1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season


The 1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 88th season. The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs despite a sub-.500 season. The Canadiens were eliminated in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals by the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 1.

Offseason

Regular season

On Wednesday, October 16, 1996, the Canadiens scored three short-handed goals in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames.
The Canadiens finished the regular season 26th in both power-play goals allowed and penalty-killing percentage.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

In the first game of the series against New Jersey, on April 17, 1997, with the Devils up by two goals late in the game, Martin Brodeur fired the puck the length of the ice and into the Canadiens' empty net to ensure a 5-2 victory. It was only the second time in NHL history that a goaltender had scored in the playoffs, and the fifth time overall.

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals vs. New Jersey Devils

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
C8227548182-6723
RW8234468058-1723
LW8123376039-14502
C50173956387503
LW70282755621633
RW63222446320202
RW6414213564402
D65102030433501
LW39101323146202
D71715221001100
RW658132197-14100
LW476152180-5202
LW73101020128-19111
RW7371320110-5103
C436915164112
D61691563-9300
D492131524-7001
D7811314329000
C2829112-3000
C91101124000
D49268424011
RW56426114-8000
D60156107-16000
D35044547000
D911223-1000
C1302221000
D60116-2000
LW1000038-2000
D800022-1000
D500040000
G1700000000
RW200000000
LW300000000
LW1300050000
G1600000000
G6100000000
G100000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASOSASVSV%
3397612224111642.90118151651.910
82116562533.870508455.896
75417462503.980438388.886
201000412.0001410.714
Team:4992823136152713.26127752504.902

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
RW54262000
LW41344010
C513410000
D311224001
LW51120000
RW51122000
LW51014010
LW51012000
RW50112000
D50116000
D501114000
D20002000
C50002000
D50006000
D500017000
D30002000
RW50000000
LW50004000
G20000000
G30000000
RW40000000
D20002000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
16821172.500108101.935
179303134.36010188.871
Team:347514203.460209189.904

Awards and records

Transactions

Roster

Draft picks

Farm teams