1996–97 Colorado Avalanche season

The 1996–97 Colorado Avalanche season was the Avalanche's second season. The franchise's 18th season in the National Hockey League and 25th season overall.

1996–97 Colorado Avalanche
Presidents' Trophy winners
Pacific Division champions
Division	1st Pacific
Conference	1st Western
1996–97 record	49–24–9
Home record	26–10–5
Road record	23–14–4
Goals for	277
Goals against	205
Team information
General manager	Pierre Lacroix
Coach	Marc Crawford
Captain	Joe Sakic
Arena	McNichols Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Adam Deadmarsh (33)
Assists	Peter Forsberg (58)
Points	Peter Forsberg (86)
Penalty minutes	Brent Severyn (193)
Wins	Patrick Roy (38)
Goals against average	Patrick Roy (2.32)

Regular season

The Avalanche scored the most power-play goals during the regular season, with 83.[1]

Season standings

Pacific Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	1	Colorado Avalanche	82	49	24	9	277	205	107
2	4	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	82	36	33	13	243	231	85
3	7	Edmonton Oilers	82	36	37	9	252	247	81
4	9	Vancouver Canucks	82	35	40	7	257	273	77
5	10	Calgary Flames	82	32	41	9	214	239	73
6	12	Los Angeles Kings	82	28	43	11	214	268	67
7	13	San Jose Sharks	82	27	47	8	211	278	62

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
1	p – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	49	24	9	277	205	107
2	Dallas Stars	CEN	82	48	26	8	252	198	104
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	38	26	18	253	197	94
4	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	36	33	13	245	233	85
5	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	38	37	7	240	243	83
6	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	36	35	11	236	239	83
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	36	37	9	252	247	81
8	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	34	35	13	223	210	81
9	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	35	40	7	257	273	77
10	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	32	41	9	214	239	73
11	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	44	8	230	273	68
12	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	28	43	11	214	268	67
13	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	27	47	8	211	278	62

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

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

Schedule and results

Regular season schedule
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 4, 1996	2–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	0–1–0
2	L	October 5, 1996	1–4	@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)	0–2–0
3	W	October 8, 1996	6–0	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	1–2–0
4	T	October 10, 1996	6–6 OT	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	1–2–1
5	W	October 11, 1996	2–0	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	2–2–1
6	W	October 15, 1996	7–2	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	3–2–1
7	L	October 17, 1996	1–2	Florida Panthers (1996–97)	3–3–1
8	W	October 19, 1996	9–2	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	4–3–1
9	L	October 22, 1996	1–5	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	4–4–1
10	W	October 23, 1996	4–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	5–4–1
11	W	October 26, 1996	4–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	6–4–1
12	W	October 28, 1996	1–0	Washington Capitals (1996–97)	7–4–1
13	W	October 30, 1996	6–3	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	8–4–1
14	T	November 2, 1996	0–0 OT	Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	8–4–2
15	T	November 3, 1996	1–1 OT	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	8–4–3
16	W	November 6, 1996	4–1	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	9–4–3
17	W	November 8, 1996	4–1	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	10–4–3
18	W	November 9, 1996	5–2	Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	11–4–3
19	W	November 11, 1996	6–2	@ New York Islanders (1996–97)	12–4–3
20	W	November 13, 1996	4–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	13–4–3
21	L	November 14, 1996	4–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	13–5–3
22	T	November 16, 1996	4–4 OT	Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	13–5–4
23	W	November 20, 1996	6–0	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	14–5–4
24	W	November 22, 1996	3–2	New York Islanders (1996–97)	15–5–4
25	L	November 27, 1996	2–5	New York Rangers (1996–97)	15–6–4
26	W	November 30, 1996	2–1	New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	16–6–4
27	W	December 4, 1996	2–0	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	17–6–4
28	L	December 6, 1996	3–4	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	17–7–4
29	L	December 7, 1996	2–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	17–8–4
30	W	December 11, 1996	6–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	18–8–4
31	L	December 14, 1996	1–4	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	18–9–4
32	W	December 17, 1996	4–3	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	19–9–4
33	T	December 18, 1996	4–4 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	19–9–5
34	L	December 21, 1996	2–6	Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	19–10–5
35	W	December 23, 1996	4–3	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	20–10–5
36	W	December 28, 1996	5–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	21–10–5
37	W	December 29, 1996	3–2	Dallas Stars (1996–97)	22–10–5
38	W	December 31, 1996	4–1	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	23–10–5
39	W	January 2, 1997	3–2	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	24–10–5
40	T	January 4, 1997	4–4 OT	Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	24–10–6
41	T	January 6, 1997	2–2 OT	@ New York Rangers (1996–97)	24–10–7
42	T	January 8, 1997	1–1 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	24–10–8
43	W	January 9, 1997	2–0	@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	25–10–8
44	W	January 11, 1997	3–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	26–10–8
45	W	January 15, 1997	4–2	Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	27–10–8
46	W	January 20, 1997	4–2	@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)	28–10–8
47	L	January 21, 1997	2–3 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	28–11–8
48	W	January 23, 1997	4–3 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	29–11–8
49	L	January 25, 1997	1–4	@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)	29–12–8
50	W	January 27, 1997	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	30–12–8
51	W	January 29, 1997	6–3	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	31–12–8
52	L	February 1, 1997	1–2	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	31–13–8
53	W	February 2, 1997	5–2	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	32–13–8
54	L	February 8, 1997	2–4	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	32–14–8
55	W	February 11, 1997	3–1	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	33–14–8
56	W	February 13, 1997	3–2	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	34–14–8
57	W	February 15, 1997	5–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	35–14–8
58	W	February 18, 1997	3–2 OT	Boston Bruins (1996–97)	36–14–8
59	W	February 21, 1997	4–3 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	37–14–8
60	W	February 23, 1997	4–3	Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	38–14–8
61	L	February 25, 1997	1–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	38–15–8
62	L	February 27, 1997	2–6	Dallas Stars (1996–97)	38–16–8
63	W	March 1, 1997	2–1	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	39–16–8
64	W	March 3, 1997	5–1	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	40–16–8
65	W	March 5, 1997	7–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	41–16–8
66	L	March 6, 1997	3–6	@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)	41–17–8
67	T	March 9, 1997	2–2 OT	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	41–17–9
68	L	March 12, 1997	2–3	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	41–18–9
69	W	March 14, 1997	6–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	42–18–9
70	W	March 16, 1997	4–2	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	43–18–9
71	W	March 18, 1997	4–2	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	44–18–9
72	W	March 21, 1997	4–3	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	45–18–9
73	L	March 23, 1997	0–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	45–19–9
74	W	March 25, 1997	4–0	@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	46–19–9
75	L	March 26, 1997	5–6 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	46–20–9
76	L	March 29, 1997	2–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	46–21–9
77	W	April 2, 1997	5–1	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	47–21–9
78	L	April 4, 1997	6–7 OT	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	47–22–9
79	W	April 6, 1997	2–1	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	48–22–9
80	L	April 9, 1997	1–4	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	48–23–9
81	W	April 11, 1997	2–1	@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)	49–23–9
82	L	April 13, 1997	2–4	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	49–24–9

