1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 30th in the National Hockey League. This was the final season for Mario Lemieux before his first retirement.

1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division2nd Northeast
Conference6th Eastern
1996–97 record38–36–8
Home record25–11–5
Road record13–25–3
Goals for285
Goals against280
Team information
General managerCraig Patrick
CoachEddie Johnston
Craig Patrick
CaptainMario Lemieux
Alternate captainsRon Francis
Jaromir Jagr
ArenaCivic Arena
Average attendance16,691
Minor league affiliate(s)Cleveland Lumberjacks
Johnstown Chiefs
Team leaders
GoalsMario Lemieux (50)
AssistsMario Lemieux (72)
PointsMario Lemieux (122)
Penalty minutesDave Roche (155)
Plus/minusMario Lemieux (+27)
WinsPatrick Lalime (21)
Goals against averagePatrick Lalime (2.94)

Off-season

Regular season

The 1996–97 season featured Mario Lemieux in his final season before his first retirement. Lemieux won his sixth (and final) Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, with 122 points. The Penguins had an up-and-down season en route to a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. A 2–9–0 start was followed by a hot middle-of-the-season stretch, highlighted by the play of rookie phenom goaltender Patrick Lalime. A shoulder injury to Tom Barrasso ended his season after five unmemorable games and led to the promotion of Lalime from the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL). Lalime debuted in relief of Ken Wregget in a loss to the New York Rangers on November 16. His first win came in relief of Wregget on December 6, and the next day, on December 7, he was given the start against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, beating the Mighty Ducks and setting him well on his way to setting the NHL record for consecutive games unbeaten to begin a career for an NHL goaltender, going 14–0–2 (16 games). However, the Penguins cooled down after that, as the team did not win a road game after February 5, which led to a coaching change on March 4. Eddie Johnston was relieved of his duties as head coach after losing eight of his last nine games and was replaced on an interim basis by General Manager Craig Patrick. Patrick went 7–10–3 down the stretch, enough to get the Penguins into the playoffs as the sixth seed at 38–36–8. The Penguins finished the season first in scoring, with 285 goals for.[1]
In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Penguins took-on the third-seeded Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers dismantled the Penguins in five games en route to an Eastern Conference championship of their own. The Pens' lone win in the series was in Game 4 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, in which Lemieux scored on a breakaway against Flyers goaltender Garth Snow in the closing minutes for his final goal before his first retirement.

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[2]
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

Schedule and results

1996–97 Schedule
October: 2–8–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 0–7–0), 4 Points
#OctVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
15Tampa Bay Lightning4–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins0–1–00
28Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Hartford Whalers0–2–00
311Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Ottawa Senators0–3–00
412Ottawa Senators2–3Pittsburgh Penguins1–3–02
516Pittsburgh Penguins1–8New York Rangers1–4–02
617Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Buffalo Sabres1–5–02
719Washington Capitals1–2Pittsburgh Penguins2–5–04
822Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Edmonton Oilers2–6–04
924Pittsburgh Penguins5–7Calgary Flames2–7–04
1026Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Vancouver Canucks2–8–04
November: 6–5–2 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 1–4–1), 14 Points
#NovVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
111Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Washington Capitals2–9–04
122Ottawa Senators3–7Pittsburgh Penguins3–9–06
136Edmonton Oilers2–5Pittsburgh Penguins4–9–08
148Pittsburgh Penguins5–5 OTTampa Bay Lightning4–9–19
159Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Florida Panthers4–10–19
1612Buffalo Sabres0–3Pittsburgh Penguins5–10–111
1714Pittsburgh Penguins1–2 OTBoston Bruins5–11–111
1816New York Rangers8–3Pittsburgh Penguins5–12–111
1919St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh Penguins6–12–113
2021Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Philadelphia Flyers6–13–113
2122Pittsburgh Penguins7–1Hartford Whalers7–13–115
2227Montreal Canadiens2–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins7–13–216
2330Boston Bruins2–6Pittsburgh Penguins8–13–218
December: 11–2–2 (Home: 4–1–2 ; Road: 7–1–0), 24 Points
#DecVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
243Hartford Whalers4–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins8–13–319
254Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Ottawa Senators9–13–321
266Pittsburgh Penguins5–3Washington Capitals10–13–323
277Mighty Ducks of Anaheim3–5Pittsburgh Penguins11–13–325
2810Pittsburgh Penguins5–3Los Angeles Kings12–13–327
2911Pittsburgh Penguins7–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim13–13–329
3013Pittsburgh Penguins4–0San Jose Sharks14–13–331
3115Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Chicago Blackhawks14–14–331
3217Boston Bruins6–4Pittsburgh Penguins14–15–331
3319Pittsburgh Penguins4–0St. Louis Blues15–15–333
3421San Jose Sharks1–3Pittsburgh Penguins16–15–335
3523Pittsburgh Penguins6–5Toronto Maple Leafs17–15–337
3626Montreal Canadiens3–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins17–15–438
3728Buffalo Sabres0–2Pittsburgh Penguins18–15–440
3830Washington Capitals3–5Pittsburgh Penguins19–15–442
January: 8–3–1 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 4–1–1), 17 Points
#JanVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
392Pittsburgh Penguins6–1New Jersey Devils20–15–444
404Tampa Bay Lightning3–7Pittsburgh Penguins21–15–446
417Pittsburgh Penguins5–3New York Islanders22–15–448
4210New York Islanders2–5Pittsburgh Penguins23–15–450
4311Pittsburgh Penguins3–3 OTOttawa Senators23–15–551
4414Dallas Stars1–3Pittsburgh Penguins24–15–553
4515Pittsburgh Penguins3–0Hartford Whalers25–15–555
4621Calgary Flames2–4Pittsburgh Penguins26–15–557
4723Colorado Avalanche4–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins26–16–557
4825New York Rangers7–4Pittsburgh Penguins26–17–557
4926Pittsburgh Penguins5–2Montreal Canadiens27–17–559
5029Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Buffalo Sabres27–18–559
February: 4–7–0 (Home: 3–4–0 ; Road: 1–3–0), 8 Points
#FebVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
511Phoenix Coyotes1–4Pittsburgh Penguins28–18–561
524Vancouver Canucks4–6Pittsburgh Penguins29–18–563
535Pittsburgh Penguins6–3Montreal Canadiens30–18–565
548Detroit Red Wings6–5 OTPittsburgh Penguins30–19–565
5512New York Islanders5–1Pittsburgh Penguins30–20–565
5615Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Philadelphia Flyers30–21–565
5716Philadelphia Flyers6–2Pittsburgh Penguins30–22–565
5818Florida Panthers2–4Pittsburgh Penguins31–22–567
5922Chicago Blackhawks5–2Pittsburgh Penguins31–23–567
6023Pittsburgh Penguins1–4New York Islanders31–24–567
6127Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Detroit Red Wings31–25–567
March: 5–8–2 (Home: 5–2–1 ; Road: 0–6–1), 12 Points
#MarVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
621Pittsburgh Penguins3–6New Jersey Devils31–26–567
634New Jersey Devils3–1Pittsburgh Penguins31–27–567
645Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Buffalo Sabres31–28–567
658Philadelphia Flyers2–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins32–28–569
6610Montreal Canadiens2–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins32–28–670
6712Pittsburgh Penguins5–5 OTPhoenix Coyotes32–28–771
6814Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Colorado Avalanche32–29–771
6916Pittsburgh Penguins2–6Dallas Stars32–30–771
7018Buffalo Sabres3–5Pittsburgh Penguins33–30–773
7120Toronto Maple Leafs3–6Pittsburgh Penguins34–30–775
7222New Jersey Devils3–2Pittsburgh Penguins34–31–775
7324Pittsburgh Penguins0–3New York Rangers34–32–775
7426Pittsburgh Penguins5–8Montreal Canadiens34–33–775
7529Los Angeles Kings1–4Pittsburgh Penguins35–33–777
7631Florida Panthers3–4Pittsburgh Penguins36–33–779
April: 2–3–1 (Home: 2–0–1 ; Road: 0–3–0), 5 Points
#AprVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
773Hartford Whalers5–5 OTPittsburgh Penguins36–33–880
785Ottawa Senators2–5Pittsburgh Penguins37–33–882
798Boston Bruins1–3Pittsburgh Penguins38–33–884
8010Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Tampa Bay Lightning38–34–884
8111Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Florida Panthers38–35–884
8213Pittsburgh Penguins3–7Boston Bruins38–36–884
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Round 1: 1–4 (Home: 1–1 ; Road: 0–3)
#AprilVisitorScoreHomeRecord
117Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Philadelphia Flyers0–1
219Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Philadelphia Flyers0–2
321Philadelphia Flyers5–3Pittsburgh Penguins0–3
423Philadelphia Flyers1–4Pittsburgh Penguins1–3
526Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Philadelphia Flyers1–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Patrick Lalime392057:35211221012.9511660.9133000
Ken Wregget462514:23171761363.2513830.9022016
Tom Barrasso5269:37050265.791860.8600000
Philippe De Rouville2111:0802063.24660.9090000
Total4952:43383682693.2628010.9045016
Playoffs[6]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Ken Wregget5297:28140183.632110.9150002
Total297:28140183.632110.9150002

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

Awards

PlayerAward
Stu BarnesUnsung Hero Award
Joe DziedzicEdward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award
Jaromir JagrNHL second All-Star team
Patrick LalimeMichel Briere Memorial Rookie of the Year Award
NHL All-Rookie team
Mario LemieuxLeading Point Scorer Award
Booster Club Award
Most Valuable Player Award
Art Ross Trophy
NHL first All-Star team
Joe MullenPittsburgh Penguins Masterton Nominee
Bob Johnson Memorial Award
Player's Player Award
Chris TamerEdward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award
Ken WreggetDisaster Specialists "Baz" Bastien Memorial "Good Guy" Award

Transactions

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season:[7]

Trades

October 25, 1996 To Los Angeles Kings

1997 conditional pick (not exercised)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Petr Klima

November 17, 1996 To New York Islanders

Bryan Smolinski

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Andreas Johansson
Darius Kasparaitis

November 19, 1996 To Florida Panthers

Chris Wells

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Stu Barnes
Jason Woolley

November 19, 1996 To Anaheim Ducks

Shawn Antoski
Dmitri Mironov

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Alex Hicks
Fredrik Olausson

January 27, 1997 To Detroit Red Wings

Tomas Sandstrom

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Greg Johnson

February 21, 1997 To Anaheim Ducks

Jean-Jacques Daigneault

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Garry Valk

March 18, 1997 To Anaheim Ducks

Richard Park

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Roman Oksiuta

March 18, 1997 To Los Angeles Kings

Glen Murray

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Ed Olczyk

March 18, 1997 To Vancouver Canucks

future considerations (1998 5th round pick)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Josef Beranek

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