1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1997–98 1997 Eastern 7th Northeast 4th 37–32–13 15–17–9 22–15–4 235 208 Rejean Houle Alain Vigneault Vincent Damphousse Molson Centre 20,771 (97.6%) Fredericton CanadiensNew Orleans Brass Mark Recchi (32) Saku Koivu (43) Mark Recchi (74) Dave Manson (+22) Scott Thornton (158) Jocelyn Thibault (19) Jocelyn Thibault (2.47)The 1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 89th season of play. The Canadiens made the playoffs and advanced to the Conference Semifinals after winning 4 games to 2 in Conference Quarterfinals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, their first playoff series win since the 1992–93 Stanley Cup title year. However, in the Conference semifinals, they were swept in four games by the Buffalo Sabres. Regular season Final standings MON MON Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1997–98 regular season1997-98 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1998_games.html Hockey-Reference.com June 30, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October: 6–4–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 4–1–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 1, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators||0–0–1 || 1997020002 T |- |2||October 4, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||1–0–1 || 1997020021 W |- |3||October 8, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||2–0–1 || 1997020038 W |- |4||October 11, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||2–1–1 || 1997020056 L |- |5||October 15, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||2–1–2 || 1997020077 T |- |6||October 17, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||3–1–2 || 1997020086 W |- |7||October 18, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||3–2–2 || 1997020094 L |- |8||October 22, 1997||3–0 || align="left"| Florida Panthers||4–2–2 || 1997020116 W |- |9||October 23, 1997||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils||4–3–2 || 1997020124 L |- |10||October 25, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||5–3–2 || 1997020134 W |- |11||October 27, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks||6–3–2 || 1997020146 W |- |12||October 29, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders||6–4–2 || 1997020154 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November: 9–5–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |13||November 1, 1997||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs||7–4–2 || 1997020173 W |- |14||November 3, 1997||6–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars||8–4–2 || 1997020185 W |- |15||November 5, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes||9–4–2 || 1997020193 W |- |16||November 7, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks||10–4–2 || 1997020209 W |- |17||November 8, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings||11–4–2 || 1997020219 W |- |18||November 12, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||12–4–2 || 1997020239 W |- |19||November 13, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes||13–4–2 || 1997020245 W |- |20||November 15, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||13–5–2 || 1997020255 L |- |21||November 17, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning||14–5–2 || 1997020268 W |- |22||November 19, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||14–6–2 || 1997020275 L |- |23||November 22, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings||14–7–2 || 1997020297 L |- |24||November 24, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| San Jose Sharks||14–7–3 || 1997020307 T |- |25||November 26, 1997||6–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||15–7–3 || 1997020317 W |- |26||November 28, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings||15–8–3 || 1997020332 L |- |27||November 29, 1997||3–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||15–9–3 || 1997020337 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December: 6–6–3 (home: 4–2–2; road: 2–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |28||December 1, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||15–10–3 || 1997020348 L |- |29||December 3, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings||16–10–3 || 1997020360 W |- |30||December 6, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers||16–10–4 || 1997020379 T |- |31||December 8, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche||17–10–4 || 1997020387 W |- |32||December 10, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues||18–10–4 || 1997020395 W |- |33||December 12, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils||18–11–4 || 1997020408 L |- |34||December 13, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins||18–12–4 || 1997020415 L |- |35||December 15, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||18–13–4 || 1997020425 L |- |36||December 19, 1997||0–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||18–14–4 || 1997020451 L |- |37||December 20, 1997||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators||19–14–4 || 1997020457 W |- |38||December 22, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers||19–14–5 || 1997020468 T |- |39||December 23, 1997||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||19–15–5 || 1997020474 L |- |40||December 27, 