1998–99 NHL season

1998–99 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 9, 1998 – June 19, 1999
Number of games82
Number of teams27
TV partner(s)CBC, CTV Sportsnet, SRC (Canada)
ESPN, Fox (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickVincent Lecavalier
Picked byTampa Bay Lightning
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyDallas Stars
Season MVPJaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Top scorerJaromir Jagr (Penguins)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPJoe Nieuwendyk (Stars)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsDallas Stars
  Runners-upBuffalo Sabres
NHL seasons

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. They won the Stanley Cup Championship over the Buffalo Sabres with a disputed overtime goal by Brett Hull.

Goaltenders continued to rule the league; only two teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils, averaged more than three goals scored per game. In addition, no player reached the 50-goal plateau. A total of 160 shutouts were recorded for the second-straight regular season.

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
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 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

Postseason

Playoff bracket

  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1 New Jersey 3  
8 Pittsburgh 4  
  4 Toronto 4  
 
  8 Pittsburgh 2  
2 Ottawa 0
7 Buffalo 4  
  4 Toronto 1  
Eastern Conference
  7 Buffalo 4  
3 Carolina 2  
6 Boston 4  
  6 Boston 2
 
  7 Buffalo 4  
4 Toronto 4
5 Philadelphia 2  
  E7 Buffalo 2
  W1 Dallas 4
1 Dallas 4  
8 Edmonton 0  
  1 Dallas 4
 
  5 St. Louis 2  
2 Colorado 4
7 San Jose 2  
  1 Dallas 4
Western Conference
  2 Colorado 3  
3 Detroit 4  
6 Anaheim 0  
  2 Colorado 4
 
  3 Detroit 2  
4 Phoenix 3
5 St. Louis 4  

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 Boston 4 – 2
May 9 Buffalo Boston 3 – 1
May 12 Boston Buffalo 3 – 2
May 14 Boston Buffalo 3 – 0
May 16 Buffalo Boston 5 – 3
May 18 Boston 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

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

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

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, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim LW John LeClair, Philadelphia Flyers

First games

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1998–99 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start in playoffs):

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):

References