1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	Colorado Avalanche
Conferencerank:	2nd
Divisionrank:	1st
Record:	39–26–17
Homerecord:	21–10–10
Roadrecord:	18–16–7
Goalsfor:	231
Goalsagainst:	205
Attendance:	16,061
Goalsleader:	Joe Sakic (27)
Assistsleader:	Peter Forsberg (66)
Pointsleader:	Peter Forsberg (91)
Pimleader:	Jeff Odgers (213)
Plusminusleader:	Uwe Krupp (+21)
Winsleader:	Patrick Roy (31)
Gaaleader:	Craig Billington (2.32)
Divisionwin:	yes

The 1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season was the Avalanche's third season.

Regular season

Season standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- style="text-align:center;"|1||T||October 1, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||0–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|2||W||October 3, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||1–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|3||W||October 5, 1997||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||2–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|4||W||October 7, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||3–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|5||W||October 9, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||4–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center;"|6||T||October 11, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||4–0–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|7||W||October 15, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||5–0–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|8||L||October 17, 1997||5–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||5–1–2 || |- style="text-align:center;"|9||T||October 19, 1997||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||5–1–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|10||W||October 22, 1997||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||6–1–3 || |- style="text-align:center;"|11||T||October 24, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||6–1–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|12||L||October 25, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||6–2–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|13||W||October 28, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||7–2–4 || |- style="text-align:center;"|14||T||October 30, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||7–2–5 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|15||T||November 1, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||7–2–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|16||L||November 5, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1997–98) ||7–3–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|17||W||November 8, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||8–3–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|18||W||November 11, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||9–3–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|19||W||November 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||10–3–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|20||L||November 14, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||10–4–6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|21||L||November 16, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1997–98) ||10–5–6 || |- style="text-align:center;"|22||T||November 18, 1997||6–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) ||10–5–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|23||W||November 21, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||11–5–7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|24||L||November 23, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||11–6–7 || |- style="text-align:center;"|25||T||November 26, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||11–6–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|26||W||November 28, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||12–6–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|27||W||November 29, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) ||13–6–8 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|28||W||December 2, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||14–6–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|29||W||December 4, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||15–6–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|30||W||December 6, 1997||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||16–6–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|31||L||December 8, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||16–7–8 || |- style="text-align:center;"|32||T||December 10, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||16–7–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|33||L||December 12, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||16–8–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|34||W||December 13, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||17–8–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|35||W||December 15, 1997||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||18–8–9 || |- style="text-align:center;"|36||T||December 17, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||18–8–10 || |- style="text-align:center;"|37||T||December 19, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||18–8–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|38||W||December 23, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||19–8–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|39||W||December 27, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||20–8–11 || |- style="text-align:center;"|40||T||December 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) ||20–8–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|41||W||December 31, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1997–98) ||21–8–12 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|42||T||January 2, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) ||21–8–13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|43||W||January 3, 1998||5–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) ||22–8–13 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|44||L||January 6, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1997–98) ||22–9–13 || |- style="text-align:center;"|45||T||January 8, 1998||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||22–9–14 || |- style="text-align:center;"|46||T||January 10, 1998||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||22–9–15 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|47||W||January 12, 1998||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1997–98) ||23–9–15 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|48||W||January 14, 1998||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||24–9–15 || |- style="text-align:center;"|49||T||January 15, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||24–9–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|50||L||January 21, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–10–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|51||L||January 22, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||24–11–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|52||L||January 24, 1998||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1997–98) ||24–12–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|53||W||January 26, 1998||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||25–12–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|54||W||January 28, 1998||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||26–12–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|55||L||January 31, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||26–13–16 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|56||W||February 2, 1998||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) ||27–13–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|57||W||February 5, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||28–13–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|58||W||February 7, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) ||29–13–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|59||W||February 25, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||30–13–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|60||W||February 26, 1998||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||31–13–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|61||L||February 28, 1998||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||31–14–16 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|62||L||March 2, 1998||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) ||31–15–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|63||W||March 4, 1998||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) ||32–15–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|64||L||March 5, 1998||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) ||32–16–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|65||W||March 7, 1998||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1997–98) ||33–16–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|66||L||March 9, 1998||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) ||33–17–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|67||W||March 11, 1998||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||34–17–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|68||L||March 14, 1998||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||34–18–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|69||L||March 15, 1998||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||34–19–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|70||W||March 19, 1998||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) ||35–19–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|71||W||March 21, 1998||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||36–19–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|72||L||March 26, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1997–98) ||36–20–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|73||W||March 28, 1998||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||37–20–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|74||L||March 30, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) ||37–21–16 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|75||L||April 1, 1998||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||37–22–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|76||L||April 2, 1998||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) ||37–23–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|77||L||April 4, 1998||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) ||37–24–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|78||L||April 6, 1998||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||37–25–16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|79||L||April 11, 1998||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) ||37–26–16 || |- style="text-align:center;"|80||T||April 13, 1998||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) ||37–26–17 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|81||W||April 16, 1998||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1997–98) ||38–26–17 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|82||W||April 18, 1998||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) ||39–26–17 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb" | 1 ||L|| April 22, 1998 || 2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Oilers lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc" | 2 ||W|| April 24, 1998 || 5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Series tied 1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc" | 3 ||W|| April 26, 1998 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#cfc" | 4 ||W|| April 28, 1998 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb" | 5 ||L|| April 30, 1998 || 1–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Avalanche lead 3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb" | 6 ||L|| May 2, 1998 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Series tied 3–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb" | 7 ||L|| May 4, 1998 || 0–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Oilers win 4–3 || |-|-| Legend:

