1997–98 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1997–98 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 19th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 36–37–9 record in 1996–97, earning their first playoff spot in 5 seasons. The Oilers then defeated the heavily favoured Dallas Stars before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the 2nd round.
Edmonton started off the season pretty slow, and on January 4, when they had a record of 11–22–9, the Oilers would trade Jason Arnott and Bryan Muir to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Bill Guerin and Valeri Zelepukin. The trade seemed to spark Edmonton, as they would finish the year 24–15–1, making the playoffs for the 2nd straight season, as they would finish in 7th place in the Western Conference.
Offensively, Doug Weight had another very solid season, leading the Oilers in goals (26), assists (44) and points (70). Ryan Smyth would be the only other player to score 20 goals for the team. Dean McAmmond had a break out season, finishing 2nd to Weight with 50 points and 3rd on the team with 19 goals. Bill Guerin had a solid half season in Edmonton, scoring 13 goals and 29 points in 40 games. Boris Mironov would lead the defense with 16 goals and 46 points, while Drake Berehowsky would lead the team with 169 penalty minutes.
In goal, Curtis Joseph would get the majority of playing time, winning 29 games, posting a GAA of 2.63 and setting the club record with shutouts in a season at 8. Bob Essensa would back him up once again, and do a very good job, having a GAA of 2.55 and winning 6 games for the team.
The Oilers would open the playoffs against the Pacific Division winning Colorado Avalanche, who eliminated Edmonton from the playoffs the previous spring, and finished with 15 more points during the regular season. The Oilers would surprise the Avalanche in the opening game, winning 3–2, but Colorado would storm back, and win 3 in a row, to go up 3–1 in the series. Then the Curtis Joseph show began, as he would hold off the Avalanche in game 5, as Edmonton won 3–1 in Denver to keep their season alive. Edmonton would return home for the 6th game, and easily shutout Colorado 4–0, forcing a 7th game. Curtis Joseph would earn his 2nd straight shutout in the 7th and deciding game, as Edmonton would win the game 2–0, and win the series, eliminating the heavily favoured Avalanche.
In the 2nd round, Edmonton would play against the Dallas Stars, who the Oilers defeated the previous year in the opening round. The Stars finished with an NHL best 109 points in the regular season. The Stars would beat Edmonton in the first game, but Curtis Joseph would shutout Dallas in game 2, evening the series as it returned to Edmonton for the next 2 games. The 3rd game would be scoreless in regulation time, however, the Stars would score in the 1st overtime to take a 2–1 series lead. The Oilers offense then went dry, as they would score only 2 goals in the next 2 games, losing them both, and the series 4 games to 1.
==Season standings==
==Game log==
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	San Jose Sharks 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 3 	Detroit Red Wings 	8–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1–0 	2
3 	October 5 	Colorado Avalanche 	3–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2–0 	2
4 	October 8 	New York Rangers 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2–1 	3
5 	October 11 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2–1 	5
6 	October 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	2–3–1 	5
7 	October 15 	Colorado Avalanche 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4–1 	5
8 	October 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2–5–1 	5
9 	October 19 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–5–1 	7
10	October 21 	Boston Bruins 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6–1 	7
11	October 24 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6–1 	9
12	October 29 	Phoenix Coyotes 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6–1 	11
13	November 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Boston Bruins 	5–7–1 	11
14	November 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	New York Rangers 	5–7–2 	12
15	November 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	New York Islanders 	5–7–3 	13
16	November 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–6 	Philadelphia Flyers 	5–8–3 	13
17	November 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Washington Capitals 	5–9–3 	13
18	November 10	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Buffalo Sabres 	5–9–4 	14
19	November 12	Carolina Hurricanes 	6–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–10–4 	14
20	November 15	Calgary Flames 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–10–5 	15
21	November 17	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Phoenix Coyotes 	5–11–5 	15
22	November 19	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Dallas Stars 	5–12–5 	15
23	November 20	Edmonton Oilers 	3–0 	St. Louis Blues 	6–12–5 	17
24	November 22	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0 	Ottawa Senators 	7–12–5 	19
25	November 25	Chicago Blackhawks 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–12–6 	20
26	November 28	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–13–6 	20
27	November 30	San Jose Sharks 	1–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–13–6 	22
28	December 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Colorado Avalanche 	8–14–6 	22
29	December 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Dallas Stars 	8–15–6 	22
30	December 5 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–15–6 	24
31	December 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	9–15–7 	25
32	December 10	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	New Jersey Devils 	9–16–7 	25
33	December 12	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	10–16–7 	27
34	December 13	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	St. Louis Blues 	11–16–7 	29
35	December 17	Chicago Blackhawks 	0–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–16–8 	30
36	December 20	Dallas Stars 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–17–8 	30
37	December 22	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	11–17–9 	31
38	December 23	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	11–18–9 	31
39	December 27	Colorado Avalanche 	5–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–19–9 	31
40	December 30	Philadelphia Flyers 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–20–9 	31
41	January 2 	Montreal Canadiens 	5–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–21–9 	31
42	January 4 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–22–9 	31
43	January 7 	Florida Panthers 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–22–9 	33
44	January 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–1 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	13–22–9 	35
45	January 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	14–22–9 	37
46	January 12 	St. Louis Blues 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–22–9 	39
47	January 14 	Calgary Flames 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–22–9 	41
48	January 20 	Phoenix Coyotes 	2–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	17–22–9 	43
49	January 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	San Jose Sharks 	17–23–9 	43
50	January 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Phoenix Coyotes 	18–23–9 	45
51	January 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Colorado Avalanche 	18–24–9 	45
52	January 28 	New Jersey Devils 	1–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–24–10	46
53	January 31 	Vancouver Canucks 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–25–10	46
54	February 2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	0–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–25–10	48
55	February 4 	San Jose Sharks 	3–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–26–10	48
56	February 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	19–27–10	48
57	February 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Calgary Flames 	19–28–10	48
58	February 25	Ottawa Senators 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–28–10	50
59	February 27	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	4–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–29–10	50
60	February 28	San Jose Sharks 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	21–29–10	52
61	March 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Colorado Avalanche 	22–29–10	54
62	March 4 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–29–10	56
63	March 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	23–30–10	56
64	March 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	24–30–10	58
65	March 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–0 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	25–30–10	60
66	March 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	Florida Panthers 	26–30–10	62
67	March 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Carolina Hurricanes 	26–31–10	62
68	March 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	26–32–10	62
69	March 18 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	26–33–10	62
70	March 21 	St. Louis Blues 	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–33–10	64
71	March 22 	New York Islanders 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–34–10	64
72	[March 25 	Washington Capitals 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–34–10	66
73	March 27 	Buffalo Sabres 	1–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–35–10	66
74	March 30 	Calgary Flames 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–35–10	68
75	April 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	29–36–10	68
76	April 3 	Dallas Stars 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–36–10	70
77	April 6 	Vancouver Canucks 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	31–36–10	72
78	April 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	31–37–10	72
79	April 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	Los Angeles Kings 	32–37–10	74
80	April 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Calgary Flames 	33–37–10	76
81	April 15 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	34–37–10	78
82	April 18 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–37–10	80
==Playoffs==
===Edmonton Oilers 4, Colorado Avalanche 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 22	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Colorado Avalanche	1–0
2	April 24	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Colorado Avalanche	1–1
3	April 26	Colorado Avalanche	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2
4	April 28	Colorado Avalanche	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3
5	April 30	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Colorado Avalanche	2–3
6	May 2 	Colorado Avalanche	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3
7	May 4 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	Colorado Avalanche	4–3
===Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 7 	Edmonton Oilers	1–3 	Dallas Stars 	0–1
2	May 9 	Edmonton Oilers	2–0 	Dallas Stars 	1–1
3	May 11	Dallas Stars 	1–0 	Edmonton Oilers	1–2
4	May 13	Dallas Stars 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers	1–3
5	May 16	Edmonton Oilers	1–2 	Dallas Stars 	1–4
==Season stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Doug Weight 	79	26	44	70 	69
Dean McAmmond	77	19	31	50 	46
Boris Mironov	81	16	30	46 	100
Todd Marchant	76	14	21	35 	71
Ryan Smyth 	65	20	13	33 	44
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Bob Essensa 	16	825 	6 	6 	1	35 	0 	.913 	2.53
Curtis Joseph	71	4132	29	31	9	181	8 	.905 	2.63
==Playoff stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Doug Weight 	12	2	7	9 	14
Bill Guerin 	12	7	1	8 	17
Boris Mironov	12	3	3	6 	27
Roman Hamrlik	12	0	6	6 	12
Rem Murray 	11	1	4	5 	2
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Curtis Joseph	12	716	5	7	23	3 	.928 	1.93
Bob Essensa 	1 	27 	0	0	1 	0 	.909 	2.22
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 18, 1997 	To Philadelphia FlyersMatt Cerven 	To Edmonton Oilers7th round pick in 1997 - Chad Hinz
July 16, 1997 	To Tampa Bay LightningVladimir Vujtek3rd round pick in 1998 - Dmitry Afanasenkov	To Edmonton OilersBrantt Myhres3rd round pick in 1998 - Alex Henry
August 12, 1997 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsJiri Slegr 	To Edmonton Oilers*3rd round pick in 1998 - Brian Gionta
August 25, 1997 	To New York IslandersMariusz Czerkawski 	To Edmonton OilersDan LaCouture
October 15, 1997 	To Philadelphia FlyersBrantt Myhres 	To Edmonton OilersJason Bowen
December 30, 1997	To Tampa Bay LightningBryan MarchmentSteve KellyJason Bonsignore 	To Edmonton OilersRoman HamrlikPaul Comrie
January 4, 1998 	To New Jersey DevilsJason ArnottBryan Muir 	To Edmonton OilersBill GuerinValeri Zelepukin
January 9, 1998 	To Mighty Ducks of AnaheimDrew Bannister 	To Edmonton OilersBobby Dollas
March 9, 1998 	To Ottawa SenatorsScott Ferguson 	To Edmonton OilersFrank Musil
March 24, 1998 	To Philadelphia FlyersDan McGillis2nd round pick in 1998 - Jason Beckett 	To Edmonton OilersJanne Niinimaa
*Later traded to the New Jersey Devils
====Free agents====
{|class="wikitable" 	
Player 	Former team
F Doug Friedman 	Colorado Avalanche
F Bill Huard 	Dallas Stars
F Scott Fraser 	Calgary Flames
G Jean-Francois Labbe	Colorado Avalanche
D Drake Berehowsky 	Pittsburgh Penguins
F Ray Whitney 	San Jose Sharks
====Draft picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	14 	Michel Riesen 	 	Biel (Switzerland)
2 	41 	Patrick Dovigi 	 	Erie Otters (OHL)
3 	68 	Sergei Yerkovich 	 	Las Vegas Thunder (IHL)
4 	94 	Jonas Elofsson 	 	Farjestads BK Karlstad (SEL)
5 	121	Jason Chimera 	 	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
6 	141	Peter Sarno 	 	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
7 	176	Kevin Bolibruck 	 	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
7 	187	Chad Hinz 	 	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
8 	205	Chris Kerr 	 	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
9 	231	Alexander Fomitchev	 	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers seasons, 1997–98
Edmonton Oilers seasons, 1997–98