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1996–97 New York Rangers
Division4th Atlantic
Conference5th Eastern
1996–97 record38–34–10
Home record21–14–6
Road record17–20–4
Goals for258
Goals against231
Team information
General manager Neil Smith
Coach Colin Campbell
Captain Mark Messier
Alternate captains Brian Leetch
Adam Graves
Arena Madison Square Garden
Average attendance18,200 (100%)
Minor league affiliate(s) Binghamton Rangers
Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
GoalsMark Messier (36)
Assists Wayne Gretzky (72)
PointsWayne Gretzky (97)
Penalty minutes Darren Langdon (195)
Plus/minusBrian Leetch (+31)
Wins Mike Richter (33)
Goals against average Glenn Healy (2.61)
←  1995–96
1997–98 →

The 1996–97 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 71st season. The highlight of the season was that it was Wayne Gretzky's first season in New York.

The Rangers qualified for the playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers. This marked the last playoff appearance for the Rangers until the 2005–06 season.

Regular season

The Rangers had the fewest power-play opportunities during the regular season (287), but the best power-play percentage (21.95%). [1]

Final standings

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 1 New Jersey Devils 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
3 4 Florida Panthers 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
4 5 New York Rangers 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
5 9 Washington Capitals 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
6 11 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
7 12 New York Islanders 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
Eastern Conference [2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 45 23 14 231 182 104
2 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 40 30 12 237 208 92
3 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 274 217 103
4 Florida Panthers ATL 82 35 28 19 221 201 89
5 New York Rangers ATL 82 38 34 10 258 231 86
6 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 38 36 8 285 280 84
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 31 36 15 226 234 77
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 31 36 15 249 276 77
9 Washington Capitals ATL 82 33 40 9 214 231 75
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 32 39 11 226 256 75
11 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 32 40 10 217 247 74
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 29 41 12 240 250 70
13 Boston Bruins NE 82 26 47 9 234 300 61

