1998–99 Ottawa Senators season

1998–99 Ottawa Senators
Northeast Division champions
Division	1st Northeast
Conference	2nd Eastern
1998–99 record	44–23–15
Home record	22–11–8
Road record	22–12–7
Goals for	239
Goals against	179
Team information
General manager	Rick Dudley
Coach	Jacques Martin
Captain	Alexei Yashin
Alternate captains	Daniel Alfredsson Wade Redden
Arena	Corel Centre
Average attendance	17,219 (705,990 total)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Detroit Vipers
Team leaders
Goals	Alexei Yashin (44)
Assists	Alexei Yashin (50)
Points	Alexei Yashin (94)
Penalty minutes	Vaclav Prospal (58)
Plus/minus	Magnus Arvedson (+33)
Wins	Damian Rhodes and Ron Tugnutt (22)
Goals against average	Ron Tugnutt (1.79)

The 1998–99 Ottawa Senators season was the seventh season of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). In this season the team cracked the 100 point barrier, as they finished with 103 points, and won the Northeast Division for the first time in club history.

Senators Head Coach Jacques Martin won the Jack Adams Trophy for the first time in his career and in Senators history, while Alexei Yashin, who was named team captain prior to the season, was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy after his 94-point season. His 94 points obliterated the club record of 79, which Yashin himself set in the 1993–94 season.

Goaltenders Damian Rhodes and Ron Tugnutt split duties throughout the season, with each winning 22 games, sharing the team record for goaltender victories in a season, while Tugnutt's 1.79 goals against average (GAA) was an NHL low.

The Senators great regular season success did not continue to the playoffs, as the Buffalo Sabres, led by Dominik Hasek, swept the Senators out of the playoffs in four games, ending the Senators' season in the first round for the second time in three seasons.

Regular season

Bruins

Sabres

Canadiens

Senators

Maple Leafs

Northeast Division Teams

Final standings

Northeast Division

R	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
1	2	Ottawa Senators	82	44	23	15	239	179	892	103
2	4	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	45	30	7	268	231	1095	97
3	6	Boston Bruins	82	39	30	13	214	181	1182	91
4	7	Buffalo Sabres	82	37	28	17	207	175	1561	91
5	11	Montreal Canadiens	82	32	39	11	184	209	1299	75

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.

