1997–98 Ottawa Senators season


The 1997–98 Ottawa Senators season was the sixth season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. The season saw the Senators face the challenge of improving on their very successful 1996–97 season, when they made the playoffs for the first time in team history. The 1997–98 season was even more successful, as Ottawa finished over.500 for the first time in club history, qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year, and won their first playoff series in modern club history. The Senators defeated the top-seeded New Jersey Devils in six games before falling to the Washington Capitals in five games in the second round.

Regular season

led the club offensively, with 72 points in 82 games. Damian Rhodes and Ron Tugnutt once again performed solidly in the Senators' net, helping set a club record for fewest goals allowed.
The Alexandre Daigle era came to an end midway through the season, as the Senators traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Václav Prospal and Pat Falloon.

Final standings

Playoffs

The Ottawa Senators ended the 1997–98 regular season as the Eastern Conference's eighth seed. Daniel Alfredsson, who missed 27 games in the regular season due to injuries, led the team with nine points in the playoffs and the club won its first round matchup, an upset win over the New Jersey Devils

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (1) New Jersey Devils

On paper, the series was a big mismatch, as the Devils had finished 24 points ahead in the standings. One American newspaper covering the playoffs did not even preview the series, expecting an easy win for the Devils. The Devils were characterized as arrogant, although the Devils and the Senators had split their season series. Devil Randy McKay, when asked which player on the Senators he respected, said, "To be honest, I'd have to see their list."
The series opened in New Jersey. In Game 1, the Senators got a 1–0 lead and held onto it until 3:24 was left in the third period, when Doug Gilmour scored to tie the game. After the goal, the Devils got several penalties in a row, including some in overtime. Although the Senators went 0–6 on the power play, they managed to win the game on an overtime winner from Bruce Gardiner at 5:58. In Game 2, the Devils won the game in large part due to the offence of Doug Gilmour, who assisted on the first goal and scored the second, game-winning goal and an empty netter to tie the series.
The series now moved to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4. In Game 3, Damian Rhodes played outstanding and Alexei Yashin scored the winner, 2:47 into overtime on the power play. According to Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur, "It's Rhodes, that's the bottom line. He has been tremendous. We're getting the puck to him, we're getting rebounds, but he closes the door every time." Devils Head Coach Jacques Lemaire refused to appear for the post-game press conference. The Senators won Game 4, 4–3, on the strength of a hat-trick by Daniel Alfredsson. The Senators had led 4–1, but late goals by Scott Stevens and Doug Gilmour, with 69 seconds left, made it a close contest.
The series now returned to New Jersey, with the Devils on the brink of elimination. In Game 5, Brodeur stopped 22 of 23 shots and even assisted on a short-handed goal as the Devils won 3–1. Gilmour scored the game-winner and the Devils staved off elimination.
In Game 6, Janne Laukkanen scored the winner, giving the Senators the lead that was solidified when Igor Kravchuk scored into an empty net to complete the series upset, 4–2, for the Senators. After the game, Scott Stevens commented, "The bottom line is that they're an average team that played great. And we're an above average team that played poorly." The headlines from other newspapers labelled the playoff win a "titanic upset" and "sensational upset."
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordAttendance
1April 22Ottawa2 – 1 New Jersey1 – 018,457
2April 24Ottawa1 – 3New Jersey1 – 119,040
3April 26New Jersey1 – 2 Ottawa2 – 118,500
4April 28New Jersey3 – 4Ottawa3 – 118,500
5April 30Ottawa1 – 3New Jersey3 – 219,040
6May 2New Jersey1 – 3Ottawa4 – 218,500

Ottawa wins series 4–2.

Eastern Conference Semi-finals: vs. (4) Washington Capitals

The Senators did not capitalize on their first-round win, and the Capitals took the series in five games.
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordAttendance
1May 7Ottawa2 – 4Washington0 – 117,941
2May 9Ottawa1 – 6Washington0 – 219,740
3May 11Washington3 – 4Ottawa1 – 218,500
4May 13Washington2 – 0Ottawa1 – 318,500
5May 15Ottawa0 – 3Washington1 – 419,740

Washington wins series 4–1

Awards and records

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
C82333972246506
RW81242448421824
RW55172845187707
D81827358-19311
RW8215183324-11322
LW61111526362010
C7810132316-7701
D80814222717302
D604172164-15202
LW72910192504001
C8041519484000
RW5571118502000
C65791616-13100
C3879168-7402
D7251116382202
D7331316628000
LW712111363-14100
D69279508000
RW46538961002
C151674-1000
RW283368-11200
D6022431-14000
LW9303243001
C920291001
D131126-3000
D901163000
RW70110-1000
G5001100000
D100000000
RW200000000
G4200000000
D/LW19000450000
LW300040000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASOSASVSV%
274350191971072.34511481041.907
22364215148842.253882798.905
Team:4979823433151912.30820301839.906

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
RW1172920-4211
C115388-6302
D112354000
D112248-3101
RW111342-2001
RW110448-6000
RW111122-4100
D71127-2100
D110222-2000
D90222-5000
C110220-1000
RW111018-2000
LW110116-6000
LW601160000
D1101117-3000
C1101110-3000
C50002-3000
RW100000000
D10000-2000
LW11000192000
D90002-4000
C60000-2000
G1000000000
G200000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
5901055212.140236215.911
7420164.8602519.760
Team:6641156272.440261234.897

Transactions

Trades

Waivers

Source:

Free agents

PlayerFormer team
Marc LabelleDallas Stars
Clayton BeddoesBoston Bruins
Derek ArmstrongNew York Islanders

Roster

Sources:
Ottawa's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
112Marian HossaDukla Trencin
358Jani HurmeTPS
366Josh LangfeldLincoln Stars
5119Magnus ArvedsonFarjestad BK
6146Jeff SullivanHalifax Mooseheads
7173Robin BaculSlavia Prague
8203Nick GillisCushing Academy
9229Karel RachunekZlin ZPS

Farm teams