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1998–99 Washington Capitals season

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1998–99 Washington Capitals
Division3rd Southeast
Conference12th Eastern
1998–99 record31–45–6
Home record16–23–2
Road record15–22–4
Goals for200
Goals against218
Team information
General managerGeorge McPhee
CoachRon Wilson
CaptainDale Hunter (Oct-Mar)
Vacant (Mar-Apr)
ArenaMCI Center
Average attendance17,281
Minor league affiliate(s)Portland Pirates
Hampton Roads Admirals
Quad City Mallards
Team leaders
GoalsPeter Bondra (31)
AssistsAdam Oates (42)
PointsPeter Bondra (55)
Penalty minutesCraig Berube (166)
Plus/minusJoe Reekie (+11)
WinsOlaf Kolzig (26)
Goals against averageRick Tabaracci (2.51)

The 1998–99 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 25th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Capitals missed the playoffs, despite their amazing run to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals the previous year.

Off-season

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Regular season

[edit]

The Caps opened the 1998–99 season by raising their "Eastern Conference Champions 1997–1998" banner to the rafters of the MCI Center then shutting out the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1–0 with Olaf Kolzig making 29 saves.

On January 16, 1999, Kelly Miller scored just nine seconds into the overtime period to give the Caps a 3–2 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes.[1] It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1998–99 regular season.[2]

On February 3, 1999, the Caps defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning at home by a score of 10–1.[3] Peter Bondra scored four goals in the game. It was the first time that Washington had scored ten goals in a regular-season game since December 17, 1993, when they defeated the Ottawa Senators at home by a score of 11–2.[4]

On March 23, 1999, the Caps traded captain Dale Hunter, Joe Juneau (who had scored the OT goal that led the Caps to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals), and Craig Berube.

A month after the season finale owner Abe Pollin announced he had sold the team to Ted Leonsis[5]

The Caps were shut out an NHL-high 11 times.[2] They also tied the St. Louis Blues for the fewest power-play opportunities, with just 301.[6] The Caps failed to make the playoffs after playing in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. They led the NHL in man-games lost to injury with 511.[7]

Final standings

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Southeast Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
1 3 Carolina Hurricanes 82 34 30 18 210 202 1158 86
2 9 Florida Panthers 82 30 34 18 210 228 1522 78
3 12 Washington Capitals 82 31 45 6 200 218 1381 68
4 14 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 19 54 9 179 292 1316 47

[8]

Eastern Conference[9]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 y – New Jersey Devils ATL 82 47 24 11 248 196 105
2 y – Ottawa Senators NE 82 44 23 15 239 179 103
3 y – Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 34 30 18 210 202 86
4 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 45 30 7 268 231 97
5 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 37 26 19 231 196 93
6 Boston Bruins NE 82 39 30 13 214 181 91
7 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 37 28 17 207 175 91
8 Pittsburgh Penguins ATL 82 38 30 14 242 225 90
9 Florida Panthers SE 82 30 34 18 210 228 78
10 New York Rangers ATL 82 33 38 11 217 227 77
11 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 32 39 11 184 209 75
12 Washington Capitals SE 82 31 45 6 200 218 68
13 New York Islanders ATL 82 24 48 10 194 244 58
14 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 19 54 9 179 292 47

