# 1997–98 Florida Panthers season

The 1997–98 Florida Panthers season was the Panthers' fifth season. After making the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1997, the Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season

The Panthers' penalty kill struggled during the regular season and they allowed the most power-play goals in the NHL (82) and had the lowest penalty-kill percentage (79.65%). They also tied the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the most short-handed goals allowed, with 16.
On November 26, 1997, the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins at home by a score of 10–5. Veteran forward Ray Sheppard had a hat trick in the game. It was the first time in franchise history that the Panthers had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game. It also came exactly one year after the last NHL team had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game, as the Edmonton Oilers had defeated their provincial rival Calgary Flames on the road by a score of 10–1 on November 26, 1996.

### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
| 2 | 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
| 3 | 4 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
| 4 | 10 | New York Islanders | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
| 5 | 11 | New York Rangers | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
| 6 | 12 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
| 7 | 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 225 | 166 | 107 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 242 | 193 | 95 |
| 4 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 219 | 202 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
| 6 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
| 7 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
| 8 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
| 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | NE | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
| 10 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 30 | 41 | 11 | 212 | 225 | 71 |
| 11 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 25 | 39 | 18 | 197 | 231 | 68 |
| 12 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 24 | 43 | 15 | 203 | 256 | 63 |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 17 | 55 | 10 | 151 | 269 | 44 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

1997–98 regular season :
October: 3–6–3 (home: 1–2–2; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 1, 19971–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)0–1–0Recap
2WOctober 4, 19975–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 11, 19973–5@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)1–2–0Recap
4TOctober 13, 19972–2 OTNew York Islanders (1997–98)1–2–1Recap
5WOctober 15, 19972–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)2–2–1Recap
6LOctober 16, 19970–4@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)2–3–1Recap
7LOctober 19, 19971–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)2–4–1Recap
8LOctober 22, 19970–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)2–5–1Recap
9TOctober 23, 19972–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)2–5–2Recap
10WOctober 25, 19975–4@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)3–5–2Recap
11TOctober 28, 19972–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1997–98)3–5–3Recap
12LOctober 30, 19972–5Ottawa Senators (1997–98)3–6–3Recap :
November: 5–7–2 (home: 2–7–1; road: 3–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13LNovember 1, 19973–4 OTBuffalo Sabres (1997–98)3–7–3Recap
14LNovember 5, 19972–4New Jersey Devils (1997–98)3–8–3Recap
15WNovember 6, 19974–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)4–8–3Recap
16WNovember 9, 19973–2Washington Capitals (1997–98)5–8–3Recap
17TNovember 12, 19972–2 OTNew York Islanders (1997–98)5–8–4Recap
18LNovember 14, 19972–5Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)5–9–4Recap
19WNovember 15, 19971–0@ New York Islanders (1997–98)6–9–4Recap
20LNovember 18, 19971–3New York Rangers (1997–98)6–10–4Recap
21LNovember 20, 19971–2Calgary Flames (1997–98)6–11–4Recap
22WNovember 22, 19972–1 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)7–11–4Recap
23LNovember 23, 19972–5Washington Capitals (1997–98)7–12–4Recap
24WNovember 26, 199710–5Boston Bruins (1997–98)8–12–4Recap
25LNovember 28, 19972–3Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)8–13–4Recap
26TNovember 30, 19971–1 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)8–13–5Recap :
December: 6–7–1 (home: 1–4–1; road: 5–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
27LDecember 1, 19972–3Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)8–14–5Recap
28LDecember 5, 19972–3 OT@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)8–15–5Recap
29WDecember 7, 19975–4Washington Capitals (1997–98)9–15–5Recap
30WDecember 10, 19975–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)10–15–5Recap
31WDecember 12, 19974–3@ New York Rangers (1997–98)11–15–5Recap
32LDecember 13, 19971–4@ New York Islanders (1997–98)11–16–5Recap
33LDecember 15, 19972–6Boston Bruins (1997–98)11–17–5Recap
34LDecember 17, 19972–4New York Rangers (1997–98)11–18–5Recap
35WDecember 18, 19974–0@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)12–18–5Recap
36LDecember 20, 19970–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)12–19–5Recap
37LDecember 23, 19972–3St. Louis Blues (1997–98)12–20–5Recap
38WDecember 26, 19975–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)13–20–5Recap
39WDecember 27, 19976–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)14–20–5Recap
40TDecember 30, 19972–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (1997–98)14–20–6Recap :
January: 4–5–5 (home: 4–0–1; road: 0–5–4)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
41WJanuary 1, 19982–1 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)15–20–6Recap
42TJanuary 2, 19982–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)15–20–7Recap
43TJanuary 4, 19983–3 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–20–8Recap
44LJanuary 7, 19982–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)15–21–8Recap
45TJanuary 9, 19983–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)15–21–9Recap
46TJanuary 10, 19982–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)15–21–10Recap
47LJanuary 12, 19981–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)15–22–10Recap
48LJanuary 14, 19982–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)15–23–10Recap
49LJanuary 21, 19983–8@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)15–24–10Recap
50LJanuary 22, 19981–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)15–25–10Recap
51TJanuary 24, 19981–1 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)15–25–11Recap
52WJanuary 27, 19983–0Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)16–25–11Recap
53WJanuary 29, 19983–2Dallas Stars (1997–98)17–25–11Recap
54WJanuary 31, 19982–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)18–25–11Recap :
February: 0–4–1 (home: 0–2–1; road: 0–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
55LFebruary 1, 19982–5Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)18–26–11Recap
56TFebruary 3, 19981–1 OTDetroit Red Wings (1997–98)18–26–12Recap
57LFebruary 7, 19982–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)18–27–12Recap
58LFebruary 25, 19982–3New Jersey Devils (1997–98)18–28–12Recap
59LFebruary 27, 19981–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)18–29–12Recap :
March: 3–10–0 (home: 1–5–0; road: 2–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
60LMarch 4, 19983–4New York Rangers (1997–98)18–30–12Recap
61LMarch 7, 19983–6@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)18–31–12Recap
62LMarch 9, 19981–6@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)18–32–12Recap
63LMarch 11, 19983–5@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)18–33–12Recap
64LMarch 13, 19980–4Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)18–34–12Recap
65LMarch 15, 19984–8Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)18–35–12Recap
66LMarch 17, 19982–4Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)18–36–12Recap
67LMarch 19, 19981–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)18–37–12Recap
68LMarch 21, 19981–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)18–38–12Recap
69LMarch 23, 19983–5Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)18–39–12Recap
70WMarch 26, 19985–4Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)19–39–12Recap
71WMarch 28, 19983–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)20–39–12Recap
72WMarch 29, 19984–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)21–39–12Recap :
April: 3–4–3 (home: 2–4–0; road: 1–0–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
73LApril 1, 19983–4Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)21–40–12Recap
74WApril 4, 19984–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)22–40–12Recap
75WApril 5, 19983–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)23–40–12Recap
76LApril 7, 19981–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)23–41–12Recap
77WApril 9, 19983–2Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)24–41–12Recap
78TApril 11, 19983–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)24–41–13Recap
79TApril 12, 19985–5 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)24–41–14Recap
80LApril 14, 19982–3Ottawa Senators (1997–98)24–42–14Recap
81LApril 16, 19983–7Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)24–43–14Recap
82TApril 18, 19982–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)24–43–15Recap :
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 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 |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 14 | Ray Whitney† | LW | 68 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 10 | 28 |
| 15 | Dave Gagner | C | 78 | 20 | 28 | 48 | −21 | 55 |
| 24 | Robert Svehla | D | 79 | 9 | 34 | 43 | −3 | 113 |
| 27 | Scott Mellanby | RW | 79 | 15 | 24 | 39 | −14 | 127 |
| 19 | Radek Dvorak | RW | 64 | 12 | 24 | 36 | −1 | 33 |
| 26 | Ray Sheppard‡ | RW | 61 | 14 | 17 | 31 | −13 | 21 |
| 9 | Kirk Muller | LW | 70 | 8 | 21 | 29 | −14 | 54 |
| 11 | Bill Lindsay | RW | 82 | 12 | 16 | 28 | −2 | 80 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov† | C | 46 | 12 | 11 | 23 | −1 | 14 |
| 55 | Ed Jovanovski | D | 81 | 9 | 14 | 23 | −12 | 158 |
| 51 | David Nemirovsky | RW | 41 | 9 | 12 | 21 | −3 | 8 |
| 17 | Steve Washburn | C | 58 | 11 | 8 | 19 | −6 | 32 |
| 5 | Gord Murphy | D | 79 | 6 | 11 | 17 | −3 | 46 |
| 22 | Dino Ciccarelli† | RW | 28 | 5 | 11 | 16 | −2 | 28 |
| 21 | Tom Fitzgerald‡ | RW | 69 | 10 | 5 | 15 | −4 | 57 |
| 44 | Rob Niedermayer | C | 33 | 8 | 7 | 15 | −9 | 41 |
| 23 | Chris Wells | C | 61 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 47 |
| 3 | Paul Laus | D | 77 | 0 | 11 | 11 | −5 | 293 |
| 10 | Esa Tikkanen‡ | LW | 28 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −7 | 16 |
| 2 | Terry Carkner | D | 74 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 63 |
| 6 | Jeff Norton† | D | 19 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −7 | 18 |
| 29 | Johan Garpenlov | LW | 39 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −6 | 8 |
| 7 | Rhett Warrener | D | 79 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −16 | 99 |
| 34 | John Vanbiesbrouck | G | 60 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 6 |
| 12 | Jody Hull‡ | RW | 21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 16 | Ryan Johnson | C | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −4 | 0 |
| 8 | Dallas Eakins | D | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44 |
| 12 | Chris Allen | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 30 | Mark Fitzpatrick‡ | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 4 | John Jakopin | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 4 |
| 10 | Dave Lowry‡ | LW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 1 | Kirk McLean† | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 1 | Kevin Weekes | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 28 | Peter Worrell | LW | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 153 |

