1996–97 St. Louis Blues season
National Hockey League team season
The highlight of the 1996–97 St. Louis Blues season was, after losing Wayne Gretzky the Blues were in turmoil as an ugly public feud between Brett Hull and coach Mike Keenan developed. This was the last season until early 2009, that a huge Blue note would appear at center ice.
Offseason
On July 21, Wayne Gretzky 's short tenure with the Blues ended when he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent, rejoining longtime Oilers teammate Mark Messier .[ 1]
Regular season
The Blues were in turmoil as an ugly public feud between Brett Hull and Coach Mike Keenan developed, as the Blues got off to a slow start. On December 19 the Keenan era would come to a sudden end as he is fired as GM and Coach. Eventually he would be replaced by assistant coach Jim Roberts .
Roberts' stint as interim head coach lasted nine games, as the team would hire Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Joel Quenneville to serve as the team's head coach. The change worked with Quenneville behind the bench as the Blues recovered and made the playoffs for the 18th straight season with a 36–35–11 record. However, once again the Blues would make a quick exit in the playoffs as they are beaten by the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.[ 2]
Final standings
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.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
Playoffs
The Blues lost 4 games to 2 to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.
Schedule and results
Regular season
1996–97 regular season[ 4]
October: 5–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
1
W
October 4, 1996
4–2
Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
1–0–0
Recap
2
L
October 6, 1996
1–4
Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
1–1–0
Recap
3
W
October 9, 1996
3–1
@ Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
2–1–0
Recap
4
W
October 11, 1996
3–1
@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
3–1–0
Recap
5
L
October 12, 1996
3–5
@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
3–2–0
Recap
6
W
October 17, 1996
6–1
Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
4–2–0
Recap
7
L
October 18, 1996
1–2
@ New York Rangers (1996–97 )
4–3–0
Recap
8
L
October 20, 1996
2–3
San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
4–4–0
Recap
9
W
October 22, 1996
2–1
@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
5–4–0
Recap
10
L
October 24, 1996
4–6
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
5–5–0
Recap
11
L
October 26, 1996
4–6
Washington Capitals (1996–97 )
5–6–0
Recap
12
L
October 30, 1996
3–6
@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
5–7–0
Recap
November: 8–4–0 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–2–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
13
L
November 1, 1996
2–4
Buffalo Sabres (1996–97 )
5–8–0
Recap
14
W
November 3, 1996
6–3
Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
6–8–0
Recap
15
L
November 5, 1996
3–6
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
6–9–0
Recap
16
W
November 8, 1996
4–2
@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
7–9–0
Recap
17
W
November 9, 1996
3–2
@ Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
8–9–0
Recap
18
W
November 14, 1996
5–3
Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97 )
9–9–0
Recap
19
W
November 16, 1996
2–0
Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
10–9–0
Recap
20
W
November 17, 1996
4–2
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
11–9–0
Recap
21
L
November 19, 1996
2–4
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97 )
11–10–0
Recap
22
W
November 21, 1996
4–3 OT
Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
12–10–0
Recap
23
L
November 23, 1996
1–3
Florida Panthers (1996–97 )
12–11–0
Recap
24
W
November 27, 1996
3–2
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
13–11–0
Recap
December: 4–9–2 (home: 2–6–0; road: 2–3–2)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
25
L
December 1, 1996
3–4
San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
13–12–0
Recap
26
L
December 3, 1996
0–2
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
13–13–0
Recap
27
L
December 5, 1996
0–3
Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
13–14–0
Recap
28
W
December 6, 1996
4–3
@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
14–14–0
Recap
29
W
December 8, 1996
3–2
@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
15–14–0
Recap
30
T
December 11, 1996
5–5 OT
@ Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
15–14–1
Recap
31
L
December 13, 1996
1–4
Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
15–15–1
Recap
32
L
December 15, 1996
0–8
Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
15–16–1
Recap
33
L
December 17, 1996
3–5
@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97 )
15–17–1
Recap
34
L
December 19, 1996
0–4
Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97 )
15–18–1
Recap
35
L
December 21, 1996
0–4
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97 )
15–19–1
Recap
36
W
December 22, 1996
7–4
Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
16–19–1
Recap
37
T
December 26, 1996
4–4 OT
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
16–19–2
Recap
38
L
December 27, 1996
2–3
Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
16–20–2
Recap
39
W
December 29, 1996
4–2
Boston Bruins (1996–97 )
17–20–2
Recap
January: 8–3–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 7–1–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
40
T
