1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season

The 1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the fifth season in franchise history. The Ducks finished sixth in the Pacific and missed the playoffs.

1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Division6th Pacific
1997–98 record26–43–13
Goals for205
Goals against261
Team information
General managerJack Ferreira
CoachPierre Page
CaptainPaul Kariya
Teemu Selanne (interim)
ArenaArrowhead Pond of Anaheim

Off-season

Even though improving and making the PlayOffs into the second round getting swept by the Detroit Red Wings, the Mighty Ducks fired Head Coach Ron Wilson on May 20, 1997 replacing him with Pierre Page.

During the summer only a few changes were made, since the team underwent changes before the trading deadline in March. The Ducks signed Tomas Sandstrom on August 2 and acquired Scott Young from the Colorado Avalanche for a 1998 3rd round draft pick on September 17, 1997. Brent Severyn joined the Ducks as a free agent from Colorado.

Ruslan Salei earned a regular roster spot on the team. Rookies Matt Cullen, Jeremy Stevenson, Jeff Nielsen and Pavel Trnka also joined the Mighty Ducks.

Regular season

The Mighty Ducks and Vancouver Canucks made NHL history, being the first teams ever to play a regular season game outside the USA or Canada, facing each other back to back in Tokyo splitting the series.

The season would prove to be a roller coaster ride : many players dressed for the team through the first twenty games as the lines looked different almost every night. On November 24, 1997, Shawn Antowski was involved in a serious car accident which left him with a compressed skull fracture. They also started the season without Paul Kariya due to a contract dispute, but played well without him as the Ducks were 11-12-6 until December 2, 1997, but by then the team was on a downturn going 3-10-2 until Kariya returned on December 12, 1997. That night had everybody excited as the Ducks came back from being down 3–0 and Kariya scored two goals and an assist helping the Ducks to win after going winless in their last 6 games for the second time.

Despite his great performance the Mighty Ducks continued to struggle going 4-10-2 by January 14, 1998. Having a week off, the Mighty Ducks looked to bounce back starting a nice run with a 8–3 win against the Florida Panthers going 4-2-1 in their next seven games. On February 1, 1998 hopes of a turnaround in the second half of the season were shattered as Kariya was hit in the head by Gary Suter resulting in Kariya missing the remainder of the season, playing only 22 games. In hopes of adding some more scoring due to Kariya's injury the Ducks acquired Travis Green along with Doug Houda in exchange for J.J. Daigeneault, Joe Sacco and Mark Janssens on February 6, 1998. The team lost seven games in a row in early March but made a push for the post season in late March being undefeated in five games after the team came together following the infamous game against Dallas on March 13, but without their captain and losing Guy Hebert on March 8 due to a severe shoulder injury the team went 7-15-4 after the Olympic break thus missing the Play Offs.

Mikhail Shtalenkov played very well replacing Hebert, appearing in 18 of the last 21 games of the season. It was the first time he was the Ducks' number one for a longer stretch since playing three games in last year's Play Offs. The Ducks allowed too many goals that season and scored 40 less than last year. The drastic decrease in goals was a result of Kariya's absence, players like Sandstrom, Young, Rycchel, Pronger and Drury scoring less as well as the trade with the Islanders: it saw them losing reliable bottom six scoring from all players and speed from Sacco, gritty play of Janssens and the experience of Daigeneault on Defense who was important to their Powerplay. Though Travis Green played quite well for the Ducks, the deal was very lopsided and had many wondered at the time as the deal did not pay off at all. Late season acquisition Josef Marha had Anaheim hoping for next season as he had the most impact after the trading deadline. Several prospects also dressed for the Mighty Ducks showing a lot of scoring talent such as Cullen, Nielsen and late season call-up Banham but none them made an impact that was needed. Their Defense got some young blood as well with Salei and Trnka fulfilling management expectations.

