1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season
The 1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 88th season. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs despite a sub-.500 season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals (the first round) by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1.
1996–97 Montreal Canadiens | |
---|---|
Division | 4th Northeast |
Conference | 8th Eastern |
1996–97 record | 31–36–15 |
Home record | 17–17–7 |
Road record | 14–19–8 |
Goals for | 249 |
Goals against | 276 |
Team information | |
General manager | Rejean Houle |
Coach | Mario Tremblay |
Captain | Pierre Turgeon (Oct) Vincent Damphousse (Oct-Apr) |
Arena | Molson Centre |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Mark Recchi (34) |
Assists | Vincent Damphousse (54) |
Points | Vincent Damphousse (81) |
Penalty minutes | Scott Thornton (128) |
Plus/minus | Peter Popovic (+9) |
Wins | Jocelyn Thibault (22) |
Goals against average | Jocelyn Thibault (2.90) |
Regular season
On Wednesday, October 16, 1996, the Canadiens scored three short-handed goals in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.[1]
The Canadiens finished the regular season 26th in both power-play goals allowed (71) and penalty-killing percentage (79.54%).[2]
Final standings
No. | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
2 | 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
3 | 7 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
4 | 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
5 | 10 | Hartford Whalers | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
6 | 13 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
2 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
5 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
7 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
9 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
13 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs
Schedule and results
# | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | T | Oct 5, 1996 | 3–3 OT | Ottawa Senators | 0–0–1 |
2 | T | Oct 7, 1996 | 6–6 OT | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 0–0–2 |
3 | W | Oct 9, 1996 | 6–3 | Los Angeles Kings | 1–0–2 |
4 | W | Oct 12, 1996 | 5–2 | New York Rangers | 2–0–2 |
5 | L | Oct 15, 1996 | 2–3 | @ New Jersey Devils | 2–1–2 |
6 | W | Oct 16, 1996 | 4–2 | Calgary Flames | 3–1–2 |
7 | L | Oct 19, 1996 | 3–6 | @ Ottawa Senators | 3–2–2 |
8 | L | Oct 24, 1996 | 3–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 3–3–2 |
9 | W | Oct 26, 1996 | 6–5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–3–2 |
10 | L | Oct 28, 1996 | 4–5 OT | Phoenix Coyotes | 4–4–2 |
11 | L | Oct 30, 1996 | 3–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings | 4–5–2 |
12 | L | Nov 2, 1996 | 3–4 OT | @ San Jose Sharks | 4–6–2 |
13 | T | Nov 3, 1996 | 4–4 OT | @ Phoenix Coyotes | 4–6–3 |
14 | W | Nov 6, 1996 | 6–5 | @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 5–6–3 |
15 | L | Nov 7, 1996 | 1–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings | 5–7–3 |
16 | L | Nov 9, 1996 | 2–5 | @ Colorado Avalanche | 5–8–3 |
17 | W | Nov 11, 1996 | 3–2 OT | Edmonton Oilers | 6–8–3 |
18 | L | Nov 13, 1996 | 3–5 | Florida Panthers | 6–9–3 |
19 | L | Nov 15, 1996 | 1–3 | @ Washington Capitals | 6–10–3 |
20 | W | Nov 16, 1996 | 6–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 7–10–3 |
21 | L | Nov 20, 1996 | 1–3 | @ Hartford Whalers | 7–11–3 |
22 | W | Nov 21, 1996 | 6–2 | @ Boston Bruins | 8–11–3 |
23 | W | Nov 23, 1996 | 4–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 9–11–3 |
24 | W | Nov 25, 1996 | 4–2 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 10–11–3 |
25 | T | Nov 27, 1996 | 2–2 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 10–11–4 |
26 | L | Nov 30, 1996 | 0–2 | Washington Capitals | 10–12–4 |
27 | L | Dec 1, 1996 | 2–6 | @ New York Rangers | 10–13–4 |
28 | L | Dec 4, 1996 | 3–4 | Boston Bruins | 10–14–4 |
29 | W | Dec 6, 1996 | 3–1 | @ Chicago Blackhawks | 11–14–4 |
30 | W | Dec 7, 1996 | 3–2 | Chicago Blackhawks | 12–14–4 |
31 | L | Dec 11, 1996 | 2–3 OT | Buffalo Sabres | 12–15–4 |
32 | T | Dec 14, 1996 | 3–3 OT | @ New Jersey Devils | 12–15–5 |
33 | L | Dec 16, 1996 | 2–4 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 12–16–5 |
34 | L | Dec 21, 1996 | 2–3 OT | New York Rangers | 12–17–5 |
35 | L | Dec 23, 1996 | 0–6 | Ottawa Senators | 12–18–5 |
36 | T | Dec 26, 1996 | 3–3 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 12–18–6 |
37 | T | Dec 28, 1996 | 4–4 OT | @ Tampa Bay Lightning | 12–18–7 |
38 | W | Dec 29, 1996 | 2–1 | @ Florida Panthers | 13–18–7 |
39 | W | Jan 1, 1997 | 6–4 | @ Dallas Stars | 14–18–7 |
40 | T | Jan 2, 1997 | 2–2 OT | @ St. Louis Blues | 14–18–8 |
41 | W | Jan 4, 1997 | 3–1 | New York Islanders | 15–18–8 |
42 | W | Jan 6, 1997 | 5–4 | Hartford Whalers | 16–18–8 |
43 | L | Jan 9, 1997 | 4–5 | @ Boston Bruins | 16–19–8 |
44 | W | Jan 11, 1997 | 6–3 | Boston Bruins | 17–19–8 |
45 | L | Jan 13, 1997 | 1–2 | Dallas Stars | 17–20–8 |
46 | L | Jan 14, 1997 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 17–21–8 |
