1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season

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.

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)

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]

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
12Buffalo Sabres8240301223720892
26Pittsburgh Penguins823836828528084
37Ottawa Senators8231361522623477
48Montreal Canadiens8231361524927677
510Hartford Whalers8232391122625675
613Boston Bruins822647923430061
Eastern Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82452314231182104
2Buffalo SabresNE8240301223720892
3Philadelphia FlyersATL82452413274217103
4Florida PanthersATL8235281922120189
5New York RangersATL8238341025823186
6Pittsburgh PenguinsNE823836828528084
7Ottawa SenatorsNE8231361522623477
8Montreal CanadiensNE8231361524927677
9Washington CapitalsATL823340921423175
10Hartford WhalersNE8232391122625675
11Tampa Bay LightningATL8232401021724774
12New York IslandersATL8229411224025070
13Boston BruinsNE822647923430061

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)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 5, 19963–3 OTOttawa Senators0–0–1Recap
2TOctober 7, 19966–6 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim0–0–2Recap
3WOctober 9, 19966–3Los Angeles Kings1–0–2Recap
4WOctober 12, 19965–2New York Rangers2–0–2Recap
5LOctober 15, 19962–3@ New Jersey Devils2–1–2Recap
6WOctober 16, 19964–2Calgary Flames3–1–2Recap
7LOctober 19, 19963–6@ Ottawa Senators3–2–2Recap
8LOctober 24, 19963–6@ Buffalo Sabres3–3–2Recap
9WOctober 26, 19966–5Philadelphia Flyers4–3–2Recap
10LOctober 28, 19964–5 OTPhoenix Coyotes4–4–2Recap
11LOctober 30, 19963–5@ Detroit Red Wings4–5–2Recap
November: 6–7–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–5–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12LNovember 2, 19963–4 OT@ San Jose Sharks4–6–2Recap
13TNovember 3, 19964–4 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes4–6–3Recap
14WNovember 6, 19966–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim5–6–3Recap
15LNovember 7, 19961–4@ Los Angeles Kings5–7–3Recap
16LNovember 9, 19962–5@ Colorado Avalanche5–8–3Recap
17WNovember 11, 19963–2 OTEdmonton Oilers6–8–3Recap
18LNovember 13, 19963–5Florida Panthers6–9–3Recap
19LNovember 15, 19961–3@ Washington Capitals6–10–3Recap
20WNovember 16, 19966–1Vancouver Canucks7–10–3Recap
21LNovember 20, 19961–3@ Hartford Whalers7–11–3Recap
22WNovember 21, 19966–2@ Boston Bruins8–11–3Recap
23WNovember 23, 19964–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs9–11–3Recap
24WNovember 25, 19964–2Tampa Bay Lightning10–11–3Recap
25TNovember 27, 19962–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins10–11–4Recap
26LNovember 30, 19960–2Washington Capitals10–12–4Recap
December: 3–6–3 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–1–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
27LDecember 1, 19962–6@ New York Rangers10–13–4Recap
28LDecember 4, 19963–4Boston Bruins10–14–4Recap
29WDecember 6, 19963–1@ Chicago Blackhawks11–14–4Recap
30WDecember 7, 19963–2Chicago Blackhawks12–14–4Recap
31LDecember 11, 19962–3 OTBuffalo Sabres12–15–4Recap
32TDecember 14, 19963–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils12–15–5Recap
33LDecember 16, 19962–4Tampa Bay Lightning12–16–5Recap
34LDecember 21, 19962–3 OTNew York Rangers12–17–5Recap
35LDecember 23, 19960–6Ottawa Senators12–18–5Recap
36TDecember 26, 19963–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins12–18–6Recap
37TDecember 28, 19964–4 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning12–18–7Recap
38WDecember 29, 19962–1@ Florida Panthers13–18–7Recap
January: 6–7–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39WJanuary 1, 19976–4@ Dallas Stars14–18–7Recap
40TJanuary 2, 19972–2 OT@ St. Louis Blues14–18–8Recap
41WJanuary 4, 19973–1New York Islanders15–18–8Recap
42WJanuary 6, 19975–4Hartford Whalers16–18–8Recap
43LJanuary 9, 19974–5@ Boston Bruins16–19–8Recap
44WJanuary 11, 19976–3Boston Bruins17–19–8Recap
45LJanuary 13, 19971–2Dallas Stars17–20–8Recap
46LJanuary 14, 19972–3@ Philadelphia Flyers17–21–8Recap
47WJanuary 20, 19974–1Detroit Red Wings18–21–8Recap
48LJanuary 22, 19971–6@ Buffalo Sabres18–22–8Recap
49LJanuary 25, 19971–8St. Louis Blues18–23–8Recap
50LJanuary 26, 19972–5Pittsburgh Penguins18–24–8Recap
51LJanuary 28, 19971–5@ Florida Panthers18–25–8Recap
52WJanuary 30, 19974–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning19–25–8Recap
