1997–98 Boston Bruins season

1997–98 Boston Bruins
Division	2nd Northeast
Conference	5th Eastern
1997–98 record	39–30–13
Home record	19–16–6
Road record	20–14–7
Goals for	221
Goals against	194
Team information
General manager	Mike O'Connell
Coach	Pat Burns
Captain	Ray Bourque
Alternate captains	Ken Baumgartner Don Sweeney
Arena	Fleet Center
Average attendance	15,097
Minor league affiliate(s)	Providence Bruins Charlotte Checkers
Team leaders
Goals	Jason Allison (33)
Assists	Jason Allison (50)
Points	Jason Allison (83)
Penalty minutes	Ken Baumgartner (199)
Plus/minus	Jason Allison (+33)
Wins	Byron Dafoe (30)
Goals against average	Rob Tallas (1.83)

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) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 1 W October 2, 1997 6–5 Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 1–0–0 Recap 2 L October 4, 1997 1–4 Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 1–1–0 Recap 3 L October 7, 1997 2–3 @ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 1–2–0 Recap 4 W October 8, 1997 3–2 OT @ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 2–2–0 Recap 5 L October 11, 1997 2–5 @ San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 2–3–0 Recap 6 W October 13, 1997 3–0 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 3–3–0 Recap 7 W October 15, 1997 5–3 @ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98) 4–3–0 Recap 8 W October 17, 1997 2–0 @ Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 5–3–0 Recap 9 W October 18, 1997 3–0 @ Calgary Flames (1997–98) 6–3–0 Recap 10 W October 21, 1997 2–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 7–3–0 Recap 11 T October 23, 1997 2–2 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 7–3–1 Recap 12 L October 25, 1997 4–5 Florida Panthers (1997–98) 7–4–1 Recap 13 L October 30, 1997 0–3 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98) 7–5–1 Recap
November: 4–6–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–3–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 14 W November 1, 1997 3–1 Edmonton Oilers (1997–98) 8–5–1 Recap 15 W November 2, 1997 3–1 @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 9–5–1 Recap 16 W November 6, 1997 2–0 Washington Capitals (1997–98) 10–5–1 Recap 17 L November 8, 1997 0–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 10–6–1 Recap 18 T November 12, 1997 3–3 OT @ Dallas Stars (1997–98) 10–6–2 Recap 19 L November 13, 1997 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 10–7–2 Recap 20 T November 15, 1997 3–3 OT Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 10–7–3 Recap 21 W November 17, 1997 4–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 11–7–3 Recap 22 T November 19, 1997 3–3 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 11–7–4 Recap 23 L November 20, 1997 0–5 Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 11–8–4 Recap 24 L November 22, 1997 0–2 Dallas Stars (1997–98) 11–9–4 Recap 25 L November 26, 1997 5–10 @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 11–10–4 Recap 26 L November 28, 1997 2–5 Vancouver Canucks (1997–98) 11–11–4 Recap 27 T November 29, 1997 1–1 OT Washington Capitals (1997–98) 11–11–5 Recap
December: 6–5–2 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–3–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 28 L December 1, 1997 1–3 @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 11–12–5 Recap 29 W December 3, 1997 3–0 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 12–12–5 Recap 30 W December 6, 1997 4–1 Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 13–12–5 Recap 31 W December 11, 1997 2–1 Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 14–12–5 Recap 32 W December 13, 1997 4–2 Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 15–12–5 Recap 33 W December 15, 1997 6–2 @ Florida Panthers (1997–98) 16–12–5 Recap 34 L December 17, 1997 0–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 16–13–5 Recap 35 T December 18, 1997 2–2 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 16–13–6 Recap 36 L December 20, 1997 3–4 New York Islanders (1997–98) 16–14–6 Recap 37 L December 22, 1997 2–4 Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 16–15–6 Recap 38 W December 27, 1997 3–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 17–15–6 Recap 39 L December 28, 1997 3–4 @ New York Rangers (1997–98) 17–16–6 Recap 40 T December 31, 1997 2–2 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 17–16–7 Recap
January: 6–4–2 (home: 5–1–2; road: 1–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 41 T January 1, 1998 0–0 OT Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 17–16–8 Recap 42 W January 3, 1998 3–0 San Jose Sharks (1997–98) 18–16–8 Recap 43 W January 7, 1998 2–1 OT @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 19–16–8 Recap 44 W January 8, 1998 5–2 Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98) 20–16–8 Recap 45 T January 12, 1998 1–1 OT New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 20–16–9 Recap 46 W January 14, 1998 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 21–16–9 Recap 47 L January 21, 1998 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 21–17–9 Recap 48 L January 24, 1998 2–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 21–18–9 Recap 49 L January 25, 1998 1–4 @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) 21–19–9 Recap 50 W January 27, 1998 6–1 Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 22–19–9 Recap 51 L January 29, 1998 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 22–20–9 Recap 52 W January 31, 1998 4–2 New York Rangers (1997–98) 23–20–9 Recap
