1997–98 San Jose Sharks season
The 1997–98 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' seventh season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). Following their second last-place finish in as many years, the Sharks unceremoniously fired first-year head coach Al Sims; he was replaced by Darryl Sutter, who had previously coached the Chicago Blackhawks. At the time of his hiring, Sutter was the first head coach in franchise history to have previously coached another NHL team.
1997–98 San Jose Sharks | |
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Division | 4th Pacific |
Conference | 8th Western |
1997–98 record | 34–38–10 |
Goals for | 210 |
Goals against | 216 |
Team information | |
General Manager | Dean Lombardi |
Coach | Darryl Sutter |
Captain | Todd Gill (Oct-Mar) Vacant (Mar-Apr) |
The Sharks' coaching switch was accompanied by a handful of player acquisitions and debuts. Of these, the addition of five-time NHL All-Star goaltender Mike Vernon proved most important. On August 18th, 1997, the Sharks acquired Vernon from the Detroit Red Wings for a pair of second-round picks; at the time of the trade, Vernon was only two months removed from backstopping the Red Wings to victory in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Additionally, the Sharks drafted highly-touted forward Patrick Marleau with the second overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Despite a lackluster rookie season, Marleau would enjoy considerable success with the Sharks over the following two decades. Lastly, 1996 first-found pick Marco Sturm was added to the roster early in the season. Sturm and Marleau, in particular, supplemented a burgeoning collection of young forwards that already included mainstays Jeff Friesen and Owen Nolan.
In Sutter's first season at the helm, the Sharks' play improved substantially. While they once again failed to post a winning record, the team managed to clinch the Western Conference's eighth (and final) playoff berth. In the first round of the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Sharks faced the top-seeded Dallas Stars. The Sharks quickly dropped their first two games in Dallas; upon returning to San Jose, however, the Sharks rallied to tie the series at two games apiece. An upset was not to be, however, as the Stars responded with a pair of one-goal victories to win the series in six games. Despite a quick exit from the playoffs, the 1997-98 season would prove to be a turning point for the franchise. After finishing with the Western Conference's worst record in four of their first six seasons of play, the Sharks would miss the postseason just twice between 1998 and 2018.
Offseason
Regular season
Captain Todd Gill is traded to the St. Louis Blues, in March.
Final standings
No. | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
3 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
4 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
5 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
6 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
7 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
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.
R | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | p – Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
2 | x – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
5 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
6 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
8 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
9 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
11 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
13 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 25 | 43 | 14 | 224 | 273 | 64 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Schedule and results
No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | L | October 1, 1997 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) | 0–1–0 |
2 | W | October 4, 1997 | 3–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) | 1–1–0 |
3 | L | October 7, 1997 | 0–1 | Ottawa Senators (1997–98) | 1–2–0 |
4 | L | October 9, 1997 | 2–3 | @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) | 1–3–0 |
5 | W | October 11, 1997 | 5–2 | Boston Bruins (1997–98) | 2–3–0 |
6 | L | October 13, 1997 | 2–3 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) | 2–4–0 |
7 | L | October 16, 1997 | 2–5 | New York Islanders (1997–98) | 2–5–0 |
8 | L | October 19, 1997 | 3–5 | @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) | 2–6–0 |
9 | L | October 22, 1997 | 2–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) | 2–7–0 |
10 | W | October 25, 1997 | 4–3 | @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) | 3–7–0 |
11 | W | October 27, 1997 | 2–1 | @ New York Islanders (1997–98) | 4–7–0 |
12 | L | October 29, 1997 | 3–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) | 4–8–0 |
13 | L | October 31, 1997 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) | 4–9–0 |
14 | L | November 1, 1997 | 0–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) | 4–10–0 |
15 | T | November 4, 1997 | 0–0 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) | 4–10–1 |
16 | L | November 7, 1997 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) | 4–11–1 |
17 | W | November 8, 1997 | 3–1 | Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) | 5–11–1 |
18 | W | November 10, 1997 | 6–4 | @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 6–11–1 |
19 | L | November 12, 1997 | 2–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) | 6–12–1 |
20 | L | November 13, 1997 | 3–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) | 6–13–1 |
21 | L | November 15, 1997 | 2–3 | Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) | 6–14–1 |
22 | W | November 18, 1997 | 4–2 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 7–14–1 |
23 | W | November 20, 1997 | 3–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) | 8–14–1 |
24 | W | November 22, 1997 | 5–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) | 9–14–1 |
25 | T | November 24, 1997 | 2–2 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) | 9–14–2 |
26 | L | November 25, 1997 | 1–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) | 9–15–2 |
27 | L | November 28, 1997 | 2–4 | New Jersey Devils (1997–98) | 9–16–2 |
28 | L | November 30, 1997 | 1–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) | 9–17–2 |
29 | L | December 1, 1997 | 2–3 OT | @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 9–18–2 |
30 | W | December 4, 1997 | 3–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) | 10–18–2 |
31 | T | December 10, 1997 | 3–3 OT | Washington Capitals (1997–98) | 10–18–3 |
