The '1998-99 NHL season' was the 82nd regular season of the
National Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 82 games each. The
Dallas Stars finished first in regular season play, and won the
Stanley Cup Championship over the
Buffalo Sabres in a controversial fashion on a disputed overtime goal by
Brett Hull. The
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy for the most goals by a player in a season made its debut this year. The first winner was
Teemu Selänne of the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
With the addition of the expansion
Nashville Predators, the NHL realigned this year to a strictly geographic six-division structure (three per conference), erasing the last vestiges of the traditional four-division structure (
Adams/
Patrick/
Norris/
Smythe) abandoned in
1993-94; other than the necessary reassignment of
Colorado in 1995 due to its two-thousand mile (over 3,200
km) east-west move from
Quebec, the divisions' membership had remained static for six years despite the renaming and the moves of several other franchises. As part of this realignment, the
Toronto Maple Leafs moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference.
The 1998-99 season marked the retirement of
Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer, who played his final three
NHL seasons with the
New York Rangers. The Rangers had been battling for a playoff spot up until the end of the regular season when they lost to the
Pittsburgh Penguins who were able to clinch the postseason berth when
Jaromir Jagr scored the winning goal. The game was also symbolic because it appeared as though Gretzky was passing the torch to Jagr, signalling a changing of the guard of the NHL's greatest superstar.
This was the final season
Fox televised NHL games in the United States.
Regular season
Final standings
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Scoring leaders
''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points''
Leading goaltenders
Postseason
Playoff bracket
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
| New Jersey (1) vs. Pittsburgh (8) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22 | Pittsburgh | 'New Jersey' | | 3 - 1 | | April 24 | 'Pittsburgh' | New Jersey | | 4 - 1 | | April 25 | New Jersey | 'Pittsburgh' | | 4 - 2 | | April 27 | 'New Jersey' | Pittsburgh | | 4 - 2 | | April 30 | Pittsburgh | 'New Jersey' | | 4 - 3 | | May 2 | New Jersey | 'Pittsburgh' | OT | 3 - 2 | | May 4 | 'Pittsburgh' | New Jersey | | 4 - 2 | | '''Pittsburgh wins series 4–3''' | ||||
| | Ottawa (2) vs. Buffalo (7) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 | 'Buffalo' | Ottawa | | 2 - 1 | | April 23 | 'Buffalo' | Ottawa | 2OT | 3 - 2 | | April 25 | Ottawa | 'Buffalo' | | 3 - 0 | | April 27 | Ottawa | 'Buffalo' | | 4 - 3 | | '''Buffalo wins series 4–0''' | ||||
|
| Carolina (3) vs. Boston (6) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22 | 'Boston' | Carolina | | 2 - 0 | | April 24 | Boston | 'Carolina' | OT | 3 - 2 | | April 26 | 'Carolina' | Boston | | 3 - 2 | | April 28 | Carolina | 'Boston' | | 4 - 1 | | April 30 | 'Boston' | Carolina | 2OT | 4 - 3 | | May 2 | Carolina | Boston | | 2 - 0 | | '''Boston wins series 4–2''' |
| | Toronto (4) vs. Philadelphia (5) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22 | 'Philadelphia' | Toronto | | 3 - 0 | | April 24 | Philadelphia | 'Toronto' | | 2 - 1 | | April 26 | 'Toronto' | Philadelphia | | 2 - 1 | | April 28 | Toronto | 'Philadelphia' | | 5 - 2 | | April 30 | Philadelphia | 'Toronto' | OT | 2 - 1 | | May 2 | 'Toronto' | Philadelphia | | 1 - 0 | | '''Toronto wins series 4–2''' | ||||
|
Western Conference Quarterfinals
| Dallas (1) vs. Edmonton (8) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 | Edmonton | 'Dallas' | | 2 - 1 | | April 23 | Edmonton | 'Dallas' | | 3 - 2 | | April 25 | 'Dallas' | Edmonton | | 3 - 2 | | April 28 | 'Dallas' | Edmonton | 3OT | 3 - 2 | | '''Dallas wins series 4–0''' | ||||
