1998–99 Montreal Canadiens season

1998–99 Montreal Canadiens
1998–99 Montreal Canadiens
Division	5th Northeast
Conference	11th Eastern
1998–99 record	32–39–11
Home record	21–15–5
Road record	11–24–6
Goals for	184
Goals against	209
Team information
General manager	Rejean Houle
Coach	Alain Vigneault
Captain	Vincent Damphousse (Oct.–Mar.); Vacant (Mar.–Apr.)
Arena	Molson Centre
Average attendance	20,740
Minor league affiliate(s)	Quebec Citadelles; New Orleans Brass
Team leaders
Goals	Martin Rucinsky (17)
Assists	Mark Recchi (35)
Points	Mark Recchi (47)
Penalty minutes	Shayne Corson (147)
Plus/minus	Patrick Poulin; Turner Stevenson (+6)
Wins	Jeff Hackett (24)
Goals against average	Frederic Chabot (2.23)
	← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

The 1998–99 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 90th season of play. The club finished 5th in the Northeast Division and did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. It had been the worst season in over 48 years for the club. The Canadiens finished last in their division. Martin Rucinsky led the club with 17 goals. It was the first time since the 1940–41 season that the Canadiens did not have at least one 20-goal scorer.^[1] On March 31, 1999, ownership announced it has lost $3.8 million in its last fiscal year.^[2] Following the season, team president Ronald Corey resigned in May 1999.

Regular season

In March 1999, Captain Vincent Damphousse was traded to the San Jose Sharks.^[3]

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

^[4]

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^[5]
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^[6]

October: 3–5–2 (home: 3–4–0; road: 0–1–2)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
1	W	October 10, 1998	7–1	New York Rangers (1998–99)	1–0–0	Recap
2	W	October 13, 1998	1–0	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)	2–0–0	Recap
3	T	October 16, 1998	2–2 OT	@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)	2–0–1	Recap
4	L	October 17, 1998	3–4	Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)	2–1–1	Recap
5	L	October 19, 1998	1–2	Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)	2–2–1	Recap
6	W	October 21, 1998	3–2	Ottawa Senators (1998–99)	3–2–1	Recap
7	L	October 24, 1998	0–3	Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)	3–3–1	Recap
8	L	October 28, 1998	2–9	Boston Bruins (1998–99)	3–4–1	Recap
9	T	October 29, 1998	1–1 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)	3–4–2	Recap
10	L	October 31, 1998	1–5	@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)	3–5–2	Recap

November: 5–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–4–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
11	W	November 4, 1998	4–1	@ New York Rangers (1998–99)	4–5–2	Recap
12	W	November 7, 1998	4–2	New York Islanders (1998–99)	5–5–2	Recap
13	W	November 9, 1998	5–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)	6–5–2	Recap
14	L	November 11, 1998	0–3	@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)	6–6–2	Recap
15	L	November 12, 1998	0–4	@ New York Islanders (1998–99)	6–7–2	Recap
16	L	November 14, 1998	1–4	Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)	6–8–2	Recap
17	L	November 17, 1998	4–5	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)	6–9–2	Recap
18	W	November 19, 1998	4–3	Calgary Flames (1998–99)	7–9–2	Recap
19	L	November 21, 1998	2–3	Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)	7–10–2	Recap
20	L	November 27, 1998	1–5	@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)	7–11–2	Recap
21	L	November 28, 1998	3–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)	7–12–2	Recap
22	W	November 30, 1998	3–1	Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)	8–12–2	Recap

December: 3–6–5 (home: 0–1–3; road: 3–5–2)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
23	L	December 2, 1998	1–4	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)	8–13–2	Recap
24	T	December 4, 1998	1–1 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)	8–13–3	Recap
25	L	December 5, 1998	3–4 OT	Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)	8–14–3	Recap
26	L	December 9, 1998	2–4	@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)	8–15–3	Recap
27	L	December 11, 1998	2–3	@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)	8–16–3	Recap
28	T	December 12, 1998	2–2 OT	@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)	8–16–4	Recap
29	T	December 14, 1998	2–2 OT	Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)	8–16–5	Recap
30	L	December 18, 1998	2–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)	8–17–5	Recap
31	T	December 19, 1998	1–1 OT	New Jersey Devils (1998–99)	8–17–6	Recap
32	T	December 21, 1998	2–2 OT	Dallas Stars (1998–99)	8–17–7	Recap
33	L	December 23, 1998	1–3	@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)	8–18–7	Recap
34	W	December 26, 1998	2–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)	9–18–7	Recap
35	W	December 29, 1998	5–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)	10–18–7	Recap
36	W	December 31, 1998	2–1	@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)	11–18–7	Recap

