Standings, 1996-97 season

League Conference Division

A win is worth 2 points. A tie (T) is worth 1.

Atlantic Division

#	Team	GP	W	L	T	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Diff
1	New Jersey Devils z	82	45	23	14	104	231	182	+49
2	Philadelphia Flyers x	82	45	24	13	103	274	217	+57
3	Florida Panthers x	82	35	28	19	89	221	201	+20
4	New York Rangers x	82	38	34	10	86	258	231	+27
5	Washington Capitals e	82	33	40	9	75	214	231	-17
6	Tampa Bay Lightning e	82	32	40	10	74	217	247	-30
7	New York Islanders e	82	29	41	12	70	240	250	-10

Northeast Division

#	Team	GP	W	L	T	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Diff
1	Buffalo Sabres y	82	40	30	12	92	237	208	+29
2	Pittsburgh Penguins x	82	38	36	8	84	285	280	+5
3	Montréal Canadiens x	82	31	36	15	77	249	276	-27
4	Ottawa Senators x	82	31	36	15	77	226	234	-8
5	Hartford Whalers e	82	32	39	11	75	226	256	-30
6	Boston Bruins e	82	26	47	9	61	234	300	-66

Central Division

#	Team	GP	W	L	T	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Diff
1	Dallas Stars y	82	48	26	8	104	252	198	+54
2	Detroit Red Wings x	82	38	26	18	94	253	197	+56
3	Phoenix Coyotes x	82	38	37	7	83	240	243	-3
4	St. Louis Blues x	82	36	35	11	83	236	239	-3
5	Chicago Blackhawks x	82	34	35	13	81	223	210	+13
6	Toronto Maple Leafs e	82	30	44	8	68	230	273	-43

Pacific Division

#	Team	GP	W	L	T	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Diff
1	Colorado Avalanche p	82	49	24	9	107	277	205	+72
2	Anaheim Ducks x	82	36	33	13	85	245	233	+12
3	Edmonton Oilers x	82	36	37	9	81	252	247	+5
4	Vancouver Canucks e	82	35	40	7	77	257	273	-16
5	Calgary Flames e	82	32	41	9	73	214	239	-25
6	Los Angeles Kings e	82	28	43	11	67	214	268	-54
7	San Jose Sharks e	82	27	47	8	62	211	278	-67

x Clinched Playoff spot y Clinched Division p Presidents' Trophy z Clinched Conference e Eliminated from Playoff contention Stanley Cup champions