1998-99 NHL season

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.

League Business[]

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. It was also the final season for the Carolina Hurricanes at the Greensboro Coliseum, before moving their home games to the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena for the following season.

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 Selanne of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Regular season[]

Final standings[]

Eastern Conference[]

Atlantic Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
New Jersey Devils	82	47	24	11	105	248	196	1355
Philadelphia Flyers	82	37	26	19	93	231	196	1075
Pittsburgh Penguins	82	38	30	14	90	242	225	977
New York Rangers	82	33	38	11	77	217	227	1087
New York Islanders	82	24	48	10	58	194	244	1111

Northeast Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Ottawa Senators	82	44	23	15	103	239	179	892
Toronto Maple Leafs	82	45	30	7	97	268	231	1095
Boston Bruins	82	39	30	13	91	214	181	1182
Buffalo Sabres	82	37	28	17	91	207	175	1561
Montreal Canadiens	82	32	39	11	75	184	209	1299

Southeast Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Carolina Hurricanes	82	34	30	18	86	210	202	1158
Florida Panthers	82	30	34	18	78	210	228	1522
Washington Capitals	82	31	45	6	68	200	218	1381
Tampa Bay Lightning	82	19	54	9	47	179	292	1316

Western Conference[]

Central Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Detroit Red Wings	82	43	32	7	93	245	202	1202
St. Louis Blues	82	37	32	13	87	237	209	1308
Chicago Blackhawks	82	29	41	12	70	202	248	1807
Nashville Predators	82	28	47	7	63	190	261	1420

Northwest Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Colorado Avalanche	82	44	28	10	98	239	205	1619
Edmonton Oilers	82	33	37	12	78	230	226	1373
Calgary Flames	82	30	40	12	72	211	234	1389
Vancouver Canucks	82	23	47	12	58	192	258	1764

Pacific Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Dallas Stars	82	51	19	12	114	236	168	1108
Phoenix Coyotes	82	39	31	12	90	205	197	1412
Anaheim Mighty Ducks	82	35	34	13	83	215	206	1323
San Jose Sharks	82	31	33	18	80	196	191	1423
Los Angeles Kings	82	32	45	5	69	189	222	1383

Scoring leaders[]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Jaromir Jagr	Pittsburgh Penguins	81	44	83	127	66
Teemu Selanne	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	75	47	60	107	30
Paul Kariya	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	82	39	62	101	40
Peter Forsberg	Colorado Avalanche	78	30	67	97	108
Joe Sakic	Colorado Avalanche	73	41	55	96	29
Alexei Yashin	Ottawa Senators	82	44	50	94	54
Eric Lindros	Philadelphia Flyers	71	40	53	93	120
Theoren Fleury	Calgary Flames /Colorado Avalanche	75	40	53	93	86
John Leclair	Philadelphia Flyers	76	43	47	90	30
Pavol Demitra	St. Louis Blues	82	37	52	89	16

Leading goaltenders[]

Postseason[]

Playoff bracket[]

Conference Quarterfinals			Conference Semifinals			Conference Finals			Stanley Cup Finals

1	New Jersey	3
8	Pittsburgh	4
			6	Boston	2

			7	Buffalo	4
2	Ottawa	0

7	Buffalo	4
						4	Toronto	1
Eastern Conference
						7	Buffalo	4
3	Carolina	2

6	Boston	4
			4	Toronto	4

			8	Pittsburgh	2
4	Toronto	4

5	Philadelphia	2
									E7	Buffalo	2

									W1	Dallas	4
1	Dallas	4

8	Edmonton	0
			2	Colorado	4

			3	Detroit	2
2	Colorado	4

7	San Jose	2
						1	Dallas	4
Western Conference
						2	Colorado	3
4	Phoenix	3

5	St. Louis	4
			1	Dallas	4

			5	St. Louis	2
3	Detroit	4

6	Anaheim	0

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 article: 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 article: 1999 Western Conference Finals (NHL)

Dallas (1) vs. Colorado (2)
Date	Away	Home	OT	Score
May 22	Colorado	Dallas		2 - 1
May 24	Colorado	Dallas		4 - 2
May 26	Dallas	Colorado		3 - 0
May 28	Dallas	Colorado	OT	3 - 2
May 30	Colorado	Dallas		7 - 5
June 1	Dallas	Colorado		4 - 1
June 4	Colorado	Dallas		4 - 1
Dallas wins series 4–3 and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals[]

Main article: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals

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
Dallas wins series 4—2 and the Stanley Cup
Joe Nieuwendyk (Dallas) wins Conn Smythe Trophy

NHL awards[]

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[]

First Team	Position	Second Team
Dominik Hasek, Buffalo Sabres	G	Byron Dafoe, Boston Bruins
Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues	D	Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings	D	Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia Flyers
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche	C	Alexei Yashin, Ottawa Senators
Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins	RW	Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Paul Kariya, Anaheim Mighty Ducks	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

Hat tricks[]

Main article: 1998-99 NHL Hat tricks

References[]

NHL Seasons
1994-95 \| 1995-96 \| 1996-97 \| 1997-98 \| 1998-99 \| 1999-00 \| 2000-01 \| 2001-02 \| 2002-03