The 1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 88th season . The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs despite a sub-.500 season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals (the first round) by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1.
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
#
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
T
Oct 5, 1996
3–3 OT
Ottawa Senators
0–0–1
2
T
Oct 7, 1996
6–6 OT
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
0–0–2
3
W
Oct 9, 1996
6–3
Los Angeles Kings
1–0–2
4
W
Oct 12, 1996
5–2
New York Rangers
2–0–2
5
L
Oct 15, 1996
2–3
@ New Jersey Devils
2–1–2
6
W
Oct 16, 1996
4–2
Calgary Flames
3–1–2
7
L
Oct 19, 1996
3–6
@ Ottawa Senators
3–2–2
8
L
Oct 24, 1996
3–6
@ Buffalo Sabres
3–3–2
9
W
Oct 26, 1996
6–5
Philadelphia Flyers
4–3–2
10
L
Oct 28, 1996
4–5 OT
Phoenix Coyotes
4–4–2
11
L
Oct 30, 1996
3–5
@ Detroit Red Wings
4–5–2
12
L
Nov 2, 1996
3–4 OT
@ San Jose Sharks
4–6–2
13
T
Nov 3, 1996
4–4 OT
@ Phoenix Coyotes
4–6–3
14
W
Nov 6, 1996
6–5
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
5–6–3
15
L
Nov 7, 1996
1–4
@ Los Angeles Kings
5–7–3
16
L
Nov 9, 1996
2–5
@ Colorado Avalanche
5–8–3
17
W
Nov 11, 1996
3–2 OT
Edmonton Oilers
6–8–3
18
L
Nov 13, 1996
3–5
Florida Panthers
6–9–3
19
L
Nov 15, 1996
1–3
@ Washington Capitals
6–10–3
20
W
Nov 16, 1996
6–1
Vancouver Canucks
7–10–3
21
L
Nov 20, 1996
1–3
@ Hartford Whalers
7–11–3
22
W
Nov 21, 1996
6–2
@ Boston Bruins
8–11–3
23
W
Nov 23, 1996
4–3
@ Toronto Maple Leafs
9–11–3
24
W
Nov 25, 1996
4–2
Tampa Bay Lightning
10–11–3
25
T
Nov 27, 1996
2–2 OT
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
10–11–4
26
L
Nov 30, 1996
0–2
Washington Capitals
10–12–4
27
L
Dec 1, 1996
2–6
@ New York Rangers
10–13–4
28
L
Dec 4, 1996
3–4
Boston Bruins
10–14–4
29
W
Dec 6, 1996
3–1
@ Chicago Blackhawks
11–14–4
30
W
Dec 7, 1996
3–2
Chicago Blackhawks
12–14–4
31
L
Dec 11, 1996
2–3 OT
Buffalo Sabres
12–15–4
32
T
Dec 14, 1996
3–3 OT
@ New Jersey Devils
12–15–5
33
L
Dec 16, 1996
2–4
Tampa Bay Lightning
12–16–5
34
L
Dec 21, 1996
2–3 OT
New York Rangers
12–17–5
35
L
Dec 23, 1996
0–6
Ottawa Senators
12–18–5
36
T
Dec 26, 1996
3–3 OT
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
12–18–6
37
T
Dec 28, 1996
4–4 OT
@ Tampa Bay Lightning
12–18–7
38
W
Dec 29, 1996
2–1
@ Florida Panthers
13–18–7
39
W
Jan 1, 1997
6–4
@ Dallas Stars
14–18–7
40
T
Jan 2, 1997
2–2 OT
@ St. Louis Blues
14–18–8
41
W
Jan 4, 1997
3–1
New York Islanders
15–18–8
42
W
Jan 6, 1997
5–4
Hartford Whalers
16–18–8
43
L
Jan 9, 1997
4–5
@ Boston Bruins
16–19–8
44
W
Jan 11, 1997
6–3
Boston Bruins
17–19–8
45
L
Jan 13, 1997
1–2
Dallas Stars
17–20–8
46
L
Jan 14, 1997
2–3
@ Philadelphia Flyers
17–21–8
47
W
Jan 20, 1997
4–1
Detroit Red Wings
18–21–8
48
L
Jan 22, 1997
1–6
@ Buffalo Sabres
18–22–8
49
L
Jan 25, 1997
1–8
St. Louis Blues
18–23–8
50
L
Jan 26, 1997
2–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
18–24–8
51
L
Jan 28, 1997
1–5
@ Florida Panthers
18–25–8
52
W
Jan 30, 1997
4–1
@ Tampa Bay Lightning
19–25–8
53
T
Feb 1, 1997
4–4 OT
New Jersey Devils
19–25–9
54
T
Feb 3, 1997
2–2 OT
Florida Panthers
19–25–10
55
L
Feb 5, 1997
3–6
Pittsburgh Penguins
19–26–10
56
L
Feb 6, 1997
5–9
@ Philadelphia Flyers
19–27–10
57
W
Feb 8, 1997
3–2 OT
Hartford Whalers
20–27–10
58
