# 1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks season

The 1997–98 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 72nd season of operation of the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League. The Blackhawks did not qualify for the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which snapped their 28 year playoff streak.

## Regular season

The Blackhawks were shut out a league-high 11 times, tied with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the 10 shutouts that Blackhawks goaltenders recorded, a total of 21 of Chicago's 82 regular-season games ended in a shutout. The Blackhawks also tied the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most short-handed goals allowed, with 16. Also, the Blackhawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1969.

### Final standings

Central Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 49 | 22 | 11 | 242 | 167 | 109 |
| 2 | 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 250 | 196 | 103 |
| 3 | 4 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 256 | 204 | 98 |
| 4 | 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 224 | 227 | 82 |
| 5 | 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 192 | 199 | 73 |
| 6 | 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 194 | 237 | 69 |
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

1997–98 regular season :
October: 4–10–0 (home: 3–5–0; road: 1–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 1, 19972–6@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 4, 19972–3@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)0–2–0Recap
3LOctober 9, 19971–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)0–3–0Recap
4LOctober 10, 19970–7@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)0–4–0Recap
5LOctober 13, 19971–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)0–5–0Recap
6LOctober 15, 19970–2Washington Capitals (1997–98)0–6–0Recap
7LOctober 17, 19970–2St. Louis Blues (1997–98)0–7–0Recap
8WOctober 19, 19975–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)1–7–0Recap
9WOctober 22, 19971–0@ New York Rangers (1997–98)2–7–0Recap
10LOctober 24, 19970–2Dallas Stars (1997–98)2–8–0Recap
11LOctober 26, 19972–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)2–9–0Recap
12LOctober 27, 19972–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)2–10–0Recap
13WOctober 29, 19973–0Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)3–10–0Recap
14WOctober 31, 19975–3San Jose Sharks (1997–98)4–10–0Recap :
November: 6–3–4 (home: 2–1–2; road: 4–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
15WNovember 2, 19973–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)5–10–0Recap
16WNovember 6, 19972–1St. Louis Blues (1997–98)6–10–0Recap
17WNovember 8, 19974–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)7–10–0Recap
18TNovember 10, 19971–1 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)7–10–1Recap
19LNovember 11, 19972–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)7–11–1Recap
20LNovember 13, 19971–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)7–12–1Recap
21TNovember 16, 19973–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (1997–98)7–12–2Recap
22WNovember 19, 19974–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)8–12–2Recap
23LNovember 20, 19973–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)8–13–2Recap
24WNovember 22, 19975–4 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)9–13–2Recap
25TNovember 25, 19972–2 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)9–13–3Recap
26TNovember 27, 19972–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)9–13–4Recap
27WNovember 29, 19973–2@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)10–13–4Recap :
December: 4–5–3 (home: 1–4–2; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28LDecember 4, 19971–2Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)10–14–4Recap
29TDecember 7, 19973–3 OTEdmonton Oilers (1997–98)10–14–5Recap
30TDecember 10, 19973–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1997–98)10–14–6Recap
31LDecember 12, 19972–3Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)10–15–6Recap
32LDecember 14, 19971–2San Jose Sharks (1997–98)10–16–6Recap
33LDecember 16, 19973–4 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)10–17–6Recap
34TDecember 17, 19970–0 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)10–17–7Recap
35WDecember 20, 19975–0@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)11–17–7Recap
36LDecember 22, 19970–1Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)11–18–7Recap
37WDecember 26, 19974–1@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)12–18–7Recap
38WDecember 28, 19972–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)13–18–7Recap
39WDecember 30, 19976–2@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)14–18–7Recap :
January: 7–4–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 3–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40TJanuary 1, 19983–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)14–18–8Recap
41WJanuary 4, 19983–1Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)15–18–8Recap
42TJanuary 5, 19981–1 OTCalgary Flames (1997–98)15–18–9Recap
43LJanuary 9, 19982–4Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)15–19–9Recap
44WJanuary 10, 19984–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)16–19–9Recap
45WJanuary 12, 19983–2Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)17–19–9Recap
46WJanuary 14, 19984–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)18–19–9Recap
47LJanuary 15, 19982–3@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)18–20–9Recap
48WJanuary 20, 19985–2New York Islanders (1997–98)19–20–9Recap
49LJanuary 22, 19980–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)19–21–9Recap
50WJanuary 24, 19985–4St. Louis Blues (1997–98)20–21–9Recap
51WJanuary 29, 19983–0@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)21–21–9Recap
52LJanuary 31, 19980–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)21–22–9Recap :
February: 2–4–0 (home: 0–1–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53LFebruary 1, 19983–4 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)21–23–9Recap
54WFebruary 3, 19984–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)22–23–9Recap
55LFebruary 5, 19982–4@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)22–24–9Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19981–3@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)22–25–9Recap
57LFebruary 26, 19984–7Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)22–26–9Recap
58WFebruary 28, 19984–0@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)23–26–9Recap :
March: 6–7–3 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–4–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59TMarch 1, 19982–2 OTDallas Stars (1997–98)23–26–10Recap