1997||1–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||20–15–5 || 1997020491 W |- |41||December 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche||20–15–6 || 1997020508 T |- |42||December 31, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames||21–15–6 || 1997020522 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January: 6–4–1 (home: 1–4–0; road: 5–0–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |43||January 2, 1998||5–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers||22–15–6 || 1997020533 W |- |44||January 3, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks||23–15–6 || 1997020543 W |- |45||January 7, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins||23–16–6 || 1997020557 L |- |46||January 8, 1998||8–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||24–16–6 || 1997020566 W |- |47||January 12, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||25–16–6 || 1997020593 W |- |48||January 14, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||25–16–7 || 1997020603 T |- |49||January 21, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||26–16–7 || 1997020623 W |- |50||January 24, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes||26–17–7 || 1997020641 L |- |51||January 25, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||26–18–7 || 1997020651 L |- |52||January 29, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||27–18–7 || 1997020673 W |- |53||January 31, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators||27–19–7 || 1997020683 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February: 1–4–0 (home: 0–2–0; road: 1–2–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |54||February 1, 1998||6–3 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||28–19–7 || 1997020692 W |- |55||February 4, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||28–20–7 || 1997020710 L |- |56||February 7, 1998||1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||28–21–7 || 1997020727 L |- |57||February 25, 1998||2–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||28–22–7 || 1997020739 L |- |58||February 28, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs||28–23–7 || 1997020760 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March: 6–6–3 (home: 4–2–2; road: 2–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |59||March 4, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars||29–23–7 || 1997020784 W |- |60||March 5, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues||29–24–7 || 1997020791 L |- |61||March 7, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||29–25–7 || 1997020801 L |- |62||March 9, 1998||6–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers||30–25–7 || 1997020812 W |- |63||March 11, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks||30–25–8 || 1997020826 T |- |64||March 12, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers||31–25–8 || 1997020577 W |- |65||March 14, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils||32–25–8 || 1997020845 W |- |66||March 16, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames||32–25–9 || 1997020857 T |- |67||March 18, 1998||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers||32–26–9 || 1997020868 L |- |68||March 19, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks||32–27–9 || 1997020877 L |- |69||March 21, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim||32–28–9 || 1997020885 L |- |70||March 25, 1998||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning||33–28–9 || 1997020908 W |- |71||March 26, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers||33–29–9 || 1997020914 L |- |72||March 28, 1998||8–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning||34–29–9 || 1997020926 W |- |73||March 31, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes||34–29–10 || 1997020945 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April: 3–3–3 (home: 0–2–2; road: 3–1–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |74||April 1, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers||35–29–10 || 1997020953 W |- |75||April 4, 1998||0–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes||35–30–10 || 1997020967 L |- |76||April 6, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||35–30–11 || 1997020982 T |- |77||April 7, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers||36–30–11 || 1997020989 W |- |78||April 10, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres||36–31–11 || 1997021007 L |- |79||April 11, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders||36–31–12 || 1997021011 T |- |80||April 15, 1998||2–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins||36–32–12 || 1997021033 L |- |81||April 16, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators||37–32–12 || 1997021042 W |- |82||April 18, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||37–32–13 || 1997021052 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; 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Pittsburgh Penguins – Canadiens win 4–2 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || April 23, 1998 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Penguins lead 1–0 || 1997030121 L |- | 2 || April 25, 1998 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Series tied 1–1 || 1997030122 W |- | 3 || April 27, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens lead 2–1 || 