1998–99 Washington Capitals season

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.

1998–99 Washington Capitals
Division	3rd Southeast
Conference	12th Eastern
1998–99 record	31–45–6
Home record	16–23–2
Road record	15–22–4
Goals for	200
Goals against	218
Team information
General manager	George McPhee
Coach	Ron Wilson
Captain	Dale Hunter (Oct-Mar) Vacant (Mar-Apr)
Arena	MCI Center
Average attendance	17,281
Minor league affiliate(s)	Portland Pirates Hampton Roads Admirals Quad City Mallards
Team leaders
Goals	Peter Bondra (31)
Assists	Adam Oates (42)
Points	Peter Bondra (55)
Penalty minutes	Craig Berube (166)
Plus/minus	Joe Reekie (+11)
Wins	Olaf Kolzig (26)
Goals against average	Rick Tabaracci (2.51)
← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

Off-season

Regular season

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

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

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

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 Capitals only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.

			Regular season
No.	Player	Pos	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

		Regular season
No.	Player	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

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Peter Bondra	^[11]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
1,000th game played	Kelly Miller	October 21, 1998	^[12]
1,000th point	Brian Bellows	January 2, 1999	^[13]

Transactions

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.^[14]

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

• 1998–99 NHL season

Notes

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

• "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.

2. "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. "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1999". NHL.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
12. "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.
13. "Bellows 1000th Point In Caps Win - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. January 2, 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
14. "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.