Eastern Conference

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

Playoffs

The Ottawa Senators ended the 1998–99 regular season as the Eastern Conference's second seed.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1998–99 regular season
October: 5–3–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–1–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 1 W October 10, 1998 4–3 @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 1–0–0 16,061 Recap 2 W October 11, 1998 4–1 @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 2–0–0 15,812 Recap 3 W October 17, 1998 3–1 Nashville Predators (1998–99) 3–0–0 18,500 Recap 4 L October 21, 1998 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 3–1–0 19,784 Recap 5 L October 22, 1998 3–5 St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 3–2–0 14,293 Recap 6 L October 24, 1998 1–3 Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 3–3–0 14,428 Recap 7 W October 29, 1998 3–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 4–3–0 15,738 Recap 8 W October 31, 1998 5–1 Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 5–3–0 17,653 Recap
November: 5–4–3 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–2–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 9 W November 1, 1998 5–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 6–3–0 19,442 Recap 10 L November 5, 1998 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 6–4–0 13,686 Recap 11 L November 7, 1998 5–8 Washington Capitals (1998–99) 6–5–0 15,221 Recap 12 T November 10, 1998 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 6–5–1 15,904 Recap 13 T November 12, 1998 1–1 OT Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 6–5–2 14,680 Recap 14 L November 14, 1998 1–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 6–6–2 15,726 Recap 15 T November 15, 1998 2–2 OT @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 6–6–3 15,906 Recap 16 W November 20, 1998 4–1 @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) 7–6–3 19,740 Recap 17 W November 21, 1998 4–1 Calgary Flames (1998–99) 8–6–3 17,154 Recap 18 W November 23, 1998 4–3 Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 9–6–3 15,330 Recap 19 W November 26, 1998 4–1 New York Islanders (1998–99) 10–6–3 14,607 Recap 20 L November 28, 1998 2–3 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 10–7–3 15,726 Recap
December: 6–6–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–3–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 21 W December 1, 1998 3–1 @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) 11–7–3 13,902 Recap 22 W December 3, 1998 3–1 Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 12–7–3 15,351 Recap 23 L December 5, 1998 1–2 New York Rangers (1998–99) 12–8–3 18,500 Recap 24 W December 8, 1998 4–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 13–8–3 10,587 Recap 25 L December 9, 1998 5–6 @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 13–9–3 16,994 Recap 26 L December 12, 1998 0–2 Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 13–10–3 16,480 Recap 27 L December 17, 1998 2–5 @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 13–11–3 13,646 Recap 28 W December 18, 1998 5–1 Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 14–11–3 15,124 Recap 29 L December 20, 1998 2–3 Dallas Stars (1998–99) 14–12–3 17,581 Recap 30 W December 23, 1998 3–1 Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 15–12–3 18,500 Recap 31 L December 26, 1998 1–2 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 15–13–3 16,226 Recap 32 T December 28, 1998 2–2 OT Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) 15–13–4 18,500 Recap 33 W December 30, 1998 3–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 16–13–4 18,595 Recap
January: 10–2–2 (home: 5–1–1; road: 5–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 34 W January 1, 1999 4–3 @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) 17–13–4 19,740 Recap 35 W January 2, 1999 6–0 New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 18–13–4 18,037 Recap 36 T January 4, 1999 4–4 OT @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 18–13–5 5,655 Recap 37 W January 6, 1999 2–0 @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 19–13–5 19,983 Recap 38 W January 8, 1999 5–1 Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 20–13–5 16,174 Recap 39 W January 10, 1999 4–1 Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 21–13–5 18,500 Recap 40 W January 11, 1999 4–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 22–13–5 14,402 Recap 41 W January 14, 1999 3–2 New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 23–13–5 18,037 Recap 42 T January 16, 1999 1–1 OT Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 23–13–6 18,500 Recap 43 L January 18, 1999 0–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 23–14–6 17,858 Recap 44 W January 19, 1999 2–1 @ New York Rangers (1998–99) 24–14–6 18,200 Recap 45 W January 21, 1999 3–1 @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 25–14–6 15,806 Recap 46 L January 26, 1999 1–4 @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 25–15–6 15,891 Recap 47 W January 30, 1999 9–2 New York Islanders (1998–99) 26–15–6 18,221 Recap
February: 7–3–2 (home: 5–1–1; road: 2–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 48 W February 1, 1999 1–0 @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 27–15–6 16,019 Recap 49 T February 3, 1999 2–2 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 27–15–7 14,487 Recap 50 W February 6, 1999 2–1 @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) 28–15–7 16,498 Recap 51 T February 9, 1999 1–1 OT Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 28–15–8 17,079 Recap 52 L February 11, 1999 1–3 Florida Panthers (1998–99) 28–16–8 16,355 Recap 53 W February 13, 1999 2–1 Washington Capitals (1998–99) 29–16–8 18,500 Recap 54 W February 15, 1999 6–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 30–16–8 16,787 Recap 55 W February 18, 1999 2–0 Boston Bruins (1998–99) 31–16–8 18,500 Recap 56 W February 20, 1999 4–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 32–16–8 18,500 Recap 57 L February 23, 1999 2–5 @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 32–17–8 14,336 Recap 58 W February 25, 1999 3–1 Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 33–17–8 18,500 Recap 59 L February 27, 1999 1–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 33–18–8 21,273 Recap
March: 9–3–2 (home: 2–1–1; road: 7–2–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 60 W March 2, 1999 4–2 @ New York Islanders (1998–99) 34–18–8 9,283 Recap 61 W March 4, 1999 5–0 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 35–18–8 19,658 Recap 62 W March 6, 1999 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 36–18–8 18,500 Recap 63 W March 8, 1999 9–3 Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 37–18–8 17,838 Recap 64 W March 10, 1999 3–0 @ New York Rangers (1998–99) 38–18–8 18,200 Recap 65 L March 13, 1999 2–3 @ San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 38–19–8 17,483 Recap 66 L March 15, 1999 0–4 @ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 38–20–8 12,640 Recap 67 T March 17, 1999 2–2 OT @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) 38–20–9 16,026 Recap 68 W March 19, 1999 2–1 @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) 39–20–9 16,928 Recap 69 W March 20, 1999 3–2 @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 40–20–9 19,736 Recap 70 L March 24, 1999 0–3 Boston Bruins (1998–99) 40–21–9 18,500 Recap 71 T March 26, 1999 1–1 OT San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 40–21–10 18,283 Recap 72 W March 27, 1999 7–3 @ New York Islanders (1998–99) 41–21–10 11,491 Recap 73 W March 30, 1999 6–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 42–21–10 16,470 Recap
April: 2–2–5 (home: 1–1–3; road: 1–1–2) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 74 T April 1, 1999 3–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 42–21–11 18,500 Recap 75 W April 3, 1999 6–4 @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 43–21–11 18,829 Recap 76 T April 5, 1999 4–4 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 43–21–12 11,326 Recap 77 L April 7, 1999 2–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 43–22–12 18,800 Recap 78 W April 8, 1999 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 44–22–12 18,500 Recap 79 T April 10, 1999 1–1 OT Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 44–22–13 18,500 Recap 80 L April 12, 1999 0–2 Florida Panthers (1998–99) 44–23–13 17,996 Recap 81 T April 15, 1999 2–2 OT New York Rangers (1998–99) 44–23–14 18,500 Recap 82 T April 17, 1999 1–1 OT @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 44–23–15 10,981 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1999 Stanley Cup playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 4–0 Game Result Date Score Opponent Series Attendance Recap 1 L April 21, 1999 1–2 Buffalo Sabres Sabres lead 1–0 18,500 Recap 2 L April 23, 1999 2–3 2OT Buffalo Sabres Sabres lead 2–0 18,500 Recap 3 L April 25, 1999 0–3 @ Buffalo Sabres Sabres lead 3–0 18,595 Recap 4 L April 27, 1999 3–4 @ Buffalo Sabres Sabres win 4–0 18,595 Recap
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Senators only.
• ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Senators only.

