# 1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season

The 1997–98 Colorado Avalanche season was the Avalanche's third season.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 231 | 205 | 95 |
| 2 | 5 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 227 | 225 | 87 |
| 3 | 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 215 | 224 | 80 |
| 4 | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 210 | 216 | 78 |
| 5 | 11 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 217 | 252 | 67 |
| 6 | 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 26 | 43 | 13 | 205 | 261 | 65 |
| 7 | 13 | 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.
Western Conference :
| 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
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 7–2–5 (home: 4–0–3; road: 3–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 1, 19972–2 OTDallas Stars (1997–98)0–0–1Recap
2WOctober 3, 19974–1@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)1–0–1Recap
3WOctober 5, 19973–0@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)2–0–1Recap
4WOctober 7, 19973–2Boston Bruins (1997–98)3–0–1Recap
5WOctober 9, 19973–2San Jose Sharks (1997–98)4–0–1Recap
6TOctober 11, 19973–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1997–98)4–0–2Recap
7WOctober 15, 19976–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)5–0–2Recap
8LOctober 17, 19975–6 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)5–1–2Recap
9TOctober 19, 19974–4 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)5–1–3Recap
10WOctober 22, 19974–3Washington Capitals (1997–98)6–1–3Recap
11TOctober 24, 19973–3 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1997–98)6–1–4Recap
12LOctober 25, 19971–3@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)6–2–4Recap
13WOctober 28, 19973–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)7–2–4Recap
14TOctober 30, 19972–2 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)7–2–5Recap :
November: 6–4–3 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
15TNovember 1, 19973–3 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)7–2–6Recap
16LNovember 5, 19972–4New York Rangers (1997–98)7–3–6Recap
17WNovember 8, 19974–1St. Louis Blues (1997–98)8–3–6Recap
18WNovember 11, 19972–0@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)9–3–6Recap
19WNovember 13, 19972–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)10–3–6Recap
20LNovember 14, 19971–4@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)10–4–6Recap
21LNovember 16, 19971–4@ New York Rangers (1997–98)10–5–6Recap
22TNovember 18, 19976–6 OT@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)10–5–7Recap
23WNovember 21, 19973–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)11–5–7Recap
24LNovember 23, 19971–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)11–6–7Recap
25TNovember 26, 19973–3 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)11–6–8Recap
26WNovember 28, 19973–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)12–6–8Recap
27WNovember 29, 19973–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)13–6–8Recap :
December: 8–2–4 (home: 5–0–3; road: 3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28WDecember 2, 19974–2Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)14–6–8Recap
29WDecember 4, 19972–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)15–6–8Recap
30WDecember 6, 19976–4Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)16–6–8Recap
31LDecember 8, 19972–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)16–7–8Recap
32TDecember 10, 19972–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)16–7–9Recap
33LDecember 12, 19971–3@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)16–8–9Recap
34WDecember 13, 19975–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)17–8–9Recap
35WDecember 15, 19973–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)18–8–9Recap
36TDecember 17, 19972–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (1997–98)18–8–10Recap
37TDecember 19, 19973–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)18–8–11Recap
38WDecember 23, 19975–1Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)19–8–11Recap
39WDecember 27, 19975–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)20–8–11Recap
40TDecember 29, 19971–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)20–8–12Recap
41WDecember 31, 19973–1New York Islanders (1997–98)21–8–12Recap :
January: 5–5–4 (home: 3–3–3; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
42TJanuary 2, 19982–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)21–8–13Recap
43WJanuary 3, 19985–4 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)22–8–13Recap
44LJanuary 6, 19981–3Calgary Flames (1997–98)22–9–13Recap
45TJanuary 8, 19984–4 OTVancouver Canucks (1997–98)22–9–14Recap
46TJanuary 10, 19983–3 OTOttawa Senators (1997–98)22–9–15Recap
47WJanuary 12, 19983–1Florida Panthers (1997–98)23–9–15Recap
48WJanuary 14, 19982–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)24–9–15Recap
49TJanuary 15, 19982–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (1997–98)24–9–16Recap
50LJanuary 21, 19982–3@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)24–10–16Recap
51LJanuary 22, 19983–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)24–11–16Recap
52LJanuary 24, 19982–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)24–12–16Recap
53WJanuary 26, 19982–1 OTEdmonton Oilers (1997–98)25–12–16Recap
54WJanuary 28, 19986–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)26–12–16Recap
55LJanuary 31, 19982–5@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)26–13–16Recap :
February: 5–1–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 2–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
56WFebruary 2, 19982–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)27–13–16Recap
57WFebruary 5, 19984–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)28–13–16Recap
58WFebruary 7, 19983–2Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)29–13–16Recap
59WFebruary 25, 19984–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)30–13–16Recap
60WFebruary 26, 19983–0Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)31–13–16Recap
61LFebruary 28, 19980–4Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)31–14–16Recap :
March: 6–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 4–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62LMarch 2, 19984–5 OTEdmonton Oilers (1997–98)31–15–16Recap
63WMarch 4, 19985–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)32–15–16Recap
64LMarch 5, 19982–4@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)32–16–16Recap
65WMarch 7, 19984–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)33–16–16Recap
66LMarch 9, 19981–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)33–17–16Recap
67WMarch 11, 19983–2St. Louis Blues (1997–98)34–17–16Recap
68LMarch 14, 19982–5@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)34–18–16Recap
69LMarch 15, 19983–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)34–19–16Recap
70WMarch 19, 19984–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)35–19–16Recap
71WMarch 21, 19982–0@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)36–19–16Recap
72LMarch 26, 19980–2New Jersey Devils (1997–98)36–20–16Recap
73WMarch 28, 19985–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)37–20–16Recap
74LMarch 30, 19981–4@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)37–21–16Recap :
April: 2–5–1 (home: 2–1–0; road: 0–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
75LApril 1, 19980–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)37–22–16Recap
76LApril 2, 19981–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)37–23–16Recap
77LApril 4, 19981–4@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)37–24–16Recap
78LApril 6, 19981–3Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)37–25–16Recap
79LApril 11, 19983–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)37–26–16Recap
80TApril 13, 19982–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)37–26–17Recap
81WApril 16, 19984–1San Jose Sharks (1997–98)38–26–17Recap
82WApril 18, 19984–3Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)39–26–17Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (7) Edmonton Oilers – Oilers win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 22, 19982–3Edmonton OilersOilers lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 24, 19985–2Edmonton OilersSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 26, 19985–4 OT@ Edmonton OilersAvalanche lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 28, 19983–1@ Edmonton OilersAvalanche lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 30, 19981–3Edmonton OilersAvalanche lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 2, 19980–2@ Edmonton OilersSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LMay 4, 19980–4Edmonton OilersOilers win 4–3Recap :
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 Avalanche only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche 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 |
| 21 | Peter Forsberg | C | 72 | 25 | 66 | 91 | 6 | 94 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 12 |
| 13 | Valeri Kamensky | LW | 75 | 26 | 40 | 66 | −2 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 |
| 19 | Joe Sakic | C | 64 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 0 | 50 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 22 | Claude Lemieux | RW | 78 | 26 | 27 | 53 | −7 | 115 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 8 | Sandis Ozolinsh | D | 66 | 13 | 38 | 51 | −12 | 65 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −3 | 14 |
| 18 | Adam Deadmarsh | RW | 73 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 0 | 125 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 4 |
| 28 | Eric Lacroix | LW | 82 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 0 | 84 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 4 | Uwe Krupp | D | 78 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 21 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 20 | Rene Corbet | LW | 68 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 8 | 133 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 26 | Stephane Yelle | C | 81 | 7 | 15 | 22 | −10 | 48 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 12 |
| 17 | Jari Kurri | RW | 70 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 52 | Adam Foote | D | 77 | 3 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 124 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 23 |
| 29 | Eric Messier | LW | 62 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Jon Klemm | D | 67 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −3 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Alexei Gusarov | D | 72 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 42 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Jeff Odgers† | RW | 68 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 213 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 25 |
| 12 | Shean Donovan† | RW | 47 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Keith Jones | RW | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −4 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 13 |
| 2 | Sylvain Lefebvre | D | 81 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 10 | Josef Marha‡ | C | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Aaron Miller | D | 55 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Mike Ricci‡ | C | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Tom Fitzgerald† | RW | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 20 |
| 27 | Francois Leroux | D | 50 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −3 | 140 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Patrick Roy | G | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 39 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 6 | Wade Belak | D | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Yves Sarault | LW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Pascal Trepanier | D | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Craig Billington | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 40 | Brad Larsen | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Christian Matte | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Warren Rychel† | LW | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 24 |

### 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 |
| 33 | Patrick Roy | 65 | 31 | 19 | 13 | 1825 | 153 | 2.39 | .916 | 4 | 3835 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 191 | 18 | 2.51 | .906 | 0 | 430 |
| 1 | Craig Billington | 23 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 588 | 45 | 2.32 | .923 | 1 | 1162 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | | 0 | 1 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star Team | Peter Forsberg (Center) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Peter Forsberg |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Valeri Kamensky |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Jari Kurri |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Sandis Ozolinsh |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Patrick Roy |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Joe Sakic |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Eric Messier (October) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| First game | Pascal Trepanier | October 1, 1997 | |
| First game | Brad Larsen | March 21, 1998 | |

## Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 26 | Kevin Grimes | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 2 | 53 | Graham Belak | Canada | Edmonton Ice (WHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Rick Berry | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 3 | 78 | Ville Nieminen | Finland | Tappara (Finland) |
| 4 | 87 | Brad Larsen | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 5 | 133 | Aaron Miskovich | United States | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) |
| 6 | 161 | David Aebischer | Switzerland | HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland) |
| 8 | 217 | Doug Schmidt | United States | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) |
| 9 | 243 | Kyle Kidney | United States | Salisbury School (USHS-CT) |
| 9 | 245 | Steve Lafleur | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |