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1997–98 New York Rangers season

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NHL hockey team season

1997–98 New York Rangers
Division5th Atlantic
Conference11th Eastern
1997–98 record25–39–18
Home record14–18–9
Road record11–21–9
Goals for197
Goals against231
Team information
General managerNeil Smith
CoachColin Campbell (Oct.–Feb.)
John Muckler (Feb.–Apr.)
CaptainBrian Leetch
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Average attendance18,189
Minor league affiliate(s)Hartford Wolf Pack
Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
GoalsAdam Graves/Wayne Gretzky/
Alexei Kovalev/Pat LaFontaine (23)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (67)
PointsWayne Gretzky (90)
Penalty minutesDarren Langdon (197)
Plus/minusTim Sweeney (+7)
WinsMike Richter (21)
Goals against averageDan Cloutier (2.50)
← 1996–971998–99 →

The 1997–98 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 72nd season. The Rangers posted a 25–39–18 record in the regular season and finished in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. New York missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1992–93 season.

The Rangers fired head coach Colin Campbell during the season and replaced him with former Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup-winning coach John Muckler. 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.

Regular season

The Rangers were the only team in the league not to score a short-handed goal.

Final standings

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 48 23 11 225 166 107
2 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 42 29 11 242 193 95
3 4 Washington Capitals 82 40 30 12 219 202 92
4 10 New York Islanders 82 30 41 11 212 225 71
5 11 New York Rangers 82 25 39 18 197 231 68
6 12 Florida Panthers 82 24 43 15 203 256 63
7 13 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 17 55 10 151 269 44
Eastern Conference
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 regular season
October: 3–6–5 (home: 2–3–3; road: 1–3–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
1 October 3, 1997 New York Islanders 2–2 OT 0–0–1 Recap
2 October 5, 1997 Los Angeles Kings 2–2 OT 0–0–2 Recap
3 October 8, 1997 @ Edmonton Oilers 3–3 OT 0–0–3 Recap
4 October 9, 1997 @ Calgary Flames 1–1 OT 0–0–4 Recap
5 October 11, 1997 @ Vancouver Canucks 6–3 1–0–4 Recap
6 October 14, 1997 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 1–1–4 Recap
7 October 15, 1997 @ Ottawa Senators 5–1 1–2–4 Recap
8 October 18, 1997 @ St. Louis Blues 5–3 1–3–4 Recap
9 October 20, 1997 Carolina Hurricanes 4–2 2–3–4 Recap
10 October 22, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks 1–0 2–4–4 Recap
11 October 24, 1997 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–3 3–4–4 Recap
12 October 26, 1997 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3–3 OT 3–4–5 Recap
13 October 28, 1997 Dallas Stars 3–2 3–5–5 Recap
14 October 30, 1997 @ New York Islanders 5–3 3–6–5 Recap
November: 5–5–4 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–3–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
15 November 3, 1997 Edmonton Oilers 2–2 OT 3–6–6 Recap
16 November 5, 1997 @ Colorado Avalanche 4–2 4–6–6 Recap
17 November 7, 1997 @ Dallas Stars 2–2 OT 4–6–7 Recap
18 November 12, 1997 New Jersey Devils 3–2 4–7–7 Recap
19 November 14, 1997 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 5–7–7 Recap
20 November 16, 1997 Colorado Avalanche 4–1 6–7–7 Recap
21 November 18, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 3–1 7–7–7 Recap
22 November 19, 1997 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 6–3 7–8–7 Recap
23 November 21, 1997 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–3 8–8–7 Recap
24 November 22, 1997 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 OT 8–9–7 Recap
25 November 25, 1997 Vancouver Canucks 4–2 8–10–7 Recap
26 November 26, 1997 @ New York Islanders 4–1 8–11–7 Recap
27 November 28, 1997 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–3 OT 8–11–8 Recap
28 November 30, 1997 Florida Panthers 1–1 OT 8–11–9 Recap