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season						Playoffs
			GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
19	Alexei Yashin	C	82	44	50	94	16	54	4	0	0	0	−4	10
15	Shawn McEachern	RW	77	31	25	56	8	46	4	2	0	2	1	6
10	Andreas Dackell	RW	77	15	35	50	9	30	4	0	1	1	−3	0
20	Magnus Arvedson	LW	80	21	26	47	33	50	3	0	1	1	−1	2
21	Andreas Johansson	C	69	21	16	37	1	34	2	0	0	0	−3	0
13	Vaclav Prospal	C	79	10	26	36	8	58	4	0	0	0	−2	0
33	Jason York	D	79	4	31	35	17	48	4	1	1	2	−1	4
11	Daniel Alfredsson	RW	58	11	22	33	8	14	4	1	2	3	−1	4
14	Radek Bonk	C	81	16	16	32	15	48	4	0	0	0	−1	6
18	Marian Hossa	RW	60	15	15	30	18	37	4	0	2	2	1	4
6	Wade Redden	D	72	8	21	29	7	54	4	1	2	3	−1	2
29	Igor Kravchuk	D	79	4	21	25	14	32	4	0	0	0	−5	0
5	Sami Salo	D	61	7	12	19	20	24	4	0	0	0	−3	0
22	Shaun Van Allen	C	79	6	11	17	3	30	4	0	0	0	−1	0
25	Bruce Gardiner	RW	59	4	8	12	6	43	3	0	0	0	0	4
27	Janne Laukkanen	D	50	1	11	12	18	40	4	0	0	0	1	4
3	Patrick Traverse	D	46	1	9	10	12	22	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Lance Pitlick	D	50	3	6	9	7	33	2	0	0	0	−1	0
16	Steve Martins	C	36	4	3	7	4	10	—	—	—	—	—	—
12	David Oliver	RW	17	2	5	7	1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
17	Chris Murray‡	RW	38	1	6	7	−2	65	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	Chris Phillips	D	34	3	3	6	−5	32	3	0	0	0	−1	0
28	Ted Donato†	LW	13	3	2	5	2	10	1	0	0	0	0	0
9	Bill Berg†	LW	44	2	2	4	4	28	2	0	0	0	0	0
7	Nelson Emerson†	RW	3	1	1	2	−1	2	4	1	3	4	0	0
1	Damian Rhodes	G	45	1	1	2		4	2	0	0	0		0
28	Steve Leach‡	RW	9	0	2	2	−1	6	—	—	—	—	—	—
24	Stanislav Neckar‡	D	3	0	2	2	−1	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
7	Vyacheslav Butsayev†	C	2	0	1	1	0	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
26	Phil Crowe	LW	8	0	1	1	1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
24	John Gruden	D	13	0	1	1	0	8	—	—	—	—	—	—
37	Yves Sarault	LW	11	0	1	1	1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
23	Radim Bicanek‡	D	7	0	0	0	−1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
31	Ron Tugnutt	G	43	0	0	0		0	2	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

