1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes season
NHL hockey team season
The 1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes season was the team's first of 28 seasons in Arizona in the National Hockey League (NHL) since relocating from Winnipeg the season prior. The franchise's 25th season since its founding in 1972, and 18th season in the National Hockey League since 1979.
Off-season
The Winnipeg Jets team was sold to Phoenix businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke, and in 1996 , the club moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes .
In the summer that the move took place, the franchise saw the exit of Jets stars like Teemu Selanne and Alexei Zhamnov , while the team added established superstar Jeremy Roenick from the Chicago Blackhawks .
Regular season
Phoenix's first logo (1996–2003).
Roenick teamed up with power wingers Keith Tkachuk and Rick Tocchet to form a dynamic 1–2–3 offensive punch that led the Coyotes through their first years in Arizona. Also impressive were young players like Shane Doan (who became the last remaining active original Jet in the NHL), Oleg Tverdovsky and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin , whom the fans nicknamed the "Bulin Wall."
Forward Keith Tkachuk was renamed captain, replacing Kris King .
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
In their first year, the Coyotes managed to make the playoffs. However, they lost to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4 games to 3 in round one.
Schedule and results
Regular season
1996–97 regular season[ 2]
October: 4–6–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 2–3–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
1
L
October 5, 1996
0–1
@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97 )
0–1–0
Recap
2
W
October 7, 1996
5–2
@ Boston Bruins (1996–97 )
1–1–0
Recap
3
W
October 10, 1996
4–1
San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
2–1–0
Recap
4
W
October 12, 1996
4–2
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
3–1–0
Recap
5
L
October 14, 1996
3–6
Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
3–2–0
Recap
6
L
October 18, 1996
1–3
Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97 )
3–3–0
Recap
7
T
October 20, 1996
1–1 OT
Florida Panthers (1996–97 )
3–3–1
Recap
8
L
October 22, 1996
1–2
St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
3–4–1
Recap
9
L
October 26, 1996
2–5
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
3–5–1
Recap
10
W
October 28, 1996
5–4 OT
@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97 )
4–5–1
Recap
11
L
October 30, 1996
1–4
@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
4–6–1
Recap
November: 4–6–3 (home: 3–4–3; road: 1–2–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
12
W
November 1, 1996
3–2 OT
@ Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
5–6–1
Recap
13
T
November 3, 1996
4–4 OT
Montreal Canadiens (1996–97 )
5–6–2
Recap
14
L
November 6, 1996
2–3
Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
5–7–2
Recap
15
L
November 8, 1996
1–4
Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
5–8–2
Recap
16
L
November 14, 1996
1–2
Hartford Whalers (1996–97 )
5–9–2
Recap
17
W
November 16, 1996
3–2
Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
6–9–2
Recap
18
T
November 18, 1996
2–2 OT
Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
6–9–3
Recap
19
L
November 20, 1996
0–6
@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
6–10–3
Recap
20
L
November 21, 1996
3–4 OT
@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
6–11–3
Recap
21
T
November 23, 1996
3–3 OT
New York Islanders (1996–97 )
6–11–4
Recap
22
L
November 26, 1996
1–3
New York Rangers (1996–97 )
6–12–4
Recap
23
W
November 28, 1996
4–3 OT
New Jersey Devils (1996–97 )
7–12–4
Recap
24
W
November 30, 1996
3–1
Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
8–12–4
Recap
December: 9–5–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 6–3–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
25
L
December 3, 1996
1–4
Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
8–13–4
Recap
26
W
December 5, 1996
3–0
@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
9–13–4
Recap
27
W
December 7, 1996
4–3 OT
@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97 )
10–13–4
Recap
28
L
December 9, 1996
2–5
@ New York Rangers (1996–97 )
10–14–4
Recap
29
L
December 10, 1996
2–8
@ New York Islanders (1996–97 )
10–15–4
Recap
30
W
December 13, 1996
4–2
@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97 )
11–15–4
Recap
31
W
December 14, 1996
5–3
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
12–15–4
Recap
32
W
December 17, 1996
4–3
Washington Capitals (1996–97 )
13–15–4
Recap
33
W
December 20, 1996
5–2
Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
14–15–4
Recap
34
L
December 22, 1996
2–7
Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
14–16–4
Recap
35
W
December 23, 1996
2–1
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
15–16–4
Recap
36
L
December 26, 1996
2–5
@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
15–17–4
Recap
37
W
December 27, 1996
7–4
Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
16–17–4
Recap
38
W
December 30, 1996
5–3
@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
17–17–4
Recap
January: 5–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
39
W
January 2, 1997
4–2
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
18–17–4
Recap
40
L
January 3, 1997
0–3
@ Washington Capitals (1996–97 )
18–18–4
Recap
41
L
January 5, 1997
1–5
@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97 )
18–19–4
Recap
42
L
January 9, 1997
4–5 OT
Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
18–20–4
Recap
43
W
January 10, 1997
4–3
@ Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
19–20–4
Recap
44
L
January 12, 1997
2–3 OT
Buffalo Sabres (1996–97 )
19–21–4
Recap
45
L
January 13, 1997
4–5
@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
19–22–4
Recap
46
L
January 15, 1997
1–4
St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
19–23–4
Recap
47
W
January 23, 1997
6–3
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
20–23–4
Recap
48
W
January 25, 1997
4–0
Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
21–23–4
Recap
49
L
January 28, 1997
1–4
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97 )
21–24–4
Recap
50
W
January 29, 1997
3–0
@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
22–24–4
Recap
February: 6–7–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–3–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
51
L
February 1, 1997
1–4
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97 )
22–25–4
Recap
52
L
February 4, 1997
0–2
Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97 )
22–26–4
Recap
53
W
February 6, 1997
3–2
Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
23–26–4
Recap
54
L
February 8, 1997
4–5 OT
Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
23–27–4
Recap
55
W
February 10, 1997
4–2
@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
24–27–4
Recap
56
W
February 12, 1997
5–0
@ Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
25–27–4
Recap
57
L
February 13, 1997
2–3
Colorado Avalanche (1996–97 )
25–28–4
Recap
58
W
February 15, 1997
5–4 OT
Boston Bruins (1996–97 )
26–28–4
Recap
59
W
February 18, 1997
6–1
Los Angeles Kings (1996–97 )
27–28–4
Recap
60
L
February 22, 1997
2–4
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97 )
27–29–4
Recap
61
L
February 24, 1997
3–5
Detroit Red Wings (1996–97 )
27–30–4
Recap
62
W
February 26, 1997
5–2
@ Calgary Flames (1996–97 )
28–30–4
Recap
63
L
February 27, 1997
2–6
@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97 )
28–31–4
Recap
March: 7–4–2 (home: 1–3–2; road: 6–1–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
64
L
March 2, 1997
0–4
Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
28–32–4
Recap
65
W
March 5, 1997
3–0
@ Florida Panthers (1996–97 )
29–32–4
Recap
66
W
March 6, 1997
5–0
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97 )
30–32–4
Recap
67
W
March 8, 1997
2–0
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
31–32–4
Recap
68
L
March 10, 1997
1–4
Ottawa Senators (1996–97 )
31–33–4
Recap
69
T
March 12, 1997
5–5 OT
Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97 )
31–33–5
Recap
70
W
March 14, 1997
4–1
@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97 )
32–33–5
Recap
71
W
March 17, 1997
3–2
St. Louis Blues (1996–97 )
33–33–5
Recap
72
L
March 19, 1997
2–7
@ Dallas Stars (1996–97 )
33–34–5
Recap
73
W
March 20, 1997
4–2
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97 )
34–34–5
Recap
74
W
March 22, 1997
3–0
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
35–34–5
Recap
75
T
March 27, 1997
1–1 OT
Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97 )
35–34–6
Recap
76
L
March 29, 1997
1–3
Edmonton Oilers (1996–97 )
35–35–6
Recap
April: 3–2–1 (home: 1–0–1; road: 2–2–0)
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1997 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 2]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim – Mighty Ducks win 4–3
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Series
Recap
1
L
April 16, 1997
2–4
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty Ducks lead 1–0
Recap
2
L
April 18, 1997
2–4
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty Ducks lead 2–0
Recap
3
W
April 20, 1997
4–1
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty Ducks lead 2–1
Recap
4
W
April 22, 1997
2–0
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Series tied 2–2
Recap
5
W
April 24, 1997
5–2
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Coyotes lead 3–2
Recap
6
L
April 27, 1997
2–3 OT
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Series tied 3–3
Recap
7
L
April 29, 1997
0–3
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Mighty Ducks win 4–3
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 Coyotes only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.
Goaltending
† = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only.
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
Trades
Waivers
Free agents
Joining the Coyotes:
Leaving the Coyotes:
Draft picks
Phoenix's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis , Missouri .[ 7]
Notes
^ Baron wore number 2 in his first three games.
^ a b Jablonski wore number 46 in his first game.
^ Tkachuk was an injury replacement for Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars .[ 3]
References
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Culture and lore
Northeast Atlantic Central Pacific See also