1998–99 San Jose Sharks season
The 1998–99 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' eighth season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). Under second-year head coach Darryl Sutter, the Sharks reached the playoffs for a second consecutive season. While the team won three fewer games than it had during the prior season, it became the first in franchise history to score more goals (196) than it allowed (191).
During the campaign, general manager Dean Lombardi continued to add to the Sharks' roster. During the 1998 preseason, both goaltender Steve Shields and All-Star defenseman Gary Suter were acquired from the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks , respectively, in exchange for low-level draft picks and prospects. While neither played a major role during the 1998–99 season, both would make key contributions to the Sharks' success the following season. Indeed, Lombardi's most notable addition was that of veteran forward Vincent Damphousse . Damphousse, acquired in a midseason trade with the Montreal Canadiens , would experience immediate success in San Jose; he would ultimately remain with the Sharks until the conclusion of the 2003–04 season . The 1998–99 season also saw the continued development of several highly-touted prospects. Most notably, the campaign saw second-year forwards Patrick Marleau and Marco Sturm emerge as consistent scoring threats. Additionally, the season also saw the debut of promising young defenseman (and future NHL All-Star) Scott Hannan . These players, along with established forward Jeff Friesen and defenseman Mike Rathje , would drive much of the team's success over the following five years.
Despite their losing record, the Sharks reached the postseason for a second consecutive season. In the first round of the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs , the Sharks were matched against the Northwest Division champion Colorado Avalanche . Due to the Columbine High School Massacre , the first two games of the series were played in San Jose ;[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] the heavily favored Avalanche won both.[ 4] [ 5] As had been the case one year prior, the Sharks won their next two games in Denver to even the series at two games apiece.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] The Avalanche responded by routing the Sharks in Game Five to take a 3–2 series lead.[ 9] The Sharks managed to push the Avalanche to overtime in Game Six; a goal by Colorado rookie Milan Hejduk , however, spelled the end of the Sharks' season.[ 10] As of the 2017–18 NHL season , the 1998–99 San Jose Sharks (along with the 1998–99 Edmonton Oilers ) are the last team to have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a losing record.
Off-season
Forward Owen Nolan was named team captain.
Regular season
The Sharks tied the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with 4.[ 11]
Final standings
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy ; y – Won division
Schedule and results
Regular season
1998–99 regular season[ 14]
October: 1–6–2 (home: 1–3–0; road: 0–3–2)
November: 4–5–3 (home: 3–2–2; road: 1–3–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
10
W
November 4, 1998
4–0
Dallas Stars (1998–99 )
2–6–2
Recap
11
T
November 6, 1998
2–2 OT
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99 )
2–6–3
Recap
12
T
November 7, 1998
2–2 OT
St. Louis Blues (1998–99 )
2–6–4
Recap
13
L
November 10, 1998
2–4
Nashville Predators (1998–99 )
2–7–4
Recap
14
W
November 12, 1998
3–0
Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99 )
3–7–4
Recap
15
W
November 18, 1998
5–4
Los Angeles Kings (1998–99 )
4–7–4
Recap
16
L
November 20, 1998
1–2 OT
Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99 )
4–8–4
Recap
17
T
November 21, 1998
2–2 OT
New York Rangers (1998–99 )
4–8–5
Recap
18
L
November 23, 1998
2–3
@ Dallas Stars (1998–99 )
4–9–5
Recap
19
L
November 25, 1998
0–3
@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99 )
4–10–5
Recap
20
W
November 27, 1998
4–2
@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99 )
5–10–5
Recap
21
L
November 29, 1998
1–4
@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99 )
5–11–5
