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1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season

1996–97 Montreal Canadiens
Division4th Northeast
Conference8th Eastern
1996–97 record31–36–15
Home record17–17–7
Road record14–19–8
Goals for249
Goals against276
Team information
General managerRejean Houle
CoachMario Tremblay
CaptainPierre Turgeon (Oct.)
Vincent Damphousse (Oct.–Apr.)
ArenaMolson Centre
Average attendance21,001
Minor league affiliate(s)Fredericton Canadiens
Wheeling Nailers
Team leaders
GoalsMark Recchi (34)
AssistsVincent Damphousse (54)
PointsVincent Damphousse (81)
Penalty minutesScott Thornton (128)
Plus/minusPeter Popovic (+9)
WinsJocelyn Thibault (22)
Goals against averageJocelyn Thibault (2.90)

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 quarterfinals (the first round) by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1.

Offseason

Regular season

On Wednesday, October 16, 1996, the Canadiens scored three short-handed goals in a 4–2 win over the Calgary Flames.[1]

Pierre Turgeon was traded on October 29, 1996, to the St. Louis Blues. Veteran forward Vincent Damphousse was named the new captain.

The Canadiens finished the regular season 26th in both power-play goals allowed (71) and penalty-killing percentage (79.54%).[2]

Final standings

Northeast Division
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
Eastern Conference[3]
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


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]