### Goaltending

* † = 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 | 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 |
| 34 | John Vanbiesbrouck | 60 | 18 | 29 | 11 | 1638 | 165 | 2.87 | .899 | 4 | 3451 |
| 1 | Kirk McLean† | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 207 | 22 | 3.25 | .894 | 0 | 406 |
| 30 | Mark Fitzpatrick‡ | 12 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 265 | 32 | 3.00 | .879 | 1 | 640 |
| 1 | Kevin Weekes | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 247 | 32 | 3.96 | .870 | 0 | 485 |

## Awards and records
### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Kevin Weekes | October 16, 1997 |
| First game | Peter Worrell | November 22, 1997 |
| First game | Ryan Johnson | December 5, 1997 |
| First game | John Jakopin | March 13, 1998 |
| First game | Chris Allen | April 18, 1998 |
| 1,000th game played | Kirk Muller | January 14, 1998 |

## Draft picks

Florida'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 | 20 | Mike Brown | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 2 | 47 | Kristian Huselius | Sweden | Farjestad BK (Sweden) |
| 3 | 56 | Vratislav Cech | Czech Republic | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 3 | 74 | Nick Smith | Canada | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 4 | 95 | Ivan Novoseltsev | Russia | Krylya Sovetov (Russia) |
| 5 | 127 | Pat Parthenais | United States | Detroit Whalers (OHL) |
| 6 | 155 | Keith Delaney | Canada | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 7 | 183 | Tyler Palmer | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 8 | 211 | Doug Schueller | United States | Twin Cities Vulcans (USHL) |
| 9 | 237 | Benoit Cote | United States | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |