1996–97 Dallas Stars season

1996–97 Dallas Stars
1996–97 Dallas Stars
Central Division champions
Division	1st Central
Conference	2nd Western
1996–97 record	48–26–8
Home record	25–13–3
Road record	23–13–5
Goals for	252
Goals against	198
Team information
General manager	Bob Gainey
Coach	Ken Hitchcock
Captain	Derian Hatcher
Arena	Reunion Arena
Average attendance	15,997
Minor league affiliate(s)	Michigan K-Wings; Dayton Bombers
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Modano (35)
Assists	Mike Modano (48)
Points	Mike Modano (83)
Penalty minutes	Todd Harvey (142)
Plus/minus	Mike Modano (+43)
Wins	Andy Moog (28)
Goals against average	Andy Moog (2.15)
	← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996–97 Dallas Stars season was the fourth National Hockey League season in Dallas, Texas (and 30th as a franchise) as they attempted to bounce back from their dismal last place finish in the Central Division, which they would, finishing first, clinching the first Division title for Dallas. They would face off against the Edmonton Oilers in the Conference Quarterfinals, playing a tough series, losing 4-3.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Central Division
No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	2	Dallas Stars	82	48	26	8	252	198	104
2	3	Detroit Red Wings	82	38	26	18	253	197	94
3	5	Phoenix Coyotes	82	38	37	7	240	243	83
4	6	St. Louis Blues	82	36	35	11	236	239	83
5	8	Chicago Blackhawks	82	34	35	13	223	210	81
6	11	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	30	44	8	230	273	68

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference^[1]
R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	49	24	9	277	205	107
2	Dallas Stars	CEN	82	48	26	8	252	198	104
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	38	26	18	253	197	94
4	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	36	33	13	245	233	85
5	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	38	37	7	240	243	83
6	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	36	35	11	236	239	83
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	36	37	9	252	247	81
8	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	34	35	13	223	210	81

9	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	35	40	7	257	273	77
10	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	32	41	9	214	239	73
11	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	44	8	230	273	68
12	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	28	43	11	214	268	67
13	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	27	47	8	211	278	62

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results

Regular season

1996–97 regular season^[2]

October: 9–2–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–1–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
1	W	October 5, 1996	4–1	Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	1–0–0	Recap
2	W	October 8, 1996	5–3	Washington Capitals (1996–97)	2–0–0	Recap
3	W	October 10, 1996	2–1	@ New York Rangers (1996–97)	3–0–0	Recap
4	W	October 12, 1996	4–2	@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	4–0–0	Recap
5	W	October 13, 1996	5–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	5–0–0	Recap
6	W	October 15, 1996	3–1	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	6–0–0	Recap
7	L	October 17, 1996	1–6	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	6–1–0	Recap
8	W	October 19, 1996	2–0	Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	7–1–0	Recap
9	L	October 23, 1996	1–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	7–2–0	Recap
10	W	October 26, 1996	5–1	Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	8–2–0	Recap
11	W	October 30, 1996	2–0	Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	9–2–0	Recap

November: 7–6–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 5–3–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
12	L	November 1, 1996	2–3 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	9–3–0	Recap
13	L	November 3, 1996	3–6	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	9–4–0	Recap
14	W	November 6, 1996	3–2	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	10–4–0	Recap
15	L	November 8, 1996	1–3	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	10–5–0	Recap
16	W	November 11, 1996	3–2	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	11–5–0	Recap
17	T	November 13, 1996	3–3 OT	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	11–5–1	Recap
18	W	November 15, 1996	4–3	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	12–5–1	Recap
19	W	November 17, 1996	7–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	13–5–1	Recap
20	L	November 19, 1996	0–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	13–6–1	Recap
21	W	November 20, 1996	3–1	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	14–6–1	Recap
22	L	November 22, 1996	1–2 OT	Florida Panthers (1996–97)	14–7–1	Recap
23	L	November 27, 1996	2–3	New Jersey Devils (1996–97)	14–8–1	Recap
24	W	November 29, 1996	2–1	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	15–8–1	Recap
25	W	November 30, 1996	5–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	16–8–1	Recap

December: 6–5–2 (home: 2–4–1; road: 4–1–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
26	L	December 4, 1996	1–2	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	16–9–1	Recap
27	L	December 6, 1996	3–6	Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	16–10–1	Recap
28	T	December 8, 1996	1–1 OT	@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)	16–10–2	Recap
29	T	December 11, 1996	5–5 OT	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	16–10–3	Recap
30	W	December 13, 1996	2–1	Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	17–10–3	Recap
31	W	December 15, 1996	4–0	@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)	18–10–3	Recap
32	W	December 18, 1996	3–2 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	19–10–3	Recap
33	W	December 20, 1996	4–1	@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	20–10–3	Recap
34	W	December 21, 1996	3–2	@ New York Islanders (1996–97)	21–10–3	Recap
35	L	December 23, 1996	1–2	San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	21–11–3	Recap
36	W	December 27, 1996	6–4	Boston Bruins (1996–97)	22–11–3	Recap
37	L	December 29, 1996	2–3	@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	22–12–3	Recap
38	L	December 30, 1996	2–3	New York Rangers (1996–97)	22–13–3	Recap

January: 7–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 4–3–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
39	L	January 1, 1997	4–6	Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	22–14–3	Recap
40	W	January 3, 1997	2–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	23–14–3	Recap
41	L	January 4, 1997	2–3	@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)	23–15–3	Recap
42	W	January 8, 1997	6–3	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	24–15–3	Recap
43	L	January 10, 1997	3–4	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	24–16–3	Recap
44	W	January 13, 1997	2–1	@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)	25–16–3	Recap
45	L	January 14, 1997	1–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	25–17–3	Recap
46	T	January 21, 1997	3–3 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)	25–17–4	Recap
47	W	January 24, 1997	5–2	@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)	26–17–4	Recap
48	W	January 25, 1997	5–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	27–17–4	Recap
49	W	January 27, 1997	7–2	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	28–17–4	Recap
50	W	January 29, 1997	3–1	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	29–17–4	Recap
51	L	January 31, 1997	1–3	@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)	29–18–4	Recap

February: 9–4–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 4–3–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
52	L	February 2, 1997	3–4 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	29–19–4	Recap
53	W	February 5, 1997	4–0	Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)	30–19–4	Recap
54	L	February 6, 1997	4–6	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	30–20–4	Recap
55	W	February 8, 1997	5–4 OT	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	31–20–4	Recap
56	W	February 9, 1997	2–1 OT	Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	32–20–4	Recap
57	L	February 12, 1997	0–5	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	32–21–4	Recap
58	W	February 14, 1997	4–3 OT	Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)	33–21–4	Recap
59	W	February 17, 1997	2–1	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	34–21–4	Recap
60	L	February 18, 1997	1–3	@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)	34–22–4	Recap
61	W	February 21, 1997	4–2	Calgary Flames (1996–97)	35–22–4	Recap
62	W	February 23, 1997	6–1	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	36–22–4	Recap
63	W	February 25, 1997	1–0	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	37–22–4	Recap
64	W	February 27, 1997	6–2	@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	38–22–4	Recap

March: 8–1–2 (home: 5–0–1; road: 3–1–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
65	L	March 1, 1997	1–4	@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)	38–23–4	Recap
66	W	March 5, 1997	3–2	St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	39–23–4	Recap
67	W	March 7, 1997	2–1	Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	40–23–4	Recap
68	T	March 10, 1997	3–3 OT	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	40–23–5	Recap
69	T	March 14, 1997	4–4 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	40–23–6	Recap
70	W	March 16, 1997	6–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)	41–23–6	Recap
71	W	March 19, 1997	7–2	Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	42–23–6	Recap
72	W	March 21, 1997	2–0	Hartford Whalers (1996–97)	43–23–6	Recap
73	W	March 23, 1997	4–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)	44–23–6	Recap
74	W	March 30, 1997	3–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)	45–23–6	Recap
75	W	March 31, 1997	3–1	@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)	46–23–6	Recap

April: 2–3–2 (home: 2–2–0; road: 0–1–2)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
76	W	April 2, 1997	5–4	New York Islanders (1996–97)	47–23–6	Recap
77	L	April 4, 1997	2–3	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)	47–24–6	Recap
78	T	April 5, 1997	3–3 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)	47–24–7	Recap
79	T	April 7, 1997	2–2 OT	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)	47–24–8	Recap
80	W	April 9, 1997	3–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)	48–24–8	Recap
81	L	April 11, 1997	1–2	Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)	48–25–8	Recap
82	L	April 13, 1997	2–5	Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)	48–26–8	Recap

Legend:

Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs^[2]

Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (7) Edmonton Oilers – Oilers win 4–3

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Series	Recap
1	W	April 16, 1997	5–3	Edmonton Oilers	Stars lead 1–0	Recap
2	L	April 18, 1997	0–4	Edmonton Oilers	Series tied 1–1	Recap
3	L	April 20, 1997	3–4 OT	@ Edmonton Oilers	Oilers lead 2–1	Recap
4	W	April 22, 1997	4–3	@ Edmonton Oilers	Series tied 2–2	Recap
5	L	April 25, 1997	0–1 2OT	Edmonton Oilers	Oilers lead 3–2	Recap
6	W	April 27, 1997	3–2	@ Edmonton Oilers	Series tied 3–3	Recap
7	L	April 29, 1997	3–4 OT	Edmonton Oilers	Oilers win 4–3	Recap

Legend:

Win 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 Stars only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Stars only.

