1996–97 Colorado Avalanche season

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1996–97 Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division champions
Division1st Pacific
Conference1st Western
1996–97 record49–24–9
Home record26–10–5
Road record23–14–4
Goals for277
Goals against205
Team information
General managerPierre Lacroix
CoachMarc Crawford
CaptainJoe Sakic
ArenaMcNichols Arena
Team leaders
GoalsAdam Deadmarsh (33)
AssistsPeter Forsberg (58)
PointsPeter Forsberg (86)
Penalty minutesBrent Severyn (193)
WinsPatrick Roy (38)
Goals against averagePatrick Roy (2.32)

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.

Offseason[]

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[]

  1. ^ "1996-97 NHL Summary".
  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.
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