1997–98 New York Rangers season
The 1997–98 New York Rangers season was the 72nd season for the team in the National Hockey League. The Rangers posted a 25–39–18 record in the regular season and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.[1] New York missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season.[2]
1997–98 New York Rangers | |
---|---|
Division | 5th Atlantic |
Conference | 11th Eastern |
1997–98 record | 25–39–18 |
Goals for | 197 |
Goals against | 231 |
Team information | |
General manager | Neil Smith |
Coach | Colin Campbell John Muckler |
Captain | Brian Leetch |
Arena | Madison Square Garden |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Adam Graves/Wayne Gretzky/ Alexei Kovalev/Pat LaFontaine (23) |
Assists | Wayne Gretzky (67) |
Points | Wayne Gretzky (90) |
Penalty minutes | Darren Langdon (197) |
Wins | Mike Richter (21) |
Goals against average | Dan Cloutier (2.50) |
The Rangers fired head coach Colin Campbell during the season and replaced him with former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup-winning coach John Muckler.[3] This was also the first season since the 1990–91 campaign that the Rangers did not have Mark Messier; after a contentious negotiating period, the Rangers elected not to re-sign Messier and he instead joined the Vancouver Canucks.[4]
Regular season
The Rangers were the only team in the league not to score a short-handed goal.[5]
Final standings
No. | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
2 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
3 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
4 | New York Islanders | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
5 | New York Rangers | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
6 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
7 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
4 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
6 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
7 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
8 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
9 | Carolina Hurricanes | NE | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
10 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
11 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
12 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs
Schedule and results
1997-98 Game Log | |
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October: 3-6-5 (Home: 2-3-3; Road: 1-3-2)
| |
November: 5-5-4 (Home: 2-2-2; Road: 3-3-2)
| |
December: 4-7-3 (Home: 3-4-1; Road: 1-3-2)
| |
January: 4-4-3 (Home: 3-2-2; Road: 1-2-1)
| |
February: 2-3-1 (Home: 0-1-0; Road: 2-2-1)
| |
March: 4-9-2 (Home: 3-4-1; Road: 1-5-1)
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April: 3-5-0 (Home: 1-2-0; Road: 2-3-0)
|
Playoffs
The Rangers failed to qualify for the playoffs, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993.[7]
Player statistics
- Skaters
|
|
- Goaltenders
Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Richter | 72 | 4143 | 21 | 31 | 15 | 184 | 2.66 | 2072 | .903 | 0 |
Dan Cloutier | 12 | 551 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 2.50 | 271 | .907 | 0 |
Jason Muzzatti‡ | 6 | 313 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 3.26 | 173 | .891 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
Draft picks
New York's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Civic Arena.[9][10]
Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | Stefan Cherneski | RW | ![]() |
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
2 | 46 | Wes Jarvis | D | ![]() |
Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
3 | 73 | Burke Henry | D | ![]() |
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
4 | 93 | Tomi Kallarsson | D | ![]() |
HPK Junior (Finland) |
5 | 126 | Jason McLean | G | ![]() |
Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
5 | 134 | Johan Lindbom | RW | ![]() |
HV71 (SEL) |
6 | 136 | Mike York | C | ![]() |
Michigan State University (NCAA) |
6 | 154 | Shawn Degagne | G | ![]() |
Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
7 | 175 | Johan Holmqvist | G | ![]() |
Brynäs IF (SEL) |
7 | 182 | Mike Mottau | D | ![]() |
Boston College (NCAA) |
8 | 210 | Andrew Proskurnicki | LW | ![]() |
Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
9 | 236 | Richard Miller | D | ![]() |
Providence College (NCAA) |
See also
References
- "1997–98 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
- Sandomir, Richard (1998-04-08). "Hockey; For Garden, No Playoffs Means No Payoff". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- "Veteran Muckler Hired To Coach N.Y. Rangers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1998. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
- Diamos, Jason (July 29, 1997). "A Bad Feeling Chases Messier Out of New York". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
- "1997–98 NHL Season Summary". Hockey Reference. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
- "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- "New York Rangers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
- "1997-98 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- "1997 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
- "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2001-01-28. Retrieved 2012-07-14.