1997030123 W |- | 4 || April 29, 1998 || 3–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Series tied 2–2 || 1997030124 L |- | 5 || May 1, 1998 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens lead 3–2 || 1997030125 W |- | 6 || May 3, 1998 || 3–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Canadiens win 4–2 || 1997030126 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 4–0 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || May 8, 1998 || 2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 1–0 || 1997030221 L |- | 2 || May 10, 1998 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 2–0 || 1997030222 L |- | 3 || May 12, 1998 || 4–5 2OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 3–0 || 1997030223 L |- | 4 || May 14, 1998 || 1–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Sabres win 4–0 || 1997030224 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 8 Mark Recchi RW 82 32 42 74 11 51 10 4 8 12 2 6 25 Vincent Damphousse C 76 18 41 59 14 58 10 3 6 9 −4 22 11 Saku Koivu C 69 14 43 57 8 48 6 2 3 5 4 2 27 Shayne Corson LW 62 21 34 55 2 108 10 3 6 9 3 26 26 Martin Rucinsky Martin Ručínský LW 78 21 32 53 13 84 10 3 0 3 −2 4 38 Vladimir Malakhov ice hockey D 74 13 31 44 16 70 9 3 4 7 −3 10 49 Brian Savage LW 64 26 17 43 11 36 9 0 2 2 −2 6 43 Patrice Brisebois D 79 10 27 37 16 67 10 1 0 1 −5 0 22 Dave Manson D 81 4 30 34 22 122 10 0 1 1 0 14 17 Benoit Brunet Benoît Brunet LW 68 12 20 32 11 61 8 1 0 1 1 4 20 Valeri Bure RW 50 7 22 29 −5 33 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 28 Marc Bureau ice hockey C 74 13 6 19 0 12 10 1 2 3 −1 6 5 Stephane Quintal Stéphane Quintal D 71 6 10 16 13 97 9 0 2 2 2 4 24 Scott Thornton ice hockey LW 67 6 9 15 0 158 9 0 2 2 0 10 71 Sebastien Bordeleau Sébastien Bordeleau C 53 6 8 14 5 36 5 0 0 0 −1 2 44 Jonas Hoglund Jonas Höglund LW 28 6 5 11 2 6 10 2 0 2 −1 0 37 Patrick Poulin C 34 4 6 10 −1 8 3 0 0 0 −1 0 23 Turner Stevenson RW 63 4 6 10 −8 110 10 3 4 7 1 12 44 Stephane Richer Stéphane Richer (ice hockey forward) RW 14 5 4 9 1 5 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 34 Peter Popovic D 69 2 6 8 −6 38 10 1 1 2 2 2 12 Darcy Tucker RW 39 1 5 6 −6 57 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 3 Zarley Zalapski D 28 1 5 6 −1 22 6 0 1 1 −3 4 52 Craig Rivet D 61 0 2 2 −3 93 5 0 0 0 −2 2 41 Jocelyn Thibault G 47 0 2 2 -98 0 2 0 1 1 -98 0 29 Brett Clark ice hockey D 41 1 0 1 −3 20 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 15 Eric Houde Éric Houde C 9 1 0 1 −3 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 3 David Wilkie ice hockey D 5 1 0 1 −1 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 55 Igor Ulanov D 4 0 1 1 −2 12 10 1 4 5 3 12 21 Jassen Cullimore D 3 0 0 0 0 4 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 48 Francois Groleau François Groleau D 1 0 0 0 1 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 46 Matt Higgins ice hockey C 1 0 0 0 −1 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 51 David Ling RW 1 0 0 0 −1 0 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 35 Andy Moog G 42 0 0 0 -98 4 9 0 0 0 -98 0 14 Terry Ryan ice hockey, born 1977 LW 4 0 0 0 0 31 -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 21 Mick Vukota RW 22 0 0 0 −4 76 1 0 0 0 0 0 60 Jose Theodore José Théodore G -1 — -1 — -1 — -1 — -99 — -1 — 3 0 0 0 -98 0 Goaltending 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 47 19 15 8 1109 109 2.47 .902 2 2652 2 0 0 16 4 5.53 .750 0 43 35 Andy Moog 42 18 17 5 1024 97 2.49 .905 3 2337 9 4 5 204 24 3.04 .882 1 474 60 Jose Theodore — — — — — — — — — — 3 0 1 35 1 0.50 .971 0 120 Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Shayne Corson1998 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1998_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Saku Koivu Mark Recchi Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Patrice BriseboisMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Marc Bureau Molson Cup Mark RecchiMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552 Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Brett Clark October 4, 19971997-98 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 8, 2024 Matt Higgins November 26, 1997 Draft picks Montreal's draft picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1997e.html www.hockeydb.com July 9, 2023 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)111Jason WardErie Otters (OHL)237Gregor BaumgartnerLaval Titan College Francais (QMJHL)365Ilkka MikkolaKarpat (Finland)491Daniel TetraultBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)5118Konstantin SidulovMechel Chelyabinsk (Russia)5122Gennady RazinKamloops Blazers (WHL)6145Jonathan DesrochesGranby Predateurs (QMJHL)7172Ben GuiteUniversity of Maine (Hockey East)8197Petr KubosPetra Vsetin (Czech Republic)8202Andrei SidyakinSalavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia)9228Jarl-Espen YgranesFuruset (Norway) See also 1997–98 NHL season References Montreal Canadiens 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000451998.html www.hockeydb.com June 30, 2023 1997-98 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1998.html Hockey-Reference.com June 30, 2023 Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1997-98 Montreal Category:1997 in Montreal Category:1997 in sports in Quebec Category:1998 in sports in Quebec Category:1998 in Montreal