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs


Playoffs

Main article: 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

1996–97 regular season [3]
October: 5–6–3 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–3–2)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
1 October 5, 1996 @ Boston Bruins 4–4 OT 0–0–1 Recap
2 October 6, 1996 Florida Panthers 5–2 0–1–1 Recap
3 October 8, 1996 @ Florida Panthers 1–1 OT 0–1–2 Recap
4 October 10, 1996 Dallas Stars 2–1 0–2–2 Recap
5 October 12, 1996 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–2 0–3–2 Recap
6 October 14, 1996 Calgary Flames 5–4 1–3–2 Recap
7 October 16, 1996 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–1 2–3–2 Recap
8 October 18, 1996 St. Louis Blues 2–1 3–3–2 Recap
9 October 20, 1996 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 5–2 3–4–2 Recap
10 October 23, 1996 Washington Capitals 3–2 3–5–2 Recap
11 October 25, 1996 @ Florida Panthers 6–4 3–6–2 Recap
12 October 27, 1996 Buffalo Sabres 6–4 4–6–2 Recap
13 October 29, 1996 Florida Panthers 1–1 OT 4–6–3 Recap
14 October 30, 1996 @ New Jersey Devils 6–1 5–6–3 Recap
November: 4–7–1 (home: 0–3–0; road: 4–4–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
15 November 2, 1996 @ Boston Bruins 5–2 6–6–3 Recap
16 November 4, 1996 Tampa Bay Lightning 5–3 6–7–3 Recap
17 November 6, 1996 @ New York Islanders 1–1 OT 6–7–4 Recap
18 November 9, 1996 @ Washington Capitals 3–2 6–8–4 Recap
19 November 11, 1996 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 6–9–4 Recap
20 November 13, 1996 Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 6–10–4 Recap
21 November 16, 1996 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 7–10–4 Recap
22 November 18, 1996 @ Calgary Flames 5–3 7–11–4 Recap
23 November 21, 1996 @ Edmonton Oilers 3–2 7–12–4 Recap
24 November 23, 1996 @ Vancouver Canucks 5–3 7–13–4 Recap
25 November 26, 1996 @ Phoenix Coyotes 3–1 8–13–4 Recap
26 November 27, 1996 @ Colorado Avalanche 5–2 9–13–4 Recap
December: 11–3–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 4–2–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
27 December 1, 1996 Montreal Canadiens 6–2 10–13–4 Recap
28 December 4, 1996 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 OT 10–13–5 Recap
29 December 6, 1996 Toronto Maple Leafs 6–5 11–13–5 Recap
30 December 7, 1996 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0 12–13–5 Recap
31 December 9, 1996 Phoenix Coyotes 5–2 13–13–5 Recap
32 December 11, 1996 New York Islanders 5–3 13–14–5 Recap
33 December 13, 1996 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–0 14–14–5 Recap
34 December 16, 1996 Hartford Whalers 5–2 15–14–5 Recap
35 December 18, 1996 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 16–14–5 Recap
36 December 21, 1996 @ Montreal Canadiens 3–2 OT 17–14–5 Recap
37 December 22, 1996 Florida Panthers 7–3 18–14–5 Recap
38 December 26, 1996 @ Ottawa Senators 5–2 18–15–5 Recap
39 December 27, 1996 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3–2 19–15–5 Recap
40 December 30, 1996 @ Dallas Stars 3–2 20–15–5 Recap
41 December 31, 1996 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 4–2 20–16–5 Recap
January: 5–4–2 (home: 3–3–2; road: 2–1–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
42 January 2, 1997 New York Islanders 4–3 21–16–5 Recap
43 January 4, 1997 Ottawa Senators 6–4 22–16–5 Recap
44 January 6, 1997 Colorado Avalanche 2–2 OT 22–16–6 Recap
45 January 8, 1997 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–3 22–17–6 Recap
46 January 9, 1997 @ Washington Capitals 2–0 22–18–6 Recap
47 January 12, 1997 New Jersey Devils 3–0 23–18–6 Recap
48 January 13, 1997 New York Islanders 4–2 23–19–6 Recap
49 January 21, 1997 Edmonton Oilers 4–4 OT 23–19–7 Recap
50 January 22, 1997 @ Washington Capitals 5–3 24–19–7 Recap
51 January 25, 1997 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 25–19–7 Recap
52 January 27, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 25–20–7 Recap
February: 3–6–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–5–1)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
53 February 1, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 26–20–7 Recap
54 February 2, 1997 Boston Bruins 3–2 26–21–7 Recap
55 February 5, 1997 Hartford Whalers 5–2 27–21–7 Recap
56 February 8, 1997 @ New York Islanders 5–2 28–21–7 Recap
57 February 9, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 4–3 28–22–7 Recap
58 February 13, 1997 @ St. Louis Blues 4–1 28–23–7 Recap
59 February 15, 1997 @ Chicago Blackhawks 2–0 28–24–7 Recap
60 February 17, 1997 New Jersey Devils 2–2 OT 28–24–8 Recap
61 February 19, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 1–1 OT 28–24–9 Recap
62 February 21, 1997 @ Hartford Whalers 7–2 28–25–9 Recap
63 February 23, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 28–26–9 Recap
March: 7–6–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–4–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
64 March 1, 1997 @ Detroit Red Wings 3–0 28–27–9 Recap
65 March 3, 1997 San Jose Sharks 5–4 OT 29–27–9 Recap
66 March 6, 1997 @ Los Angeles Kings 6–2 30–27–9 Recap
67 March 7, 1997 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 5–2 30–28–9 Recap
68 March 9, 1997 @ San Jose Sharks 2–1 31–28–9 Recap
69 March 12, 1997 Washington Capitals 3–2 32–28–9 Recap
70 March 14, 1997 @ Ottawa Senators 4–3 OT 33–28–9 Recap
71 March 17, 1997 Ottawa Senators 4–3 33–29–9 Recap
72 March 19, 1997 Montreal Canadiens 5–4 33–30–9 Recap
73 March 21, 1997 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 34–30–9 Recap
74 March 24, 1997 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 35–30–9 Recap
75 March 27, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 4–0 35–31–9 Recap
76 March 29, 1997 @ Hartford Whalers 2–1 35–32–9 Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 1–1–0)
Game Date Opponent Score Record Recap
77 April 1, 1997 Buffalo Sabres 1–1 OT 35–32–10 Recap
78 April 3, 1997 Boston Bruins 5–4 36–32–10 Recap
79 April 4, 1997 @ Buffalo Sabres 5–1 36–33–10 Recap
80 April 7, 1997 Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 37–33–10 Recap
81 April 10, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 6–3 38–33–10 Recap
82 April 11, 1997 Tampa Bay Lightning 4–2 38–34–10 Recap
Legend:

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

Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs [3]
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Florida Panthers – Rangers win 4–1
Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap
1 April 17, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 3–0 Panthers lead 1–0 Recap
2 April 20, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 3–0 Series tied 1–1 Recap
3 April 22, 1997 Florida Panthers 4–3 OT Rangers lead 2–1 Recap
4 April 23, 1997 Florida Panthers 3–2 Rangers lead 3–1 Recap
5 April 25, 1997 @ Florida Panthers 3–2 OT Rangers win 4–1 Recap
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (1) New Jersey Devils – Rangers win 4–1
Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap
1 May 2, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 2–0 Devils lead 1–0 Recap
2 May 4, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 2–0 Series tied 1–1 Recap
3 May 6, 1997 New Jersey Devils 3–2 Rangers lead 2–1 Recap
4 May 8, 1997 New Jersey Devils 3–0 Rangers lead 3–1 Recap
5 May 11, 1997 @ New Jersey Devils 2–1 OT Rangers win 4–1 Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 4–1
Game Date Opponent Score Series Recap
1 May 16, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Flyers lead 1–0 Recap
2 May 18, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 Series tied 1–1 Recap
3 May 20, 1997 Philadelphia Flyers 6–3 Flyers lead 2–1 Recap
4 May 23, 1997 Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 Flyers lead 3–1 Recap
5 May 25, 1997 @ Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 Flyers win 4–1 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 Rangers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Rangers only.
Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
99 Wayne Gretzky C 82 25 72 97 12 28 15 10 10 20 5 2
11 Mark Messier C 71 36 48 84 12 88 15 3 9 12 2 6
2 Brian Leetch D 82 20 58 78 31 40 15 2 8 10 5 6
9 Adam Graves LW 82 33 28 61 10 66 15 2 1 3 1 12
24 Niklas Sundstrom RW 82 24 28 52 23 20 9 0 5 5 3 2
20 Luc Robitaille LW 69 24 24 48 16 48 15 4 7 11 7 4
25 Alexander Karpovtsev D 77 9 29 38 1 59 13 1 3 4 2 20
27 Alexei Kovalev RW 45 13 22 35 11 42 — — — — — —
33 Bruce Driver D 79 5 25 30 8 48 15 0 1 1 −3 2
8 [a] Patrick Flatley RW 68 10 12 22 6 26 11 0 0 0 2 14
13 Sergei Nemchinov‡ C 63 6 13 19 5 12 — — — — — —
5 Ulf Samuelsson D 73 6 11 17 3 138 15 0 2 2 1 30
28 Brian Noonan†‡ RW 44 6 9 15 −7 28 — — — — — —
18 Bill Berg LW 67 8 6 14 2 37 3 0 0 0 −1 2
16 Daniel Goneau LW 41 10 3 13 −5 10 — — — — — —
23 Jeff Beukeboom D 80 3 9 12 22 167 15 0 1 1 5 34
39 Vladimir Vorobiev RW 16 5 5 10 4 6 — — — — — —
15 Darren Langdon LW 60 3 6 9 −1 195 10 0 0 0 −1 2
32 Mike Eastwood† C 27 1 7 8 2 10 15 1 2 3 0 22
6 Doug Lidster D 48 3 4 7 10 24 15 1 5 6 −2 8
21 Russ Courtnall† RW 14 2 5 7 −3 2 15 3 4 7 1 0
26 David Oliver† RW 14 2 1 3 3 4 3 0 0 0 0 0
10 Esa Tikkanen† C 14 1 2 3 0 6 15 9 3 12 2 26
19 Christian Dube C 27 1 1 2 −4 4 3 0 0 0 −2 0
14 Chris Ferraro RW 12 1 1 2 1 6 — — — — — —
37 Ryan VandenBussche RW 11 1 0 1 −2 30 — — — — — —
29 Eric Cairns D 40 0 1 1 −7 147 3 0 0 0 0 0
22 Shane Churla RW 45 0 1 1 −10 106 15 0 0 0 −3 20
21 Jayson More‡ D 14 0 1 1 0 25 — — — — — —
38 [b] Sylvain Blouin D 6 0 0 0 −1 18 — — — — — —
28 Dallas Eakins† D 3 0 0 0 −1 6 4 0 0 0 −1 4
17 Peter Ferraro C 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
30 Glenn Healy G 23 0 0 0 4 — — — — — —
32 Sergio Momesso‡ LW 9 0 0 0 −2 11 — — — — — —
36 Jeff Nielsen RW 2 0 0 0 −1 2 — — — — — —
35 Mike Richter G 61 0 0 0 4 15 0 1 1 0
12 Ken Gernander C — — — — — — 9 0 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 Mike Richter 61 33 22 6 1945 161 2.69 .917 4 3598 15 9 6 488 33 2.11 .932 3 939
30 Glenn Healy 23 5 12 4 632 59 2.61 .907 1 1357 — — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual) 		James Norris Memorial Trophy Brian Leetch [4]
NHL First All-Star Team Brian Leetch ( Defense) [5]
NHL Second All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky ( Center) [5]
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzky [c] [7]
Brian Leetch [c]
Mark Messier
Team Ceil Saidel Memorial Award Adam Graves [8]
"Crumb Bum" Award Mike Richter [8]
Frank Boucher Trophy Mark Messier [8]
Good Guy Award Wayne Gretzky [8]
Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award Eric Cairns [8]
Players' Player Award Darren Langdon [8]
Rangers MVP Brian Leetch [8]
Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Brian Leetch [8]

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft in St. Louis, Missouri at the Kiel Center. [9]

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 22 Jeff Brown D   Canada Sarnia Sting ( OHL)
2 48 Daniel Goneau LW   Canada Granby Predateurs ( QMJHL)
3 76 Dmitri Subbotin LW   Russia CSKA Moscow (Russia)
5 131 Colin Pepperall LW   Canada Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
6 158 Ola Sandberg D   Sweden Djurgårdens IF ( SEL)
7 185 Jeff Dessner D   United States Taft School (Connecticut)
8 211 Ryan McKie D   Canada London Knights (OHL)
9 237 Ronnie Sundin D   Sweden Frölunda HC (SEL)

Notes

  1. ^ Flatley wore number 26 on February 5.
  2. ^ Blouin wore number 32 in his first five games.
  3. ^ a b Gretzky and Leetch were voted to the starting lineup. [6]

References

  • "New York Rangers 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  • "1996-97 New York Rangers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  1. ^ "1996-97 NHL Summary".
  2. ^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  3. ^ a b "1996-97 New York Rangers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "James Norris Memorial Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997". www.nhl.com. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h 2014–15 New York Rangers Media Guide. New York Rangers. 2014. pp. 349–352.
  9. ^ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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