1996–97 Florida Panthers season

1996–97 Florida Panthers
Division3rd Atlantic
Conference4th Eastern
1996–97 record35–28–19
Home record21–12–8
Road record14–16–11
Goals for221
Goals against201
Team information
General managerBryan Murray
CoachDoug MacLean
CaptainBrian Skrudland
ArenaMiami Arena
Average attendance14,703
Minor league affiliate(s)Carolina Monarchs
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
Port Huron Border Cats
Team leaders
GoalsRay Sheppard (29)
AssistsRobert Svehla (32)
PointsRay Sheppard (60)
Penalty minutesPaul Laus (313)
Plus/minusRhett Warrener (+20)
WinsJohn Vanbiesbrouck (27)
Goals against averageJohn Vanbiesbrouck (2.29)

The 1996–97 Florida Panthers season was the Panthers' fourth season.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
3 4 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
4 5 New York Rangers 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
5 9 Washington Capitals 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
6 11 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
7 12 New York Islanders 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
Eastern Conference[1]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 40 30 12 237 208 92
3 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
4 ATL 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
5 New York Rangers ATL 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
6 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 38 36 8 285 280 84
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 31 36 15 226 234 77
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 31 36 15 249 276 77
9 Washington Capitals ATL 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 32 39 11 226 256 75
11 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
13 Boston Bruins NE 82 26 47 9 234 300 61