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division


Schedule and results

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1998–99 regular season[10]
October: 3–3–3 (home: 1–2–2; road: 2–1–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 W October 10, 1998 1–0 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) 1–0–0 Recap
2 L October 13, 1998 2–3 Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 1–1–0 Recap
3 T October 16, 1998 2–2 OT Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 1–1–1 Recap
4 W October 18, 1998 4–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 2–1–1 Recap
5 L October 21, 1998 1–2 Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 2–2–1 Recap
6 W October 23, 1998 1–0 @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 3–2–1 Recap
7 T October 24, 1998 2–2 OT Florida Panthers (1998–99) 3–2–2 Recap
8 L October 28, 1998 2–8 @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 3–3–2 Recap
9 T October 30, 1998 0–0 OT @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) 3–3–3 Recap
November: 4–8–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 2–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
10 L November 1, 1998 1–4 @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 3–4–3 Recap
11 L November 4, 1998 2–5 Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 3–5–3 Recap
12 L November 6, 1998 2–3 Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 3–6–3 Recap
13 W November 7, 1998 8–5 @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 4–6–3 Recap
14 L November 12, 1998 0–2 Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 4–7–3 Recap
15 W November 14, 1998 5–3 @ New York Islanders (1998–99) 5–7–3 Recap
16 W November 18, 1998 4–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 6–7–3 Recap
17 L November 20, 1998 1–4 Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 6–8–3 Recap
18 L November 21, 1998 4–5 OT @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 6–9–3 Recap
19 W November 25, 1998 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 7–9–3 Recap
20 L November 27, 1998 0–4 @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) 7–10–3 Recap
21 L November 28, 1998 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 7–11–3 Recap
December: 4–8–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–6–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
22 L December 1, 1998 0–4 New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 7–12–3 Recap
23 W December 4, 1998 5–1 New York Islanders (1998–99) 8–12–3 Recap
24 L December 5, 1998 1–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 8–13–3 Recap
25 L December 9, 1998 1–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 8–14–3 Recap
26 L December 11, 1998 0–1 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) 8–15–3 Recap
27 L December 12, 1998 1–2 @ San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 8–16–3 Recap
28 W December 17, 1998 3–1 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 9–16–3 Recap
29 L December 19, 1998 0–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 9–17–3 Recap
30 W December 23, 1998 4–0 @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 10–17–3 Recap
31 L December 26, 1998 1–3 @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) 10–18–3 Recap
32 W December 28, 1998 5–1 Boston Bruins (1998–99) 11–18–3 Recap
33 L December 30, 1998 2–3 New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 11–19–3 Recap
January: 5–7–1 (home: 2–5–0; road: 3–2–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
34 L January 1, 1999 3–4 Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 11–20–3 Recap
35 W January 2, 1999 5–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 12–20–3 Recap
36 W January 7, 1999 5–1 New York Rangers (1998–99) 13–20–3 Recap
37 W January 9, 1999 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 14–20–3 Recap
38 W January 11, 1999 4–3 New York Islanders (1998–99) 15–20–3 Recap
39 L January 13, 1999 0–3 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 15–21–3 Recap
40 L January 15, 1999 0–3 Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 15–22–3 Recap
41 W January 16, 1999 3–2 OT @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 16–22–3 Recap
42 T January 18, 1999 4–4 OT @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 16–22–4 Recap
43 L January 21, 1999 1–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 16–23–4 Recap
44 L January 26, 1999 1–4 New York Rangers (1998–99) 16–24–4 Recap
45 L January 29, 1999 3–6 Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 16–25–4 Recap
46 L January 30, 1999 3–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 16–26–4 Recap
February: 9–4–1 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–3–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
47 W February 1, 1999 3–1 @ New York Rangers (1998–99) 17–26–4 Recap
48 W February 3, 1999 10–1 Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 18–26–4 Recap
49 W February 5, 1999 4–1 Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 19–26–4 Recap
50 W February 7, 1999 3–1 Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 20–26–4 Recap
51 W February 9, 1999 2–1 @ New York Islanders (1998–99) 21–26–4 Recap
52 W February 12, 1999 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 22–26–4 Recap
53 L February 13, 1999 1–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 22–27–4 Recap
54 L February 15, 1999 3–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 22–28–4 Recap
55 T February 18, 1999 2–2 OT @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 22–28–5 Recap
56 W February 20, 1999 3–1 San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 23–28–5 Recap
57 W February 22, 1999 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 24–28–5 Recap
58 L February 24, 1999 1–2 Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 24–29–5 Recap
59 L February 27, 1999 3–4 @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 24–30–5 Recap
60 W February 28, 1999 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 25–30–5 Recap
March: 4–8–1 (home: 2–6–0; road: 2–2–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
61 W March 2, 1999 8–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 26–30–5 Recap
62 L March 4, 1999 2–4 New York Rangers (1998–99) 26–31–5 Recap
63 W March 6, 1999 4–3 Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 27–31–5 Recap
64 L March 9, 1999 2–3 OT Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 27–32–5 Recap
65 L March 11, 1999 1–2 Florida Panthers (1998–99) 27–33–5 Recap
66 L March 13, 1999 4–5 OT Calgary Flames (1998–99) 27–34–5 Recap
67 T March 15, 1999 1–1 OT @ New York Rangers (1998–99) 27–34–6 Recap
68 W March 17, 1999 2–1 OT Dallas Stars (1998–99) 28–34–6 Recap
69 W March 20, 1999 1–0 @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 29–34–6 Recap
70 L March 21, 1999 1–4 Boston Bruins (1998–99) 29–35–6 Recap
71 L March 25, 1999 2–4 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 29–36–6 Recap
72 L March 26, 1999 1–3 @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 29–37–6 Recap
73 L March 30, 1999 2–3 Nashville Predators (1998–99) 29–38–6 Recap
April: 2–7–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 1–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
74 W April 1, 1999 5–3 Florida Panthers (1998–99) 30–38–6 Recap
75 L April 3, 1999 3–4 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 30–39–6 Recap
76 W April 5, 1999 3–0 @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 31–39–6 Recap
77 L April 7, 1999 2–4 St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 31–40–6 Recap
78 L April 8, 1999 0–1 @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 31–41–6 Recap
79 L April 10, 1999 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 31–42–6 Recap
80 L April 12, 1999 2–4 Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 31–43–6 Recap
81 L April 14, 1999 0–3 @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 31–44–6 Recap
82 L April 18, 1999 0–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 31–45–6 Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