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 Avalanche only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.

	Regular season						Playoffs
	Player
21		C	72	25	66	91	6	94	7	6	5	11	3	12
13		LW	75	26	40	66	−2	60	7	2	3	5	1	18
19		C	64	27	36	63	0	50	6	2	3	5	0	6
22		RW	78	26	27	53	−7	115	7	3	3	6	2	8
8		D	66	13	38	51	−12	65	7	0	7	7	−3	14
18		RW	73	22	21	43	0	125	7	2	0	2	−1	4
28		LW	82	16	15	31	0	84	7	0	0	0	−2	6
4		D	78	9	22	31	21	38	7	0	1	1	2	4
20		LW	68	16	12	28	8	133	2	0	0	0	0	2
26		C	81	7	15	22	−10	48	7	1	0	1	−3	12
17		RW	70	5	17	22	6	12	4	0	0	0	−1	0
52		D	77	3	14	17	−3	124	7	0	0	0	−1	23
29		LW	62	4	12	16	4	20
24		D	67	6	8	14	−3	30	4	0	0	0	1	0
5		D	72	4	10	14	9	42	7	0	1	1	1	6
16		RW	68	5	8	13	5	213	6	0	0	0	−1	25
12		RW	47	5	7	12	3	48
11		RW	23	3	7	10	−4	22	7	0	0	0	−1	13
2		D	81	0	10	10	2	48	7	0	0	0	−1	4
10		C	11	2	5	7	0	4
3		D	55	2	2	4	0	51	7	0	0	0	0	8
9		C	6	0	4	4	0	2
14		RW	11	2	1	3	0	22	7	0	1	1	−2	20
27		D	50	1	2	3	−3	140
33		G	65	0	3	3		39	7	0	1	1		0
6		D	8	1	1	2	−3	27
15		LW	2	1	0	1	1	0
7		D	15	0	1	1	−2	18
1		G	23	0	0	0		2	1	0	0	0		0
40		LW	1	0	0	0	0	0
14		RW	5	0	0	0	0	6
10		LW	8	0	0	0	−1	23	6	0	0	0	−2	24

Goaltending

	Regular season										Playoffs
	Player
33		65	31	19	13	1825	153	2.39	.916	4	3835	7	3	4	191	18	2.51	.906	0	430
1		23	8	7	4	588	45	2.32	.923	1	1162	1	0	0	0	0	0.00	−	0	1

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL First All-Star Team	Peter Forsberg (Center)	^[1]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Peter Forsberg	^[2]
Valeri Kamensky
Jari Kurri
Sandis Ozolinsh
Patrick Roy
Joe Sakic
NHL Rookie of the Month	Eric Messier (October)	^[3]

Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[4]

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	26	Kevin Grimes		Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
2	53	Graham Belak		Edmonton Ice (WHL)
3	55	Rick Berry		Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
3	78	Ville Nieminen		Tappara (Finland)
4	87	Brad Larsen		Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
5	133	Aaron Miskovich		Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
6	161	David Aebischer		HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland)
8	217	Doug Schmidt		Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
9	243	Kyle Kidney		Salisbury School (USHS-CT)
9	245	Steve Lafleur		Belleville Bulls (OHL)

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• Web site: Colorado Avalanche 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 7, 2023.
• Web site: 1997-98 Colorado Avalanche Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 7, 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
2. Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1998 . NHL.com . July 9, 2023.
3. Web site: NHL Rookies of the Month . Hockey-Reference.com . July 9, 2023.
4. Web site: 1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 9, 2023.