box Score — October 16, 1996 Pierre Turgeon was traded on October 29, 1996, to the St. Louis Blues. Veteran forward Vincent Damphousse was named the new captain. The Canadiens finished the regular season 26th in both power-play goals allowed (71) and penalty-killing percentage (79.54%).https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html 1996-97 NHL Summary Final standings MON MON Playoffs In the first game of the series against New Jersey, on April 17, 1997, with the Devils up by two goals late in the game, Martin Brodeur fired the puck the length of the ice and into the Canadiens' empty net to ensure a 5-2 victory. It was only the second time in NHL history that a goaltender had scored in the playoffs, and the fifth time overall.http://www.martinbrodeur.net/index.php?lng=en&vyber=fakty Martin Brodeur - Facts MartinBrodeur.net 2006-12-31 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070217114025/http://www.martinbrodeur.net/index.php?lng=en&vyber=fakty 2007-02-17 Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 17, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October: 4–5–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 0–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 5, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||0–0–1 || 1996020007 T |- |2||October 7, 1996||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||0–0–2 || 1996020021 T |- |3||October 9, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings||1–0–2 || 1996020029 W |- |4||October 12, 1996||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers||2–0–2 || 1996020045 W |- |5||October 15, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils||2–1–2 || 1996020060 L |- |6||October 16, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames||3–1–2 || 1996020065 W |- |7||October 19, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators||3–2–2 || 1996020083 L |- |8||October 24, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||3–3–2 || 1996020106 L |- |9||October 26, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||4–3–2 || 1996020116 W |- |10||October 28, 1996||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes||4–4–2 || 1996020129 L |- |11||October 30, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings||4–5–2 || 1996020140 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November: 6–7–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–5–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |12||November 2, 1996||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks||4–6–2 || 1996020165 L |- |13||November 3, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes||4–6–3 || 1996020168 T |- |14||November 6, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||5–6–3 || 1996020182 W |- |15||November 7, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings||5–7–3 || 1996020188 L |- |16||November 9, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche||5–8–3 || 1996020202 L |- |17||November 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers||6–8–3 || 1996020208 W |- |18||November 13, 1996||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers||6–9–3 || 1996020216 L |- |19||November 15, 1996||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||6–10–3 || 1996020231 L |- |20||November 16, 1996||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks||7–10–3 || 1996020237 W |- |21||November 20, 1996||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||7–11–3 || 1996020258 L |- |22||November 21, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||8–11–3 || 1996020263 W |- |23||November 23, 1996||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||9–11–3 || 1996020279 W |- |24||November 25, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning||10–11–3 || 1996020287 W |- |25||November 27, 1996||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||10–11–4 || 1996020294 T |- |26||November 30, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals||10–12–4 || 1996020315 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December: 3–6–3 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–1–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |27||December 1, 1996||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||10–13–4 || 1996020322 L |- |28||December 4, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||10–14–4 || 1996020335 L |- |29||December 6, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||11–14–4 || 1996020349 W |- |30||December 7, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks||12–14–4 || 1996020356 W |- |31||December 11, 1996||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||12–15–4 || 1996020375 L |- |32||December 14, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils||12–15–5 || 1996020394 T |- |33||December 16, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning||12–16–5 || 1996020405 L |- |34||December 21, 1996||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers||12–17–5 || 1996020436 L |- |35||December 23, 1996||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||12–18–5 || 1996020446 L |- |36||December 26, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||12–18–6 || 1996020455 T |- |37||December 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||12–18–7 || 1996020474 T |- |38||December 29, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers||13–18–7 || 1996020478 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January: 