February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53TFebruary 1, 19974–4 OTNew Jersey Devils19–25–9Recap
54TFebruary 3, 19972–2 OTFlorida Panthers19–25–10Recap
55LFebruary 5, 19973–6Pittsburgh Penguins19–26–10Recap
56LFebruary 6, 19975–9@ Philadelphia Flyers19–27–10Recap
57WFebruary 8, 19973–2 OTHartford Whalers20–27–10Recap
58WFebruary 10, 19974–2San Jose Sharks21–27–10Recap
59TFebruary 12, 19972–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres21–27–11Recap
60LFebruary 15, 19971–4New Jersey Devils21–28–11Recap
61WFebruary 17, 19974–1@ New York Islanders22–28–11Recap
62LFebruary 22, 19971–5Toronto Maple Leafs22–29–11Recap
63WFebruary 25, 19974–2@ Vancouver Canucks23–29–11Recap
64LFebruary 28, 19972–3@ Calgary Flames23–30–11Recap
March: 5–4–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65WMarch 1, 19975–4@ Edmonton Oilers24–30–11Recap
66LMarch 5, 19973–7Colorado Avalanche24–31–11Recap
67LMarch 7, 19970–2@ Hartford Whalers24–32–11Recap
68TMarch 8, 19973–3 OTBuffalo Sabres24–32–12Recap
69TMarch 10, 19972–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins24–32–13Recap
70WMarch 13, 19973–0@ Boston Bruins25–32–13Recap
71TMarch 15, 19972–2 OTOttawa Senators25–32–14Recap
72WMarch 19, 19975–4@ New York Rangers26–32–14Recap
73LMarch 22, 19971–3Washington Capitals26–33–14Recap
74WMarch 24, 19973–1Boston Bruins27–33–14Recap
75WMarch 26, 19978–5Pittsburgh Penguins28–33–14Recap
76LMarch 29, 19972–5@ Ottawa Senators28–34–14Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77WApril 2, 19974–1@ Hartford Whalers29–34–14Recap
78LApril 5, 19971–4Hartford Whalers29–35–14Recap
79WApril 7, 19972–1New York Islanders30–35–14Recap
80WApril 9, 19973–1@ New York Islanders31–35–14Recap
81LApril 10, 19972–3@ Washington Capitals31–36–14Recap
82TApril 12, 19973–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers31–36–15Recap
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
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 17, 19972–5@ New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 19, 19971–4@ New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 2–0Recap
3LApril 22, 19974–6New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 24, 19974–3 3OTNew Jersey DevilsDevils lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 26, 19970–4@ New Jersey DevilsDevils win 4–1Recap
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.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
25Vincent DamphousseC82275481−6825000−52
8Mark RecchiRW82344680−158542622
49Brian SavageLW81233760−1439511210
11Saku KoivuC501739567385134110
26Martin RucinskyLW702827551625000−54
44Stephane RicherRW632224460325000−30
18Valeri BureRW64142135465011−42
38Vladimir MalakhovD651020303435000−36
17Benoit BrunetLW39101323614413444
5Stephane QuintalD717152211005011−16
30Turner StevensonRW6581321−1497511212
27[lower-alpha 1]Shayne Corson†LW4761521−5805101−54
24Scott ThorntonLW73101020−19128510112
42Darcy TuckerRW7371320−5110400000
28Marc BureauC436915416——————
3[lower-alpha 2]David WilkieD616915−963200002
43Patrice BriseboisD4921315−7243112324
34Peter PopovicD78113149323000−32
71Sebastien BordeleauC282911−32——————
77Pierre Turgeon‡C91101142——————
35Jassen Cullimore†D492684422000−12
22Chris Murray‡RW56426−8114——————
36Murray Baron†‡D60156−16107——————
52Craig RivetD350447545011−214
37Dave Manson†D9112−1235000617
20Eric HoudeC1302212——————
53Rory Fitzpatrick‡D6011−26——————
35Donald Brashear‡LW10000−238——————
32Brad BrownD8000−122——————
48Francois GroleauD500004——————
39Pat Jablonski‡G170000——————
51David Ling†RW200000——————
14Terry RyanLW300000——————
15Pierre SevignyLW1300005——————
60Jose TheodoreG16000020000
41Jocelyn ThibaultG61000030000
37Tomas VokounG10000——————

Goaltending
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
41Jocelyn Thibault6122241118151642.90.91013397303101134.36.8710179
60Jose Theodore16562508533.87.896082121110872.51.9350168
39Pat Jablonski‡17462438503.98.8860754—————————
37Tomas Vokoun100014412.00.714020—————————

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]

Draft picks

Montreal's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[9]

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. "1996-97 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  7. Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
  8. Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
  9. "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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