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs


Playoffs

Following their remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1996 playoffs, the Panthers qualified for the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. As the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they played the fifth seeded New York Rangers. However, the Panthers were eliminated in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1996–97 regular season[2]
October: 8–0–4 (home: 4–0–1; road: 4–0–3)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 October 5, 1996 3–1 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 1–0–0 W
2 October 6, 1996 5–2 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 2–0–0 W
3 October 8, 1996 1–1 OT New York Rangers (1996–97) 2–0–1 T
4 October 12, 1996 6–0 Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 3–0–1 W
5 October 16, 1996 3–3 OT @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 3–0–2 T
6 October 17, 1996 2–1 @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 4–0–2 W
7 October 20, 1996 1–1 OT @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 4–0–3 T
8 October 23, 1996 5–2 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 5–0–3 W
9 October 25, 1996 6–4 New York Rangers (1996–97) 6–0–3 W
10 October 27, 1996 3–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 7–0–3 W
11 October 29, 1996 1–1 OT @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 7–0–4 T
12 October 30, 1996 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 8–0–4 W
November: 7–3–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 3–1–0)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
13 November 2, 1996 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 8–1–4 L
14 November 7, 1996 4–2 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 9–1–4 W
15 November 9, 1996 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 10–1–4 W
16 November 11, 1996 2–3 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 10–2–4 L
17 November 13, 1996 5–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 11–2–4 W
18 November 15, 1996 3–3 OT New York Islanders (1996–97) 11–2–5 T
19 November 18, 1996 2–4 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 11–3–5 L
20 November 20, 1996 4–1 Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 12–3–5 W
21 November 22, 1996 2–1 OT @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) 13–3–5 W
22 November 23, 1996 3–1 @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 14–3–5 W
23 November 26, 1996 4–3 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 15–3–5 W
24 November 29, 1996 1–1 OT Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 15–3–6 T
December: 5–6–3 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–5–2)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
25 December 1, 1996 4–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 16–3–6 W
26 December 3, 1996 0–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 16–4–6 L
27 December 5, 1996 4–2 New York Islanders (1996–97) 17–4–6 W
28 December 8, 1996 1–1 OT Dallas Stars (1996–97) 17–4–7 T
29 December 10, 1996 4–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 17–5–7 L
30 December 11, 1996 2–5 @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 17–6–7 L
31 December 15, 1996 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 18–6–7 W
32 December 19, 1996 2–5 @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 18–7–7 L
33 December 20, 1996 3–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) 19–7–7 W
34 December 22, 1996 3–7 @ New York Rangers (1996–97) 19–8–7 L
35 December 23, 1996 4–3 OT @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 20–8–7 W
36 December 26, 1996 3–3 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 20–8–8 T
37 December 28, 1996 1–1 OT @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) 20–8–9 T
38 December 29, 1996 1–2 Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 20–9–9 L
January: 6–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–3–1)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
39 January 1, 1997 0–3 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 20–10–9 L
40 January 4, 1997 5–0 @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) 21–10–9 W
41 January 8, 1997 2–3 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) 21–11–9 L
42 January 11, 1997 4–1 @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) 22–11–9 W
43 January 14, 1997 4–4 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 22–11–10 T
44 January 15, 1997 0–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) 22–12–10 L
45 January 20, 1997 2–4 Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) 22–13–10 L
46 January 22, 1997 1–2 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) 22–14–10 L
47 January 23, 1997 4–1 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 23–14–10 W
48 January 25, 1997 3–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 24–14–10 W
49 January 28, 1997 5–1 Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 25–14–10 W
50 January 30, 1997 3–1 Boston Bruins (1996–97) 26–14–10 W
February: 3–5–5 (home: 3–3–2; road: 0–2–3)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
51 February 1, 1997 1–3 Washington Capitals (1996–97) 26–15–10 L
52 February 3, 1997 2–2 OT @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) 26–15–11 T
53 February 6, 1997 1–1 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 26–15–12 T
54 February 7, 1997 2–2 OT @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 26–15–13 T
55 February 9, 1997 4–3 New York Rangers (1996–97) 27–15–13 W
56 February 12, 1997 5–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 28–15–13 W
57 February 15, 1997 0–1 OT @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 28–16–13 L
58 February 16, 1997 2–4 Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) 28–17–13 L
59 February 18, 1997 2–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 28–18–13 L
60 February 20, 1997 2–2 OT New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 28–18–14 T
61 February 22, 1997 3–4 OT Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) 28–19–14 L
62 February 25, 1997 2–2 OT San Jose Sharks (1996–97) 28–19–15 T
63 February 27, 1997 3–2 OT St. Louis Blues (1996–97) 29–19–15 W
March: 4–7–3 (home: 3–4–2; road: 1–3–1)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
64 March 1, 1997 0–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 29–20–15 L
65 March 5, 1997 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) 29–21–15 L
66 March 7, 1997 1–3 Calgary Flames (1996–97) 29–22–15 L
67 March 9, 1997 1–3 Boston Bruins (1996–97) 29–23–15 L
68 March 11, 1997 3–2 New York Islanders (1996–97) 30–23–15 W
69 March 13, 1997 5–4 Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) 31–23–15 W
70 March 15, 1997 3–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 31–23–16 T
71 March 17, 1997 4–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 32–23–16 W
72 March 19, 1997 4–7 @ New York Islanders (1996–97) 32–24–16 L
73 March 20, 1997 2–2 OT @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 32–24–17 T
74 March 22, 1997 3–2 Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) 33–24–17 W
75 March 27, 1997 2–3 Ottawa Senators (1996–97) 33–25–17 L
76 March 29, 1997 1–1 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) 33–25–18 T
77 March 31, 1997 3–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 33–26–18 L
April: 2–2–1 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–2–1)
Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap
78 April 2, 1997 1–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) 33–27–18 L
79 April 5, 1997 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) 33–28–18 L
80 April 6, 1997 3–3 OT @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) 33–28–19 T
81 April 9, 1997 4–2 New Jersey Devils (1996–97) 34–28–19 W
82 April 11, 1997 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) 35–28–19 W

Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) T Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs[2]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) New York Rangers – Rangers win 4–1
Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap
1 April 17, 1997 3–0 New York Rangers Panthers lead 1–0 W
2 April 20, 1997 0–3 New York Rangers Series tied 1–1 L
3 April 22, 1997 3–4 OT @ New York Rangers Rangers lead 2–1 L
4 April 23, 1997 2–3 @ New York Rangers Rangers lead 3–1 L
5 April 25, 1997 2–3 OT New York Rangers Rangers win 4–1 L

