1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 31st in the National Hockey League (NHL). It was their first season under Head Coach Kevin Constantine and first after the initial retirement of Mario Lemieux.

1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins
Northeast Division champions
Division1st Northeast
Conference2nd Eastern
1997–98 record40–24–18
Goals for228
Goals against188
Team information
General managerCraig Patrick
CoachKevin Constantine
CaptainRon Francis
Alternate captainsKevin Hatcher
Jaromir Jagr
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance15,070
Minor league affiliate(s)Syracuse Crunch
Johnstown Chiefs
Team leaders
GoalsJaromir Jagr (35)
AssistsJaromir Jagr (67)
PointsJaromir Jagr (102)
Penalty minutesChris Tamer (181)
Plus/minusJaromir Jagr (+17)
WinsTom Barrasso (31)
Goals against averagePeter Skudra (1.83)

Offseason

Following the 1996–97 season which saw their Hall of Fame star Mario Lemieux retire, the Penguins attempted to continue keeping their recent success. Over the previous nine seasons, no NHL team had been more successful than Pittsburgh in terms of regular season points, although the team had not won a Stanley Cup since 1992 (part of the reason why Head Coach Eddie Johnston was asked to resign down following the 1996–97 season). Former San Jose Sharks Head Coach Kevin Constantine was hired as Johnston's successor, promising to replace his predecessor's free-form style of play with a more disciplined approach. Additionally, Ron Francis was named captain in Lemieux's absence, and the team acquired center Martin Straka via free agency to add offense. The team also acquired the rights to defensive-defenseman Jiri Slegr, who had spent the 1996–97 season playing for Sodertalje SK in Sweden.

Regular season

The Penguins tied the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and New York Islanders for most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.[1]

Final standings
Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Pittsburgh Penguins8240241822818898
2Boston Bruins8239301322119491
3Buffalo Sabres8236291721118789
4Montreal Canadiens8237321323520887
5Ottawa Senators8234331519320083
6Carolina Hurricanes823341820021974
Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1New Jersey DevilsATL82482311225166107
2Pittsburgh PenguinsNE8240241822818898
3Philadelphia FlyersATL8242291124219395
4Washington CapitalsATL8240301221920292
5Boston BruinsNE8239301322119491
6Buffalo SabresNE8236291721118789
7Montreal CanadiensNE8237321323520887
8Ottawa SenatorsNE8234331519320083
9Carolina HurricanesNE823341820021974
10New York IslandersATL8230411121222571
11New York RangersATL8225391819723168
12Florida PanthersATL8224431520325663
13Tampa Bay LightningATL8217551015126944