			Regular season						Playoffs
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
9	Mike Modano	C	80	35	48	83	43	42	7	4	1	5	2	0
16	Pat Verbeek	RW	81	17	36	53	3	128	7	1	3	4	−2	16
25	Joe Nieuwendyk	C	66	30	21	51	−5	32	7	2	2	4	−1	6
5	Darryl Sydor	D	82	8	40	48	37	51	7	0	2	2	−2	0
33	Benoit Hogue	C	73	19	24	43	8	54	7	2	2	4	−1	6
26	Jere Lehtinen	RW	63	16	27	43	26	2	7	2	2	4	1	0
56	Sergei Zubov	D	78	13	30	43	19	24	7	0	3	3	4	2
14	Dave Reid	LW	82	19	20	39	12	10	7	1	0	1	−2	4
15	Jamie Langenbrunner	RW	76	13	26	39	−2	51	5	1	1	2	1	14
23	Greg Adams	LW	50	21	15	36	27	2	3	0	1	1	2	0
10	Todd Harvey	RW	71	9	22	31	19	142	7	0	1	1	−2	10
41	Brent Gilchrist	LW	67	10	20	30	6	24	6	2	2	4	0	2
2	Derian Hatcher	D	63	3	19	22	8	97	7	0	2	2	1	20
21	Guy Carbonneau	C	73	5	16	21	9	36	7	0	1	1	−3	6
12	Grant Ledyard	D	67	1	15	16	31	61	7	0	2	2	−3	0
7	Neal Broten†	C	20	8	7	15	6	12	2	0	1	1	0	0
3	Craig Ludwig	D	77	2	11	13	17	62	7	0	2	2	1	18
28	Bob Bassen	C	46	5	7	12	5	41	7	3	1	4	3	4
24	Richard Matvichuk	D	57	5	7	12	1	87	7	0	1	1	−1	20
17	Bill Huard	LW	40	5	6	11	5	105	—	—	—	—	—	—
29	Grant Marshall	RW	56	6	4	10	5	98	5	0	2	2	2	8
39	Mike Kennedy	C	24	1	6	7	3	13	—	—	—	—	—	—
18	Mike Lalor	D	55	1	1	2	3	42	—	—	—	—	—	—
32	Arturs Irbe	G	35	0	2	2		8	1	0	0	0		0
22	Dan Keczmer	D	13	0	1	1	3	6	—	—	—	—	—	—
35	Andy Moog	G	48	0	1	1		12	7	0	1	1		0
44	Patrick Cote	LW	3	0	0	0	0	27	—	—	—	—	—	—
27	Marc Labelle	LW	9	0	0	0	−4	46	—	—	—	—	—	—
42	Sergei Makarov†‡	RW	4	0	0	0	−2	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1	Roman Turek	G	6	0	0	0		0	—	—	—	—	—	—

Goaltending

		Regular season										Playoffs
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI	GP	W	L	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
35	Andy Moog	48	28	13	5	1121	98	2.15	.913	3	2738	7	3	4	214	21	2.81	.902	0	449
32	Arturs Irbe	35	17	12	3	825	88	2.69	.893	3	1965	1	0	0	4	0	0.00	1.000	0	13
1	Roman Turek	6	3	1	0	129	9	2.06	.930	0	263	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Derian Hatcher	^[3]
		Ken Hitchcock (coach)
		Mike Modano^[a]
		Andy Moog
Team	Star of the Game Award	Mike Modano	^[5]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
1,000th game played	Pat Verbeek	November 11, 1996	^[6]
25th shutout	Andy Moog	December 15, 1996	^[7]

Transactions

Draft picks

Dallas's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.^[8]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	5	Ric Jackman	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
3	70	Jon Sim	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4	90	Mike Hurley	Canada	Tri-City Americans (WHL)
5	112	Ryan Christie	Canada	Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
5	113	Yevgeni Tsybuk	Russia	Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
7	166	Eoin McInerney	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
8	194	Joel Kwiatkowski	Canada	Prince George Cougars (WHL)
9	220	Nick Bootland	Canada	Guelph Storm (OHL)

Notes

References

"Dallas Stars 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
"1996-97 Dallas Stars Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.

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1996–97 Dallas Stars season

Contents

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Draft picks

See also

Notes

References