Schedule and results

Regular season

1996–97 regular season[5]
October: 4–5–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 0–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 T October 5, 1996 3–3 OT Ottawa Senators 0–0–1 Recap
2 T October 7, 1996 6–6 OT Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 0–0–2 Recap
3 W October 9, 1996 6–3 Los Angeles Kings 1–0–2 Recap
4 W October 12, 1996 5–2 New York Rangers 2–0–2 Recap
5 L October 15, 1996 2–3 @ New Jersey Devils 2–1–2 Recap
6 W October 16, 1996 4–2 Calgary Flames 3–1–2 Recap
7 L October 19, 1996 3–6 @ Ottawa Senators 3–2–2 Recap
8 L October 24, 1996 3–6 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–3–2 Recap
9 W October 26, 1996 6–5 Philadelphia Flyers 4–3–2 Recap
10 L October 28, 1996 4–5 OT Phoenix Coyotes 4–4–2 Recap
11 L October 30, 1996 3–5 @ Detroit Red Wings 4–5–2 Recap
November: 6–7–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–5–2)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
12 L November 2, 1996 3–4 OT @ San Jose Sharks 4–6–2 Recap
13 T November 3, 1996 4–4 OT @ Phoenix Coyotes 4–6–3 Recap
14 W November 6, 1996 6–5 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 5–6–3 Recap
15 L November 7, 1996 1–4 @ Los Angeles Kings 5–7–3 Recap
16 L November 9, 1996 2–5 @ Colorado Avalanche 5–8–3 Recap
17 W November 11, 1996 3–2 OT Edmonton Oilers 6–8–3 Recap
18 L November 13, 1996 3–5 Florida Panthers 6–9–3 Recap
19 L November 15, 1996 1–3 @ Washington Capitals 6–10–3 Recap
20 W November 16, 1996 6–1 Vancouver Canucks 7–10–3 Recap
21 L November 20, 1996 1–3 @ Hartford Whalers 7–11–3 Recap
22 W November 21, 1996 6–2 @ Boston Bruins 8–11–3 Recap
23 W November 23, 1996 4–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 9–11–3 Recap
24 W November 25, 1996 4–2 Tampa Bay Lightning 10–11–3 Recap
25 T November 27, 1996 2–2 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins 10–11–4 Recap
26 L November 30, 1996 0–2 Washington Capitals 10–12–4 Recap
December: 3–6–3 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–1–3)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
27 L December 1, 1996 2–6 @ New York Rangers 10–13–4 Recap
28 L December 4, 1996 3–4 Boston Bruins 10–14–4 Recap
29 W December 6, 1996 3–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks 11–14–4 Recap
30 W December 7, 1996 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks 12–14–4 Recap
31 L December 11, 1996 2–3 OT Buffalo Sabres 12–15–4 Recap
32 T December 14, 1996 3–3 OT @ New Jersey Devils 12–15–5 Recap
33 L December 16, 1996 2–4 Tampa Bay Lightning 12–16–5 Recap
34 L December 21, 1996 2–3 OT New York Rangers 12–17–5 Recap
35 L December 23, 1996 0–6 Ottawa Senators 12–18–5 Recap
36 T December 26, 1996 3–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins 12–18–6 Recap
37 T December 28, 1996 4–4 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning 12–18–7 Recap
38 W December 29, 1996 2–1 @ Florida Panthers 13–18–7 Recap
January: 6–7–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
39 W January 1, 1997 6–4 @ Dallas Stars 14–18–7 Recap
40 T January 2, 1997 2–2 OT @ St. Louis Blues 14–18–8 Recap
41 W January 4, 1997 3–1 New York Islanders 15–18–8 Recap
42 W January 6, 1997 5–4 Hartford Whalers 16–18–8 Recap
43 L January 9, 1997 4–5 @ Boston Bruins 16–19–8 Recap
44 W January 11, 1997 6–3 Boston Bruins 17–19–8 Recap
45 L January 13, 1997 1–2 Dallas Stars 17–20–8 Recap
46 L January 14, 1997 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers 17–21–8 Recap
47 W January 20, 1997 4–1 Detroit Red Wings 18–21–8 Recap
48 L January 22, 1997 1–6 @ Buffalo Sabres 18–22–8 Recap
49 L January 25, 1997 1–8 St. Louis Blues 18–23–8 Recap
50 L January 26, 1997 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 18–24–8 Recap
51 L January 28, 1997 1–5 @ Florida Panthers 18–25–8 Recap
52 W January 30, 1997 4–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 19–25–8 Recap
February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
53 T February 1, 1997 4–4 OT New Jersey Devils 19–25–9 Recap
54 T February 3, 1997 2–2 OT Florida Panthers 19–25–10 Recap
55 L February 5, 1997 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 19–26–10 Recap
56 L February 6, 1997 5–9 @ Philadelphia Flyers 19–27–10 Recap
57 W February 8, 1997 3–2 OT Hartford Whalers 20–27–10 Recap
58 W February 10, 1997 4–2 San Jose Sharks 21–27–10 Recap
59 T February 12, 1997 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres 21–27–11 Recap
60 L February 15, 1997 1–4 New Jersey Devils 21–28–11 Recap
61 W February 17, 1997 4–1 @ New York Islanders 22–28–11 Recap
62 L February 22, 1997 1–5 Toronto Maple Leafs 22–29–11 Recap
63 W February 25, 1997 4–2 @ Vancouver Canucks 23–29–11 Recap
64 L February 28, 1997 2–3 @ Calgary Flames 23–30–11 Recap
March: 5–4–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–2–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
65 W March 1, 1997 5–4 @ Edmonton Oilers 24–30–11 Recap
66 L March 5, 1997 3–7 Colorado Avalanche 24–31–11 Recap
67 L March 7, 1997 0–2 @ Hartford Whalers 24–32–11 Recap
68 T March 8, 1997 3–3 OT Buffalo Sabres 24–32–12 Recap
69 T March 10, 1997 2–2 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins 24–32–13 Recap
70 W March 13, 1997 3–0 @ Boston Bruins 25–32–13 Recap
71 T March 15, 1997 2–2 OT Ottawa Senators 25–32–14 Recap
72 W March 19, 1997 5–4 @ New York Rangers 26–32–14 Recap
73 L March 22, 1997 1–3 Washington Capitals 26–33–14 Recap
74 W March 24, 1997 3–1 Boston Bruins 27–33–14 Recap
75 W March 26, 1997 8–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 28–33–14 Recap
76 L March 29, 1997 2–5 @ Ottawa Senators 28–34–14 Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–1–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
77 W April 2, 1997 4–1 @ Hartford Whalers 29–34–14 Recap
78 L April 5, 1997 1–4 Hartford Whalers 29–35–14 Recap
79 W April 7, 1997 2–1 New York Islanders 30–35–14 Recap
80 W April 9, 1997 3–1 @ New York Islanders 31–35–14 Recap
81 L April 10, 1997 2–3 @ Washington Capitals 31–36–14 Recap
82 T April 12, 1997 3–3 OT Philadelphia Flyers 31–36–15 Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs[5]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (1) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–1
Game Result Date Score Opponent Series Recap
1 L April 17, 1997 2–5 @ New Jersey Devils Devils lead 1–0 Recap
2 L April 19, 1997 1–4 @ New Jersey Devils Devils lead 2–0 Recap
3 L April 22, 1997 4–6 New Jersey Devils Devils lead 3–0 Recap
4 W April 24, 1997 4–3 3OT New Jersey Devils Devils lead 3–1 Recap
5 L April 26, 1997 0–4 @ New Jersey Devils Devils win 4–1 Recap
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
No. Player Pos Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
25 Vincent Damphousse C 82 27 54 81 −6 82 5 0 0 0 −5 2
8 Mark Recchi RW 82 34 46 80 −1 58 5 4 2 6 2 2
49 Brian Savage LW 81 23 37 60 −14 39 5 1 1 2 1 0
11 Saku Koivu C 50 17 39 56 7 38 5 1 3 4 1 10
26 Martin Rucinsky LW 70 28 27 55 1 62 5 0 0 0 −5 4
44 Stephane Richer RW 63 22 24 46 0 32 5 0 0 0 −3 0
18 Valeri Bure RW 64 14 21 35 4 6 5 0 1 1 −4 2
38 Vladimir Malakhov D 65 10 20 30 3 43 5 0 0 0 −3 6
17 Benoit Brunet LW 39 10 13 23 6 14 4 1 3 4 4 4
5 Stephane Quintal D 71 7 15 22 1 100 5 0 1 1 −1 6
30 Turner Stevenson RW 65 8 13 21 −14 97 5 1 1 2 1 2
27[a] Shayne Corson† LW 47 6 15 21 −5 80 5 1 0 1 −5 4
24 Scott Thornton LW 73 10 10 20 −19 128 5 1 0 1 1 2
42 Darcy Tucker RW 73 7 13 20 −5 110 4 0 0 0 0 0
28 Marc Bureau C 43 6 9 15 4 16 — — — — — —
3[b] David Wilkie D 61 6 9 15 −9 63 2 0 0 0 0 2
43 Patrice Brisebois D 49 2 13 15 −7 24 3 1 1 2 3 24
34 Peter Popovic D 78 1 13 14 9 32 3 0 0 0 −3 2
71 Sebastien Bordeleau C 28 2 9 11 −3 2 — — — — — —
77 Pierre Turgeon‡ C 9 1 10 11 4 2 — — — — — —
35 Jassen Cullimore† D 49 2 6 8 4 42 2 0 0 0 −1 2
22 Chris Murray‡ RW 56 4 2 6 −8 114 — — — — — —
36 Murray Baron†‡ D 60 1 5 6 −16 107 — — — — — —
52 Craig Rivet D 35 0 4 4 7 54 5 0 1 1 −2 14
37 Dave Manson† D 9 1 1 2 −1 23 5 0 0 0 6 17
20 Eric Houde C 13 0 2 2 1 2 — — — — — —
53 Rory Fitzpatrick‡ D 6 0 1 1 −2 6 — — — — — —
35 Donald Brashear‡ LW 10 0 0 0 −2 38 — — — — — —
32 Brad Brown D 8 0 0 0 −1 22 — — — — — —
48 Francois Groleau D 5 0 0 0 0 4 — — — — — —
39 Pat Jablonski‡ G 17 0 0 0 0 — — — — — —
51 David Ling† RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 — — — — — —
14 Terry Ryan LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 — — — — — —
15 Pierre Sevigny LW 13 0 0 0 0 5 — — — — — —
60 Jose Theodore G 16 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
41 Jocelyn Thibault G 61 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
37 Tomas Vokoun G 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — —

Goaltending

  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
No. Player Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
41 Jocelyn Thibault 61 22 24 11 1815 164 2.90 .910 1 3397 3 0 3 101 13 4.36 .871 0 179
60 Jose Theodore 16 5 6 2 508 53 3.87 .896 0 821 2 1 1 108 7 2.51 .935 0 168
39 Pat Jablonski‡ 17 4 6 2 438 50 3.98 .886 0 754 — — — — — — — — —
37 Tomas Vokoun 1 0 0 0 14 4 12.00 .714 0 20 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honour Recipient Ref
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Mark Recchi [6]
Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Stephane Quintal [7]
Molson Cup Mark Recchi [8]

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Terry Ryan October 26, 1996 [9]
Eric Houde December 29, 1996
Brad Brown January 11, 1997
David Ling
Tomas Vokoun February 6, 1997

Transactions

Draft picks

Montreal's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[10]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team
1 18 Matt Higgins Centre  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
2 44 Mathieu Garon Goalie  Canada Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
3 71 Arron Asham Right Wing  Canada Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
4 92 Kim Staal Left Wing  Denmark Malmö IF (Sweden)
4 99 Etienne Drapeau Centre  Canada Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
5 127 Daniel Archambault Defence  Canada Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
6 154 Brett Clark Defence  Canada University of Maine (NCAA)
7 181 Timo Vertala Left Wing  Finland JYP (Finland)
8 207 Mattia Baldi Left Wing  Switzerland Ambri-Piotta (Swiss)
9 233 Michel Tremblay Left Wing  Canada Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Corson wore number 29 in his first six games.
  2. ^ Wilkie wore number 27 through November 9.

References

  • "Montreal Canadiens 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  • "1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  1. ^ "Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens Box Score — October 16, 1996".
  2. ^ "1996-97 NHL Summary".
  3. ^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  4. ^ "Martin Brodeur - Facts". MartinBrodeur.net. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  5. ^ a b "1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
  8. ^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
  9. ^ "1996-97 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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