# 1998–99 New York Islanders season

The 1998–99 New York Islanders season was the 27th season in the franchise's history. The Islanders had yet another disappointing season and could not unable to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| R | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 47 | 24 | 11 | 248 | 196 | 105 |
| 2 | 5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 37 | 26 | 19 | 231 | 196 | 93 |
| 3 | 8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 30 | 14 | 242 | 225 | 90 |
| 4 | 10 | New York Rangers | 82 | 33 | 38 | 11 | 217 | 227 | 77 |
| 5 | 13 | New York Islanders | 82 | 24 | 48 | 10 | 194 | 244 | 58 |
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

## Schedule and results

1998–99 regular season :
October: 5–5–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 10, 19983–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 12, 19980–3@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)0–2–0Recap
3WOctober 14, 19982–0@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)1–2–0Recap
4WOctober 17, 19981–0@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)2–2–0Recap
5LOctober 21, 19982–4Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)2–3–0Recap
6LOctober 22, 19982–3@ New York Rangers (1998–99)2–4–0Recap
7WOctober 24, 19985–4Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)3–4–0Recap
8WOctober 27, 19981–0Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)4–4–0Recap
9LOctober 29, 19981–2New Jersey Devils (1998–99)4–5–0Recap
10WOctober 31, 19983–2Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)5–5–0Recap :
November: 5–8–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11WNovember 2, 19986–2Florida Panthers (1998–99)6–5–0Recap
12LNovember 5, 19983–6Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)6–6–0Recap
13LNovember 7, 19982–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)6–7–0Recap
14WNovember 9, 19983–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)7–7–0Recap
15LNovember 10, 19982–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)7–8–0Recap
16WNovember 12, 19984–0Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)8–8–0Recap
17LNovember 14, 19983–5Washington Capitals (1998–99)8–9–0Recap
18LNovember 17, 19982–5@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)8–10–0Recap
19LNovember 20, 19982–4@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)8–11–0Recap
20WNovember 21, 19986–3@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)9–11–0Recap
21WNovember 25, 19984–2Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)10–11–0Recap
22LNovember 26, 19981–4@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)10–12–0Recap
23LNovember 28, 19981–3Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)10–13–0Recap :
December: 3–9–2 (home: 1–4–1; road: 2–5–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24LDecember 2, 19982–3New York Rangers (1998–99)10–14–0Recap
25LDecember 4, 19981–5@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)10–15–0Recap
26LDecember 5, 19985–7New Jersey Devils (1998–99)10–16–0Recap
27LDecember 8, 19981–2Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)10–17–0Recap
28LDecember 12, 19981–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)10–18–0Recap
29WDecember 15, 19981–0@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)11–18–0Recap
30WDecember 17, 19985–4 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)12–18–0Recap
31TDecember 18, 19982–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)12–18–1Recap
32LDecember 20, 19982–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)12–19–1Recap
33TDecember 22, 19983–3 OTSt. Louis Blues (1998–99)12–19–2Recap
34WDecember 26, 19984–2Boston Bruins (1998–99)13–19–2Recap
35LDecember 28, 19981–5@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)13–20–2Recap
36LDecember 29, 19980–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)13–21–2Recap
37LDecember 31, 19980–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)13–22–2Recap :
January: 2–8–2 (home: 1–2–2; road: 1–6–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 2, 19993–4 OTSan Jose Sharks (1998–99)13–23–2Recap
39TJanuary 5, 19991–1 OTChicago Blackhawks (1998–99)13–23–3Recap
40LJanuary 7, 19990–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)13–24–3Recap
41LJanuary 9, 19992–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)13–25–3Recap
42LJanuary 11, 19993–4@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)13–26–3Recap
43LJanuary 13, 19993–4 OT@ New York Rangers (1998–99)13–27–3Recap
44LJanuary 16, 19990–1@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)13–28–3Recap
45LJanuary 20, 19992–5Florida Panthers (1998–99)13–29–3Recap
46WJanuary 21, 19995–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)14–29–3Recap
47WJanuary 26, 19994–1Boston Bruins (1998–99)15–29–3Recap
48TJanuary 29, 19994–4 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1998–99)15–29–4Recap
49LJanuary 30, 19992–9@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)15–30–4Recap :
February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
50LFebruary 3, 19991–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)15–31–4Recap
51WFebruary 4, 19995–4@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)16–31–4Recap
52TFebruary 7, 19993–3 OTVancouver Canucks (1998–99)16–31–5Recap
53LFebruary 9, 19991–2Washington Capitals (1998–99)16–32–5Recap
54LFebruary 12, 19991–2Nashville Predators (1998–99)16–33–5Recap
55TFebruary 13, 19992–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)16–33–6Recap
56TFebruary 15, 19993–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)16–33–7Recap
57WFebruary 17, 19993–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)17–33–7Recap
58WFebruary 20, 19993–2@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)18–33–7Recap
59LFebruary 21, 19991–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)18–34–7Recap
60LFebruary 25, 19991–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)18–35–7Recap
61WFebruary 27, 19993–1Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)19–35–7Recap :