32 | W | December 12, 1997 | 1–0 | @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) | 11–18–3 |
33 | W | December 14, 1997 | 2–1 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) | 12–18–3 |
34 | W | December 16, 1997 | 5–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) | 13–18–3 |
35 | T | December 18, 1997 | 0–0 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) | 13–18–4 |
36 | W | December 21, 1997 | 4–2 | @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 14–18–4 |
37 | L | December 26, 1997 | 0–4 | Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) | 14–19–4 |
38 | L | December 29, 1997 | 1–2 | @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) | 14–20–4 |
39 | T | December 30, 1997 | 2–2 OT | @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) | 14–20–5 |
40 | W | January 2, 1998 | 4–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) | 15–20–5 |
41 | L | January 3, 1998 | 0–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1997–98) | 15–21–5 |
42 | L | January 6, 1998 | 1–5 | St. Louis Blues (1997–98) | 15–22–5 |
43 | W | January 10, 1998 | 5–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) | 16–22–5 |
44 | L | January 12, 1998 | 1–3 | Dallas Stars (1997–98) | 16–23–5 |
45 | L | January 14, 1998 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) | 16–24–5 |
46 | T | January 15, 1998 | 2–2 OT | @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) | 16–24–6 |
47 | W | January 21, 1998 | 7–1 | Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 17–24–6 |
48 | W | January 23, 1998 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) | 18–24–6 |
49 | T | January 24, 1998 | 1–1 OT | Florida Panthers (1997–98) | 18–24–7 |
50 | W | January 27, 1998 | 4–2 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 19–24–7 |
51 | L | January 29, 1998 | 0–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) | 19–25–7 |
52 | W | January 31, 1998 | 5–2 | Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) | 20–25–7 |
53 | L | February 2, 1998 | 2–3 | New York Rangers (1997–98) | 20–26–7 |
54 | W | February 4, 1998 | 3–0 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) | 21–26–7 |
55 | L | February 5, 1998 | 2–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 21–27–7 |
56 | L | February 7, 1998 | 3–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) | 21–28–7 |
57 | W | February 26, 1998 | 3–1 | St. Louis Blues (1997–98) | 22–28–7 |
58 | L | February 28, 1998 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) | 22–29–7 |
59 | L | March 2, 1998 | 1–3 | Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) | 22–30–7 |
60 | W | March 5, 1998 | 5–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) | 23–30–7 |
61 | W | March 6, 1998 | 3–0 | @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 24–30–7 |
62 | W | March 9, 1998 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) | 25–30–7 |
63 | L | March 11, 1998 | 3–5 | @ New York Rangers (1997–98) | 25–31–7 |
64 | L | March 12, 1998 | 1–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) | 25–32–7 |
65 | W | March 14, 1998 | 2–1 | @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) | 26–32–7 |
66 | W | March 16, 1998 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) | 27–32–7 |
67 | L | March 18, 1998 | 1–3 | Dallas Stars (1997–98) | 27–33–7 |
68 | L | March 21, 1998 | 0–2 | Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) | 27–34–7 |
69 | L | March 22, 1998 | 1–3 | @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) | 27–35–7 |
70 | L | March 24, 1998 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) | 27–36–7 |
71 | W | March 26, 1998 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) | 28–36–7 |
72 | W | March 28, 1998 | 4–1 | @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) | 29–36–7 |
73 | L | March 30, 1998 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) | 29–37–7 |
74 | W | April 1, 1998 | 3–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) | 30–37–7 |
75 | T | April 2, 1998 | 3–3 OT | @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) | 30–37–8 |
76 | W | April 4, 1998 | 5–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) | 31–37–8 |
77 | W | April 7, 1998 | 6–0 | Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 32–37–8 |
78 | W | April 9, 1998 | 5–2 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) | 33–37–8 |
79 | T | April 11, 1998 | 1–1 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) | 33–37–9 |
80 | T | April 15, 1998 | 3–3 OT | @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 33–37–10 |
81 | L | April 16, 1998 | 1–4 | @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) | 33–38–10 |
82 | W | April 18, 1998 | 4–1 | Calgary Flames (1997–98) | 34–38–10 |
Playoffs
In a Conference Quarter-final series, the Sharks met the #1 seeded and Presidents' Trophy-winning Dallas Stars. The Sharks were eliminated by the Stars in six games.
Date | Away | Home | OT |
---|---|---|---|
April 22 | San Jose 1 | 4 Dallas | |
April 24 | San Jose 2 | 5 Dallas | |
April 26 | Dallas 1 | 4 San Jose | |
April 28 | Dallas 0 | 1 San Jose | OT |
April 30 | San Jose 2 | 3 Dallas | |
May 2 | Dallas 3 | 2 San Jose | OT |
Dallas wins series 4–2. |
Player statistics
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Note: Pos = Position; 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;
Awards and records
Transactions
Roster
1997–1998 San Jose Sharks Roster | ||||||
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Goaltenders
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Defensemen
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Wingers
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Centers
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Draft picks
Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
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1 | 2 | Patrick Marleau | Center | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
1 | 23 | Scott Hannan | Defence | Kelowna Rockets | |
4 | 82 | Adam Colagiacomo | Right Wing | Oshawa Generals | |
5 | 107 | Adam Spylo | Right Wing | Erie Otters | |
7 | 163 | Joe Dusbabek | Right Wing | Notre Dame | |
8 | 192 | Cam Severson | Left Wing | Prince Albert Raiders | |
9 | 219 | Mark Smith | Center | Lethbridge Hurricanes | |
Farm teams
See also
References
- "1997-1998 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
- "1997–98 San Jose Sharks Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- "1997-98 San Jose Sharks Schedule and Results - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
- "1997-98 San Jose Sharks Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- "1997-98 San Jose Sharks Roster and Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.