Every 1996-97 NHL race charted day by day: Atlantic, Northeast, Central and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 4, 1996 to April 13, 1997.
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Atlantic standings, 1996-97
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
New Jersey Devils (NJD)
45
23
14
104
6-3-1
L1
Philadelphia Flyers (PHI)
45
24
13
103
5-3-2
W1
Florida Panthers (FLA)
35
28
19
89
3-4-3
W2
New York Rangers (NYR)
38
34
10
86
5-4-1
L1
Washington Capitals (WSH)
33
40
9
75
5-4-1
W3
Tampa Bay Lightning (TBL)
32
40
10
74
4-3-3
L1
New York Islanders (NYI)
29
41
12
70
4-5-1
L1
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 7 times.
The New Jersey Devils trailed by as many as 13 points on December 1, 1996.
The New Jersey Devils took first place for good on April 4, 1997.
The Philadelphia Flyers won 7 games in a row from December 6, 1996 to December 21, 1996, the longest run of the race.
The Florida Panthers led by 11 points as late as November 29, 1996.
The New Jersey Devils went 15-4-2 from February 26, 1997 to April 11, 1997, turning a deficit of 9 points into a lead of 4 points.
The top two ended the day within two points of each other on 54 of the 176 days played.
Six teams held first place.
The New Jersey Devils spent 17 of the season's 192 charted days in first place.