The Mighty Ducks were shut out a league high 11 times, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning.[1]

Final standings
Pacific Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Colorado Avalanche8239261723120595
2Los Angeles Kings8238331122722587
3Edmonton Oilers8235371021522480
4San Jose Sharks8234381021021678
5Calgary Flames8226411521725267
6Mighty Ducks of Anaheim8226431320526165
7Vancouver Canucks8225431422427364

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Dallas StarsCEN82492211242167109
2x – Colorado AvalanchePAC8239261723120595
3Detroit Red WingsCEN82442315250196103
4St. Louis BluesCEN824529825620498
5Los Angeles KingsPAC8238331122722587
6Phoenix CoyotesCEN8235351222422782
7Edmonton OilersPAC8235371021522480
8San Jose SharksPAC8234381021021678
9Chicago BlackhawksCEN8230391319219973
10Toronto Maple LeafsCEN823043919423769
11Calgary FlamesPAC8226411521725267
12Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC8226431320526165
13Vancouver CanucksPAC8225431422427364

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 3, 19972–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)0–1–0
2WOctober 4, 19973–2Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)1–1–0
3TOctober 10, 19971–1 OTOttawa Senators (1997–98)1–1–1
4LOctober 13, 19970–3Boston Bruins (1997–98)1–2–1
5TOctober 15, 19972–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1997–98)1–2–2
6WOctober 17, 19972–1Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)2–2–2
7LOctober 19, 19972–5New York Islanders (1997–98)2–3–2
8WOctober 21, 19974–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)3–3–2
9LOctober 22, 19971–4Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)3–4–2
10WOctober 25, 19974–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)4–4–2
11TOctober 26, 19973–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)4–4–3
12TOctober 28, 19972–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)4–4–4
13WOctober 30, 19973–0@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)5–4–4
14LNovember 2, 19973–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)5–5–4
15WNovember 5, 19975–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)6–5–4
16WNovember 7, 19974–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)7–5–4
17WNovember 8, 19973–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–5–4
18LNovember 10, 19974–6San Jose Sharks (1997–98)8–6–4
19LNovember 12, 19973–4 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)8–7–4
20TNovember 14, 19973–3 OTVancouver Canucks (1997–98)8–7–5
21LNovember 16, 19970–4Dallas Stars (1997–98)8–8–5
22LNovember 18, 19972–4@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)8–9–5
23LNovember 19, 19970–4Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)8–10–5
24WNovember 22, 19972–0@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)9–10–5
25LNovember 24, 19970–5@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)9–11–5
26WNovember 26, 19972–0New Jersey Devils (1997–98)10–11–5
27WNovember 28, 19973–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)11–11–5
28LNovember 29, 19972–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)11–12–5
29TDecember 2, 19973–3 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)11–12–6
30LDecember 3, 19970–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)11–13–6
31LDecember 6, 19972–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)11–14–6
32LDecember 10, 19970–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)11–15–6
33WDecember 12, 19976–4Washington Capitals (1997–98)12–15–6
34LDecember 17, 19972–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)12–16–6
35LDecember 19, 19972–6Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)12–17–6
36LDecember 21, 19972–4San Jose Sharks (1997–98)12–18–6
37WDecember 22, 19975–1Calgary Flames (1997–98)13–18–6
38TDecember 27, 19975–5 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)13–18–7
39LDecember 28, 19970–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)13–19–7
40LDecember 30, 19971–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)13–20–7
41LJanuary 1, 19982–3@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)13–21–7
42WJanuary 3, 19984–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)14–21–7
43TJanuary 4, 19983–3 OT@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)14–21–8
44LJanuary 7, 19982–3Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)14–22–8
45LJanuary 9, 19981–5Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)14–23–8
46WJanuary 11, 19982–1 OTDallas Stars (1997–98)15–23–8
47LJanuary 12, 19982–3 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)15–24–8
48LJanuary 14, 19980–2Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)15–25–8
49WJanuary 21, 19988–3Florida Panthers (1997–98)16–25–8
50WJanuary 22, 19984–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)17–25–8
51TJanuary 24, 19983–3 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)17–25–9
52LJanuary 27, 19982–4@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)17–26–9
53LJanuary 28, 19982–5Calgary Flames (1997–98)17–27–9
54WFebruary 1, 19984–3 OTChicago Blackhawks (1997–98)18–27–9
55WFebruary 4, 19983–2New York Rangers (1997–98)19–27–9
56LFebruary 7, 19982–5Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)19–28–9
57LFebruary 25, 19982–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)19–29–9
58WFebruary 27, 19984–0@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)20–29–9
59LMarch 1, 19982–6St. Louis Blues (1997–98)20–30–9
60LMarch 4, 19980–2Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)20–31–9
61LMarch 6, 19980–3San Jose Sharks (1997–98)20–32–9
62LMarch 8, 19981–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)20–33–9
63LMarch 9, 19983–4 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)20–34–9
64LMarch 11, 19981–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)20–35–9
65LMarch 13, 19983–6@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)20–36–9
66WMarch 15, 19985–3Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)21–36–9
67LMarch 18, 19980–3@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)21–37–9
68TMarch 19, 19983–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)21–37–10
69WMarch 21, 19985–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)22–37–10
70WMarch 22, 19985–2@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)23–37–10
71WMarch 25, 19983–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)24–37–10
72TMarch 26, 19983–3 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)24–37–11
73LMarch 28, 19983–5@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)24–38–11
74LApril 1, 19981–5Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)24–39–11
75LApril 3, 19983–6@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)24–40–11
76TApril 5, 19983–3 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)24–40–12
77WApril 8, 19984–2Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)25–40–12
78LApril 9, 19982–5@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)25–41–12
79TApril 13, 19982–2 OTColorado Avalanche (1997–98)25–41–13
80LApril 15, 19983–5@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)25–42–13
81WApril 18, 19984–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)26–42–13
82LApril 19, 19983–5St. Louis Blues (1997–98)26–43–13