| | Colorado (2) vs. San Jose (7) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 24 | San Jose | 'Colorado' | | 3 - 1 | | April 26 | San Jose | 'Colorado' | OT | 2 - 1 | | April 28 | Colorado | 'San Jose' | | 4 - 2 | | April 30 | Colorado | 'San Jose' | | 7 - 3 | | May 1 | San Jose | 'Colorado' | | 6 - 2 | | May 3 | 'Colorado' | San Jose | OT | 3 - 2 | | '''Colorado wins series 4–2''' | ||||
|
| Detroit (3) vs. Anaheim (6) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 | Anaheim | 'Detroit' | 5 - 3 | | April 23 | Anaheim | 'Detroit' | 5 - 1 | | April 25 | 'Detroit' | Anaheim | 4 - 2 | | April 27 | 'Detroit' | Anaheim | 3 - 0 | | '''Detroit wins series 4–0''' | |||
| | Phoenix (4) vs. St. Louis (5) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22 | 'St. Louis' | Phoenix | | 3 - 1 | | April 24 | St. Louis | 'Phoenix' | OT | 4 - 3 | | April 25 | 'Phoenix' | St. Louis | | 5 - 4 | | April 27 | 'Phoenix' | St. Louis | | 2 - 1 | | April 30 | 'St. Louis' | Phoenix | OT | 2 - 1 | | May 2 | Phoenix | 'St. Louis' | | 5 - 3 | | May 4 | 'St. Louis' | Phoenix | OT | 1 - 0 | | '''St. Louis wins series 4–3''' | ||||
|
Eastern Conference Semifinals
| Toronto (4) vs. Pittsburgh (8) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7 | 'Pittsburgh' | Toronto | | 2 - 0 | | May 9 | Pittsburgh | 'Toronto' | | 4 - 2 | | May 11 | Toronto | 'Pittsburgh' | | 4 - 3 | | May 13 | 'Toronto' | Pittsburgh | OT | 3 - 2 | | May 15 | Pittsburgh | 'Toronto' | | 4 - 1 | | May 17 | 'Toronto' | Pittsburgh | OT | 4 - 3 | | '''Toronto wins series 4–2''' | ||||
| | Boston (6) vs. Buffalo (7) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Buffalo 2 | 'Boston 4' | 4 - 2 | | May 9 | 'Buffalo 3' | 1 Boston | 3 - 1 | | May 12 | Boston 2 | '3 Buffalo' | 3 - 2 | | May 14 | Boston 0 | '3 Buffalo' | 3 - 0 | | May 16 | Buffalo 3 | 'Boston 5' | 5 - 3 | | May 18 | Boston 2 | '3 Buffalo' | 3 - 2 | | '''Buffalo wins series 4–2''' |
|
Western Conference Semifinals
| Dallas (1) vs. St. Louis (5) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | St. Louis | 'Dallas' | | 3 - 0 | | May 8 | St. Louis | 'Dallas' | OT | 5 - 4 | | May 10 | Dallas | 'St. Louis' | OT | 3 - 2 | | May 12 | Dallas | 'St. Louis' | OT | 3 - 2 | | May 15 | St. Louis | 'Dallas' | | 3 - 1 | | May 17 | 'Dallas' | St. Louis | OT | 2 - 1 | | '''Dallas wins series 4–2''' | ||||
| | Colorado (2) vs. Detroit (3) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | OT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7 | 'Detroit' | Colorado | OT | 3 - 2 | | May 9 | 'Detroit' | Colorado | | 4 - 0 | | May 11 | 'Colorado' | Detroit | | 5 - 3 | | May 13 | 'Colorado' | Detroit | | 6 - 2 | | May 16 | Detroit | 'Colorado' | | 3 - 0 | | May 18 | 'Colorado' | Detroit | | 5 - 2 | | '''Colorado wins series 4–2''' | ||||
|
Eastern Conference Final
Main articles: 1999 Eastern Conference Finals (NHL)
| Toronto (4) vs. Buffalo (7) |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23 | 'Buffalo' | Toronto | 5 - 4 | | May 25 | Buffalo | 'Toronto' | 6 - 3 | | May 27 | Toronto | 'Buffalo' | 4 - 2 | | May 29 | Toronto | 'Buffalo' | 5 - 2 | | May 31 | 'Buffalo' | Toronto | 4 - 2 | | '''Buffalo wins series 4–1 and Prince of Wales Trophy''' | |||
|
Western Conference Final
Main articles: 1999 Western Conference Finals (NHL)
Stanley Cup Finals
Main articles: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals
{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="5" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="5" | Dallas (1) vs. Buffalo (7)
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home !! OT !! Score
|-
|
June 8 || 'Buffalo' || Dallas || OT || 3 - 2
|-
|
June 10 || Buffalo || 'Dallas' || || 4 - 2
|-
|
June 12 || 'Dallas' || Buffalo || || 2 - 1
|-
|
June 15 || Dallas || 'Buffalo' || || 2 - 1
|-
|
June 17 || Buffalo || 'Dallas' || || 2 - 0
|-
|
June 19 || 'Dallas' || Buffalo || 3OT || 2 - 1
|- align="center"
| colspan="5" | '''Dallas wins series 4—2 and the
Stanley Cup'''
|- align="center"
| colspan="5" |'''
Joe Nieuwendyk (Dallas) wins
Conn Smythe Trophy'''
|}
NHL awards
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"
|
Presidents' Trophy: ||
Dallas Stars
|-
|
Prince of Wales Trophy: ||
Buffalo Sabres
|-
|
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: ||
Dallas Stars
|-
|
Art Ross Memorial Trophy: ||
Jaromir Jagr,
Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
|
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: ||
John Cullen,
Tampa Bay Lightning
|-
|
Calder Memorial Trophy: ||
Chris Drury,
Colorado Avalanche
|-
|
Conn Smythe Trophy: ||
Joe Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars
|-
|
Frank J. Selke Trophy: ||
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
|-
|
Hart Memorial Trophy: || Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
|
Jack Adams Award: ||
Jacques Martin,
Ottawa Senators
|-
|
James Norris Memorial Trophy: ||
Al MacInnis,
St. Louis Blues
|-
|
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: ||
Rob Ray,
Buffalo Sabres
|-
|
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: ||
Wayne Gretzky,
New York Rangers
|-
|
Lester B. Pearson Award: || Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
|-
|
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: ||
Teemu Selänne,
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|-
|
NHL Plus/Minus Award: ||
John LeClair,
Philadelphia Flyers
|-
|
Vezina Trophy: ||
Dominik Hasek,
Buffalo Sabres
|-
|
William M. Jennings Trophy: ||
Ed Belfour &
Roman Turek, Dallas Stars
|-
|
Lester Patrick Trophy: ||
Harry Sinden
|}
All-Star teams
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! First Team !! Position !! Second Team
|-
|
Dominik Hasek,
Buffalo Sabres
| align=center |
G
|
Byron Dafoe,
Boston Bruins
|-
|
Al MacInnis,
St. Louis Blues
| align=center |
D
|
Ray Bourque,
Boston Bruins
|-
|
Nicklas Lidstrom,
Detroit Red Wings
| align=center | D
|
Eric Desjardins,
Philadelphia Flyers
|-
|
Peter Forsberg,
Colorado Avalanche
| align=center |
C
|
Alexei Yashin,
Ottawa Senators
|-
|
Jaromir Jagr,
Pittsburgh Penguins
| align=center |
RW
|
Teemu Selanne,
Anaheim Mighty Ducks
|-
|
Paul Kariya,
Anaheim Mighty Ducks
| align=center |
LW
|
John LeClair,
Philadelphia Flyers
|-
|}
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1998-99 (listed with their first team, asterisk(
★ ) marks debut in playoffs):
★
Martin St. Louis, Calgary Flames
★
Jean-Pierre Dumont, Chicago Blackhawks
★
Chris Drury, Colorado Avalanche
★
Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche
★
Tom Poti, Edmonton Oilers
★
Dan Boyle, Florida Panthers
★
Jason Blake, Los Angeles Kings
★
David Legwand, Nashville Predators
★
Karlis Skrastins, Nashville Predators
★
Kimmo Timonen, Nashville Predators
★
John Madden, New Jersey Devils
★
Eric Brewer, New York Islanders
★
Sami Salo, Ottawa Senators
★
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
★
Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1998-99 (listed with their last team):
★
Tomas Sandstrom, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
★
Randy Cunneyworth, Buffalo Sabres
★
Steve Chiasson, Carolina Hurricanes
★
Dale Hunter, Colorado Avalanche
★
Craig Ludwig, Dallas Stars
★
Jamie Macoun, Detroit Red Wings
★
Petr Klima, Detroit Red Wings
★
Dino Ciccarelli, Florida Panthers
★
Russ Courtnall, Los Angeles Kings
★
Dave Babych, Los Angeles Kings
★
Bob Carpenter, New Jersey Devils
★
Craig Janney, New York Islanders
★
Esa Tikkanen, New York Rangers
★
Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
★
Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers
★
Bernie Nicholls, San Jose Sharks
★
Jim Carey, St. Louis Blues
★
Peter Zezel, Vancouver Canucks
★
Dave Gagner, Vancouver Canucks
★
Brian Bellows, Washington Capitals
★
Kelly Miller, Washington Capitals
★
Michal Pivonka, Washington Capitals
See also
★
List of Stanley Cup champions
★
1998 NHL Entry Draft
★
1998 NHL Expansion Draft
★
49th National Hockey League All-Star Game
★
National Hockey League All-Star Game
★
1998 in sports
★
1999 in sports
References
★
Hockey Database
★ http://nhl.com/
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