1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1997–98 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 89th season of play. The Canadiens made the playoffs and advanced to the Conference semi-final after winning 4 games to 2 in Conference quarter-final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, their first playoff series win since the 1992-93 Stanley Cup title year. However, in the semi-final, they were swept in four games by the Buffalo Sabres.

1997–98 Montreal Canadiens
Division	4th Northeast
Conference	7th Eastern
1997–98 record	37–32–13
Home record	15–17–9
Road record	22–15–4
Goals for	235
Goals against	208
Team information
General manager	Rejean Houle
Coach	Alain Vigneault
Captain	Vincent Damphousse
Arena	Molson Centre
Team leaders
Goals	Mark Recchi (32)
Assists	Saku Koivu (43)
Points	Mark Recchi (74)
Penalty minutes	Scott Thornton (158)
Plus/minus	Dave Manson (+22)
Wins	Jocelyn Thibault (19)
Goals against average	Jocelyn Thibault (2.47)

Regular season

Final standings

Northeast Division

No.		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	40	24	18	228	188	98
2	Boston Bruins	82	39	30	13	221	194	91
3	Buffalo Sabres	82	36	29	17	211	187	89
4	Montreal Canadiens	82	37	32	13	235	208	87
5	Ottawa Senators	82	34	33	15	193	200	83
6	Carolina Hurricanes	82	33	41	8	200	219	74

Eastern Conference[1]

