1998–99 Montreal Canadiens season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1998–99 1998 Eastern 11th Northeast 5th 32–39–11 21–15–5 11–24–6 184 209 Rejean Houle Alain Vigneault Vincent Damphousse (Oct.–Mar.)Vacant (Mar.–Apr.) Molson Centre 20,740 (97.5%) Quebec CitadellesNew Orleans Brass Martin Rucinsky (17) Mark Recchi (35) Mark Recchi (47) Patrick PoulinTurner Stevenson (+6) Shayne Corson (147) Jeff Hackett (24) Frederic Chabot (2.23) 1999–2000 The 1998–99 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 90th season of play. The club finished fifth in the Northeast Division and did not qualify for the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season. It had been the worst season in over 48 years for the club. The Canadiens finished last in their division for the first time since the 1939–40 season. Martin Rucinsky led the club in goals scored throughout the season with only a measly 17 in total. It was the first time since the 1940–41 season that the Canadiens did not have at least one 20-goal scorer.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.291, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, 978-0-385-66325-0 On March 31, 1999, ownership announced it has lost $3.8 million in its last fiscal year.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.292, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, 978-0-385-66325-0 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.The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.299, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, 978-0-385-66325-0 Final standings MTL MON Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 5px solid; border-bottom:#192168 5px solid; 1998–99 regular season1998-99 Montreal Canadiens Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1999_games.html Hockey-Reference.com June 13, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; October: 3–5–2 (home: 3–4–0; road: 0–1–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 10, 1998||7–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1998–99) ||1–0–0 || 1998020006 W |- |2||October 13, 1998||1–0 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99) ||2–0–0 || 1998020022 W |- |3||October 16, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||2–0–1 || 1998020036 T |- |4||October 17, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||2–1–1 || 1998020041 L |- |5||October 19, 1998||1–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||2–2–1 || 1998020054 L |- |6||October 21, 1998||3–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||3–2–1 || 1998020060 W |- |7||October 24, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||3–3–1 || 1998020077 L |- |8||October 28, 1998||2–9 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||3–4–1 || 1998020097 L |- |9||October 29, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||3–4–2 || 1998020105 T |- |10||October 31, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||3–5–2 || 1998020119 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; November: 5–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |11||November 4, 1998||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1998–99) ||4–5–2 || 1998020139 W |- |12||November 7, 1998||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1998–99) ||5–5–2 || 1998020156 W |- |13||November 9, 1998||5–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||6–5–2 || 1998020170 W |- |14||November 11, 1998||0–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||6–6–2 || 1998020180 L |- |15||November 12, 1998||0–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1998–99) ||6–7–2 || 1998020186 L |- |16||November 14, 1998||1–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||6–8–2 || 1998020201 L |- |17||November 17, 1998||4–5 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||6–9–2 || 1998020214 L |- |18||November 19, 1998||4–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||7–9–2 || 1998020223 W |- |19||November 21, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||7–10–2 || 1998020237 L |- |20||November 27, 1998||1–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||7–11–2 || 1998020268 L |- |21||November 28, 1998||3–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||7–12–2 || 1998020278 L |- |22||November 30, 1998||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) ||8–12–2 || 1998020291 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; December: 3–6–5 (home: 0–1–3; road: 3–5–2) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |23||December 2, 1998||1–4 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||8–13–2 || 1998020300 L |- |24||December 4, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||8–13–3 || 1998020308 T |- |25||December 5, 1998||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||8–14–3 || 1998020316 L |- |26||December 9, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||8–15–3 || 1998020341 L |- |27||December 11, 1998||2–3 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||8–16–3 || 1998020351 L |- |28||December 12, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||8–16–4 || 1998020361 T |- |29||December 14, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) ||8–16–5 || 1998020367 T |- |30||December 18, 1998||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||8–17–5 || 1998020386 L |- |31||December 19, 1998||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||8–17–6 || 1998020395 T |- |32||December 21, 1998||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Dallas Stars (1998–99) ||8–17–7 || 1998020408 T |- |33||December 23, 1998||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||8–18–7 || 1998020419 L |- |34||December 26, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||9–18–7 || 1998020427 W |- |35||December 29, 1998||5–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||10–18–7 || 1998020451 W |- |36||December 31, 1998||2–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||11–18–7 || 1998020463 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; January: 7–6–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |37||January 2, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||12–18–7 || 1998020481 W |- |38||January 4, 1999||3–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) ||12–19–7 || 1998020491 L |- |39||January 7, 1999||4–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||13–19–7 || 1998020503 W |- |40||January 9, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1998–99) ||14–19–7 || 1998020516 W |- |41||January 11, 1999||3–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||15–19–7 || 1998020530 W |- |42||January 12, 1999||1–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) ||15–20–7 || 1998020537 L |- |43||January 15, 1999||3–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||16–20–7 || 1998020555 W |- |44||January 16, 1999||3–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1998–99) ||17–20–7 || 1998020560 W |- |45||January 18, 1999||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||17–20–8 || 1998020572 T |- |46||January 21, 1999||0–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) ||17–21–8 || 1998020593 L |- |47||January 26, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||18–21–8 || 1998020606 W |- |48||January 27, 1999||1–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||18–22–8 || 1998020609 L |- |49||January 30, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||18–23–8 || 1998020626 L |- |50||January 31, 1999||3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||18–24–8 || 1998020638 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; February: 6–5–0 (home: 4–0–0; road: 2–5–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |51||February 3, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||19–24–8 || 