Recap
December: 5–5–3 (home: 4–3–2; road: 1–2–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
22
L
December 2, 1998
0–3
Dallas Stars (1998–99 )
5–12–5
Recap
23
T
December 4, 1998
2–2 OT
Detroit Red Wings (1998–99 )
5–12–6
Recap
24
L
December 6, 1998
1–2
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99 )
5–13–6
Recap
25
T
December 9, 1998
3–3 OT
@ Dallas Stars (1998–99 )
5–13–7
Recap
26
L
December 10, 1998
1–2
@ Nashville Predators (1998–99 )
5–14–7
Recap
27
W
December 12, 1998
2–1
Washington Capitals (1998–99 )
6–14–7
Recap
28
L
December 15, 1998
0–1
New York Islanders (1998–99 )
6–15–7
Recap
29
W
December 17, 1998
3–1
Nashville Predators (1998–99 )
7–15–7
Recap
30
W
December 19, 1998
2–1
Colorado Avalanche (1998–99 )
8–15–7
Recap
31
W
December 23, 1998
5–3
@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99 )
9–15–7
Recap
32
W
December 26, 1998
2–0
Vancouver Canucks (1998–99 )
10–15–7
Recap
33
T
December 28, 1998
1–1 OT
Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99 )
10–15–8
Recap
34
L
December 30, 1998
1–5
@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99 )
10–16–8
Recap
January: 5–4–4 (home: 3–2–3; road: 2–2–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
35
W
January 2, 1999
4–3 OT
@ New York Islanders (1998–99 )
11–16–8
Recap
36
L
January 4, 1999
3–4
@ New York Rangers (1998–99 )
11–17–8
Recap
37
T
January 5, 1999
3–3 OT
@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99 )
11–17–9
Recap
38
W
January 7, 1999
4–3
@ Nashville Predators (1998–99 )
12–17–9
Recap
39
T
January 9, 1999
2–2 OT
Buffalo Sabres (1998–99 )
12–17–10
Recap
40
W
January 11, 1999
4–0
Los Angeles Kings (1998–99 )
13–17–10
Recap
41
L
January 13, 1999
1–2
Dallas Stars (1998–99 )
13–18–10
Recap
42
W
January 15, 1999
3–2
Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99 )
14–18–10
Recap
43
T
January 16, 1999
3–3 OT
Calgary Flames (1998–99 )
14–18–11
Recap
44
W
January 18, 1999
3–1
New Jersey Devils (1998–99 )
15–18–11
Recap
45
T
January 21, 1999
3–3 OT
Edmonton Oilers (1998–99 )
15–18–12
Recap
46
L
January 26, 1999
0–3
St. Louis Blues (1998–99 )
15–19–12
Recap
47
L
January 30, 1999
0–5
@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99 )
15–20–12
Recap
February: 5–7–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 4–6–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
48
W
February 1, 1999
5–1
Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99 )
16–20–12
Recap
49
L
February 4, 1999
1–3
@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99 )
16–21–12
Recap
50
L
February 6, 1999
0–2
@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99 )
16–22–12
Recap
51
W
February 8, 1999
3–0
@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99 )
17–22–12
Recap
52
W
February 10, 1999
5–2
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99 )
18–22–12
Recap
53
W
February 11, 1999
5–1
@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99 )
19–22–12
Recap
54
W
February 13, 1999
3–1
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99 )
20–22–12
Recap
55
T
February 15, 1999
2–2 OT
@ Florida Panthers (1998–99 )
20–22–13
Recap
56
L
February 17, 1999
1–3
@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99 )
20–23–13
Recap
57
L
February 19, 1999
2–4
@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99 )
20–24–13
Recap
58
L
February 20, 1999
1–3
@ Washington Capitals (1998–99 )
20–25–13
Recap
59
T
February 24, 1999
1–1 OT
Vancouver Canucks (1998–99 )
20–25–14
Recap
60
L
February 26, 1999
1–3
@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99 )
20–26–14
Recap
61
L
February 27, 1999
1–4
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99 )
20–27–14
Recap
March: 7–3–3 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–1–3)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
62
W
March 1, 1999
2–1
@ Calgary Flames (1998–99 )
21–27–14
Recap
63
W
March 3, 1999
4–3
@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99 )
22–27–14
Recap
64
L
March 6, 1999
0–4
Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99 )
22–28–14
Recap
65
W
March 9, 1999
4–2
Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99 )
23–28–14
Recap
66
W
March 12, 1999
2–0
Detroit Red Wings (1998–99 )
24–28–14
Recap
67
W
March 13, 1999
3–2
Ottawa Senators (1998–99 )
25–28–14
Recap
68
W
March 17, 1999
4–2
Florida Panthers (1998–99 )
26–28–14
Recap
69
T
March 20, 1999
2–2 OT
@ Boston Bruins (1998–99 )
26–28–15
Recap
70
T
March 22, 1999
1–1 OT
@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99 )
26–28–16
Recap
71
W
March 24, 1999
8–5
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99 )
27–28–16
Recap
72
T
March 26, 1999
1–1 OT
@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99 )
27–28–17
Recap
73
L
March 28, 1999
2–5
@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99 )
27–29–17
Recap
74
L
March 31, 1999
2–3
Colorado Avalanche (1998–99 )
27–30–17
Recap
April: 4–3–1 (home: 1–2–1; road: 3–1–0)
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1999 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 14]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche: Avalanche win 4–2
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Series
Recap
1
L
April 24, 1999
1–3
@ Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche lead 1–0
Recap
2
L
April 26, 1999
1–2 OT
@ Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche lead 2–0
Recap
3
W
April 28, 1999
4–2
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche lead 2–1
Recap
4
W
April 30, 1999
7–3
Colorado Avalanche
Series tied 2–2
Recap
5
L
May 1, 1999
2–6
@ Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche lead 3–2
Recap
6
L
May 3, 1999
2–3 OT
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche win 4–2
Recap
Legend :
Win
Loss
Player statistics
Scoring
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 Sharks only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
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(July 2010 )
Draft picks
San Jose's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York .[ 21]
See also
Notes
References
^ "HOCKEY; In Denver, Games Are Called Off" . The New York Times . The Associated Press. April 22, 1999. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved June 2, 2021 .
^ Frei, Terry (April 20, 2010). "Columbine remembered by Avs, Sharks before playoff game" . Retrieved September 29, 2014 .
^ "Avalanche Postpones Two Playoff Games" . Los Angeles Times . April 22, 1999. Retrieved June 2, 2021 .
^ "Washingtonpost.com: Avalanche Buries Sharks, 3-1" . www.washingtonpost.com . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ "Washingtonpost.com: Avalanche Take 2-0 Series Lead With OT Win" . www.washingtonpost.com . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ "N.H.L. ROUNDUP; Ricci Leads Sharks In First Game in Denver" . The New York Times . Associated Press. April 29, 1999. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ Elliott, Helene (April 27, 1999). "Game Four, Lesson One: Learn From This, Ducks" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ "Washingtonpost.com: Sharks Down Avalanche, Even Series" . www.washingtonpost.com . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ Archives, L. A. Times (May 2, 1999). "Fleury, Avalanche Come Alive" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ Archives, L. A. Times (May 4, 1999). "Avalanche Beats Sharks to Advance" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 9, 2024 .
^ "1998-99 NHL Summary" .
^ "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings" . NHL.
^ a b "1998-99 San Jose Sharks Schedule" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved June 25, 2023 .
^ "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
^ "Vernon Named Player of the Week" . NHL.com . February 15, 1999. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024 .
^ "Shields Named NHL Player of the Week" . NHL.com . March 15, 1999. Archived from the original on October 22, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024 .
^ a b 2014–15 San Jose Sharks Media Guide, p.255–58
^ "1998-99 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 9, 2024 .
^ a b Pollak, David (October 20, 2011). "Players who reached the 1,000th-game mark as San Jose Sharks" . East Bay Times . Retrieved June 28, 2023 .
^ "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . www.hockeydb.com . Retrieved June 28, 2023 .
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