47 | W | Jan 20, 1997 | 4–1 | Detroit Red Wings | 18–21–8 |
48 | L | Jan 22, 1997 | 1–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres | 18–22–8 |
49 | L | Jan 25, 1997 | 1–8 | St. Louis Blues | 18–23–8 |
50 | L | Jan 26, 1997 | 2–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 18–24–8 |
51 | L | Jan 28, 1997 | 1–5 | @ Florida Panthers | 18–25–8 |
52 | W | Jan 30, 1997 | 4–1 | @ Tampa Bay Lightning | 19–25–8 |
53 | T | Feb 1, 1997 | 4–4 OT | New Jersey Devils | 19–25–9 |
54 | T | Feb 3, 1997 | 2–2 OT | Florida Panthers | 19–25–10 |
55 | L | Feb 5, 1997 | 3–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 19–26–10 |
56 | L | Feb 6, 1997 | 5–9 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | 19–27–10 |
57 | W | Feb 8, 1997 | 3–2 OT | Hartford Whalers | 20–27–10 |
58 | W | Feb 10, 1997 | 4–2 | San Jose Sharks | 21–27–10 |
59 | T | Feb 12, 1997 | 2–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres | 21–27–11 |
60 | L | Feb 15, 1997 | 1–4 | New Jersey Devils | 21–28–11 |
61 | W | Feb 17, 1997 | 4–1 | @ New York Islanders | 22–28–11 |
62 | L | Feb 22, 1997 | 1–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 22–29–11 |
63 | W | Feb 25, 1997 | 4–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks | 23–29–11 |
64 | L | Feb 28, 1997 | 2–3 | @ Calgary Flames | 23–30–11 |
65 | W | Mar 1, 1997 | 5–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers | 24–30–11 |
66 | L | Mar 5, 1997 | 3–7 | Colorado Avalanche | 24–31–11 |
67 | L | Mar 7, 1997 | 0–2 | @ Hartford Whalers | 24–32–11 |
68 | T | Mar 8, 1997 | 3–3 OT | Buffalo Sabres | 24–32–12 |
69 | T | Mar 10, 1997 | 2–2 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 24–32–13 |
70 | W | Mar 13, 1997 | 3–0 | @ Boston Bruins | 25–32–13 |
71 | T | Mar 15, 1997 | 2–2 OT | Ottawa Senators | 25–32–14 |
72 | W | Mar 19, 1997 | 5–4 | @ New York Rangers | 26–32–14 |
73 | L | Mar 22, 1997 | 1–3 | Washington Capitals | 26–33–14 |
74 | W | Mar 24, 1997 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins | 27–33–14 |
75 | W | Mar 26, 1997 | 8–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 28–33–14 |
76 | L | Mar 29, 1997 | 2–5 | @ Ottawa Senators | 28–34–14 |
77 | W | Apr 2, 1997 | 4–1 | @ Hartford Whalers | 29–34–14 |
78 | L | Apr 5, 1997 | 1–4 | Hartford Whalers | 29–35–14 |
79 | W | Apr 7, 1997 | 2–1 | New York Islanders | 30–35–14 |
80 | W | Apr 9, 1997 | 3–1 | @ New York Islanders | 31–35–14 |
81 | L | Apr 10, 1997 | 2–3 | @ Washington Capitals | 31–36–14 |
82 | T | Apr 12, 1997 | 3–3 OT | Philadelphia Flyers | 31–36–15 |
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.[4]
Eastern Conference Quarter-finals vs. New Jersey Devils
Montreal vs. New Jersey | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Away | Home | Scores | OT |
April 17 | Montreal | New Jersey | 5 – 2 | |
April 19 | Montreal | New Jersey | 4 – 1 | |
April 22 | New Jersey | Montreal | 6 – 4 | |
April 24 | New Jersey | Montreal | 4 – 3 | 3OT |
April 26 | Montreal | New Jersey | 4 – 0 | |
New Jersey wins series 4–1 |
Player statistics
Regular season
- Scoring
Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vincent Damphousse | C | 82 | 27 | 54 | 81 | 82 | -6 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Mark Recchi | RW | 82 | 34 | 46 | 80 | 58 | -1 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
Brian Savage | LW | 81 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 39 | -14 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
Saku Koivu | C | 50 | 17 | 39 | 56 | 38 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Martin Rucinsky | LW | 70 | 28 | 27 | 55 | 62 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Stephane Richer | RW | 63 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Valeri Bure | RW | 64 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Vladimir Malakhov | D | 65 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 43 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Benoit Brunet | LW | 39 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Stephane Quintal | D | 71 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 100 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Turner Stevenson | RW | 65 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 97 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Shayne Corson | LW | 47 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 80 | -5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Scott Thornton | LW | 73 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 128 | -19 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Darcy Tucker | RW | 73 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 110 | -5 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Marc Bureau | C | 43 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