1998020652 W |- |52||February 4, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||19–25–8 || 1998020661 L |- |53||February 6, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||20–25–8 || 1998020671 W |- |54||February 9, 1999||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||20–26–8 || 1998020690 L |- |55||February 11, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||20–27–8 || 1998020699 L |- |56||February 13, 1999||4–0 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||21–27–8 || 1998020713 W |- |57||February 17, 1999||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1998–99) ||22–27–8 || 1998020739 W |- |58||February 18, 1999||3–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||23–27–8 || 1998020745 W |- |59||February 20, 1999||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||23–28–8 || 1998020756 L |- |60||February 25, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||23–29–8 || 1998020789 L |- |61||February 27, 1999||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1998–99) ||24–29–8 || 1998020803 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; March: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |62||March 2, 1999||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) ||25–29–8 || 1998020817 W |- |63||March 3, 1999||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) ||25–29–9 || 1998020824 T |- |64||March 6, 1999||1–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||25–30–9 || 1998020841 L |- |65||March 8, 1999||2–5 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||25–31–9 || 1998020856 L |- |66||March 11, 1999||3–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) ||26–31–9 || 1998020877 W |- |67||March 13, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||27–31–9 || 1998020885 W |- |68||March 18, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| Nashville Predators (1998–99) ||28–31–9 || 1998020914 W |- |69||March 20, 1999||0–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1998–99) ||28–32–9 || 1998020924 L |- |70||March 22, 1999||1–1 OT|| align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1998–99) ||28–32–10 || 1998020939 T |- |71||March 24, 1999||2–0 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) ||29–32–10 || 1998020953 W |- |72||March 25, 1999||1–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1998–99) ||29–33–10 || 1998020956 L |- |73||March 27, 1999||1–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) ||29–34–10 || 1998020972 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#AF1E2D 2px solid; border-bottom:#192168 2px solid; April: 3–5–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 0–3–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |74||April 1, 1999||2–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||29–35–10 || 1998020998 L |- |75||April 3, 1999||2–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) ||30–35–10 || 1998021009 W |- |76||April 5, 1999||0–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1998–99) ||30–36–10 || 1998021022 L |- |77||April 7, 1999||2–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) ||31–36–10 || 1998021035 W |- |78||April 8, 1999||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1998–99) ||31–37–10 || 1998021044 L |- |79||April 10, 1999||2–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1998–99) ||31–38–10 || 1998021057 L |- |80||April 13, 1999||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) ||31–38–11 || 1998021074 T |- |81||April 14, 1999||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1998–99) ||31–39–11 || 1998021078 L |- |82||April 17, 1999||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) ||32–39–11 || 1998021094 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T 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. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 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 Martin Ručinský LW 73 17 17 34 −25 50 38 Vladimir Malakhov ice hockey D 62 13 21 34 −7 77 27 Shayne Corson LW 63 12 20 32 −10 147 17 Benoit Brunet Benoît Brunet LW 60 14 17 31 −1 31 23 Turner Stevenson RW 69 10 17 27 6 88 5 Stephane Quintal Stéphane 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 Jonas Höglund LW 74 8 10 18 −5 16 22Weinrich wore number 3 in his first game. 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 ice hockey LW 47 7 4 11 −2 87 52 Craig Rivet D 66 2 8 10 −3 66 21 Jason Dawe ice hockey RW 37 4 5 9 0 14 28Zubrus wore number 57 in his first game. Dainius Zubrus C 17 3 5 8 −3 4 29 Brett Clark ice hockey D 61 2 2 4 −3 16 15 Eric Houde Éric 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 ice hockey C 25 1 0 1 −2 0 48 Miloslav Guren Miloslav Gureň 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 Frédéric Chabot G 11 0 0 0 2 42 Jonathan Delisle RW 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 Jean-Francois Jomphe Jean-François 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 ice hockey, born 1977 LW 1 0 0 0 0 5 60 Jose Theodore José Théodore 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. Jersey number Player Regular season GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on ice 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 TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Mark Recchi1999 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1999_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 NHL Player of the Week Mark Recchi (November 9)Montreal's Recchi Named Player of the Week http://www.nhl.com/news/nov/110998recchi.htm NHL.com July 26, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/19991005104731/http://www.nhl.com/news/nov/110998recchi.htm October 5, 1999 November 9, 1998 Jeff Hackett (January 4)Canadiens' Hackett is Player of the Week http://www.nhl.com/news/jan/010499hackett.htm NHL.com July 26, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/19991009141955/http://www.nhl.com/news/jan/010499hackett.htm October 9, 1999 January 4, 1999 Team Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy Benoit BrunetMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.553 Molson Cup Jeff HackettMontreal Canadiens 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.552 Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Miloslav Guren October 10, 19981998-99 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1999_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 9, 2024 Dave Morissette October 16, 1998 Jonathan Delisle October 21, 1998 Andrei Bashkirov November 21, 1998 Arron Asham November 28, 1998 Draft picks Montreal's draft picks at the 1998 NHL entry draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.1998 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1998e.html www.hockeydb.com June 28, 2023 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)116Eric ChouinardQuebec Remparts (QMJHL)245Mike RibeiroRouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)375Francois BeaucheminLaval Titan Collège Français (QMJHL)5132Andrei BashkirovFort Wayne Komets (IHL)6152Gordie DwyerBeauport Harfangs (QMJHL)6162Andrei MarkovKhimik Voskresensk (Russia)7189Andrei KruchininLada Togliatti (Russia)8201Craig MurrayUniversity of Michigan (CCHA)8216Michael RyderHull Olympiques (QMJHL)9247Darcy HarrisKitchener Rangers (OHL) See also 1998–99 NHL season Notes References Montreal Canadiens 1998-99 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000451999.html www.hockeydb.com June 13, 2023 1998-99 Montreal Canadiens Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1999.html Hockey-Reference.com June 13, 2023 Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 Toronto Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 1998-99 Montreal Category:1998 in Montreal Category:1998 in sports in Quebec Category:1999 in sports in Quebec Category:1999 in Montreal