# 1997–98 Boston Bruins season

The 1997–98 Boston Bruins season was the team's 74th season. The season involved drafting Joe Thornton first overall.

## Regular season

The Bruins allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (3) and were the most disciplined team during the regular season, being short-handed only 285 times.

### Final standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | 228 | 188 | 98 |
| 2 | 5 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 221 | 194 | 91 |
| 3 | 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 211 | 187 | 89 |
| 4 | 7 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | 235 | 208 | 87 |
| 5 | 8 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 34 | 33 | 15 | 193 | 200 | 83 |
| 6 | 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | 200 | 219 | 74 |
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
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 7–5–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 6–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 2, 19976–5Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 4, 19971–4Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 7, 19972–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)1–2–0Recap
4WOctober 8, 19973–2 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)2–2–0Recap
5LOctober 11, 19972–5@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)2–3–0Recap
6WOctober 13, 19973–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)3–3–0Recap
7WOctober 15, 19975–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)4–3–0Recap
8WOctober 17, 19972–0@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)5–3–0Recap
9WOctober 18, 19973–0@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)6–3–0Recap
10WOctober 21, 19972–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)7–3–0Recap
11TOctober 23, 19972–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)7–3–1Recap
12LOctober 25, 19974–5Florida Panthers (1997–98)7–4–1Recap
13LOctober 30, 19970–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)7–5–1Recap :
November: 4–6–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–3–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14WNovember 1, 19973–1Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)8–5–1Recap
15WNovember 2, 19973–1@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)9–5–1Recap
16WNovember 6, 19972–0Washington Capitals (1997–98)10–5–1Recap
17LNovember 8, 19970–2@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)10–6–1Recap
18TNovember 12, 19973–3 OT@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)10–6–2Recap
19LNovember 13, 19972–4@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)10–7–2Recap
20TNovember 15, 19973–3 OTOttawa Senators (1997–98)10–7–3Recap
21WNovember 17, 19974–2@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)11–7–3Recap
22TNovember 19, 19973–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)11–7–4Recap
23LNovember 20, 19970–5Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)11–8–4Recap
24LNovember 22, 19970–2Dallas Stars (1997–98)11–9–4Recap
25LNovember 26, 19975–10@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)11–10–4Recap
26LNovember 28, 19972–5Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)11–11–4Recap
27TNovember 29, 19971–1 OTWashington Capitals (1997–98)11–11–5Recap :
December: 6–5–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–3–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28LDecember 1, 19971–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)11–12–5Recap
29WDecember 3, 19973–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)12–12–5Recap
30WDecember 6, 19974–1Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)13–12–5Recap
31WDecember 11, 19972–1Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)14–12–5Recap
32WDecember 13, 19974–2Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)15–12–5Recap
33WDecember 15, 19976–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)16–12–5Recap
34LDecember 17, 19970–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)16–13–5Recap
35TDecember 18, 19972–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)16–13–6Recap
36LDecember 20, 19973–4New York Islanders (1997–98)16–14–6Recap
37LDecember 22, 19972–4Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)16–15–6Recap
38WDecember 27, 19973–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)17–15–6Recap
39LDecember 28, 19973–4@ New York Rangers (1997–98)17–16–6Recap
40TDecember 31, 19972–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)17–16–7Recap :
January: 6–4–2 (home: 5–1–2; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
41TJanuary 1, 19980–0 OTOttawa Senators (1997–98)17–16–8Recap
42WJanuary 3, 19983–0San Jose Sharks (1997–98)18–16–8Recap
43WJanuary 7, 19982–1 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)19–16–8Recap
44WJanuary 8, 19985–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)20–16–8Recap
45TJanuary 12, 19981–1 OTNew Jersey Devils (1997–98)20–16–9Recap
46WJanuary 14, 19985–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)21–16–9Recap
47LJanuary 21, 19982–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)21–17–9Recap
48LJanuary 24, 19982–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)21–18–9Recap
49LJanuary 25, 19981–4@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)21–19–9Recap
50WJanuary 27, 19986–1Ottawa Senators (1997–98)22–19–9Recap
51LJanuary 29, 19982–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)22–20–9Recap
52WJanuary 31, 19984–2New York Rangers (1997–98)23–20–9Recap :
February: 1–2–3 (home: 1–2–1; road: 0–0–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53TFebruary 1, 19982–2 OT@ New York Islanders (1997–98)23–20–10Recap
54TFebruary 4, 19982–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)23–20–11Recap
55LFebruary 5, 19981–3St. Louis Blues (1997–98)23–21–11Recap
56LFebruary 7, 19981–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)23–22–11Recap
57TFebruary 26, 19981–1 OTBuffalo Sabres (1997–98)23–22–12Recap
58WFebruary 28, 19986–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)24–22–12Recap :
March: 9–4–1 (home: 5–3–0; road: 4–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59WMarch 1, 19985–4@ New York Islanders (1997–98)25–22–12Recap
60WMarch 3, 19983–0@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)26–22–12Recap
61TMarch 5, 19981–1 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)26–22–13Recap
62LMarch 7, 19981–2Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)26–23–13Recap
63WMarch 10, 19986–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)27–23–13Recap
64LMarch 12, 19982–5Calgary Flames (1997–98)27–24–13Recap
65WMarch 14, 19985–1New York Rangers (1997–98)28–24–13Recap
66WMarch 16, 19984–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)29–24–13Recap
67WMarch 19, 19984–0Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)30–24–13Recap
68WMarch 21, 19982–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)31–24–13Recap
69LMarch 22, 19980–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)31–25–13Recap
70WMarch 26, 19984–2Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)32–25–13Recap
71LMarch 28, 19982–3 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)32–26–13Recap
72WMarch 30, 19984–1Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)33–26–13Recap :
April: 6–4–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 4–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
73WApril 1, 19984–2@ New York Rangers (1997–98)34–26–13Recap
74LApril 3, 19984–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)34–27–13Recap