David Wilkie | D | 61 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 63 | -9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Patrice Brisebois | D | 49 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 24 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Peter Popovic | D | 78 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sebastien Bordeleau | C | 28 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pierre Turgeon | C | 9 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jassen Cullimore | D | 49 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Chris Murray | RW | 56 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 114 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Murray Baron | D | 60 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 107 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Craig Rivet | D | 35 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 54 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dave Manson | D | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 23 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Eric Houde | C | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rory Fitzpatrick | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Donald Brashear | LW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brad Brown | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Francois Groleau | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pat Jablonski | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
David Ling | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Terry Ryan | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pierre Sevigny | LW | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jose Theodore | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jocelyn Thibault | G | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tomas Vokoun | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Goaltending
Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jocelyn Thibault | 3397 | 61 | 22 | 24 | 11 | 164 | 2.90 | 1 | 1815 | 1651 | .910 |
Jose Theodore | 821 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 53 | 3.87 | 0 | 508 | 455 | .896 |
Pat Jablonski | 754 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 50 | 3.98 | 0 | 438 | 388 | .886 |
Tomas Vokoun | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12.00 | 0 | 14 | 10 | .714 |
Team: | 4992 | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 271 | 3.26 | 1 | 2775 | 2504 | .902 |
Playoffs
- Scoring
Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Recchi | RW | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Benoit Brunet | LW | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Saku Koivu | C | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrice Brisebois | D | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Brian Savage | LW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Turner Stevenson | RW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shayne Corson | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Scott Thornton | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Valeri Bure | RW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Stephane Quintal | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Craig Rivet | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jassen Cullimore | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vincent Damphousse | C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vladimir Malakhov | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dave Manson | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Peter Popovic | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Stephane Richer | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Martin Rucinsky | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jose Theodore | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jocelyn Thibault | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Darcy Tucker | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
David Wilkie | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Goaltending
Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jose Theodore | 168 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2.50 | 0 | 108 | 101 | .935 |
Jocelyn Thibault | 179 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 4.36 | 0 | 101 | 88 | .871 |
Team: | 347 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 3.46 | 0 | 209 | 189 | .904 |
- Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
- Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Draft picks
Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 18 | Matt Higgins | Center | ![]() |
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 | Center | ![]() |
Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
5 | 127 | Daniel Archambault | Defence | ![]() |
Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) |
6 | 154 | Brett Clark | Defenceman | ![]() |
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
References
- https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199610160MTL.html
- https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html
- "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
- "Martin Brodeur - Facts". MartinBrodeur.net. Archived from the original on 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- "1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.