No.	Player	Regular season										Playoffs
		GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI	GP	W	L	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
1	Damian Rhodes	45	22	13	7	1060	101	2.44	.905	3	2480	2	0	2	65	6	2.40	.908	0	150
31	Ron Tugnutt	43	22	10	8	1005	75	1.79	.925	3	2508	2	0	2	41	6	3.05	.854	0	118

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	Jack Adams Award	Jacques Martin
	NHL All-Rookie Team	Marian Hossa (Forward)
		Sami Salo (Defence)
	NHL Second All-Star Team	Alexei Yashin (Centre)
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Ron Tugnutt
		Alexei Yashin
	NHL Player of the Week	Ron Tugnutt (January 11)
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Marian Hossa (March)
Team	Molson Cup	Alexei Yashin

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Sami Salo	October 10, 1998

Transactions

Trades

June 27, 1998	To San Jose Sharks Ottawa's eighth-round pick 1999 Entry Draft	To Ottawa Senators San Jose's eighth-round pick 1998 Entry Draft (Sergei Verenikin)
August 21, 1998	To Chicago Blackhawks Justin Hocking	To Ottawa Senators Brian Felsner
November 27, 1998	To New York Rangers Stan Neckar	To Ottawa Senators Bill Berg New York's second-round pick 1999 Entry Draft (Simon Lajeunesse)
March 8, 1999	To Florida Panthers Ottawa's sixth-round pick 1999 Entry Draft (later traded)	To Ottawa Senators Vyacheslav Butsayev
March 12, 1999	To Chicago Blackhawks Radim Bicanek	To Ottawa Senators Chicago's sixth-round pick 1999 Entry Draft (Martin Prusek)
March 19, 1999	To New York Islanders future considerations	To Ottawa Senators Chris Luongo
March 12, 1999	To Chicago Blackhawks Ottawa's fourth-round pick 1999 Entry Draft (Preston Mizzi)	To Ottawa Senators Ted Donato
March 23, 1999	To New York Islanders Chris Murray	To Ottawa Senators Nelson Emerson

Waivers

No waiver transactions.

Free agents

Player Former team David Oliver Houston Aeros (IHL) John Gruden Detroit Vipers (IHL) Steve Martins Carolina Hurricanes John Emmons Michigan K-Wings (IHL) Andreas Johansson Pittsburgh Penguins Steve Leach Carolina Hurricanes Brad Shaw Detroit Vipers (IHL) Andre Roy Boston Bruins

Player New team Derek Armstrong New York Rangers Scott Ferguson Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Pat Falloon Edmonton Oilers Randy Cunneyworth Buffalo Sabres Sergei Zholtok Montreal Canadiens Steve Leach Phoenix Coyotes

Expansion draft

June 26, 1998

To Nashville Predators Denny Lambert

Source: Ottawa Senators 2008–09 Media Guide. Ottawa Senators. 2008. p. 188.

Draft picks

Ottawa's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	15	Mathieu Chouinard	Canada	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
2	44	Mike Fisher	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
2	58	Chris Bala	United States	Harvard University (NCAA)
3	74	Julien Vauclair	Switzerland	HC Lugano (Switzerland)
4	101	Petr Schastlivy	Russia	Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
5	130	Gavin McLeod	Canada	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
6	161	Chris Neil	Canada	North Bay Centennials (OHL)
7	188	Michel Periard	Canada	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
8	223	Sergei Verenikin	Russia	Yaroslavl Torpedo (Russia)
9	246	Rastislav Pavlikovsky	Slovakia	Utah Grizzlies (IHL)

Farm teams

• Detroit Vipers (International Hockey League)

See also

• 1998–99 NHL season

References

• "Ottawa Senators 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
• "1998-99 Ottawa Senators Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
• Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.