December: 4–7–3 (home: 3–4–1; road: 1–3–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
29 December 2, 1997 Washington Capitals 3–2 OT 8–12–9 Recap
30 December 5, 1997 Philadelphia Flyers 4–4 OT 8–12–10 Recap
31 December 6, 1997 @ Montreal Canadiens 3–3 OT 8–12–11 Recap
32 December 8, 1997 Phoenix Coyotes 3–1 9–12–11 Recap
33 December 10, 1997 Calgary Flames 4–1 9–13–11 Recap
34 December 12, 1997 Florida Panthers 4–3 9–14–11 Recap
35 December 16, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 4–3 9–15–11 Recap
36 December 17, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 4–2 10–15–11 Recap
37 December 20, 1997 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 2–2 OT 10–15–12 Recap
38 December 21, 1997 Buffalo Sabres 2–0 10–16–12 Recap
39 December 23, 1997 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–1 11–16–12 Recap
40 December 26, 1997 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–0 11–17–12 Recap
41 December 28, 1997 Boston Bruins 4–3 12–17–12 Recap
42 December 31, 1997 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 2–0 12–18–12 Recap
January: 4–4–3 (home: 3–2–2; road: 1–2–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
43 January 3, 1998 @ Washington Capitals 3–2 13–18–12 Recap
44 January 6, 1998 Carolina Hurricanes 4–2 14–18–12 Recap
45 January 8, 1998 Washington Capitals 5–3 14–19–12 Recap
46 January 12, 1998 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–2 15–19–12 Recap
47 January 14, 1998 @ New Jersey Devils 4–1 15–20–12 Recap
48 January 20, 1998 St. Louis Blues 3–1 16–20–12 Recap
49 January 22, 1998 Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 16–21–12 Recap
50 January 24, 1998 New Jersey Devils 3–3 OT 16–21–13 Recap
51 January 26, 1998 Washington Capitals 2–2 OT 16–21–14 Recap
52 January 29, 1998 @ Ottawa Senators 2–2 OT 16–21–15 Recap
53 January 31, 1998 @ Boston Bruins 4–2 16–22–15 Recap
February: 2–3–1 (home: 0–1–0; road: 2–2–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
54 February 2, 1998 @ San Jose Sharks 3–2 17–22–15 Recap
55 February 4, 1998 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3–2 17–23–15 Recap
56 February 5, 1998 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–1 17–24–15 Recap
57 February 7, 1998 @ Phoenix Coyotes 1–1 OT 17–24–16 Recap
58 February 26, 1998 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 18–24–16 Recap
59 February 28, 1998 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 18–25–16 Recap
March: 4–9–2 (home: 3–4–1; road: 1–5–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
60 March 2, 1998 Buffalo Sabres 1–0 18–26–16 Recap
61 March 4, 1998 @ Florida Panthers 4–3 19–26–16 Recap
62 March 7, 1998 @ New Jersey Devils 6–3 19–27–16 Recap
63 March 9, 1998 New Jersey Devils 2–2 OT 19–27–17 Recap
64 March 11, 1998 San Jose Sharks 5–3 20–27–17 Recap
65 March 12, 1998 @ Montreal Canadiens 4–1 20–28–17 Recap
66 March 14, 1998 @ Boston Bruins 5–1 20–29–17 Recap
67 March 16, 1998 Ottawa Senators 5–4 21–29–17 Recap
68 March 18, 1998 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 OT 22–29–17 Recap
69 March 21, 1998 Detroit Red Wings 4–3 22–30–17 Recap
70 March 22, 1998 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 OT 22–31–17 Recap
71 March 25, 1998 Ottawa Senators 3–2 OT 22–32–17 Recap
72 March 26, 1998 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–1 22–33–17 Recap
73 March 28, 1998 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 OT 22–33–18 Recap
74 March 30, 1998 Tampa Bay Lightning 3–1 22–34–18 Recap
April: 3–5–0 (home: 1–2–0; road: 2–3–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
75 April 1, 1998 Boston Bruins 4–2 22–35–18 Recap
76 April 4, 1998 @ New York Islanders 3–0 22–36–18 Recap
77 April 5, 1998 @ Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 OT 23–36–18 Recap
78 April 7, 1998 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 23–37–18 Recap
79 April 11, 1998 @ Detroit Red Wings 5–2 23–38–18 Recap
80 April 14, 1998 @ Washington Capitals 3–1 23–39–18 Recap
81 April 15, 1998 New York Islanders 4–2 24–39–18 Recap
82 April 18, 1998 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 25–39–18 Recap
Legend:

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

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; 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 Rangers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
99 Wayne Gretzky C 82 23 67 90 −11 28
16 Pat LaFontaine C 67 23 39 62 −16 36
27 Alexei Kovalev LW 73 23 30 53 −22 44
2 Brian Leetch D 76 17 33 50 −36 32
24 Niklas Sundstrom RW 70 19 28 47 0 24
17 Kevin Stevens LW 80 14 27 41 −7 130
9 Adam Graves LW 72 23 12 35 −30 41
37 Tim Sweeney RW 56 11 18 29 7 26
33 Bruce Driver D 75 5 15 20 −3 46
12 Mike Keane‡ RW 70 8 10 18 −12 47
5 Ulf Samuelsson D 73 3 9 12 1 122
20 Brian Skrudland‡ C 59 5 6 11 −4 39
32 Mike Eastwood‡ C 48 5 5 10 −2 16
25 Alexander Karpovtsev D 47 3 7 10 −1 38
18 Bill Berg C 67 1 9 10 −15 55
26 Jeff Finley D 63 1 6 7 −3 55
15 Darren Langdon LW 70 3 3 6 0 197
10 Marc Savard C 28 1 5 6 −4 4
28 P. J. Stock† C 38 2 3 5 4 114
23 Jeff Beukeboom D 63 0 5 5 −25 195
39 Vladimir Vorobiev RW 15 2 2 4 −10 6
21 Johan Lindbom LW 38 1 3 4 4 28
6 Doug Lidster D 36 0 4 4 2 24
29 Eric Cairns D 39 0 3 3 −3 92
36 Daniel Goneau LW 11 2 0 2 −4 4
14 Geoff Smith D 15 1 1 2 −4 6
8 Ryan VandenBussche‡ RW 16 1 0 1 −2 38
4 Maxim Galanov D 6 0 1 1 1 2
35 Mike Richter G 72 0 1 1 2
30 Sylvain Blouin D 1 0 0 0 0 5
34 Dan Cloutier G 12 0 0 0 19
12 Bob Errey† RW 12 0 0 0 −5 7
14 Peter Ferraro† RW 1 0 0 0 −2 2
31 Jason Muzzatti‡ G 6 0 0 0 10
36 Pierre Sevigny LW 3 0 0 0 0 2
8 Brad Smyth† RW 1 0 0 0 0 0
38 Ronnie Sundin D 1 0 0 0 0 0
32 Harry York† C 2 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltending

  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35 Mike Richter 72 21 31 15 1888 184 2.66 .903 0 4143
34 Dan Cloutier 12 4 5 1 248 23 2.50 .907 0 551
31 Jason Muzzatti‡ 6 0 3 2 156 17 3.26 .891 0 313

Sources:

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual) 		NHL Second All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky (Center)
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzky
Brian Leetch
Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves
Frank Boucher Trophy Wayne Gretzky
Good Guy Award Alexei Kovalev
Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Marc Savard
Players' Player Award Darren Langdon
Rangers MVP Wayne Gretzky
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Wayne Gretzky

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Marc Savard October 3, 1997
Johan Lindbom November 12, 1997
P. J. Stock November 21, 1997
Dan Cloutier January 3, 1998
Ronnie Sundin January 14, 1998
Maxim Galanov April 4, 1998
1,000th point Pat LaFontaine January 22, 1998

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Civic Arena.

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 19 Stefan Cherneski RW  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2 46 Wes Jarvis D  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 73 Burke Henry D  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
4 93 Tomi Kallarsson D  Finland HPK Junior (Finland)
5 126 Jason McLean G  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
5 134 Johan Lindbom RW  Sweden HV71 (SEL)
6 136 Mike York C  United States Michigan State University (NCAA)
6 154 Shawn Degagne G  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
7 175 Johan Holmqvist G  Sweden Brynäs IF (SEL)
7 182 Mike Mottau D  United States Boston College (NCAA)
8 210 Andrew Proskurnicki LW  Canada Sarnia Sting (OHL)
9 236 Richard Miller D  United States Providence College (NCAA)

See also

Notes

  1. Leetch was voted to the starting lineup.

References

  1. ^ "1997–98 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  2. Sandomir, Richard (April 8, 1998). "Hockey; For Garden, No Playoffs Means No Payoff". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  3. "Veteran Muckler Hired To Coach N.Y. Rangers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 20, 1998. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  4. Diamos, Jason (July 29, 1997). "A Bad Feeling Chases Messier Out of New York". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  5. "1997–98 NHL Season Summary". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. "1997–1998 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  7. "1997–98 New York Rangers Schedule and Results". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  8. "New York Rangers 1997-98 roster and statistics". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  9. "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. "1998 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  12. ^ 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
  13. "1997–98 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  14. "Flyers get victory, spoil LaFontaine feat". Deseret News. Associated Press. January 23, 1998. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. "1997 NHL Entry Draft". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  16. "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 28, 2001. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
New York Rangers seasons
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