75LApril 6, 19980–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)34–28–13Recap
76WApril 7, 19984–2@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)35–28–13Recap
77WApril 9, 19984–1New York Islanders (1997–98)36–28–13Recap
78LApril 11, 19982–3New Jersey Devils (1997–98)36–29–13Recap
79WApril 13, 19983–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)37–29–13Recap
80WApril 15, 19986–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)38–29–13Recap
81LApril 18, 19982–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)38–30–13Recap
82WApril 19, 19982–1Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)39–30–13Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Washington Capitals – Capitals win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentAttendanceSeriesRecap
1LApril 22, 19981–3@ Washington Capitals15,117Capitals lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 24, 19984–3 2OT@ Washington Capitals19,740Series tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 26, 19982–3 2OTWashington Capitals15,520Capitals lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 28, 19980–3Washington Capitals17,131Capitals lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 1, 19984–0@ Washington Capitals19,740Capitals lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 3, 19982–3 OTWashington Capitals15,163Capitals lead 4–2Recap :
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 Bruins only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins 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 |
| 41 | Jason Allison | C | 81 | 33 | 50 | 83 | 33 | 60 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Dmitri Khristich | RW | 82 | 29 | 37 | 66 | 25 | 42 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 77 | Ray Bourque | D | 82 | 13 | 35 | 48 | 2 | 80 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −2 | 2 |
| 14 | Sergei Samsonov | LW | 81 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Steve Heinze | RW | 61 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 8 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 6 |
| 33 | Anson Carter | RW | 78 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 7 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 0 |
| 21 | Ted Donato | LW | 79 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 6 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 26 | Tim Taylor | C | 79 | 20 | 11 | 31 | −16 | 57 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 10 |
| 19 | Rob DiMaio | RW | 79 | 10 | 17 | 27 | −13 | 82 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 8 |
| 11 | P. J. Axelsson | LW | 82 | 8 | 19 | 27 | −14 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 0 |
| 18 | Kyle McLaren | D | 66 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 13 | 56 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 4 |
| 44 | Dave Ellett | D | 82 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 3 | 67 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 6 |
| 42 | Mike Sullivan | C | 77 | 5 | 13 | 18 | −1 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 32 | Don Sweeney | D | 59 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Darren Van Impe† | D | 50 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Grant Ledyard† | D | 22 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 6 | Joe Thornton | C | 55 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −6 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 25 | Hal Gill | D | 68 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 47 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 27 | Landon Wilson | RW | 28 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Byron Dafoe | G | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 17 | Shawn Bates | C | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Mattias Timander | D | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Dean Malkoc | D | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −12 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Ken Baumgartner | LW | 82 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −14 | 199 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 10 | Cameron Mann | RW | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Jim Carey | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Dean Chynoweth | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 45 | Robert Lang‡ | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 60 | Kirk Nielsen | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Joel Prpic | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Randy Robitaille | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43 | Jean-Yves Roy | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Robbie Tallas | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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 | Byron Dafoe | 65 | 30 | 25 | 9 | 1602 | 138 | 2.24 | .914 | 6 | 3693 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 159 | 14 | 1.99 | .912 | 1 | 422 |
| 35 | Robbie Tallas | 14 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 326 | 24 | 1.83 | .926 | 1 | 788 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Jim Carey | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 225 | 24 | 2.90 | .893 | 2 | 496 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Calder Memorial Trophy | Sergei Samsonov |
| League (annual) | Jack Adams Award | Pat Burns |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Sergei Samsonov (Forward) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Ray Bourque |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Sergei Samsonov (January) |
| Team | Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | Jason Allison |
| Team | Seventh Player Award | Jason Allison |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Byron Dafoe (1st) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Jason Allison (2nd) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Ray Bourque (3rd) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | P. J. Axelsson | October 2, 1997 |
| First game | Shawn Bates | October 2, 1997 |
| First game | Sergei Samsonov | October 2, 1997 |
| First game | Joe Thornton | October 8, 1997 |
| First game | Hal Gill | October 17, 1997 |
| First game | Kirk Nielsen | November 1, 1997 |
| First game | Cameron Mann | December 18, 1997 |
| First game | Joel Prpic | April 9, 1998 |
| 1,000th game played | David Ellett | March 1, 1998 |

## Draft picks

Boston's picks at the 1997 NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Joe Thornton | Center | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 1 | 8 | Sergei Samsonov | Left wing | Russia | Detroit Vipers (IHL) |
| 2 | 27 | Ben Clymer | Right wing | United States | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 3 | 54 | Mattias Karlin | Center | Sweden | Modo Hockey (Sweden) |
| 3 | 63 | Lee Goren | Right wing | Canada | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 4 | 81 | Karol Bartanus | Right wing | Slovakia | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 135 | Denis Timofeyev | Defense | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 7 | 162 | Joel Trottier | Right wing | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 7 | 180 | Jim Baxter | Defense | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 8 | 191 | Antti Laaksonen | Left wing | Finland | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 9 | 218 | Eric Van Acker | Defense | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 246 | Jay Henderson | Left wing | Canada | Edmonton Ice (WHL) |