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

#	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	T	Oct 1, 1997	2–2 OT	Ottawa Senators	0–0–1
2	W	Oct 4, 1997	4–1	@ Boston Bruins	1–0–1
3	W	Oct 8, 1997	3–0	@ Pittsburgh Penguins	2–0–1
4	L	Oct 11, 1997	2–6	Philadelphia Flyers	2–1–1
5	T	Oct 15, 1997	1–1 OT	Pittsburgh Penguins	2–1–2
6	W	Oct 17, 1997	5–1	@ Buffalo Sabres	3–1–2
7	L	Oct 18, 1997	2–3	Washington Capitals	3–2–2
8	W	Oct 22, 1997	3–0	Florida Panthers	4–2–2
9	L	Oct 23, 1997	1–2 OT	@ New Jersey Devils	4–3–2
10	W	Oct 25, 1997	4–2	@ Ottawa Senators	5–3–2
11	W	Oct 27, 1997	4–2	Chicago Blackhawks	6–3–2
12	L	Oct 29, 1997	2–5	New York Islanders	6–4–2
13	W	Nov 1, 1997	5–1	Toronto Maple Leafs	7–4–2
14	W	Nov 3, 1997	6–4	Dallas Stars	8–4–2
15	W	Nov 5, 1997	4–2	Phoenix Coyotes	9–4–2
16	W	Nov 7, 1997	4–3	@ San Jose Sharks	10–4–2
17	W	Nov 8, 1997	4–1	@ Los Angeles Kings	11–4–2
18	W	Nov 12, 1997	4–3 OT	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	12–4–2
19	W	Nov 13, 1997	5–2	@ Phoenix Coyotes	13–4–2
20	L	Nov 15, 1997	2–3	Washington Capitals	13–5–2
21	W	Nov 17, 1997	4–1	Tampa Bay Lightning	14–5–2
22	L	Nov 19, 1997	1–2	@ Carolina Hurricanes	14–6–2
23	L	Nov 22, 1997	2–5	Detroit Red Wings	14–7–2
24	T	Nov 24, 1997	2–2 OT	San Jose Sharks	14–7–3
25	W	Nov 26, 1997	6–5	@ Washington Capitals	15–7–3
26	L	Nov 28, 1997	0–2	@ Detroit Red Wings	15–8–3
27	L	Nov 29, 1997	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins	15–9–3
28	L	Dec 1, 1997	0–1	Pittsburgh Penguins	15–10–3
29	W	Dec 3, 1997	2–0	Los Angeles Kings	16–10–3
30	T	Dec 6, 1997	3–3 OT	New York Rangers	16–10–4
31	W	Dec 8, 1997	4–2	Colorado Avalanche	17–10–4
32	W	Dec 10, 1997	4–3 OT	St. Louis Blues	18–10–4
33	L	Dec 12, 1997	2–5	@ New Jersey Devils	18–11–4
34	L	Dec 13, 1997	2–4	@ Boston Bruins	18–12–4
35	L	Dec 15, 1997	1–3	Philadelphia Flyers	18–13–4
36	L	Dec 19, 1997	0–1	@ Buffalo Sabres	18–14–4
37	W	Dec 20, 1997	4–1	Ottawa Senators	19–14–4
38	T	Dec 22, 1997	3–3 OT	Edmonton Oilers	19–14–5
39	L	Dec 23, 1997	3–4 OT	@ Ottawa Senators	19–15–5
40	W	Dec 27, 1997	1–0	@ Pittsburgh Penguins	20–15–5
41	T	Dec 29, 1997	1–1 OT	@ Colorado Avalanche	20–15–6
42	W	Dec 31, 1997	3–2	@ Calgary Flames	21–15–6
43	W	Jan 2, 1998	5–3	@ Edmonton Oilers	22–15–6
44	W	Jan 3, 1998	4–2	@ Vancouver Canucks	23–15–6
45	L	Jan 7, 1998	1–2 OT	Boston Bruins	23–16–6
46	W	Jan 8, 1998	8–2	@ New York Islanders	24–16–6
47	W	Jan 12, 1998	6–3	@ Tampa Bay Lightning	25–16–6
48	T	Jan 14, 1998	3–3 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers	25–16–7
49	W	Jan 21, 1998	4–2	Boston Bruins	26–16–7
50	L	Jan 24, 1998	3–4	Carolina Hurricanes	26–17–7
51	L	Jan 25, 1998	1–3	New Jersey Devils	26–18–7
52	W	Jan 29, 1998	3–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers	27–18–7
53	L	Jan 31, 1998	3–4	Ottawa Senators	27–19–7
54	W	Feb 1, 1998	6–3	@ Carolina Hurricanes	28–19–7
55	L	Feb 4, 1998	2–4	@ New York Islanders	28–20–7
56	L	Feb 7, 1998	1–4	Buffalo Sabres	28–21–7
57	L	Feb 25, 1998	2–6	Pittsburgh Penguins	28–22–7
58	L	Feb 28, 1998	0–4	@ Toronto Maple Leafs	28–23–7
59	W	Mar 4, 1998	3–1	@ Dallas Stars	29–23–7
60	L	Mar 5, 1998	0–4	@ St. Louis Blues	29–24–7
61	L	Mar 7, 1998	1–2	Buffalo Sabres	29–25–7
62	W	Mar 9, 1998	6–1	Florida Panthers	30–25–7
63	T	Mar 11, 1998	2–2 OT	Vancouver Canucks	30–25–8
64	W	Mar 12, 1998	4–1	New York Rangers	31–25–8
65	W	Mar 14, 1998	4–2	New Jersey Devils	32–25–8
66	T	Mar 16, 1998	3–3 OT	Calgary Flames	32–25–9
67	L	Mar 18, 1998	1–2 OT	@ New York Rangers	32–26–9
68	L	Mar 19, 1998	0–1	@ Chicago Blackhawks	32–27–9
69	L	Mar 21, 1998	4–5	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	32–28–9
70	W	Mar 25, 1998	2–1 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning	33–28–9
71	L	Mar 26, 1998	4–5	@ Florida Panthers	33–29–9
72	W	Mar 28, 1998	8–2	Tampa Bay Lightning	34–29–9
73	T	Mar 31, 1998	3–3 OT	@ Carolina Hurricanes	34–29–10
74	W	Apr 1, 1998	4–3	@ Florida Panthers	35–29–10
75	L	Apr 4, 1998	0–1	Carolina Hurricanes	35–30–10
76	T	Apr 6, 1998	2–2 OT	@ Washington Capitals	35–30–11
77	W	Apr 7, 1998	3–2	@ New York Rangers	36–30–11
78	L	Apr 10, 1998	1–2	@ Buffalo Sabres	36–31–11
79	T	Apr 11, 1998	3–3 OT	New York Islanders	36–31–12
80	L	Apr 15, 1998	2–6	Boston Bruins	36–32–12
81	W	Apr 16, 1998	2–0	@ Ottawa Senators	37–32–12
82	T	Apr 18, 1998	3–3 OT	Buffalo Sabres	37–32–13

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals

Montreal vs. Pittsburgh

Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Record
April 23	Pittsburgh	3-2	Montreal	1 - 0
April 25	Pittsburgh	1-4	Montreal	1 - 1
April 27	Montreal	3-1	Pittsburgh	2 - 1
April 29	Montreal	3-6	Pittsburgh	2 - 2
May 1	Pittsburgh	2 - 5	Montreal	3 - 2
May 3	Montreal	3 - 0	Pittsburgh	4 - 2

'Eastern Conference Semi-finals

Montreal vs. Buffalo

Date	Home	Score	Visitor	Record
May 8	Buffalo	3 - 2	Montreal	1 - 0
May 10	Buffalo	6 - 3	Montreal	2 - 0
May 12	Montreal	4 - 5	Buffalo	0 - 3
May 14	Montreal	1 - 3	Buffalo	0 - 4

