NHL Standings, 1996-97

Atlantic

Atlantic standings

Rank	Team	Goal differential	Points
1	Buffalo SabresDiv BUF · 40-30-12 · L10 2-7-0 · L2	+29	92 .561
2	Detroit Red Wings DET · 38-26-18 · L10 4-3-0 · L2	+56	94 .573
3	Florida Panthers FLA · 35-28-19 · L10 3-4-0 · W2	+20	-5 89 .543
4	Ottawa Senators OTT · 31-36-15 · L10 7-3-0 · W3	-8	-12 77 .470
5	Montréal Canadiens MTL · 31-36-15 · L10 5-4-0 · T1	-27	77 .470
6	Tampa Bay Lightning TBL · 32-40-10 · L10 4-3-0 · L1	-30	-3 74 .451
7	Toronto Maple Leafs TOR · 30-44-8 · L10 4-4-0 · W1	-43	-6 68 .415
8	Boston Bruins BOS · 26-47-9 · L10 2-8-0 · W1	-66	-7 61 .372

Metropolitan

Metropolitan standings

Rank	Team	Goal differential	Points
1	New Jersey DevilsDiv NJD · 45-23-14 · L10 6-3-0 · L1	+49	104 .634
2	Philadelphia Flyers PHI · 45-24-13 · L10 5-3-0 · W1	+57	-1 103 .628
3	Pittsburgh Penguins PIT · 38-36-8 · L10 4-5-0 · L3	+5	-19 84 .512
4	New York Rangers NYR · 38-34-10 · L10 5-4-0 · L1	+27	86 .524
5	Washington Capitals WSH · 33-40-9 · L10 5-4-0 · W3	-17	-11 75 .457
6	New York Islanders NYI · 29-41-12 · L10 4-5-0 · L1	-10	-5 70 .427

Central

Central standings

Rank	Team	Goal differential	Points
1	Colorado Avalanche★ COL · 49-24-9 · L10 4-6-0 · L1	+72	107 .652
2	Dallas StarsDiv DAL · 48-26-8 · L10 5-3-0 · L2	+54	-3 104 .634
3	St. Louis Blues STL · 36-35-11 · L10 5-3-0 · W3	-3	-21 83 .506
4	Chicago Blackhawks CHI · 34-35-13 · L10 6-3-0 · W2	+13	-2 81 .494

Pacific

Pacific standings

Rank	Team	Goal differential	Points
1	Anaheim Ducks ANA · 36-33-13 · L10 6-2-0 · W3	+12	85 .518
2	PHX Phoenix Coyotes PHX · 38-37-7 · L10 5-3-0 · W1	-3	-2 83 .506
3	Edmonton Oilers EDM · 36-37-9 · L10 3-5-0 · L2	+5	-2 81 .494
4	Vancouver Canucks VAN · 35-40-7 · L10 6-1-0 · W3	-16	-4 77 .470
5	Calgary Flames CGY · 32-41-9 · L10 2-7-0 · L4	-25	-4 73 .445
6	Los Angeles Kings LAK · 28-43-11 · L10 3-5-0 · W2	-54	-6 67 .409
7	San Jose Sharks SJS · 27-47-8 · L10 3-6-0 · L2	-67	-5 62 .378

Northeast

Northeast standings

Rank	Team	Goal differential	Points
1	HFD Hartford Whalers HFD · 32-39-11 · L10 5-4-0 · W1	-30	75 .457

★ league best · Div division winner · WC wildcard · line = playoff cut · dimmed = missed