January: 7–6–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–4–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
37	W	January 2, 1999	2–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)	12–18–7	Recap
38	L	January 4, 1999	3–4	@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)	12–19–7	Recap
39	W	January 7, 1999	4–1	Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)	13–19–7	Recap
40	W	January 9, 1999	3–2	New York Islanders (1998–99)	14–19–7	Recap
41	W	January 11, 1999	3–1	St. Louis Blues (1998–99)	15–19–7	Recap
42	L	January 12, 1999	1–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)	15–20–7	Recap
43	W	January 15, 1999	3–0	@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)	16–20–7	Recap
44	W	January 16, 1999	3–0	New York Rangers (1998–99)	17–20–7	Recap
45	T	January 18, 1999	4–4 OT	Washington Capitals (1998–99)	17–20–8	Recap
46	L	January 21, 1999	0–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)	17–21–8	Recap
47	W	January 26, 1999	2–1	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)	18–21–8	Recap
48	L	January 27, 1999	1–2	@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)	18–22–8	Recap
49	L	January 30, 1999	1–3	Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)	18–23–8	Recap
50	L	January 31, 1999	3–5	Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)	18–24–8	Recap

February: 6–5–0 (home: 4–0–0; road: 2–5–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
51	W	February 3, 1999	2–1	Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)	19–24–8	Recap
52	L	February 4, 1999	2–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)	19–25–8	Recap
53	W	February 6, 1999	3–2	Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)	20–25–8	Recap
54	L	February 9, 1999	2–3 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)	20–26–8	Recap
55	L	February 11, 1999	2–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)	20–27–8	Recap
56	W	February 13, 1999	4–0	Florida Panthers (1998–99)	21–27–8	Recap
57	W	February 17, 1999	6–3	@ New York Rangers (1998–99)	22–27–8	Recap
58	W	February 18, 1999	3–1	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)	23–27–8	Recap
59	L	February 20, 1999	2–3 OT	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)	23–28–8	Recap
60	L	February 25, 1999	1–3	@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)	23–29–8	Recap
61	W	February 27, 1999	4–1	Ottawa Senators (1998–99)	24–29–8	Recap

March: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
62	W	March 2, 1999	4–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)	25–29–8	Recap
63	T	March 3, 1999	4–4 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)	25–29–9	Recap
64	L	March 6, 1999	1–6	Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)	25–30–9	Recap
65	L	March 8, 1999	2–5	Florida Panthers (1998–99)	25–31–9	Recap
66	W	March 11, 1999	3–0	@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)	26–31–9	Recap
67	W	March 13, 1999	2–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)	27–31–9	Recap
68	W	March 18, 1999	3–2	Nashville Predators (1998–99)	28–31–9	Recap
69	L	March 20, 1999	0–1	Washington Capitals (1998–99)	28–32–9	Recap
70	T	March 22, 1999	1–1 OT	San Jose Sharks (1998–99)	28–32–10	Recap
71	W	March 24, 1999	2–0	@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)	29–32–10	Recap
72	L	March 25, 1999	1–2	@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)	29–33–10	Recap
73	L	March 27, 1999	1–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)	29–34–10	Recap

April: 3–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 0–3–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
74	L	April 1, 1999	2–3	Boston Bruins (1998–99)	29–35–10	Recap
75	W	April 3, 1999	2–1	Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)	30–35–10	Recap
76	L	April 5, 1999	0–3	@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)	30–36–10	Recap
77	W	April 7, 1999	2–0	Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)	31–36–10	Recap
78	L	April 8, 1999	1–3	@ New York Islanders (1998–99)	31–37–10	Recap
79	L	April 10, 1999	2–6	New Jersey Devils (1998–99)	31–38–10	Recap
80	T	April 13, 1999	2–2 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)	31–38–11	Recap
81	L	April 14, 1999	2–3 OT	@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)	31–39–11	Recap
82	W	April 17, 1999	3–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)	32–39–11	Recap

Legend:

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

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

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
8	Mark Recchi‡	RW	61	12	35	47	−4	28
11	Saku Koivu	C	65	14	30	44	−7	38
25	Vincent Damphousse‡	C	65	12	24	36	−7	46
26	Martin Rucinsky	LW	73	17	17	34	−25	50
38	Vladimir Malakhov	D	62	13	21	34	−7	77
27	Shayne Corson	LW	63	12	20	32	−10	147
17	Benoit Brunet	LW	60	14	17	31	−1	31
23	Turner Stevenson	RW	69	10	17	27	6	88
5	Stephane Quintal	D	82	8	19	27	−23	84
49	Brian Savage	LW	54	16	10	26	−14	20
37	Patrick Poulin	C	81	8	17	25	6	21
34	Sergei Zholtok	C	70	7	15	22	−12	6
44	Jonas Hoglund	LW	74	8	10	18	−5	16
22^[a]	Eric Weinrich†	D	66	6	12	18	−12	77
43	Patrice Brisebois	D	54	3	9	12	−8	28
55	Igor Ulanov	D	76	3	9	12	−3	109
24	Scott Thornton	LW	47	7	4	11	−2	87
52	Craig Rivet	D	66	2	8	10	−3	66
21	Jason Dawe†	RW	37	4	5	9	0	14
28^[b]	Dainius Zubrus†	C	17	3	5	8	−3	4
29	Brett Clark	D	61	2	2	4	−3	16
15	Eric Houde	C	8	1	1	2	−2	2
20	Scott Lachance†	D	17	1	1	2	−2	11
22	Dave Manson‡	D	11	0	2	2	−3	48
46	Matt Higgins	C	25	1	0	1	−2	0
48	Miloslav Guren	D	12	0	1	1	−1	4
31	Jeff Hackett†	G	53	0	1	1		6
45	Arron Asham	RW	7	0	0	0	−4	0
35	Andrei Bashkirov	LW	10	0	0	0	−3	0
53	Sylvain Blouin	LW	5	0	0	0	0	19
3	Brad Brown‡	D	5	0	0	0	0	21
39	Frederic Chabot	G	11	0	0	0		2
42	Jonathan Delisle	RW	1	0	0	0	0	0
30	Jean-Francois Jomphe†	C	6	0	0	0	0	0
6	Trent McCleary	RW	46	0	0	0	−1	29
36	Dave Morissette	LW	10	0	0	0	1	52
56	Alain Nasreddine†	D	8	0	0	0	1	33
14	Terry Ryan	LW	1	0	0	0	0	5
60	Jose Theodore	G	18	0	0	0		0
41	Jocelyn Thibault‡	G	10	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

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

No.	Player	Regular season
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
31	Jeff Hackett†	53	24	20	9	1360	117	2.27	.914	5	3091
60	Jose Theodore	18	4	12	0	406	50	3.29	.877	1	913
41	Jocelyn Thibault‡	10	3	4	2	250	23	2.61	.908	1	529
39	Frederic Chabot	11	1	3	0	188	16	2.23	.915	0	430

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Mark Recchi	^[7]
	NHL Player of the Week	Mark Recchi (November 9)	^[8]
	NHL Player of the Week	Jeff Hackett (January 4)	^[9]
Team	Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy	Benoit Brunet	^[10]
Team	Molson Cup	Jeff Hackett	^[11]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Miloslav Guren	October 10, 1998	^[12]
	Dave Morissette	October 16, 1998
	Jonathan Delisle	October 21, 1998
	Andrei Bashkirov	November 21, 1998
	Arron Asham	November 28, 1998

Transactions

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.^[13]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	16	Eric Chouinard	Canada	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2	45	Mike Ribeiro	Canada	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
3	75	Francois Beauchemin	Canada	Laval Titan Collège Français (QMJHL)
5	132	Andrei Bashkirov	Russia	Fort Wayne Komets (IHL)
6	152	Gordie Dwyer	Canada	Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
6	162	Andrei Markov	Russia	Khimik Voskresensk (Russia)
7	189	Andrei Kruchinin	Russia	Lada Togliatti (Russia)
8	201	Craig Murray	Canada	University of Michigan (CCHA)
8	216	Michael Ryder	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
9	247	Darcy Harris	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Notes

^ Weinrich wore number 3 in his first game.
^ Zubrus wore number 57 in his first game.

References

"Montreal Canadiens 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
"1998-99 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.

^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.291, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.292, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.299, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
^ Dinger 2011, p. 155.
^ "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
^ "1998-99 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^ "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
^ "Montreal's Recchi Named Player of the Week". NHL.com. November 9, 1998. Archived from the original on October 5, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
^ "Canadiens' Hackett is Player of the Week". NHL.com. January 4, 1999. Archived from the original on October 9, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553
^ Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552
^ "1998-99 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
^ "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.

[7] Weinrich wore number 3 in his first game.

[8] Zubrus wore number 57 in his first game.

[1] The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.291, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0

[2] The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.292, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0

[3] The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.299, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0

[FOOTNOTEDinger2011155-4] Dinger 2011, p. 155.

[5] "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.

[6] "1998-99 Montreal Canadiens Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.

[9] "1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.

[10] "Montreal's Recchi Named Player of the Week". NHL.com. November 9, 1998. Archived from the original on October 5, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.

[11] "Canadiens' Hackett is Player of the Week". NHL.com. January 4, 1999. Archived from the original on October 9, 1999. Retrieved July 26, 2024.

[12] Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553

[13] Montreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552

[14] "1998-99 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.

[15] "1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.

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