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Mark Recchi	RW	82	32	42	74	51	11	9	1	6
Vincent Damphousse	C	76	18	41	59	58	14	2	1	5
Saku Koivu	C	69	14	43	57	48	8	2	2	3
Shayne Corson	LW	62	21	34	55	108	2	14	1	1
Martin Rucinsky	LW	78	21	32	53	84	13	5	3	3
Vladimir Malakhov	D	74	13	31	44	70	16	8	0	2
Brian Savage	LW	64	26	17	43	36	11	8	0	7
Patrice Brisebois	D	79	10	27	37	67	16	5	0	1
Dave Manson	D	81	4	30	34	122	22	2	0	0
Benoit Brunet	LW	68	12	20	32	61	11	1	2	2
Valeri Bure	RW	50	7	22	29	33	-5	2	0	1
Marc Bureau	C	74	13	6	19	12	0	0	0	2
Stephane Quintal	D	71	6	10	16	97	13	0	0	0
Scott Thornton	LW	67	6	9	15	158	0	1	0	1
Sebastien Bordeleau	C	53	6	8	14	36	5	2	1	0
Jonas Hoglund	LW	28	6	5	11	6	2	4	0	0
Patrick Poulin	C	34	4	6	10	8	-1	0	1	1
Turner Stevenson	RW	63	4	6	10	110	-8	1	0	0
Stephane Richer	RW	14	5	4	9	5	1	2	0	0
Peter Popovic	D	69	2	6	8	38	-6	0	0	0
Darcy Tucker	RW	39	1	5	6	57	-6	0	0	0
Zarley Zalapski	D	28	1	5	6	22	-1	0	1	0
Craig Rivet	D	61	0	2	2	93	-3	0	0	0
Jocelyn Thibault	G	47	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
Brett Clark	D	41	1	0	1	20	-3	0	0	0
Eric Houde	C	9	1	0	1	0	-3	0	0	1
David Wilkie	D	5	1	0	1	4	-1	0	0	1
Igor Ulanov	D	4	0	1	1	12	-2	0	0	0
Jassen Cullimore	D	3	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
Francois Groleau	D	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Matt Higgins	C	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
David Ling	RW	1	0	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0
Andy Moog	G	42	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
Terry Ryan	LW	4	0	0	0	31	0	0	0	0
Mick Vukota	RW	22	0	0	0	76	-4	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Jocelyn Thibault	2652	47	19	15	8	109	2.47	2	1109	1000	.902
Andy Moog	2337	42	18	17	5	97	2.49	3	1024	927	.905
Team:	4989	82	37	32	13	206	2.48	5	2133	1927	.903

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Mark Recchi	RW	10	4	8	12	6	0	0	2
Shayne Corson	LW	10	3	6	9	26	1	0	1
Vincent Damphousse	C	10	3	6	9	22	1	0	0
Vladimir Malakhov	D	9	3	4	7	10	2	0	0
Turner Stevenson	RW	10	3	4	7	12	0	0	0
Saku Koivu	C	6	2	3	5	2	1	0	0
Igor Ulanov	D	10	1	4	5	12	0	0	0
Martin Rucinsky	LW	10	3	0	3	4	1	0	0
Marc Bureau	C	10	1	2	3	6	0	0	0
Jonas Hoglund	LW	10	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Peter Popovic	D	10	1	1	2	2	0	0	0
Stephane Quintal	D	9	0	2	2	4	0	0	0
Brian Savage	LW	9	0	2	2	6	0	0	0
Scott Thornton	LW	9	0	2	2	10	0	0	0
Patrice Brisebois	D	10	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Benoit Brunet	LW	8	1	0	1	4	0	0	1
Dave Manson	D	10	0	1	1	14	0	0	0
Jocelyn Thibault	G	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Zarley Zalapski	D	6	0	1	1	4	0	0	0
Sebastien Bordeleau	C	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Andy Moog	G	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Patrick Poulin	C	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Craig Rivet	D	5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
Jose Theodore	G	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mick Vukota	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Andy Moog	474	9	4	5	24	3.04	1	204	180	.882
Jose Theodore	120	3	0	1	1	0.50	0	35	34	.971
Jocelyn Thibault	43	2	0	0	4	5.58	0	16	12	.750
Team:	637	10	4	6	29	2.73	1	255	226	.886

[2]

Note:

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

Montreal'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)
1	11	Jason Ward	Canada	Erie Otters (OHL)
2	37	Gregor Baumgartner	Austria	Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL)
3	65	Ilkka Mikkola	Finland	Karpat (Finland)
4	91	Daniel Tetrault	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
5	118	Konstantin Sidulov	Russia	Mechel Chelyabinsk (Russia)
5	122	Gennady Razin	Ukraine	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
6	145	Jonathan Desroches	Canada	Granby Predateurs (QMJHL)
7	172	Ben Guite	Canada	University of Maine (Hockey East)
8	197	Petr Kubos	Czech Republic	Petra Vsetin (Czech Republic)
8	202	Andrei Sidyakin	Russia	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia)
9	228	Jarl-Espen Ygranes	Norway	Furuset (Norway)

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• Canadiens on Hockey Database
• Canadiens on NHL Reference

1. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
2. "1997-98 Montreal Canadiens Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.