# 1997–98 New Jersey Devils season

The 1997–98 New Jersey Devils season was the 24th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 16th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils won the Atlantic Division title with the best record in the Eastern Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Ottawa Senators.

## Regular season

The Devils once again led the NHL in defense, allowing a League-low 166 goals in the 82-game regular season. Although the Devils had the fewest power play opportunities in the League, with just 333, they finished second in power play percentage, with 18.92% (63 for 333).

### 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

## Playoffs
### Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

The first two games were played at the Meadowlands. In Game 1, Ottawa won 2–1 in overtime, but in Game 2, the Devils were victorious by a score of 3–1. Games 3 and 4 were played in Ottawa. The Senators won Game 3, 2–1, in overtime and Game 4, 4–3. Game 5 was back in New Jersey, where the Devils won 3–1. Game 6 went back to Ottawa, where the Senators won 3–1 and the series 4–2.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1997–98 regular season :
October: 7–4–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 3, 19974–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 4, 19971–4@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 8, 19974–1Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)2–1–0Recap
4LOctober 10, 19971–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)2–2–0Recap
5WOctober 11, 19973–2Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)3–2–0Recap
6LOctober 17, 19972–4@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)3–3–0Recap
7WOctober 18, 19975–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)4–3–0Recap
8WOctober 23, 19972–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (1997–98)5–3–0Recap
9LOctober 25, 19973–4San Jose Sharks (1997–98)5–4–0Recap
10WOctober 27, 19975–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)6–4–0Recap
11WOctober 30, 19978–1Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)7–4–0Recap :
November: 10–4–0 (home: 5–2–0; road: 5–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12WNovember 1, 19973–1Washington Capitals (1997–98)8–4–0Recap
13LNovember 4, 19970–3Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)8–5–0Recap
14WNovember 5, 19974–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)9–5–0Recap
15WNovember 8, 19972–0Boston Bruins (1997–98)10–5–0Recap
16WNovember 10, 19973–1@ New York Islanders (1997–98)11–5–0Recap
17WNovember 12, 19973–2@ New York Rangers (1997–98)12–5–0Recap
18WNovember 14, 19974–1Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)13–5–0Recap
19WNovember 15, 19973–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)14–5–0Recap
20WNovember 18, 19972–1Calgary Flames (1997–98)15–5–0Recap
21WNovember 20, 19975–1New York Islanders (1997–98)16–5–0Recap
22LNovember 22, 19971–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)16–6–0Recap
23LNovember 26, 19970–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)16–7–0Recap
24WNovember 28, 19974–2@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)17–7–0Recap
25LNovember 29, 19971–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)17–8–0Recap :
December: 8–3–2 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 2, 19971–3St. Louis Blues (1997–98)17–9–0Recap
27WDecember 4, 19974–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)18–9–0Recap
28WDecember 6, 19974–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)19–9–0Recap
29WDecember 10, 19974–2Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)20–9–0Recap
30WDecember 12, 19975–2Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)21–9–0Recap
31WDecember 13, 19973–0@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)22–9–0Recap
32WDecember 16, 19974–3New York Rangers (1997–98)23–9–0Recap
33TDecember 18, 19974–4 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)23–9–1Recap
34LDecember 19, 19974–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)23–10–1Recap
35TDecember 23, 19971–1 OT@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)23–10–2Recap
36WDecember 26, 19974–3New York Islanders (1997–98)24–10–2Recap
37WDecember 29, 19973–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)25–10–2Recap
38LDecember 30, 19972–6Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)25–11–2Recap :
January: 6–5–4 (home: 5–2–0; road: 1–3–4)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39LJanuary 1, 19981–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)25–12–2Recap
40WJanuary 3, 19984–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)26–12–2Recap
41LJanuary 5, 19983–4 OTDallas Stars (1997–98)26–13–2Recap
42WJanuary 7, 19983–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)27–13–2Recap
43WJanuary 9, 19984–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)28–13–2Recap
44LJanuary 10, 19981–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)28–14–2Recap
45TJanuary 12, 19981–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)28–14–3Recap
46WJanuary 14, 19984–1New York Rangers (1997–98)29–14–3Recap
47WJanuary 20, 19983–1Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)30–14–3Recap
48LJanuary 22, 19982–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)30–15–3Recap
49TJanuary 24, 19983–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)30–15–4Recap
50WJanuary 25, 19983–1@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)31–15–4Recap
51TJanuary 28, 19981–1 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)31–15–5Recap
52LJanuary 30, 19981–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98)31–16–5Recap
53TJanuary 31, 19982–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)31–16–6Recap :
February: 6–0–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 4–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54WFebruary 2, 19981–0@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)32–16–6Recap
55WFebruary 4, 19982–0Ottawa Senators (1997–98)33–16–6Recap
56WFebruary 7, 19983–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)34–16–6Recap
57WFebruary 25, 19983–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)35–16–6Recap
58WFebruary 26, 19984–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)36–16–6Recap
59WFebruary 28, 19984–3Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)37–16–6Recap :
March: 8–3–3 (home: 5–0–1; road: 3–3–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
60WMarch 2, 19984–3Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)38–16–6Recap
61TMarch 5, 19981–1 OTBoston Bruins (1997–98)38–16–7Recap
62WMarch 7, 19986–3New York Rangers (1997–98)39–16–7Recap
63TMarch 9, 19982–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1997–98)39–16–8Recap
64TMarch 10, 19982–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)39–16–9Recap
65WMarch 12, 19982–0@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)40–16–9Recap
66LMarch 14, 19982–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)40–17–9Recap
67WMarch 18, 19983–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)41–17–9Recap
68LMarch 20, 19980–2@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)41–18–9Recap
69WMarch 21, 19983–2Washington Capitals (1997–98)42–18–9Recap
70WMarch 24, 19983–2Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)43–18–9Recap
71WMarch 26, 19982–0@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)44–18–9Recap
72WMarch 28, 19983–0@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)45–18–9Recap
73LMarch 29, 19981–3@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)45–19–9Recap :
April: 3–4–2 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74LApril 1, 19980–4Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)45–20–9Recap
75LApril 3, 19982–3Ottawa Senators (1997–98)45–21–9Recap
76WApril 5, 19983–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)46–21–9Recap
77LApril 8, 19982–3@ New York Islanders (1997–98)46–22–9Recap
78WApril 11, 19983–2@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)47–22–9Recap
79TApril 12, 19985–5 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)47–22–10Recap
80WApril 15, 19985–4 OTBuffalo Sabres (1997–98)48–22–10Recap
81TApril 16, 19981–1 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)48–22–11Recap
82LApril 18, 19981–2New York Islanders (1997–98)48–23–11Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1998 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (8) Ottawa Senators – Senators win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 22, 19981–2 OTOttawa SenatorsSenators lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 24, 19983–1Ottawa SenatorsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 26, 19981–2 OT@ Ottawa SenatorsSenators lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 28, 19983–4@ Ottawa SenatorsSenators lead 3–1Recap
5WApril 30, 19983–1Ottawa SenatorsSenators lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 2, 19981–3@ Ottawa SenatorsSenators win 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 Devils only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils 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 |
| 16 | Bobby Holik | C | 82 | 29 | 36 | 65 | 23 | 100 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 8 |
| 27 | Scott Niedermayer | D | 81 | 14 | 43 | 57 | 5 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 93 | Doug Gilmour | C | 63 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 10 | 68 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| 21 | Randy McKay | RW | 74 | 24 | 24 | 48 | 30 | 86 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 23 | Dave Andreychuk | LW | 75 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 19 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| 26 | Patrik Elias | LW | 74 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 18 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 0 |
| 17 | Petr Sykora | RW | 58 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Brian Rolston | LW | 76 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 7 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | Denis Pederson | C | 80 | 15 | 13 | 28 | −6 | 97 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Scott Stevens | D | 80 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 19 | 80 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 32 | Steve Thomas | LW | 55 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 4 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 | Lyle Odelein | D | 79 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 11 | 171 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 21 |
| 19 | Bob Carpenter | C | 66 | 9 | 9 | 18 | −4 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Jason Arnott† | C | 35 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −8 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | John MacLean‡ | RW | 26 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −6 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Doug Bodger† | D | 49 | 5 | 5 | 10 | −1 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 0 |
| 12 | Bill Guerin‡ | RW | 19 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Sheldon Souray | D | 60 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 85 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Valeri Zelepukin‡ | LW | 35 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Brendan Morrison | C | 11 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 28 | Kevin Dean | D | 50 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 6 | Brad Bombardir | D | 43 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Sergei Brylin | LW | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Krzysztof Oliwa | LW | 73 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 295 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 20 | Jay Pandolfo | LW | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Martin Brodeur | G | 70 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 22 | Scott Daniels | LW | 26 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 102 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Peter Zezel‡ | C | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Ken Daneyko | D | 37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 57 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 1 | Mike Dunham | G | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Vlastimil Kroupa | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Sasha Lakovic | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Richard Shulmistra† | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Peter Sidorkiewicz | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Reid Simpson‡ | LW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Ken Sutton‡ | D | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.
| 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 |
| 30 | Martin Brodeur | 70 | 43 | 17 | 8 | 1569 | 130 | 1.89 | .917 | 10 | 4128 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 164 | 12 | 1.97 | .927 | 0 | 366 |
| 1 | Mike Dunham | 15 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 332 | 29 | 2.25 | .913 | 1 | 773 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Richard Shulmistra† | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 1.94 | .933 | 0 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Peter Sidorkiewicz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3.00 | .875 | 0 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

