1997–98 NHL season
| 1997–98 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 1, 1997 – June 16, 1998 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 26 |
| Regular season | |
| Presidents' Trophy | Dallas Stars |
| Season MVP | Dominik Hasek (Buffalo) |
| Top scorer | Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Washington Capitals |
| Eastern runners-up | Buffalo Sabres |
| Western champions | Detroit Red Wings |
| Western runners-up | Dallas Stars |
| Playoffs Playoffs MVP | Steve Yzerman (Detroit) |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Detroit Red Wings |
| Runners-up | Washington Capitals |
The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Washington Capitals in four games.
This was the first season for the Carolina Hurricanes, who were previously known as the Hartford Whalers. The Hurricanes played their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, a temporary home while awaiting the construction of their permanent home arena in Raleigh. They would remain in the Northeast Division. It was the last time for 14 years an NHL team would move.
This was the first season for Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who until the 2012–13 season was the longest-tenured NHL coach.
The controversial "FoxTrax" puck system was last used this season as well. In August 1998, the NHL signed a five-year, $600 million rights agreement with ABC Sports/ESPN. FOX elected not to use the system in the subsequent "lame duck" season.
This was the last season the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the Western Conference.
This was the last season of the four-division quasi-geographic alignment inherited from the traditional Adams/Patrick/Norris/Smythe set. The league would change the following season to a six-division, more purely geographic alignment.
For the first time since 1968–69 season, the Chicago Blackhawks missed the playoffs.
The all-time record for most shutouts in a season, set at 127 just a year earlier, was broken again as 160 shutouts were recorded, 13 of which were earned by Dominik Hasek, who set a League record with 11 teams shut-out. He zeroed the New York Rangers three times, and Los Angeles, Anaheim, Tampa Bay, Boston, Calgary, Washington, Montreal, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Edmonton once each. Only two teams, the St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings, averaged more than three goals scored per game. In addition, only one player, Jaromir Jagr, reached the 100-point plateau during the regular season.
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