W
Feb 10, 1997
4–2
San Jose Sharks
21–27–10
59
T
Feb 12, 1997
2–2 OT
@ Buffalo Sabres
21–27–11
60
L
Feb 15, 1997
1–4
New Jersey Devils
21–28–11
61
W
Feb 17, 1997
4–1
@ New York Islanders
22–28–11
62
L
Feb 22, 1997
1–5
Toronto Maple Leafs
22–29–11
63
W
Feb 25, 1997
4–2
@ Vancouver Canucks
23–29–11
64
L
Feb 28, 1997
2–3
@ Calgary Flames
23–30–11
65
W
Mar 1, 1997
5–4
@ Edmonton Oilers
24–30–11
66
L
Mar 5, 1997
3–7
Colorado Avalanche
24–31–11
67
L
Mar 7, 1997
0–2
@ Hartford Whalers
24–32–11
68
T
Mar 8, 1997
3–3 OT
Buffalo Sabres
24–32–12
69
T
Mar 10, 1997
2–2 OT
@ Pittsburgh Penguins
24–32–13
70
W
Mar 13, 1997
3–0
@ Boston Bruins
25–32–13
71
T
Mar 15, 1997
2–2 OT
Ottawa Senators
25–32–14
72
W
Mar 19, 1997
5–4
@ New York Rangers
26–32–14
73
L
Mar 22, 1997
1–3
Washington Capitals
26–33–14
74
W
Mar 24, 1997
3–1
Boston Bruins
27–33–14
75
W
Mar 26, 1997
8–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
28–33–14
76
L
Mar 29, 1997
2–5
@ Ottawa Senators
28–34–14
77
W
Apr 2, 1997
4–1
@ Hartford Whalers
29–34–14
78
L
Apr 5, 1997
1–4
Hartford Whalers
29–35–14
79
W
Apr 7, 1997
2–1
New York Islanders
30–35–14
80
W
Apr 9, 1997
3–1
@ New York Islanders
31–35–14
81
L
Apr 10, 1997
2–3
@ Washington Capitals
31–36–14
82
T
Apr 12, 1997
3–3 OT
Philadelphia Flyers
31–36–15
In the first game of the series against New Jersey, on April 17, 1997, with the Devils up by two goals late in the game, Martin Brodeur fired the puck the length of the ice and into the Canadiens' empty net to ensure a 2-0 victory. It was only the second time in NHL history that a goaltender had scored in the playoffs, and the fifth time overall.[1]
Eastern Conference Quarter-finals vs. New Jersey Devils [ edit | edit source]
Montreal vs. New Jersey
Date
Away
Home
Scores
OT
April 17
Montreal
New Jersey
5 – 2
April 19
Montreal
New Jersey
4 – 1
April 22
New Jersey
Montreal
6 – 4
April 24
New Jersey
Montreal
4 – 3
3OT
April 26
Montreal
New Jersey
4 – 0
New Jersey wins series 4–1
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
PPG
SHG
GWG
Damphousse, Vincent Vincent Damphousse
C
82
27
54
81
82
-6
7
2
3
Recchi, Mark Mark Recchi
RW
82
34
46
80
58
-1
7
2
3
Savage, Brian Brian Savage
LW
81
23
37
60
39
-14
5
0
2
Koivu, Saku Saku Koivu
C
50
17
39
56
38
7
5
0
3
Rucinsky, Martin Martin Rucinsky
LW
70
28
27
55
62
1
6
3
3
Richer, Stephane Stephane Richer
RW
63
22
24
46
32
0
2
0
2
Bure, Valeri Valeri Bure
RW
64
14
21
35
6
4
4
0
2
Malakhov, Vladimir Vladimir Malakhov
D
65
10
20
30
43
3
5
0
1
Brunet, Benoit Benoit Brunet
LW
39
10
13
23
14
6
2
0
2
Quintal, Stephane Stephane Quintal
D
71
7
15
22
100
1
1
0
0
Stevenson, Turner Turner Stevenson
RW
65
8
13
21
97
-14
1
0
0
Corson, Shayne Shayne Corson
LW
47
6
15
21
80
-5
2
0
2
Thornton, Scott Scott Thornton
LW
73
10
10
20
128
-19
1
1
1
Tucker, Darcy Darcy Tucker
RW
73
7
13
20
110
-5
1
0
3
Bureau, Marc Marc Bureau
C
43
6
9
15
16
4
1
1
2
Wilkie, David David Wilkie
D
61
6
9
15
63
-9
3
0
0
Brisebois, Patrice Patrice Brisebois
D
49
2
13
15
24
-7
0
0
1
Popovic, Peter Peter Popovic
D
78
1
13
14
32
9
0
0
0
Bordeleau, Sebastien Sebastien Bordeleau
C
28
2
9
11
2
-3
0
0
0
Turgeon, Pierre Pierre Turgeon
C
9
1
10
11
2
4
0
0
0
Cullimore, Jassen Jassen Cullimore
D
49
2
6
8
42
4
0
1
1
Murray, Chris Chris Murray
RW
56
4
2
6
114
-8
0
0
0
Baron, Murray Murray Baron
D
60
1
5
6
107