February: 1–2–3 (home: 1–2–1; road: 0–0–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 53 T February 1, 1998 2–2 OT @ New York Islanders (1997–98) 23–20–10 Recap 54 T February 4, 1998 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 23–20–11 Recap 55 L February 5, 1998 1–3 St. Louis Blues (1997–98) 23–21–11 Recap 56 L February 7, 1998 1–3 Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 23–22–11 Recap 57 T February 26, 1998 1–1 OT Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 23–22–12 Recap 58 W February 28, 1998 6–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 24–22–12 Recap
March: 9–4–1 (home: 5–3–0; road: 4–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 59 W March 1, 1998 5–4 @ New York Islanders (1997–98) 25–22–12 Recap 60 W March 3, 1998 3–0 @ Washington Capitals (1997–98) 26–22–12 Recap 61 T March 5, 1998 1–1 OT @ New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 26–22–13 Recap 62 L March 7, 1998 1–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 26–23–13 Recap 63 W March 10, 1998 6–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98) 27–23–13 Recap 64 L March 12, 1998 2–5 Calgary Flames (1997–98) 27–24–13 Recap 65 W March 14, 1998 5–1 New York Rangers (1997–98) 28–24–13 Recap 66 W March 16, 1998 4–3 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98) 29–24–13 Recap 67 W March 19, 1998 4–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98) 30–24–13 Recap 68 W March 21, 1998 2–1 @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 31–24–13 Recap 69 L March 22, 1998 0–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98) 31–25–13 Recap 70 W March 26, 1998 4–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 32–25–13 Recap 71 L March 28, 1998 2–3 OT Florida Panthers (1997–98) 32–26–13 Recap 72 W March 30, 1998 4–1 Colorado Avalanche (1997–98) 33–26–13 Recap
April: 6–4–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 4–2–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap 73 W April 1, 1998 4–2 @ New York Rangers (1997–98) 34–26–13 Recap 74 L April 3, 1998 4–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98) 34–27–13 Recap 75 L April 6, 1998 0–3 Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 34–28–13 Recap 76 W April 7, 1998 4–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1997–98) 35–28–13 Recap 77 W April 9, 1998 4–1 New York Islanders (1997–98) 36–28–13 Recap 78 L April 11, 1998 2–3 New Jersey Devils (1997–98) 36–29–13 Recap 79 W April 13, 1998 3–2 @ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) 37–29–13 Recap 80 W April 15, 1998 6–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98) 38–29–13 Recap 81 L April 18, 1998 2–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98) 38–30–13 Recap 82 W April 19, 1998 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98) 39–30–13 Recap
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 Game Result Date Score Opponent Attendance Series Recap 1 L April 22, 1998 1–3 @ Washington Capitals 15,117 Capitals lead 1–0 Recap 2 W April 24, 1998 4–3 2OT @ Washington Capitals 19,740 Series tied 1–1 Recap 3 L April 26, 1998 2–3 2OT Washington Capitals 15,520 Capitals lead 2–1 Recap 4 L April 28, 1998 0–3 Washington Capitals 17,131 Capitals lead 3–1 Recap 5 W May 1, 1998 4–0 @ Washington Capitals 19,740 Capitals lead 3–2 Recap 6 L May 3, 1998 2–3 OT Washington Capitals 15,163 Capitals lead 4–2 Recap
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						Playoffs
			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										Playoffs
		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	Ref
League (annual)	Calder Memorial Trophy	Sergei Samsonov
	Jack Adams Award	Pat Burns
	NHL All-Rookie Team	Sergei Samsonov (Forward)
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Ray Bourque
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Sergei Samsonov (January)
Team	Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy	Jason Allison
	Seventh Player Award	Jason Allison
	Three Stars Awards	Byron Dafoe (1st)
		Jason Allison (2nd)
		Ray Bourque (3rd)

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	P. J. Axelsson	October 2, 1997
	Shawn Bates
	Sergei Samsonov
	Joe Thornton	October 8, 1997
	Hal Gill	October 17, 1997
	Kirk Nielsen	November 1, 1997
	Cameron Mann	December 18, 1997
	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)

References

• "Boston Bruins 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
• "1997-98 Boston Bruins Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.