1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins
Northeast Division champions
Division1st Northeast
Conference2nd Eastern
1997–98 record40–24–18
Goals for228
Goals against188
Team information
General managerCraig Patrick
CoachKevin Constantine
CaptainRon Francis
Alternate captainsKevin Hatcher
Jaromir Jagr
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJaromir Jagr (35)
AssistsJaromir Jagr (67)
PointsJaromir Jagr (102)
Penalty minutesChris Tamer (181)
WinsTom Barrasso (31)
Goals against averagePeter Skudra (1.83)

The 1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 31st in the National Hockey League (NHL). It was their first season under Head Coach Kevin Constantine and first after the initial retirement of Mario Lemieux.

Offseason[]

Following the 1996–97 season which saw their Hall of Fame star Mario Lemieux retire, the Penguins attempted to continue keeping their recent success. Over the previous nine seasons, no NHL team had been more successful than Pittsburgh in terms of regular season points, although the team had not won a Stanley Cup since 1992 (part of the reason why Head Coach Eddie Johnston was asked to resign down following the 1996–97 season). Former San Jose Sharks Head Coach Kevin Constantine was hired as Johnston's successor, promising to replace his predecessor's free-form style of play with a more disciplined approach. Additionally, Ron Francis was named captain in Lemieux's absence, and the team acquired center Martin Straka via free agency to add offense. The team also acquired the rights to defensive-defenseman Jiri Slegr, who had spent the 1996–97 season playing for Sodertalje SK in Sweden.

Regular season[]

The Penguins tied the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders for most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.[1]

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[2]
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 Schedule
October: 7–5–2 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 6–3–1), 16 Points
# Oct Visitor Score Home Record Points
1 1 Los Angeles Kings 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–0–1 1
2 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Carolina Hurricanes 1–0–1 3
3 4 Florida Panthers 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1–1 3
4 8 Montreal Canadiens 3–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2–1 3
5 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers 1–3–1 3
6 11 Carolina Hurricanes 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3–1 5
7 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 New York Rangers 3–3–1 7
8 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 Montreal Canadiens 3–3–2 8
9 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–3–2 10
10 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Florida Panthers 5–3–2 12
11 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 San Jose Sharks 6–3–2 14
12 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Edmonton Oilers 6–4–2 14
13 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 OT Vancouver Canucks 7–4–2 16
14 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Calgary Flames 7–5–2 16
November: 7–4–3 (Home: 5–2–2 ; Road: 2–2–1), 17 Points
# Nov Visitor Score Home Record Points
15 1 Vancouver Canucks 6–7 OT Pittsburgh Penguins 8–5–2 18
16 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Chicago Blackhawks 8–6–2 18
17 5 Dallas Stars 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–7–2 18
18 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 Detroit Red Wings 8–7–3 19
19 8 Buffalo Sabres 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–7–4 20
20 12 Washington Capitals 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–8–4 20
21 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 New York Rangers 8–9–4 20
22 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–0 Toronto Maple Leafs 9–9–4 22
23 19 Boston Bruins 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–9–5 23
24 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Ottawa Senators 10–9–5 25
25 22 New York Rangers 3–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins 11–9–5 27
26 24 Buffalo Sabres 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 12–9–5 29
27 26 Carolina Hurricanes 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 13–9–5 31
28 29 Montreal Canadiens 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 14–9–5 33
December: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 4–1–2), 17 Points
# Dec Visitor Score Home Record Points
29 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Montreal Canadiens 15–9–5 35
30 4 New Jersey Devils 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 15–10–5 35
31 6 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 16–10–5 37
32 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Los Angeles Kings 17–10–5 39
33 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 18–10–5 41
34 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Phoenix Coyotes 18–10–6 42
35 16 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins 18–10–7 43
36 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Colorado Avalanche 18–10–8 44
37 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 St. Louis Blues 18–11–8 44
38 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Washington Capitals 19–11–8 46
39 27 Montreal Canadiens 1–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 19–12–8 46
40 29 New York Islanders 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 20–12–8 48
41 31 Carolina Hurricanes 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 21–12–8 50
January: 8–3–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1), 18 Points
# Jan Visitor Score Home Record Points
42 3 Colorado Avalanche 5–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins 21–13–8 50
43 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Islanders 22–13–8 52
44 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 New Jersey Devils 22–14–8 52
45 10 New Jersey Devils 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 23–14–8 54
46 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Carolina Hurricanes 24–14–8 56
47 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Boston Bruins 24–15–8 56
48 20 Ottawa Senators 0–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 24–15–9 57
49 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 New Jersey Devils 25–15–9 59
50 24 Boston Bruins 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 26–15–9 61
51 26 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–15–9 63
52 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Washington Capitals 27–15–10 64
53 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Boston Bruins 28–15–10 66
54 31 Detroit Red Wings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 29–15–10 68
February: 1–2–3 (Home: 0–1–1 ; Road: 1–1–2), 5 Points
# Feb Visitor Score Home Record Points
55 2 New York Islanders 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 29–16–10 68
56 4 Washington Capitals 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 29–16–11 69
57 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Buffalo Sabres 29–16–12 70
58 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Ottawa Senators 29–16–13 71
59 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Montreal Canadiens 30–16–13 73
60 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Boston Bruins 30–17–13 73
March: 6–3–4 (Home: 6–0–3 ; Road: 0–3–1), 16 Points
# Mar Visitor Score Home Record Points
61 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 31–17–13 75
62 5 Chicago Blackhawks 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 31–17–14 76
63 7 Philadelphia Flyers 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 32–17–14 78
64 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 OT Philadelphia Flyers 32–18–14 78
65 11 Calgary Flames 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 33–18–14 80
66 14 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 34–18–14 82
67 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Buffalo Sabres 34–19–14 82
68 18 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 35–19–14 84
69 21 Philadelphia Flyers 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–19–14 86
70 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–0 Dallas Stars 36–19–15 87
71 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Islanders 36–20–15 87
72 28 New York Rangers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–20–16 88
73 29 Ottawa Senators 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–20–17 89
April: 4–4–1 (Home: 2–2–1 ; Road: 2–2–0), 9 Points
# Apr Visitor Score Home Record Points
74 1 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–21–17 89
75 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Tampa Bay Lightning 37–21–17 91
76 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Florida Panthers 37–22–17 91
77 7 Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins 37–23–17 91
78 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Ottawa Senators 37–24–17 91
79 11 Florida Panthers 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 37–24–18 92
80 15 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 38–24–18 94
81 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Carolina Hurricanes 39–24–18 96
82 18 Boston Bruins 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 40–24–18 98
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs[]