[3]

Playoffs

Western Conference Quarterfinals: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks

• April 24, 1997: Patrick Roy shut out Chicago by a score of 7-0. He earned his 89th postseason victory and became the goalie with the most postseason wins, surpassing the old record set by New York Islanders goalie Billy Smith.[4]

April 16

Chicago Blackhawks

0–6

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

April 18

Chicago Blackhawks

1–3

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

April 20

Colorado Avalanche

3–4

2OT

Chicago Blackhawks

United Center

April 22

Colorado Avalanche

3–6

Chicago Blackhawks

United Center

April 24

Chicago Blackhawks

0–7

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

April 26

Colorado Avalanche

6–3

Chicago Blackhawks

United Center

Colorado won series 4–2

Western Conference Semifinals: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (7) Edmonton Oilers

May 2

Edmonton Oilers

1–5

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

May 4

Edmonton Oilers

1–4

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

May 7

Colorado Avalanche

3–4

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Coliseum

May 9

Colorado Avalanche

3–2

OT

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Coliseum

May 11

Edmonton Oilers

3–4

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

Colorado won series 4–1

Western Conference Finals: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings

May 15

Detroit Red Wings

1–2

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

May 17

Detroit Red Wings

4–2

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

May 19

Colorado Avalanche

1–2

Detroit Red Wings

Joe Louis Arena

May 22

Colorado Avalanche

0–6

Detroit Red Wings

Joe Louis Arena

May 24

Detroit Red Wings

0–6

Colorado Avalanche

McNichols Sports Arena

May 26

Colorado Avalanche

1–3

Detroit Red Wings

Joe Louis Arena

Detroit won series 4–2

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Peter Forsberg C 65 28 58 86 73 31 5 4 4 Joe Sakic C 65 22 52 74 34 -10 10 2 5 Sandis Ozolinsh D 80 23 45 68 88 4 13 0 4 Valeri Kamensky LW 68 28 38 66 38 5 8 0 4 Adam Deadmarsh RW 78 33 27 60 136 8 10 3 4 Keith Jones RW 67 23 20 43 105 5 13 1 7 Scott Young RW 72 18 19 37 14 -5 7 0 0 Eric Lacroix LW 81 18 18 36 26 16 2 0 4 Mike Ricci C 63 13 19 32 59 -3 5 0 3 Claude Lemieux RW 45 11 17 28 43 -4 5 0 4 Rene Corbet LW 76 12 15 27 67 14 1 0 3 Mike Keane RW 81 10 17 27 63 2 0 1 1 Stephane Yelle C 79 9 17 26 38 1 0 1 1 Jon Klemm D 80 9 15 24 37 12 1 2 1 Uwe Krupp D 60 4 17 21 48 12 2 0 1 Adam Foote D 78 2 19 21 135 16 0 0 0 Aaron Miller D 56 5 12 17 15 15 0 0 3 Alexei Gusarov D 58 2 12 14 28 4 0 0 0 Sylvain Lefebvre D 71 2 11 13 30 12 1 0 0 Brent Severyn LW 66 1 4 5 193 -6 0 0 0 Curtis Leschyshyn D 11 0 5 5 6 1 0 0 0 Yves Sarault LW 28 2 1 3 6 0 0 0 0 Landon Wilson RW 9 1 2 3 23 1 0 0 0 Christian Matte RW 5 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 Craig Billington G 23 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 Josef Marha C 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Patrick Roy G 62 0 1 1 15 0 0 0 0 Wade Belak D 5 0 0 0 11 -1 0 0 0 Rich Brennan D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marc Denis G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eric Messier LW 21 0 0 0 4 7 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Patrick Roy 3698 62 38 15 7 143 2.32 7 1861 1718 .923 Craig Billington 1200 23 11 8 2 53 2.65 1 584 531 .909 Marc Denis 60 1 0 1 0 3 3.00 0 26 23 .885 Team: 4958 82 49 24 9 199 2.41 8 2471 2272 .919

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Joe Sakic C 17 8 17 25 14 5 3 0 0 Claude Lemieux RW 17 13 10 23 32 7 4 0 4 Valeri Kamensky LW 17 8 14 22 16 -1 5 0 2 Peter Forsberg C 14 5 12 17 10 -6 3 0 0 Sandis Ozolinsh D 17 4 13 17 24 -1 2 0 1 Adam Deadmarsh RW 17 3 6 9 24 -6 1 0 1 Stephane Yelle C 12 1 6 7 2 5 0 0 0 Scott Young RW 17 4 2 6 14 -1 2 0 0 Keith Jones RW 6 3 3 6 4 2 1 0 0 Mike Ricci C 17 2 4 6 17 1 0 0 1 Eric Lacroix LW 17 1 4 5 19 2 0 0 0 Mike Keane RW 17 3 1 4 24 2 0 0 1 Rene Corbet LW 17 2 2 4 27 0 0 0 0 Adam Foote D 17 0 4 4 62 3 0 0 0 Aaron Miller D 17 1 2 3 10 3 0 0 0 Alexei Gusarov D 17 0 3 3 14 3 0 0 0 Jon Klemm D 17 1 1 2 6 -1 0 0 0 Craig Billington G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sylvain Lefebvre D 17 0 0 0 25 -1 0 0 0 Eric Messier LW 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 Patrick Roy G 17 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 Yves Sarault LW 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Brent Severyn LW 8 0 0 0 12 1 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Patrick Roy 1034 17 10 7 38 2.21 3 559 521 .932 Craig Billington 20 1 0 0 1 3.00 0 13 12 .923 Team: 1054 17 10 7 39 2.22 3 572 533 .932

[5]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

• Sandis Ozolinsh, Defence, NHL First All-Star Team

Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	25	Peter Ratchuk	United States	Shattuck-Saint Mary's (USHS-MN)
2	51	Yuri Babenko	Russia	Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
3	79	Mark Parrish	United States	St. Cloud State University (WCHA)
4	98	Ben Storey	Canada	Harvard University (ECAC)
4	107	Randy Petruk	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
5	134	Luke Curtin	United States	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
6	146	Brian Willsie	Canada	Guelph Storm (OHL)
6	160	Kai Fischer	Germany	Dusseldorfer EG (Germany)
7	167	Dan Hinote	United States	United States Military Academy (NCAA Independent)
7	176	Samuel Pahlsson	Sweden	MODO (Sweden)
7	188	Roman Pylner	Czech Republic	HC Litvinov Jr. (Czech Republic)
8	214	Matthew Scorsune	United States	Hotchkiss School (USHS-CT)
9	240	Justin Clark	United States	University of Michigan (CCHA)

References

• Avalanche on Hockey Database

1. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html
2. "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
3. "1996–97 Colorado Avalanche Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
4. Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.429 , by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
5. "1996-97 Colorado Avalanche Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-07-10.