1997–98 Florida Panthers season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1997–98 1997 Florida Panthers 24–43–15 11–24–6 13–19–9 Eastern 12th Atlantic 6th 203 256 Bryan Murray Doug MacLean (Oct.–Nov.)Bryan Murray (Nov.–Apr.) Scott Mellanby Miami Arena 14,703 Beast of New HavenTallahassee Tiger SharksPort Huron Border Cats Ray Whitney (32) Robert Svehla (34) Ray Whitney (61) Paul Laus (263) Ray Whitney (+10) John Vanbiesbrouck (18) John Vanbiesbrouck (2.87) The 1997–98 Florida Panthers season was the Panthers' fifth season. After making the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1997, the Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season. Regular season The Panthers' penalty kill struggled during the regular season and they allowed the most power-play goals in the NHL (82) and had the lowest penalty-kill percentage (79.65%). They also tied the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998.html 1997-98 NHL Summary On November 26, 1997, the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins at home by a score of 10–5.https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199711260FLA.html Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers Box Score — November 26, 1997 Veteran forward Ray Sheppard had a hat trick in the game. It was the first time in franchise history that the Panthers had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game.FLA Records https://records.nhl.com/fla/records/team-records/goals/most-goals-one-team-one-game records.nhl.com July 2, 2023 It also came exactly one year after the last NHL team had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game, as the Edmonton Oilers had defeated their provincial rival Calgary Flames on the road by a score of 10–1 on November 26, 1996.https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199611260CGY.html Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames Box Score — November 26, 1996 Final standings FLA FLA Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 5px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 5px solid; 1997–98 regular season1997-98 Florida Panthers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/FLA/1998_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 2, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; October: 3–6–3 (home: 1–2–2; road: 2–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 1, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||0–1–0 || 1997020003 L |- |2||October 4, 1997||5–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||1–1–0 || 1997020022 W |- |3||October 11, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||1–2–0 || 1997020059 L |- |4||October 13, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||1–2–1 || 1997020066 T |- |5||October 15, 1997||2–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||2–2–1 || 1997020078 W |- |6||October 16, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||2–3–1 || 1997020084 L |- |7||October 19, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||2–4–1 || 1997020101 L |- |8||October 22, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||2–5–1 || 1997020116 L |- |9||October 23, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||2–5–2 || 1997020123 T |- |10||October 25, 1997||5–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||3–5–2 || 1997020133 W |- |11||October 28, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||3–5–3 || 1997020150 T |- |12||October 30, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||3–6–3 || 1997020164 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; November: 5–7–2 (home: 2–7–1; road: 3–0–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |13||November 1, 1997||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||3–7–3 || 1997020176 L |- |14||November 5, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||3–8–3 || 1997020195 L |- |15||November 6, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||4–8–3 || 1997020200 W |- |16||November 9, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||5–8–3 || 1997020221 W |- |17||November 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||5–8–4 || 1997020235 T |- |18||November 14, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||5–9–4 || 1997020251 L |- |19||November 15, 1997||1–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||6–9–4 || 1997020256 W |- |20||November 18, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||6–10–4 || 1997020273 L |- |21||November 20, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||6–11–4 || 1997020286 L |- |22||November 22, 1997||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||7–11–4 || 1997020298 W |- |23||November 23, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||7–12–4 || 1997020305 L |- |24||November 26, 1997||10–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||8–12–4 || 1997020319 W |- |25||November 28, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||8–13–4 || 1997020331 L |- |26||November 30, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||8–13–5 || 1997020345 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; December: 6–7–1 (home: 1–4–1; road: 5–3–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |27||December 1, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||8–14–5 || 1997020350 L |- |28||December 5, 1997||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||8–15–5 || 1997020373 L |- |29||December 7, 1997||5–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||9–15–5 || 1997020385 W |- |30||December 10, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||10–15–5 || 1997020394 W |- |31||December 12, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||11–15–5 || 1997020407 W |- |32||December 13, 1997||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||11–16–5 || 1997020417 L |- |33||December 15, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||11–17–5 || 1997020426 L |- |34||December 17, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||11–18–5 || 1997020439 L |- |35||December 18, 1997||4–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||12–18–5 || 1997020446 W |- |36||December 20, 1997||0–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||12–19–5 || 1997020458 L |- |37||December 23, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||12–20–5 || 1997020478 L |- |38||December 26, 1997||5–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||13–20–5 || 1997020483 W |- |39||December 27, 1997||6–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||14–20–5 || 1997020492 W |- |40||December 30, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||14–20–6 || 1997020513 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; January: 4–5–5 (home: 4–0–1; road: 0–5–4) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |41||January 1, 1998||2–1 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||15–20–6 || 1997020526 W |- |42||January 2, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||15–20–7 || 1997020530 T |- |43||January 4, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||15–20–8 || 1997020544 T |- |44||January 7, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||15–21–8 || 1997020561 L |- |45||January 9, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||15–21–9 || 1997020574 T |- |46||January 10, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||15–21–10 || 1997020582 T |- |47||January 12, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) ||15–22–10 || 1997020595 L |- |48||January 14, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||15–23–10 || 1997020608 L |- |49||January 21, 1998||3–8 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||15–24–10 || 1997020629 L |- |50||January 22, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||15–25–10 || 1997020636 L |- |51||January 24, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||15–25–11 || 1997020649 T |- |52||January 27, 1998||3–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||16–25–11 || 1997020662 W |- |53||January 29, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||17–25–11 || 1997020674 W |- |54||January 31, 1998||2–0 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||18–25–11 || 1997020685 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; February: 0–4–1 (home: 0–2–1; road: 0–2–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |55||February 1, 1998||2–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||18–26–11 || 1997020695 L |- |56||February 3, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||18–26–12 || 1997020704 T |- |57||February 7, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||18–27–12 || 1997020730 L |- |58||February 25, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||18–28–12 || 1997020742 L |- |59||February 27, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||18–29–12 || 1997020753 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; March: 3–10–0 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–5–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |60||March 4, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||18–30–12 || 1997020782 L |- |61||March 7, 1998||3–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||18–31–12 || 1997020804 L |- |62||March 9, 1998||1–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||18–32–12 || 1997020812 L |- |63||March 11, 1998||3–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||18–33–12 || 1997020825 L |- |64||March 13, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||18–34–12 || 1997020839 L |- |65||March 15, 1998||4–8 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||18–35–12 || 1997020854 L |- |66||March 17, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||18–36–12 || 1997020863 L |- |67||March 19, 1998||1–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||18–37–12 || 1997020875 L |- |68||March 21, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||18–38–12 || 1997020888 L |- |69||March 23, 1998||3–5 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||18–39–12 || 1997020900 L |- |70||March 26, 1998||5–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||19–39–12 || 1997020914 W |- |71||March 28, 1998||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||20–39–12 || 1997020924 W |- |72||March 29, 1998||4–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||21–39–12 || 1997020938 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#E51A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#002D62 2px solid; April: 3–4–3 (home: 2–4–0; road: 1–0–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |73||April 1, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||21–40–12 || 1997020953 L |- |74||April 4, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||22–40–12 || 1997020969 W |- |75||April 5, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||23–40–12 || 1997020978 W |- |76||April 7, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||23–41–12 || 1997020990 L |- |77||April 9, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||24–41–12 || 1997021001 W |- |78||April 11, 1998||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||24–41–13 || 1997021009 T |- |79||April 12, 1998||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||24–41–14 || 1997021020 T |- |80||April 14, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||24–42–14 || 1997021030 L |- |81||April 16, 1998||3–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||24–43–14 || 1997021044 L |- |82||April 18, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||24–43–15 || 1997021055 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 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 Panthers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 14 Ray Whitney ice hockey LW 68 32 29 61 10 28 15 Dave Gagner C 78 20 28 48 −21 55 24 Robert Svehla Róbert Švehla D 79 9 34 43 −3 113 27 Scott Mellanby RW 79 15 24 39 −14 127 19 Radek Dvorak Radek Dvořák RW 64 12 24 36 −1 33 26 Ray Sheppard RW 61 14 17 31 −13 21 9 Kirk Muller LW 70 8 21 29 −14 54 11 Bill Lindsay RW 82 12 16 28 −2 80 25 Viktor Kozlov C 46 12 11 23 −1 14 55 Ed Jovanovski D 81 9 14 23 −12 158 51 David Nemirovsky RW 41 9 12 21 −3 8 17 Steve Washburn C 58 11 8 19 −6 32 5 Gord Murphy D 79 6 11 17 −3 46 22 Dino Ciccarelli RW 28 5 11 16 −2 28 21 Tom Fitzgerald ice hockey RW 69 10 5 15 −4 57 44 Rob Niedermayer C 33 8 7 15 −9 41 23 Chris Wells ice hockey C 61 5 10 15 4 47 3 Paul Laus D 77 0 11 11 −5 293 10Tikkanen wore number 97 in his first 14 games. Esa Tikkanen LW 28 1 8 9 −7 16 2 Terry Carkner D 74 1 7 8 6 63 6 Jeff Norton D 19 0 7 7 −7 18 29 Johan Garpenlov Johan Garpenlöv LW 39 2 3 5 −6 8 7 Rhett Warrener D 79 0 4 4 −16 99 34 John Vanbiesbrouck G 60 0 3 3 6 12 Jody Hull RW 21 2 0 2 1 4 16 Ryan Johnson ice hockey, born 1976 C 10 0 2 2 −4 0 8 Dallas Eakins D 23 0 1 1 1 44 12 Chris Allen ice hockey D 1 0 0 0 0 2 30 Mark Fitzpatrick G 12 0 0 0 2 4 John Jakopin D 2 0 0 0 −3 4 10 Dave Lowry LW 7 0 0 0 −1 2 1 Kirk McLean G 7 0 0 0 0 1 Kevin Weekes G 11 0 0 0 0 28 Peter Worrell LW 19 0 0 0 −4 153 Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers 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 34 John Vanbiesbrouck 60 18 29 11 1638 165 2.87 .899 4 3451 1 Kirk McLean 7 4 2 1 207 22 3.25 .894 0 406 30 Mark Fitzpatrick 12 2 7 2 265 32 3.00 .879 1 640 1 Kevin Weekes 11 0 5 1 247 32 3.96 .870 0 485 Awards and records Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Kevin Weekes October 16, 19971997-98 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 8, 2024 Peter Worrell November 22, 1997 Ryan Johnson December 5, 1997 John Jakopin March 13, 1998 Chris Allen April 18, 1998 1,000th game played Kirk Muller January 14, 1998MULLER TO PLAY 1,000TH GAME https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1998/01/14/muller-to-play-1000th-game/ Sun Sentinel July 8, 2023 January 14, 1998 Draft picks Florida'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)120Mike BrownRed Deer Rebels (WHL)247Kristian HuseliusFarjestad BK (Sweden)356Vratislav CechKitchener Rangers (OHL)374Nick SmithBarrie Colts (OHL)495Ivan NovoseltsevKrylya Sovetov (Russia)5127Pat ParthenaisDetroit Whalers (OHL)6155Keith DelaneyBarrie Colts (OHL)7183Tyler PalmerLake Superior State University (CCHA)8211Doug SchuellerTwin Cities Vulcans (USHL)9237Benoit CoteShawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) See also 1997–98 NHL season Notes References Florida Panthers 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002341998.html www.hockeydb.com July 2, 2023 1997-98 Florida Panthers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/FLA/1998.html Hockey-Reference.com July 2, 2023 F Category:Florida Panthers seasons Florida Panthers Florida Panthers