January 2, 1997
2–2 OT
Montreal Canadiens (1996–97 )
17–20–3
Recap
41
T
January 3, 1997
2–2 OT
@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97 )
17–20–4
Recap
42
W
January 5, 1997
5–3
@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97 )
18–20–4
Recap
43
L
January 7, 1997
2–5
Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
18–21–4
Recap
44
W
January 9, 1997
4–3
@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
19–21–4
Recap
45
L
January 11, 1997
1–2
@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
19–22–4
Recap
46
W
January 15, 1997
4–1
@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
20–22–4
Recap
47
W
January 20, 1997
6–4
@ New York Islanders (1996–97 )
21–22–4
Recap
48
W
January 23, 1997
4–3
Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
22–22–4
Recap
49
W
January 25, 1997
8–1
@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97 )
23–22–4
Recap
50
L
January 27, 1997
1–4
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
23–23–4
Recap
51
W
January 29, 1997
4–0
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
24–23–4
Recap
52
W
January 30, 1997
5–2
@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97 )
25–23–4
Recap
February: 3–6–4 (home: 3–4–2; road: 0–2–2)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
53
L
February 1, 1997
1–4
Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
25–24–4
Recap
54
T
February 4, 1997
1–1 OT
@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
25–24–5
Recap
55
W
February 6, 1997
6–4
Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
26–24–5
Recap
56
T
February 8, 1997
3–3 OT
@ Boston Bruins (1996–97 )
26–24–6
Recap
57
L
February 10, 1997
2–4
Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
26–25–6
Recap
58
W
February 13, 1997
4–1
New York Rangers (1996–97 )
27–25–6
Recap
59
L
February 15, 1997
2–5
Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
27–26–6
Recap
60
W
February 17, 1997
4–2
Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
28–26–6
Recap
61
T
February 20, 1997
1–1 OT
Ottawa Senators (1996–97 )
28–26–7
Recap
62
T
February 22, 1997
2–2 OT
Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
28–26–8
Recap
63
L
February 23, 1997
3–5
Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
28–27–8
Recap
64
L
February 25, 1997
2–3
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97 )
28–28–8
Recap
65
L
February 27, 1997
2–3 OT
@ Florida Panthers (1996–97 )
28–29–8
Recap
March: 5–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–3–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
66
L
March 5, 1997
2–3
@ Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
28–30–8
Recap
67
L
March 9, 1997
1–4
Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
28–31–8
Recap
68
W
March 11, 1997
4–3
@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
29–31–8
Recap
69
W
March 13, 1997
4–2
@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
30–31–8
Recap
70
T
March 14, 1997
4–4 OT
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
30–31–9
Recap
71
L
March 17, 1997
2–3
@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 )
30–32–9
Recap
72
W
March 20, 1997
4–1
Hartford Whalers (1996–97 )
31–32–9
Recap
73
L
March 23, 1997
1–4
Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
31–33–9
Recap
74
L
March 25, 1997
2–3
@ Washington Capitals (1996–97 )
31–34–9
Recap
75
W
March 27, 1997
2–1
Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
32–34–9
Recap
76
W
March 30, 1997
3–2
Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97 )
33–34–9
Recap
April: 3–1–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 2–0–1)
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1997 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 4]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings: Red Wings win 4–2
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Series
Recap
1
W
April 16, 1997
2–0
@ Detroit Red Wings
Blues lead 1–0
Recap
2
L
April 18, 1997
1–2
@ Detroit Red Wings
Series tied 1–1
Recap
3
L
April 20, 1997
2–3
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings lead 2–1
Recap
4
W
April 22, 1997
4–0
Detroit Red Wings
Series tied 2–2
Recap
5
L
April 25, 1997
2–5
@ Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings lead 3–2
Recap
6
L
April 27, 1997
1–3
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings win 4–2
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 Blues only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Draft picks
St. Louis's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis , Missouri .[ 10]
See also
Notes
^ Murphy wore number 21 in his first seven games.
^ Pellerin wore number 36 in his first game and number 12 in his second game.
^ Hull was voted to the starting lineup.[ 6]
References
^ "Rangers to sign Gretzky today" . Tampa Bay Times . July 21, 1996. Retrieved August 17, 2023 .
^ St. Louis Blues (1967-Present)
^ "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings" . NHL.
^ a b "1996-97 St. Louis Blues Schedule" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Postseason All-Star Teams" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved July 27, 2023 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
^ "1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
^ "NHL Rookies of the Month" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved July 27, 2023 .
^ "1996-97 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 7, 2024 .
^ "1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . www.hockeydb.com . Retrieved July 27, 2023 .
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