[3]

Playoffs

The Mighty Ducks did not make the playoffs.

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player GP G A Pts PIM
Teemu Selanne7352348630
Steve Rucchin7217365313
Dmitri Mironov6663036115
Scott Young7313203322
Paul Kariya2217143123
Matt Cullen616212723
Sean Pronger625152030
Joe Sacco558111924
Tomas Sandstrom77981764
J. J. Daigneault532151728
Ted Drury736101682
Travis Green225111616
Ruslan Salei665101570
Dave Karpa7811112217
Frank Banham21921112
Josef Marha1274110
Warren Rychel635611198
Kevin Todd27471112
Mark Janssens55459116
Jeff Nielsen3245916
Jason Marshall72369189
Jeremy Stevenson45358101
Pavel Trnka4834740
Drew Bannister2706647
Mike Crowley82248
Jean-Francois Jomphe91348
Brent Severyn37134133
Darren Van Impe191344
Espen Knutsen193036
Doug Houda2412352
Peter Leboutillier1211255
Richard Park150228
Jamie Pushor1002210
Shawn Antoski910118
Bobby Dollas2201127
Guy Hebert460114
Mikhail Shtalenkov400110
Dan Trebil210112
Antti Aalto30000
Tom Askey70000
Mike Leclerc70006
Marc Moro10000
Barry Nieckar10002
Tony Tuzzolino10002
Bob Wren30000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SA SV SV% SO
Guy Hebert266046132461302.9313391209.9033
Mikhail Shtalenkov204940131851103.221031921.8931
Tom Askey2737012122.64113101.8940
Team:4982822643132523.0324832231.8994

[4]

Transactions

Traded Darren VanImpe to the Boston Bruins on November, 1997

Traded Bobby Dollas to the Edmonton Oilers for Drew Bannister on January 9, 1998

Traded J.J. Daigneault, Joe Sacco and Mark Janssens to the New York Islanders for Travis Green Doug Houda and Tony Tuzzolino on February 6, 1998.

Acquired Jamie Pushor from the Detroit Red Wings for Dimitri Mironov on March 24, 1998.

Traded Sean Pronger to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Patrick Lalime on March 24, 1998.

Traded Warren Rychel to the Colorado Avelanche in exchange for Josef Marha on March 24, 1998.

Draft picks

Anaheim's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
118Michael Holmqvist SwedenDjurgardens IF (Sweden)
245Maxim Balmochnykh RussiaLada Togliatti (Russia)
372Jay Legault CanadaLondon Knights (OHL)
5125Luc Vaillancourt CanadaBeauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
7178Tony Mohagen CanadaSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
7181Mat Snesrud United StatesNorth Iowa Huskies (USHL)
8209Rene Stussi  SwitzerlandHC Thurgau (Switzerland)
9235Tommi Degerman FinlandBoston University (Hockey East)

Farm teams

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

See also

Other Anaheim–based teams in 1997–98

*Played Occasional Games in Anaheim

References
  1. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998.html
  2. "1997-1998 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  3. "1997–98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  4. "1997-98 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
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