6–7–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |39||January 1, 1997||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars||14–18–7 || 1996020498 W |- |40||January 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues||14–18–8 || 1996020503 T |- |41||January 4, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders||15–18–8 || 1996020516 W |- |42||January 6, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||16–18–8 || 1996020526 W |- |43||January 9, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||16–19–8 || 1996020540 L |- |44||January 11, 1997||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||17–19–8 || 1996020554 W |- |45||January 13, 1997||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars||17–20–8 || 1996020567 L |- |46||January 14, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||17–21–8 || 1996020574 L |- |47||January 20, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings||18–21–8 || 1996020588 W |- |48||January 22, 1997||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||18–22–8 || 1996020597 L |- |49||January 25, 1997||1–8 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues||18–23–8 || 1996020619 L |- |50||January 26, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||18–24–8 || 1996020626 L |- |51||January 28, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers||18–25–8 || 1996020635 L |- |52||January 30, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||19–25–8 || 1996020646 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |53||February 1, 1997||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||19–25–9 || 1996020656 T |- |54||February 3, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers||19–25–10 || 1996020670 T |- |55||February 5, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||19–26–10 || 1996020679 L |- |56||February 6, 1997||5–9 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||19–27–10 || 1996020688 L |- |57||February 8, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||20–27–10 || 1996020697 W |- |58||February 10, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks||21–27–10 || 1996020710 W |- |59||February 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres||21–27–11 || 1996020718 T |- |60||February 15, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils||21–28–11 || 1996020734 L |- |61||February 17, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||22–28–11 || 1996020748 W |- |62||February 22, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs||22–29–11 || 1996020777 L |- |63||February 25, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks||23–29–11 || 1996020796 W |- |64||February 28, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames||23–30–11 || 1996020814 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March: 5–4–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |65||March 1, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers||24–30–11 || 1996020823 W |- |66||March 5, 1997||3–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche||24–31–11 || 1996020838 L |- |67||March 7, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||24–32–11 || 1996020850 L |- |68||March 8, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres||24–32–12 || 1996020855 T |- |69||March 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||24–32–13 || 1996020869 T |- |70||March 13, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins||25–32–13 || 1996020884 W |- |71||March 15, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators||25–32–14 || 1996020897 T |- |72||March 19, 1997||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers||26–32–14 || 1996020917 W |- |73||March 22, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals||26–33–14 || 1996020937 L |- |74||March 24, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins||27–33–14 || 1996020947 W |- |75||March 26, 1997||8–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins||28–33–14 || 1996020957 W |- |76||March 29, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators||28–34–14 || 1996020973 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April: 3–2–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–1–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |77||April 2, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers||29–34–14 || 1996020993 W |- |78||April 5, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers||29–35–14 || 1996021013 L |- |79||April 7, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders||30–35–14 || 1996021024 W |- |80||April 9, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders||31–35–14 || 1996021032 W |- |81||April 10, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals||31–36–14 || 1996021042 L |- |82||April 12, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers||31–36–15 || 1996021055 T |- |- | 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 Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (1) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–1 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- |1|| April 17, 1997 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 1–0 || 1996030111 L |- |2|| April 19, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 2–0 || 1996030112 L |- |3|| April 22, 1997 || 4–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 3–0 || 1996030113 L |- |4|| April 24, 1997 || 4–3 3OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 3–1 || 1996030114 W |- |5|| April 26, 1997 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils win 4–1 || 1996030115 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L Player statistics Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Canadiens only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season Playoffs GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 25 Vincent Damphousse C 82 27 54 81 −6 82 5 0 0 0 −5 2 8 Mark Recchi RW 82 34 46 80 −1 58 5 4 2 6 2 2 49 Brian Savage LW 81 23 37 60 −14 39 5 1 1 2 1 0 11 Saku Koivu C 50 17 39 56 7 38 5 1 3 4 1 10 26 Martin Rucinsky Martin Ručínský LW 70 28 27 55 1 62 5 0 0 0 −5 4 44 Stephane Richer Stéphane Richer (ice hockey forward) RW 63 22 24 46 0 32 5 0 0 0 −3 0 18 Valeri Bure RW 64 14 21 35 4 6 5 0 1 1 −4 2 38 Vladimir Malakhov ice hockey D 65 10 20 30 3 43 5 0 0 0 −3 6 17 Benoit Brunet Benoît Brunet LW 39 10 13 23 6 14 4 1 3 4 4 4 5 Stephane Quintal Stéphane Quintal D 71 7 15 22 1 100 5 0 1 1 −1 6 30 Turner Stevenson RW 65 8 13 21 −14 97 5 1 1 2 1 2 27Corson wore number 29 in his first six games. Shayne Corson LW 47 6 15 21 −5 80 5 1 0 1 −5 4 24 Scott Thornton ice hockey LW 73 10 10 20 −19 128 5 1 0 1 1 2 42 Darcy Tucker RW 73 7 13 20 −5 110 4 0 0 0 0 0 28 Marc Bureau ice hockey C 43 6 9 15 4 16 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 3Wilkie wore number 27 through November 9. David Wilkie ice hockey D 61 6 9 15 −9 63 2 0 0 0 0 2 43 Patrice Brisebois D 49 2 13 15 −7 24 3 1 1 2 3 24 34 Peter Popovic D 78 1 13 14 9 32 3 0 0 0 −3 2 71 Sebastien Bordeleau Sébastien Bordeleau C 28 2 9 11 −3 2 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 77 Pierre Turgeon C 9 1 10 11 4 2 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 35 Jassen Cullimore D 49 2 6 8 4 42 2 0 0 0 −1 2 22 Chris Murray ice hockey, born 1974 RW 56 4 2 6 −8 114 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 36 Murray Baron D 60 1 5 6 −16 107 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 52 Craig Rivet D 35 0 4 4 7 54 5 0 1 1 −2 14 37 Dave Manson D 9 1 1 2 −1 23 5 0 0 0 6 17 20 Eric Houde Éric Houde C 13 0 2 2 1 2 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 53 Rory Fitzpatrick D 6 0 1 1 −2 6 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 35 Donald Brashear LW 10 0 0 0 −2 38 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 32 Brad Brown D 8 0 0 0 −1 22 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 48 Francois Groleau François Groleau D 5 0 0 0 0 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 39 Pat Jablonski G 17 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 51 David Ling RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 14 Terry Ryan ice hockey, born 1977 LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 15 Pierre Sevigny ice hockey LW 13 0 0 0 0 5 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 60 Jose Theodore José Théodore G 16 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 -98 0 41 Jocelyn Thibault G 61 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 -98 0 37 Tomas Vokoun Tomáš Vokoun G 1 0 0 0 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — Goaltending = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only. No. Jersey number Player Regular season Playoffs 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 GP Games played W Wins L Losses SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on Ice 41 Jocelyn Thibault 61 22 24 11 1815 164 2.90 .910 1 3397 3 0 3 101 13 4.36 .871 0 179 60 Jose Theodore 16 5 6 2 508 53 3.87 .896 0 821 2 1 1 108 7 2.51 .935 0 168 39 Pat Jablonski 17 4 6 2 438 50 3.98 .886 0 754 — — — — — — — — — 37 Tomas Vokoun 1 0 0 0 14 4 12.00 .714 0 20 — — — — — — — — — Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Mark Recchi1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Stephane QuintalMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Molson Cup Mark RecchiMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552 Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Terry Ryan October 26, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Eric Houde December 29, 1996 Brad Brown January 11, 1997 David Ling Tomas Vokoun February 6, 1997 Draft picks Montreal's 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 Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 18 Matt Higgins Centre Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 2 44 Mathieu Garon Goalie Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) 3 71 Arron Asham Right wing Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 4 92 Kim Staal Left wing Malmö IF (Sweden) 4 99 Etienne Drapeau Centre Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) 5 127 Daniel Archambault Defence Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) 6 154 Brett Clark Defence University of Maine (NCAA) 7 181 Timo Vertala Left wing JYP (Finland) 8 207 Mattia Baldi Left wing Ambri-Piotta (Swiss) 9 233 Michel Tremblay Left wing Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) See also 1996–97 NHL season Notes References Montreal Canadiens 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000451997.html www.hockeydb.com July 17, 2023 1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 17, 2023 Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1996-97 Montreal Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Category:1996 in Montreal Category:1997 in Montreal