60LMarch 3, 19983–5@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)23–27–10Recap
61TMarch 5, 19982–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)23–27–11Recap
62WMarch 7, 19982–1@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)24–27–11Recap
63LMarch 9, 19983–4 OTEdmonton Oilers (1997–98)24–28–11Recap
64LMarch 12, 19980–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)24–29–11Recap
65LMarch 14, 19980–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)24–30–11Recap
66WMarch 15, 19988–4@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)25–30–11Recap
67WMarch 17, 19985–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)26–30–11Recap
68WMarch 19, 19981–0Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)27–30–11Recap
69WMarch 22, 19981–0Boston Bruins (1997–98)28–30–11Recap
70TMarch 23, 19985–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)28–30–12Recap
71LMarch 25, 19982–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)28–31–12Recap
72WMarch 27, 19982–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)29–31–12Recap
73LMarch 29, 19980–4Florida Panthers (1997–98)29–32–12Recap
74LMarch 31, 19982–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)29–33–12Recap :
April: 1–6–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 0–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
75WApril 2, 19982–1Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)30–33–12Recap
76LApril 4, 19982–3Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)30–34–12Recap
77LApril 5, 19981–2 OTNew York Rangers (1997–98)30–35–12Recap
78LApril 9, 19982–3@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)30–36–12Recap
79LApril 12, 19981–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)30–37–12Recap
80LApril 15, 19982–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)30–38–12Recap
81TApril 16, 19981–1 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)30–38–13Recap
82LApril 18, 19981–3@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)30–39–13Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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 Blackhawks only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 10 | Tony Amonte | RW | 82 | 31 | 42 | 73 | 21 | 66 |
| 36 | Alexei Zhamnov | C | 70 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 16 | 61 |
| 55 | Eric Daze | RW | 80 | 31 | 11 | 42 | 4 | 22 |
| 20 | Gary Suter | D | 73 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 1 | 74 |
| 7 | Chris Chelios | D | 81 | 3 | 39 | 42 | −7 | 151 |
| 22 | Greg Johnson† | C | 69 | 11 | 22 | 33 | −2 | 38 |
| 11 | Jeff Shantz | C | 61 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 0 | 36 |
| 25 | Sergei Krivokrasov | LW | 58 | 10 | 13 | 23 | −1 | 33 |
| 2 | Eric Weinrich | D | 82 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 10 | 106 |
| 19 | Ethan Moreau | LW | 54 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 73 |
| 14 | Steve Dubinsky | C | 82 | 5 | 13 | 18 | −6 | 57 |
| 38 | James Black | RW | 52 | 10 | 5 | 15 | −8 | 8 |
| 4 | Keith Carney‡ | D | 60 | 2 | 13 | 15 | −7 | 73 |
| 23 | Jean-Yves Leroux | LW | 66 | 6 | 7 | 13 | −2 | 55 |
| 46 | Dmitri Nabokov | C | 25 | 7 | 4 | 11 | −1 | 10 |
| 17 | Kevin Miller | RW | 37 | 4 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 8 |
| 15 | Chad Kilger† | C | 22 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Christian Laflamme | D | 72 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 59 |
| 12 | Brent Sutter | RW | 52 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −6 | 28 |
| 33 | Reid Simpson† | LW | 38 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −1 | 102 |
| 54 | Brian Felsner | LW | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 6 | Michal Sykora | D | 28 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −10 | 12 |
| 24 | Bob Probert | LW | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −7 | 48 |
| 39 | Craig Mills | RW | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 34 |
| 8 | Cam Russell | D | 41 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 79 |
| 15 | Jim Cummins‡ | RW | 55 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −9 | 178 |
| 4 | Jayson More† | D | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| 26 | Todd White | C | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Trent Yawney | D | 45 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −5 | 76 |
| 16 | Jarrod Skalde†‡†‡ | C | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Chris Terreri | G | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 34 | Ryan VandenBussche† | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 32 | Daniel Cleary | LW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 16 | Martin Gendron†‡ | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 31 | Jeff Hackett | G | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 8 |
| 56 | Ryan Huska | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Andrei Trefilov† | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 17 | Petri Varis | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 31 | Jeff Hackett | 58 | 21 | 25 | 11 | 1520 | 126 | 2.20 | .917 | 8 | 3441 |
| 40 | Chris Terreri | 21 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 519 | 49 | 2.41 | .906 | 2 | 1222 |
| 29 | Andrei Trefilov† | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 145 | 17 | 3.41 | .883 | 0 | 299 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Tony Amonte | |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Chris Chelios | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Daniel Cleary | October 1, 1997 |
| First game | Todd White | October 4, 1997 |
| First game | Brian Felsner | November 16, 1997 |
| First game | Petri Varis | December 14, 1997 |
| First game | Dmitri Nabokov | December 20, 1997 |
| First game | Ryan Huska | January 5, 1998 |
| 600th assist | Chris Chelios | March 7, 1998 |
| 1,000th game played | Chris Chelios | April 16, 1998 |

## Draft picks

Chicago'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 | 13 | Daniel Cleary | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 1 | 16 | Ty Jones | United States | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 2 | 39 | Jeremy Reich | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 3 | 67 | Michael Souza | United States | University of New Hampshire (Hockey East) |
| 5 | 110 | Ben Simon | United States | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) |
| 5 | 120 | Pete Gardiner | Canada | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC) |
| 5 | 130 | Kyle Calder | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 6 | 147 | Heath Gordon | United States | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) |
| 7 | 174 | Jerad Smith | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 8 | 204 | Sergei Shikhanov | Russia | Lada Togliatti (Russia) |
| 9 | 230 | Chris Feil | United States | Ohio State University (CCHA) |