# 1996–97 Florida Panthers season

The 1996–97 Florida Panthers season was the Panthers' fourth season.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
| 2 | 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
| 3 | 4 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
| 4 | 5 | New York Rangers | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
| 5 | 9 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
| 6 | 11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
| 7 | 12 | New York Islanders | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
| 7 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
| 8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
| 9 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
| 11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
| 13 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Playoffs

Following their remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 1996 playoffs, the Panthers qualified for the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. As the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they played the fifth seeded New York Rangers. However, the Panthers were eliminated in five games.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1996–97 regular season :
October: 8–0–4 (home: 4–0–1; road: 4–0–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 5, 19963–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)1–0–0Recap
2WOctober 6, 19965–2@ New York Rangers (1996–97)2–0–0Recap
3TOctober 8, 19961–1 OTNew York Rangers (1996–97)2–0–1Recap
4WOctober 12, 19966–0Hartford Whalers (1996–97)3–0–1Recap
5TOctober 16, 19963–3 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)3–0–2Recap
6WOctober 17, 19962–1@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)4–0–2Recap
7TOctober 20, 19961–1 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)4–0–3Recap
8WOctober 23, 19965–2Ottawa Senators (1996–97)5–0–3Recap
9WOctober 25, 19966–4New York Rangers (1996–97)6–0–3Recap
10WOctober 27, 19963–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)7–0–3Recap
11TOctober 29, 19961–1 OT@ New York Rangers (1996–97)7–0–4Recap
12WOctober 30, 19963–2Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)8–0–4Recap :
November: 7–3–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13LNovember 2, 19962–3Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)8–1–4Recap
14WNovember 7, 19964–2Washington Capitals (1996–97)9–1–4Recap
15WNovember 9, 19964–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)10–1–4Recap
16LNovember 11, 19962–3 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)10–2–4Recap
17WNovember 13, 19965–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)11–2–4Recap
18TNovember 15, 19963–3 OTNew York Islanders (1996–97)11–2–5Recap
19LNovember 18, 19962–4Washington Capitals (1996–97)11–3–5Recap
20WNovember 20, 19964–1Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)12–3–5Recap
21WNovember 22, 19962–1 OT@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)13–3–5Recap
22WNovember 23, 19963–1@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)14–3–5Recap
23WNovember 26, 19964–3Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)15–3–5Recap
24TNovember 29, 19961–1 OTHartford Whalers (1996–97)15–3–6Recap :
December: 5–6–3 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–5–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25WDecember 1, 19964–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)16–3–6Recap
26LDecember 3, 19960–2@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)16–4–6Recap
27WDecember 5, 19964–2New York Islanders (1996–97)17–4–6Recap
28TDecember 8, 19961–1 OTDallas Stars (1996–97)17–4–7Recap
29LDecember 10, 19964–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)17–5–7Recap
30LDecember 11, 19962–5@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)17–6–7Recap
31WDecember 15, 19966–3Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)18–6–7Recap
32LDecember 19, 19962–5@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)18–7–7Recap
33WDecember 20, 19963–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)19–7–7Recap
34LDecember 22, 19963–7@ New York Rangers (1996–97)19–8–7Recap
35WDecember 23, 19964–3 OT@ New York Islanders (1996–97)20–8–7Recap
36TDecember 26, 19963–3 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)20–8–8Recap
37TDecember 28, 19961–1 OT@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)20–8–9Recap
38LDecember 29, 19961–2Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)20–9–9Recap :
January: 6–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39LJanuary 1, 19970–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)20–10–9Recap
40WJanuary 4, 19975–0@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)21–10–9Recap
41LJanuary 8, 19972–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)21–11–9Recap
42WJanuary 11, 19974–1@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)22–11–9Recap
43TJanuary 14, 19974–4 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)22–11–10Recap
44LJanuary 15, 19970–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)22–12–10Recap
45LJanuary 20, 19972–4Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)22–13–10Recap
46LJanuary 22, 19971–2 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)22–14–10Recap
47WJanuary 23, 19974–1@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)23–14–10Recap
48WJanuary 25, 19973–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)24–14–10Recap
49WJanuary 28, 19975–1Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)25–14–10Recap
50WJanuary 30, 19973–1Boston Bruins (1996–97)26–14–10Recap :
February: 3–5–5 (home: 3–3–2; road: 0–2–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51LFebruary 1, 19971–3Washington Capitals (1996–97)26–15–10Recap
52TFebruary 3, 19972–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)26–15–11Recap
53TFebruary 6, 19971–1 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)26–15–12Recap
54TFebruary 7, 19972–2 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)26–15–13Recap
55WFebruary 9, 19974–3New York Rangers (1996–97)27–15–13Recap
56WFebruary 12, 19975–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)28–15–13Recap
57LFebruary 15, 19970–1 OT@ New York Islanders (1996–97)28–16–13Recap
58LFebruary 16, 19972–4Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)28–17–13Recap
59LFebruary 18, 19972–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)28–18–13Recap
60TFebruary 20, 19972–2 OTNew Jersey Devils (1996–97)28–18–14Recap
61LFebruary 22, 19973–4 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1996–97)28–19–14Recap
62TFebruary 25, 19972–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (1996–97)28–19–15Recap
63WFebruary 27, 19973–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1996–97)29–19–15Recap :
March: 4–7–3 (home: 3–4–2; road: 1–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64LMarch 1, 19970–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)29–20–15Recap
65LMarch 5, 19970–3Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)29–21–15Recap
66LMarch 7, 19971–3Calgary Flames (1996–97)29–22–15Recap
67LMarch 9, 19971–3Boston Bruins (1996–97)29–23–15Recap
68WMarch 11, 19973–2New York Islanders (1996–97)30–23–15Recap
69WMarch 13, 19975–4Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)31–23–15Recap
70TMarch 15, 19973–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)31–23–16Recap
71WMarch 17, 19974–1@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)32–23–16Recap
72LMarch 19, 19974–7@ New York Islanders (1996–97)32–24–16Recap
73TMarch 20, 19972–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)32–24–17Recap
74WMarch 22, 19973–2Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)33–24–17Recap
75LMarch 27, 19972–3Ottawa Senators (1996–97)33–25–17Recap
76TMarch 29, 19971–1 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)33–25–18Recap
77LMarch 31, 19973–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)33–26–18Recap :
April: 2–2–1 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78LApril 2, 19971–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)33–27–18Recap
79LApril 5, 19972–4@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)33–28–18Recap
80TApril 6, 19973–3 OT@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)33–28–19Recap
81WApril 9, 19974–2New Jersey Devils (1996–97)34–28–19Recap
82WApril 11, 19974–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)35–28–19Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) New York Rangers – Rangers win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19973–0New York RangersPanthers lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 20, 19970–3New York RangersSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 22, 19973–4 OT@ New York RangersRangers lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 23, 19972–3@ New York RangersRangers lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 25, 19972–3 OTNew York RangersRangers win 4–1Recap :
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 Panthers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 26 | Ray Sheppard | RW | 68 | 29 | 31 | 60 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −4 | 0 |
| 27 | Scott Mellanby | RW | 82 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 7 | 170 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 4 |
| 24 | Robert Svehla | D | 82 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 2 | 86 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −4 | 4 |
| 19 | Radek Dvorak | RW | 78 | 18 | 21 | 39 | −2 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Rob Niedermayer | C | 60 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 4 | 54 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −1 | 6 |
| 29 | Johan Garpenlov | LW | 53 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 10 | 47 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Bill Lindsay | RW | 81 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 1 | 120 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Dave Lowry | LW | 77 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 2 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 4 | Per Gustafsson | D | 58 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 11 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Martin Straka | C | 55 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 21 | Tom Fitzgerald | RW | 71 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 7 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 5 | Gord Murphy | D | 80 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 3 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 55 | Ed Jovanovski | D | 61 | 7 | 16 | 23 | −1 | 172 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 4 |
| 20 | Brian Skrudland | C | 51 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Jody Hull | RW | 67 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 18 | Mike Hough | LW | 69 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 12 | 48 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 2 |
| 15 | David Nemirovsky | RW | 39 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 0 |
| 2 | Terry Carkner | D | 70 | 0 | 14 | 14 | −4 | 96 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 6 |
| 7 | Rhett Warrener | D | 62 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 88 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Paul Laus | D | 77 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 313 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 4 |
| 14 | Stu Barnes‡ | C | 19 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Steve Washburn | C | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Chris Wells† | C | 47 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 9 | Kirk Muller† | LW | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −3 | 4 |
| 17 | Jason Podollan‡ | RW | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | John Vanbiesbrouck | G | 57 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 9 | Brad Smyth‡ | RW | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Mark Fitzpatrick | G | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Craig Ferguson | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Craig Fisher† | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Craig Martin | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Geoff Smith | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Jason Woolley‡ | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 34 | John Vanbiesbrouck | 57 | 27 | 19 | 10 | 1582 | 128 | 2.29 | .919 | 2 | 3347 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 184 | 13 | 2.38 | .929 | 1 | 328 |
| 30 | Mark Fitzpatrick | 30 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 771 | 66 | 2.36 | .914 | 0 | 1680 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Doug MacLean (coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Robert Svehla |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | John Vanbiesbrouck |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Per Gustafsson | October 12, 1996 |
| First game | Jason Podollan | November 29, 1996 |
| 25th shutout | John Vanbiesbrouck | January 4, 1997 |

## Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 20 | Marcus Nilson | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |
| 3 | 60 | Chris Allen | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 3 | 65 | Oleg Kvasha | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 4 | 82 | Joey Tetarenko | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 5 | 129 | Andrew Long | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 6 | 156 | Gaetan Poirier | Canada | Merrimack College (Hockey East) |
| 7 | 183 | Alexandre Couture | Canada | Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 209 | Denis Khlopotnov | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 9 | 235 | Russell Smith | Canada | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |