1997–98 Los Angeles Kings season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	Los Angeles Kings
Record:	38–33–11
Homerecord:	22–16–3
Roadrecord:	16–17–8
Conferencerank:	5th
Divisionrank:	2nd
Goalsfor:	227
Goalsagainst:	225
Attendance:	13,019
Goalsleader:	Glen Murray (29)
Assistsleader:	Jozef Stumpel (58)
Pointsleader:	Jozef Stumpel (79)
Pimleader:	Matt Johnson (249)
Plusminusleader:	Jozef Stumpel (+17)
Winsleader:	Stephane Fiset (26)
Gaaleader:	Jamie Storr (2.22)

The 1997–98 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 31st season in the National Hockey League. The Kings qualified for the playoffs for the first time in five years, losing in the first round to St. Louis in four straight games.

Regular season

On Saturday, April 11, 1998, the Kings scored three short-handed goals in 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.^[1]

Final standings

Playoffs

The Kings were swept by the St. Louis Blues in 4 games in the first round. At home (game 3) LA were leading 3-0, until Storr was run by Geoff Courtnall with 11:27 remaining in the 3rd period. Kings player Sean O'Donnell stuck up for Storr resulting in a 5-minute major for the Blues. St. Louis went on to score 4 PP goals in a 3:07 span. Jamie likely had a concussion or some injury from the charge as his reactions and play were sluggishly uncoordinated contributing to the goals especially the 4th one.

Schedule and results

Regular season

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

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"|1||L|| April 23, 1998 || 3–8 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Blues lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"|2||L|| April 25, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Blues lead 2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb" |3||L|| April 27, 1998 || 3–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Blues lead 3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#fbb"|4||L|| April 29, 1998 || 1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Blues win 4–0 || |-|-| 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 Kings only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

	Regular season						Playoffs
	Player
15		C	77	21	58	79	17	53	4	1	2	3	2	2
27		RW	81	29	31	60	6	54	4	2	0	2	2	6
9		LW	73	18	34	52	15	18	4	0	1	1	−1	8
4		D	81	23	27	50	−3	94	4	0	0	0	−4	6
44		C	79	28	20	48	6	32	4	1	2	3	−1	6
20		LW	57	16	24	40	5	66	4	1	2	3	1	6
23		LW	74	17	21	38	9	42	4	1	0	1	0	4
3		D	74	9	28	37	−5	63	4	0	1	1	−2	2
45		C	62	11	13	24	4	70
22		RW	77	6	15	21	0	131	4	1	0	1	0	6
19		RW	58	12	6	18	−2	27	4	0	0	0	−2	2
6		D	80	2	15	17	7	179	4	1	0	1	1	36
28		D	45	6	10	16	6	49
26		C	40	6	9	15	−10	42	3	0	1	1	1	2
14		D	73	1	12	13	14	90	4	0	0	0	−1	2
42		RW	65	3	9	12	9	33	2	0	0	0	−3	0
24		C	34	5	3	8	2	32	4	0	0	0	−2	2
7		LW	62	4	4	8	−9	150	3	0	1	1	1	8
5		D	72	0	8	8	3	61	4	0	3	3	3	0
2		D	46	0	8	8	0	111	2	0	0	0	0	2
10		C	22	5	2	7	−1	4
17		LW	66	2	4	6	−8	249	4	0	0	0	−1	6
33		D	21	1	5	6	8	10	2	0	1	1	1	2
11		RW	9	1	3	4	−1	4
12		C	25	0	3	3	−7	55
52		C	11	1	0	1	−7	4
35		G	60	0	1	1		8	2	0	0	0		0
43		LW	4	0	1	1	1	4
31		G	12	0	0	0		0
21		C	8	0	0	0	−5	6
1		G	17	0	0	0		0	3	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

	Regular season										Playoffs
	Player
35		60	26	25	8	1728	158	2.71	.909	2	3497	2	0	2	61	7	4.52	.885	0	93
1		17	9	5	1	482	34	2.22	.929	2	920	3	0	2	77	9	3.72	.883	0	145
31		12	3	3	2	267	29	3.14	.891	0	554	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	James Norris Memorial Trophy	Rob Blake	^[2]
	NHL All-Rookie Team	Jamie Storr (Goaltender)	^[3]
	NHL First All-Star Team	Rob Blake (Defense)
Team	Best Newcomer	Jozef Stumpel	^[4]
	Bill Libby Memorial Award	Rob Blake
	Defensive Player	Ian Laperriere
	Jim Fox Community Service	Luc Robitaille
	Leading Scorer	Jozef Stumpel
	Most Inspirational	Rob Blake
	Most Popular Player	Rob Blake
	Outstanding Defenseman	Rob Blake
	Unsung Hero	Mattias Norstrom

Milestones

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.^[6]

Trades

August 28, 1997	To Los Angeles Kings Luc Robitaille	To New York Rangers Kevin Stevens
August 29, 1997	To Los Angeles Kings Jozef Stümpel Sandy Moger 4th round pick in 1998 - Pierre Dagenais	To Boston Bruins Byron Dafoe Dmitri Khristich
November 14, 1997	To Los Angeles Kings Future considerations	To New York Rangers Brad Smyth

Free agent signings

July 5, 1997	From Buffalo Sabres Garry Galley (3 years, $4.8 million)
July 18, 1997	From Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) Mark Visheau
July 25, 1997	From New York Islanders Chris Taylor
September 3, 1997	From Florida Panthers Frédéric Chabot
November 7, 1997	From New York Rangers Russ Courtnall (1 year, $940,000)

Free agents lost

August 11, 1997	To Buffalo Sabres Patrice Tardif
August 15, 1997	To San Jose Sharks Barry Potomski
August 18, 1997	To Phoenix Coyotes John Slaney (1 year, $350,000)
September 4, 1997	To Phoenix Coyotes Brad Tiley

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[7]

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	3	Olli Jokinen		HIFK (Finland)
1	15	Matt Zultek		Ottawa 67's (OHL)
2	29	Scott Barney		Peterborough Petes (OHL)
4	83	Joe Corvo		Western Michigan University (CCHA)
4	99	Sean Blanchard		Ottawa 67's (OHL)
6	137	Richard Seeley		Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
6	150	Jeff Katcher		Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
8	193	Jay Kopischke		North Iowa Huskies (USHL)
9	220	Konrad Brand		Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• Web site: Los Angeles Kings 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 8, 2023.
• Web site: 1997-98 Los Angeles Kings Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 8, 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings Box Score — April 11, 1998.
2. Web site: James Norris Memorial Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
3. Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
4. Los Angeles Kings 2014–15 Media Guide, p. 201–03
5. Web site: Robitaille reaches milestone . Deseret News . July 9, 2023 . January 30, 1998.
6. Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results.
7. Web site: 1997 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 9, 2023.