Legend: W Win L Loss

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.
No. Player Pos Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
26 Ray Sheppard RW 68 29 31 60 4 4 5 2 0 2 −4 0
27 Scott Mellanby RW 82 27 29 56 7 170 5 0 2 2 −1 4
24 Robert Svehla D 82 13 32 45 2 86 5 1 4 5 −4 4
19 Radek Dvorak RW 78 18 21 39 −2 30 3 0 0 0 0 0
44 Rob Niedermayer C 60 14 24 38 4 54 5 2 1 3 −1 6
29 Johan Garpenlov LW 53 11 25 36 10 47 4 2 0 2 0 4
11 Bill Lindsay RW 81 11 23 34 1 120 3 0 1 1 0 8
10 Dave Lowry LW 77 15 14 29 2 51 5 0 0 0 −3 0
4 Per Gustafsson D 58 7 22 29 11 22 — — — — — —
28 Martin Straka C 55 7 22 29 9 12 4 0 0 0 −2 0
21 Tom Fitzgerald RW 71 10 14 24 7 64 5 0 1 1 −1 0
5 Gord Murphy D 80 8 15 23 3 51 5 0 5 5 0 4
55 Ed Jovanovski D 61 7 16 23 −1 172 5 0 0 0 −4 4
20 Brian Skrudland C 51 5 13 18 4 48 — — — — — —
12 Jody Hull RW 67 10 6 16 1 4 5 0 0 0 −1 0
18 Mike Hough LW 69 8 6 14 12 48 5 1 0 1 −2 2
15 David Nemirovsky RW 39 7 7 14 1 32 3 1 0 1 −2 0
2 Terry Carkner D 70 0 14 14 −4 96 5 0 0 0 −3 6
7 Rhett Warrener D 62 4 9 13 20 88 5 0 0 0 0 0
3 Paul Laus D 77 0 12 12 13 313 5 0 1 1 −3 4
14 Stu Barnes‡ C 19 2 8 10 −3 10 — — — — — —
22 Steve Washburn C 18 3 6 9 2 4 — — — — — —
23 Chris Wells† C 47 2 6 8 5 42 3 0 0 0 −1 0
9 Kirk Muller† LW 10 1 2 3 −2 4 5 1 2 3 −3 4
17 Jason Podollan‡ RW 19 1 1 2 −3 4 — — — — — —
34 John Vanbiesbrouck G 57 0 2 2 8 5 0 0 0 0
9 Brad Smyth‡ RW 8 1 0 1 −3 2 — — — — — —
30 Mark Fitzpatrick G 30 0 1 1 13 — — — — — —
16 Craig Ferguson C 3 0 0 0 −1 0 — — — — — —
16 Craig Fisher† C 4 0 0 0 −2 0 — — — — — —
8 Craig Martin RW 1 0 0 0 0 5 — — — — — —
25 Geoff Smith D 3 0 0 0 1 2 — — — — — —
6 Jason Woolley‡ D 3 0 0 0 1 2 — — — — — —

Goaltending

No. Player Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
34 John Vanbiesbrouck 57 27 19 10 1582 128 2.29 .919 2 3347 5 1 4 184 13 2.38 .929 1 328
30 Mark Fitzpatrick 30 8 9 9 771 66 2.36 .914 0 1680 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Doug MacLean (coach) [3]
Robert Svehla
John Vanbiesbrouck[a]

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Per Gustafsson October 12, 1996 [5]
Jason Podollan November 29, 1996
25th shutout John Vanbiesbrouck January 4, 1997 [6]

Transactions

Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[7]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 20 Marcus Nilson  Sweden Djurgardens IF (Sweden)
3 60 Chris Allen  Canada Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
3 65 Oleg Kvasha  Russia CSKA Moscow (Russia)
4 82 Joey Tetarenko  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
5 129 Andrew Long  Canada Guelph Storm (OHL)
6 156 Gaetan Poirier  Canada Merrimack College (Hockey East)
7 183 Alexandre Couture  Canada Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
8 209 Denis Khlopotnov  Russia CSKA Moscow (Russia)
9 235 Russell Smith  Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Vanbiesbrouck was voted to the starting lineup.[4]

References

  • "Florida Panthers 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  • "1996-97 Florida Panthers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  1. ^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  2. ^ a b "1996-97 Florida Panthers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "1996-97 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "PANTHERS POUNCE ON KINGS, PUT END TO WINLESS STREAK". Sun Sentinel. January 5, 1997. Retrieved July 26, 2023. goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck notched his 25th career shutout
  7. ^ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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