1997–98 Florida Panthers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	Florida Panthers
Record:	24–43–15
Homerecord:	11–24–6
Roadrecord:	13–19–9
Conferencerank:	12th
Divisionrank:	6th
Goalsfor:	203
Goalsagainst:	256
Coach:	Doug MacLean (Oct-Nov) Bryan Murray (Nov-Apr)
Attendance:	14,703
Goalsleader:	Ray Whitney (32)
Assistsleader:	Robert Svehla (34)
Pointsleader:	Ray Whitney (61)
Pimleader:	Paul Laus (263)
Plusminusleader:	Ray Whitney (+10)
Winsleader:	John Vanbiesbrouck (18)
Gaaleader:	John Vanbiesbrouck (2.87)

The 1997–98 Florida Panthers season was the Panthers' fifth season. After making the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1997, the Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Regular season

The Panthers' penalty kill struggled during the regular season and they allowed the most power-play goals in the NHL (82) and had the lowest penalty-kill percentage (79.65%). They also tied the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.^[1]

On November 26, 1997, the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins at home by a score of 10–5.^[2] Veteran forward Ray Sheppard had a hat trick in the game. It was the first time in franchise history that the Panthers had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game.^[3] It also came exactly one year after the last NHL team had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game, as the Edmonton Oilers had defeated their provincial rival Calgary Flames on the road by a score of 10–1 on November 26, 1996.^[4]

Final standings

Schedule and results

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

	Regular season
	Player
14		LW	68	32	29	61	10	28
15		C	78	20	28	48	−21	55
24		D	79	9	34	43	−3	113
27		RW	79	15	24	39	−14	127
19		RW	64	12	24	36	−1	33
26		RW	61	14	17	31	−13	21
9		LW	70	8	21	29	−14	54
11		RW	82	12	16	28	−2	80
25		C	46	12	11	23	−1	14
55		D	81	9	14	23	−12	158
51		RW	41	9	12	21	−3	8
17		C	58	11	8	19	−6	32
5		D	79	6	11	17	−3	46
22		RW	28	5	11	16	−2	28
21		RW	69	10	5	15	−4	57
44		C	33	8	7	15	−9	41
23		C	61	5	10	15	4	47
3		D	77	0	11	11	−5	293
10		LW	28	1	8	9	−7	16
2		D	74	1	7	8	6	63
6		D	19	0	7	7	−7	18
29		LW	39	2	3	5	−6	8
7		D	79	0	4	4	−16	99
34		G	60	0	3	3		6
12		RW	21	2	0	2	1	4
16		C	10	0	2	2	−4	0
8		D	23	0	1	1	1	44
12		D	1	0	0	0	0	2
30		G	12	0	0	0		2
4		D	2	0	0	0	−3	4
10		LW	7	0	0	0	−1	2
1		G	7	0	0	0		0
1		G	11	0	0	0		0
28		LW	19	0	0	0	−4	153

Goaltending

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

	Regular season
	Player
34		60	18	29	11	1638	165	2.87	.899	4	3451
1		7	4	2	1	207	22	3.25	.894	0	406
30		12	2	7	2	265	32	3.00	.879	1	640
1		11	0	5	1	247	32	3.96	.870	0	485

Awards and records

Milestones

Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[6]

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	20	Mike Brown		Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
2	47	Kristian Huselius		Farjestad BK (Sweden)
3	56	Vratislav Cech		Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3	74	Nick Smith		Barrie Colts (OHL)
4	95	Ivan Novoseltsev		Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
5	127	Pat Parthenais		Detroit Whalers (OHL)
6	155	Keith Delaney		Barrie Colts (OHL)
7	183	Tyler Palmer		Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
8	211	Doug Schueller		Twin Cities Vulcans (USHL)
9	237	Benoit Cote		Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• Web site: Florida Panthers 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 2, 2023.
• Web site: 1997-98 Florida Panthers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 2, 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1997-98 NHL Summary.
2. Web site: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers Box Score — November 26, 1997.
3. Web site: FLA Records . records.nhl.com . July 2, 2023.
4. Web site: Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames Box Score — November 26, 1996.
5. Web site: MULLER TO PLAY 1,000TH GAME . Sun Sentinel . July 8, 2023 . January 14, 1998.
6. Web site: 1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 9, 2023.