-16
0
0
0
Rivet, Craig Craig Rivet
D
35
0
4
4
54
7
0
0
0
Manson, Dave Dave Manson
D
9
1
1
2
23
-1
0
0
0
Houde, Eric Eric Houde
C
13
0
2
2
2
1
0
0
0
Fitzpatrick, Rory Rory Fitzpatrick
D
6
0
1
1
6
-2
0
0
0
Brashear, Donald Donald Brashear
LW
10
0
0
0
38
-2
0
0
0
Brown, Brad Brad Brown
D
8
0
0
0
22
-1
0
0
0
Groleau, Francois Francois Groleau
D
5
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
Jablonski, Pat Pat Jablonski
G
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ling, David David Ling
RW
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ryan, Terry Terry Ryan
LW
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sevigny, Pierre Pierre Sevigny
LW
13
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
Theodore, Jose Jose Theodore
G
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Thibault, Jocelyn Jocelyn Thibault
G
61
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Vokoun, Tomas Tomas Vokoun
G
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
T
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Thibault, Jocelyn Jocelyn Thibault
3397
61
22
24
11
164
2.90
1
1815
1651
.910
Theodore, Jose Jose Theodore
821
16
5
6
2
53
3.87
0
508
455
.896
Jablonski, Pat Pat Jablonski
754
17
4
6
2
50
3.98
0
438
388
.886
Vokoun, Tomas Tomas Vokoun
20
1
0
0
0
4
12.00
0
14
10
.714
Team:
4992
82
31
36
15
271
3.26
1
2775
2504
.902
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
Recchi, Mark Mark Recchi
RW
5
4
2
6
2
0
0
0
Brunet, Benoit Benoit Brunet
LW
4
1
3
4
4
0
1
0
Koivu, Saku Saku Koivu
C
5
1
3
4
10
0
0
0
Brisebois, Patrice Patrice Brisebois
D
3
1
1
2
24
0
0
1
Savage, Brian Brian Savage
LW
5
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
Stevenson, Turner Turner Stevenson
RW
5
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
Corson, Shayne Shayne Corson
LW
5
1
0
1
4
0
1
0
Thornton, Scott Scott Thornton
LW
5
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
Bure, Valeri Valeri Bure
RW
5
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
Quintal, Stephane Stephane Quintal
D
5
0
1
1
6
0
0
0
Rivet, Craig Craig Rivet
D
5
0
1
1
14
0
0
0
Cullimore, Jassen Jassen Cullimore
D
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Damphousse, Vincent Vincent Damphousse
C
5
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Malakhov, Vladimir Vladimir Malakhov
D
5
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
Manson, Dave Dave Manson
D
5
0
0
0
17
0
0
0
Popovic, Peter Peter Popovic
D
3
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Richer, Stephane Stephane Richer
RW
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rucinsky, Martin Martin Rucinsky
LW
5
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
Theodore, Jose Jose Theodore
G
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Thibault, Jocelyn Jocelyn Thibault
G
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tucker, Darcy Darcy Tucker
RW
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wilkie, David David Wilkie
D
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
SA
SV
SV%
Theodore, Jose Jose Theodore
168
2
1
1
7
2.50
0
108
101
.935
Thibault, Jocelyn Jocelyn Thibault
179
3
0
3
13
4.36
0
101
88
.871
Team:
347
5
1
4
20
3.46
0
209
189
.904
[2]
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;
See also: 1996 NHL Entry Draft