Martin Brodeur was a runner-up for the Vezina Trophy and Patrik Elias was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Patrik Elias (Forward) |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Martin Brodeur (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Scott Niedermayer (Defense) |
| League (annual) | William M. Jennings Trophy | Martin Brodeur |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Martin Brodeur |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bobby Holik |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Jacques Lemaire (coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Scott Niedermayer |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Scott Stevens |
| Team | Devils' Players' Player | Doug Gilmour |
| Team | Hugh Delano Unsung Hero | Denis Pederson |
| Team | Most Valuable Devil | Martin Brodeur |
| Team | Three-Star Award | Martin Brodeur |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Brad Bombardir | October 4, 1997 |
| First game | Sheldon Souray | October 17, 1997 |
| First game | Brendan Morrison | December 4, 1997 |
| First game | Richard Shulmistra | January 1, 1998 |
| 25th shutout | Martin Brodeur | December 4, 1997 |
| 600th assist | Scott Stevens | February 7, 1998 |

## Draft picks

New Jersey's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Civic Arena.
| Rd # | Pick # | Player | Nat | Pos | Team (league) |
| 1 | 24 | Jean-Francois Damphousse | Canada | G | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 38 | Stanislav Gron | Slovakia | LW | Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) |
| 3 | 78 | No third-round pick | No third-round pick | No third-round pick | No third-round pick |
| 4 | 104 | Lucas Nehrling | Canada | D | Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
| 5 | 131 | Jiri Bicek | Slovakia | LW | HC Košice (Slovakia) |
| 6 | 159 | Sascha Goc | Germany | D | Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany) |
| 7 | 188 | Mathieu Benoit | Canada | RW | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 215 | Scott Clemmensen | United States | G | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| 9 | 241 | Jan Srdinko | Czech Republic | D | ? (Czech Republic) |

## Media

This was the first season of television broadcast coverage on Fox Sports Net New York.