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Scoring

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  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12 Peter Bondra RW 66 31 24 55 −1 56
77 Adam Oates C 59 12 42 54 −1 22
90 Joe Juneau‡ C 63 14 27 41 −3 20
23 Brian Bellows LW 76 17 19 36 −12 26
13 Andrei Nikolishin C 73 8 27 35 0 28
55[a] Sergei Gonchar D 53 21 10 31 1 57
28 James Black† LW 75 16 14 30 5 14
6 Calle Johansson D 67 8 21 29 10 22
22 Steve Konowalchuk LW 45 12 12 24 0 26
8 Jan Bulis C 38 7 16 23 3 6
2 Ken Klee D 78 7 13 20 −9 80
44 Richard Zednik RW 49 9 8 17 −6 50
15 Dmitri Mironov D 46 2 14 16 −5 80
34 Jaroslav Svejkovsky RW 25 6 8 14 −2 12
20 Michal Pivonka C 36 5 6 11 −6 12
17 Chris Simon LW 23 3 7 10 −4 48
29 Joe Reekie D 73 0 10 10 11 68
27 Craig Berube‡ LW 66 5 4 9 −7 166
48 Benoit Gratton C 16 4 3 7 −1 16
10 Kelly Miller LW 62 2 5 7 −5 29
19 Brendan Witt D 54 2 5 7 −6 87
36 Mike Eagles C 52 4 2 6 −5 50
21 Jeff Toms C 21 1 5 6 0 2
24 Mark Tinordi D 48 0 6 6 −6 108
32 Dale Hunter‡ C 50 0 5 5 −7 102
26[b] Matt Herr C 30 2 2 4 −7 8
18 Trevor Halverson LW 17 0 4 4 −5 28
39 Enrico Ciccone† D 43 2 0 2 −6 103
9 Tom Chorske†‡ LW 17 0 2 2 −4 4
37 Olaf Kolzig G 64 0 2 2 19
41 Patrick Boileau D 4 0 1 1 −4 2
14 Patrik Augusta† RW 2 0 0 0 0 0
38 Nolan Baumgartner D 5 0 0 0 −3 0
1 Martin Brochu G 2 0 0 0 2
14 Patrice Lefebvre† RW 3 0 0 0 −2 2
3 Stewart Malgunas D 10 0 0 0 −5 6
33[c] Steve Poapst D 22 0 0 0 −8 8
40 Mike Rosati G 1 0 0 0 0
4 Brad Shaw†‡ D 4 0 0 0 0 4
31 Rick Tabaracci G 23 0 0 0 2
4[d] Alexei Tezikov† D 5 0 0 0 −1 0

Goaltending

[edit]
No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
37 Olaf Kolzig 64 26 31 3 1538 154 2.58 .900 4 3586
31 Rick Tabaracci 23 4 12 3 530 50 2.51 .906 2 1193
40 Mike Rosati 1 1 0 0 12 0 0.00 1.000 0 28
1 Martin Brochu 2 0 2 0 55 6 3.00 .891 0 120

Awards and records

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Awards

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Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Peter Bondra [11]
NHL Player of the Week Peter Bondra (February 8) [12]

Milestones

[edit]
Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Matt Herr October 10, 1998 [13]
Trevor Halverson October 13, 1998
Mike Rosati November 7, 1998
Patrice Lefebvre December 19, 1998
Alexei Tezikov April 8, 1999
Martin Brochu April 14, 1999
1,000th game played Kelly Miller October 21, 1998 [14]
1,000th point Brian Bellows January 2, 1999 [15]

Transactions

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Draft picks

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Washington's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.[16]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 49 Jomar Cruz  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3 59 Todd Hornung  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
4 106 Krys Barch  Canada London Knights (OHL)
4 107 Chris Corrinet  United States Princeton University (ECAC)
5 118 Mike Siklenka  Canada Lloydminster Blazers (AJHL)
5 125 Erik Wendell  United States Maple Grove Senior High School (USHS-MN)
7 179 Nathan Forster  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
7 193 Rastislav Stana  Slovakia HC Kosice (Slovakia)
8 220 Mike Farrell  United States Providence College (Hockey East)
9 251 Blake Evans  Canada Tri-City Americans (WHL)

See also

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Gonchar wore number 4 in his first eight games.
  2. ^ Herr wore number 46 in his first game.
  3. ^ Poapst wore number 39 in his first game.
  4. ^ Tezikov wore number 42 in his first game.

References

[edit]
  • "Washington Capitals 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  • "1998-99 Washington Capitals Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
  1. ^ HighBeam
  2. ^ a b "1998-99 NHL Schedule and Results".
  3. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals Box Score — February 3, 1999".
  4. ^ "Ottawa Senators at Washington Capitals Box Score — December 17, 1993".
  5. ^ "After 25 Years, Caps Founder Pollin Offers Surprise". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  6. ^ "1998-99 NHL Summary".
  7. ^ "1999 NHL Preview". The Washington Post. September 29, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 155.
  9. ^ "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  10. ^ "1998-99 Washington Capitals Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bondra Named Player of the Week". NHL.com. February 8, 1999. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "1998-99 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Snow Job! Canucks Stop Caps - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. October 22, 1998. Retrieved June 27, 2023. Kelly Miller played in his 1,000th NHL game for Washington, a franchise-record 883 with the Capitals.
  15. ^ "Bellows 1000th Point In Caps Win - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. January 2, 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  16. ^ "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
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