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results
1997–98 Schedule
October: 7–5–2 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 6–3–1), 16 Points
#OctVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
11Los Angeles Kings3–3Pittsburgh Penguins0–0–11
23Pittsburgh Penguins4–3Carolina Hurricanes1–0–13
34Florida Panthers5–3Pittsburgh Penguins1–1–13
48Montreal Canadiens3–0Pittsburgh Penguins1–2–13
59Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Philadelphia Flyers1–3–13
611Carolina Hurricanes1–4Pittsburgh Penguins2–3–15
714Pittsburgh Penguins1–0New York Rangers3–3–17
815Pittsburgh Penguins1–1Montreal Canadiens3–3–28
917Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Tampa Bay Lightning4–3–210
1019Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Florida Panthers5–3–212
1122Pittsburgh Penguins5–2San Jose Sharks6–3–214
1224Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Edmonton Oilers6–4–214
1325Pittsburgh Penguins3–2 OTVancouver Canucks7–4–216
1428Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Calgary Flames7–5–216
November: 7–4–3 (Home: 5–2–2 ; Road: 2–2–1), 17 Points
#NovVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
151Vancouver Canucks6–7 OTPittsburgh Penguins8–5–218
162Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Chicago Blackhawks8–6–218
175Dallas Stars5–2Pittsburgh Penguins8–7–218
187Pittsburgh Penguins1–1Detroit Red Wings8–7–319
198Buffalo Sabres2–2Pittsburgh Penguins8–7–420
2012Washington Capitals4–1Pittsburgh Penguins8–8–420
2114Pittsburgh Penguins1–3New York Rangers8–9–420
2215Pittsburgh Penguins5–0Toronto Maple Leafs9–9–422
2319Boston Bruins3–3Pittsburgh Penguins9–9–523
2420Pittsburgh Penguins2–0Ottawa Senators10–9–525
2522New York Rangers3–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins11–9–527
2624Buffalo Sabres1–5Pittsburgh Penguins12–9–529
2726Carolina Hurricanes2–3Pittsburgh Penguins13–9–531
2829Montreal Canadiens3–6Pittsburgh Penguins14–9–533
December: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 4–1–2), 17 Points
#DecVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
291Pittsburgh Penguins1–0Montreal Canadiens15–9–535
304New Jersey Devils4–0Pittsburgh Penguins15–10–535
316Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2–5Pittsburgh Penguins16–10–537
329Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Los Angeles Kings17–10–539
3310Pittsburgh Penguins3–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim18–10–541
3412Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Phoenix Coyotes18–10–642
3516Tampa Bay Lightning1–1Pittsburgh Penguins18–10–743
3619Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Colorado Avalanche18–10–844
3720Pittsburgh Penguins1–4St. Louis Blues18–11–844
3826Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Washington Capitals19–11–846
3927Montreal Canadiens1–0Pittsburgh Penguins19–12–846
4029New York Islanders1–5Pittsburgh Penguins20–12–848
4131Carolina Hurricanes2–3Pittsburgh Penguins21–12–850
January: 8–3–2 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 4–2–1), 18 Points
#JanVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
423Colorado Avalanche5–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins21–13–850
436Pittsburgh Penguins4–2New York Islanders22–13–852
447Pittsburgh Penguins1–3New Jersey Devils22–14–852
4510New Jersey Devils1–4Pittsburgh Penguins23–14–854
4612Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Carolina Hurricanes24–14–856
4714Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Boston Bruins24–15–856
4820Ottawa Senators0–0Pittsburgh Penguins24–15–957
4922Pittsburgh Penguins3–2New Jersey Devils25–15–959
5024Boston Bruins2–4Pittsburgh Penguins26–15–961
5126St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh Penguins27–15–963
5228Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Washington Capitals27–15–1064
5329Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Boston Bruins28–15–1066
5431Detroit Red Wings2–4Pittsburgh Penguins29–15–1068
February: 1–2–3 (Home: 0–1–1 ; Road: 1–1–2), 5 Points
#FebVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
552New York Islanders4–2Pittsburgh Penguins29–16–1068
564Washington Capitals2–2Pittsburgh Penguins29–16–1169
576Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Buffalo Sabres29–16–1270
587Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Ottawa Senators29–16–1371
5925Pittsburgh Penguins6–2Montreal Canadiens30–16–1373
6028Pittsburgh Penguins2–6Boston Bruins30–17–1373
March: 6–3–4 (Home: 6–0–3 ; Road: 0–3–1), 16 Points
#MarVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
612Toronto Maple Leafs1–3Pittsburgh Penguins31–17–1375
625Chicago Blackhawks2–2Pittsburgh Penguins31–17–1476
637Philadelphia Flyers4–6Pittsburgh Penguins32–17–1478
648Pittsburgh Penguins3–4 OTPhiladelphia Flyers32–18–1478
6511Calgary Flames1–4Pittsburgh Penguins33–18–1480
6614Buffalo Sabres1–2Pittsburgh Penguins34–18–1482
6715Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Buffalo Sabres34–19–1482
6818Edmonton Oilers2–4Pittsburgh Penguins35–19–1484
6921Philadelphia Flyers3–4Pittsburgh Penguins36–19–1486
7022Pittsburgh Penguins0–0Dallas Stars36–19–1587
7126Pittsburgh Penguins3–4New York Islanders36–20–1587
7228New York Rangers2–2Pittsburgh Penguins36–20–1688
7329Ottawa Senators1–1Pittsburgh Penguins36–20–1789
April: 4–4–1 (Home: 2–2–1 ; Road: 2–2–0), 9 Points
#AprVisitorScoreHomeRecordPoints
741San Jose Sharks3–2Pittsburgh Penguins36–21–1789
754Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Tampa Bay Lightning37–21–1791
765Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Florida Panthers37–22–1791
777Phoenix Coyotes2–1Pittsburgh Penguins37–23–1791
789Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Ottawa Senators37–24–1791
7911Florida Panthers3–3Pittsburgh Penguins37–24–1892
8015Tampa Bay Lightning1–5Pittsburgh Penguins38–24–1894
8116Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Carolina Hurricanes39–24–1896
8218Boston Bruins2–5Pittsburgh Penguins40–24–1898
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs
1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Round 1: 2–4 (Home: 1–2 ; Road: 1–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 23Montreal Canadiens3–2 (OT)Pittsburgh Penguins0–1
2April 25Montreal Canadiens1–4Pittsburgh Penguins1–1
3April 27Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Montreal Canadiens1–2
4April 29Pittsburgh Penguins6–3Montreal Canadiens2–2
5May 1Montreal Canadiens5–2Pittsburgh Penguins2–3
6May 3Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Montreal Canadiens2–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP GS TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tom Barrasso63603542:073114131222.0715560.92270214
Peter Skudra1712851:23643261.833410.9240012
Ken Wregget159611:26362282.752930.9040006
Total815004:564024181762.1121900.92070322
Playoffs[6]
Player GP GS TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Tom Barrasso66376:19240172.711710.9010002
Total6376:19240172.711710.9010002

†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

Transactions

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season:[7]

Trades
August 12, 1997 To Edmonton Oilers

1998 3rd round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jiri Slegr

September 24, 1997 To Buffalo Sabres

Jason Woolley

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

1998 5th round pick

September 28, 1997 To Colorado Avalanche

Francois Leroux

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

1998 3rd round pick

October 27, 1997 To Chicago Blackhawks

Greg Johnson

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Tuomas Gronman

March 24, 1998 To Anaheim Ducks

rights to Patrick Lalime

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Sean Pronger

June 16, 1998 To Edmonton Oilers

rights to Josef Beranek

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bobby Dollas
Tony Hrkac

June 17, 1998 To Calgary Flames

David Roche
Ken Wregget

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Todd Hlushko
German Titov

Free agents lost
PlayerNew teamDate
Jeff ChristianPhoenix CoyotesAugust 4, 1997
Robert Lang[8]Boston BruinsSeptember 28, 1997
Drake BerehowskyEdmonton OilersSeptember 30, 1997
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