1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Round 1: 2–4 (Home: 1–2 ; Road: 1–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 23 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 (OT) Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1
2 April 25 Montreal Canadiens 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1
3 April 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 1–2
4 April 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Montreal Canadiens 2–2
5 May 1 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3
6 May 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Montreal Canadiens 2–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics[]

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP GS TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tom Barrasso 63 60 3542:07 31 14 13 122 2.07 1556 0.922 7 0 2 14
Peter Skudra 17 12 851:23 6 4 3 26 1.83 341 0.924 0 0 1 2
Ken Wregget 15 9 611:26 3 6 2 28 2.75 293 0.904 0 0 0 6
Total 81 5004:56 40 24 18 176 2.11 2190 0.920 7 0 3 22
Playoffs[6]
Player GP GS TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tom Barrasso 6 6 376:19 2 4 0 17 2.71 171 0.901 0 0 0 2
Total 6 376:19 2 4 0 17 2.71 171 0.901 0 0 0 2

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season:[7]

Trades[]

August 12, 1997 To Edmonton Oilers

1998 3rd round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jiri Slegr

September 24, 1997 To Buffalo Sabres

Jason Woolley

To Pittsburgh Penguins

1998 5th round pick

September 28, 1997 To Colorado Avalanche

Francois Leroux

To Pittsburgh Penguins

1998 3rd round pick

October 27, 1997 To Chicago Blackhawks

Greg Johnson

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Tuomas Gronman

March 24, 1998 To Anaheim Ducks

rights to Patrick Lalime

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Sean Pronger

June 16, 1998 To Edmonton Oilers

rights to Josef Beranek

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bobby Dollas
Tony Hrkac

June 17, 1998 To Calgary Flames

David Roche
Ken Wregget

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Todd Hlushko
German Titov

Free agents lost[]

Player New team Date
Jeff Christian Phoenix Coyotes August 4, 1997
Robert Lang[8] Boston Bruins September 28, 1997
Drake Berehowsky Edmonton Oilers September 30, 1997
Retrieved from ""