March: 2–10–2 (home: 0–6–1; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62LMarch 2, 19992–4Ottawa Senators (1998–99)19–36–7Recap
63LMarch 4, 19992–3 OTDallas Stars (1998–99)19–37–7Recap
64TMarch 6, 19993–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)19–37–8Recap
65LMarch 7, 19992–4New Jersey Devils (1998–99)19–38–8Recap
66TMarch 9, 19992–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1998–99)19–38–9Recap
67LMarch 11, 19991–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)19–39–9Recap
68LMarch 14, 19992–3 OTNew York Rangers (1998–99)19–40–9Recap
69LMarch 15, 19991–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)19–41–9Recap
70WMarch 19, 19993–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)20–41–9Recap
71LMarch 21, 19991–2@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)20–42–9Recap
72LMarch 24, 19991–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)20–43–9Recap
73LMarch 27, 19993–7Ottawa Senators (1998–99)20–44–9Recap
74LMarch 29, 19991–3@ New York Rangers (1998–99)20–45–9Recap
75WMarch 31, 19995–3@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)21–45–9Recap :
April: 3–3–1 (home: 1–2–1; road: 2–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76TApril 3, 19992–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)21–45–10Recap
77LApril 6, 19993–4Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)21–46–10Recap
78WApril 8, 19993–1Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)22–46–10Recap
79LApril 10, 19991–6Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)22–47–10Recap
80WApril 12, 19994–2@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)23–47–10Recap
81LApril 14, 19992–3 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)23–48–10Recap
82WApril 17, 19997–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)24–48–10Recap :
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 Islanders only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 21 | Robert Reichel‡ | C | 70 | 19 | 37 | 56 | −15 | 50 |
| 16 | Zigmund Palffy | RW | 50 | 22 | 28 | 50 | −6 | 34 |
| 32 | Trevor Linden | RW | 82 | 18 | 29 | 47 | −14 | 32 |
| 20 | Bryan Smolinski | C | 82 | 16 | 24 | 40 | −7 | 49 |
| 25 | Mariusz Czerkawski | RW | 78 | 21 | 17 | 38 | −10 | 14 |
| 13 | Claude Lapointe | C | 82 | 14 | 23 | 37 | −19 | 62 |
| 44 | Mark Lawrence | RW | 60 | 14 | 16 | 30 | −8 | 38 |
| 29 | Kenny Jonsson | D | 63 | 8 | 18 | 26 | −18 | 34 |
| 12 | Mike Watt | LW | 75 | 8 | 17 | 25 | −2 | 12 |
| 38 | Barry Richter | D | 72 | 6 | 18 | 24 | −4 | 34 |
| 15 | Ted Donato†‡ | LW | 55 | 7 | 11 | 18 | −10 | 27 |
| 17 | Sergei Nemchinov‡ | LW | 67 | 8 | 8 | 16 | −17 | 22 |
| 34 | Bryan Berard‡ | D | 31 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −6 | 26 |
| 4 | Eric Brewer | D | 63 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −14 | 32 |
| 7 | Scott Lachance‡ | D | 59 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −19 | 30 |
| 10 | Mats Lindgren† | C | 12 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Zdeno Chara | D | 59 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −8 | 83 |
| 6 | David Harlock | D | 70 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −16 | 68 |
| 24 | Gino Odjick | RW | 23 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −2 | 133 |
| 11 | Kevin Miller | C | 33 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −5 | 13 |
| 10 | Jason Dawe‡ | RW | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| 11 | Craig Janney† | C | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −2 | 4 |
| 2 | Rich Pilon | D | 52 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −8 | 88 |
| 14 | Joe Sacco | RW | 73 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −24 | 45 |
| 33 | Eric Cairns† | D | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 23 |
| 33 | Ken Belanger‡ | LW | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 |
| 36 | Ted Crowley† | D | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Dmitri Nabokov | C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 49 | Vladimir Orszagh | RW | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 15 | Tom Chorske‡ | LW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 39 | Dean Malkoc | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 55 | Vladimir Chebaturkin | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| 1 | Marcel Cousineau | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Wade Flaherty | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 18 | Mike Hough | LW | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 67 | Mike Kennedy | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 48 | Warren Luhning | RW | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 8 |
| 28 | Felix Potvin† | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 35 | Tommy Salo‡ | G | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 12 |
| 36 | Ray Schultz | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 7 |
| 8 | Steve Webb | RW | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −10 | 32 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 35 | Tommy Salo‡ | 51 | 17 | 26 | 7 | 1368 | 132 | 2.62 | .904 | 5 | 3018 |
| 30 | Wade Flaherty | 20 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 491 | 53 | 3.03 | .892 | 0 | 1048 |
| 28 | Felix Potvin† | 11 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 345 | 37 | 3.66 | .893 | 0 | 606 |
| 1 | Marcel Cousineau | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 119 | 14 | 2.87 | .882 | 0 | 293 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Kenny Jonsson | |
| Team | Bob Nystrom Award | Claude Lapointe | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| First game | Eric Brewer | October 10, 1998 | |

## Draft picks

New York's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 9 | Mike Rupp | United States | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 2 | 36 | Chris Nielsen | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 4 | 95 | Andy Burnham | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) |
| 5 | 123 | Jiri Dopita | Czech Republic | Petra Vsetín (Czech Republic) |
| 6 | 155 | Kevin Clauson | United States | Western Michigan University (CCHA) |
| 7 | 182 | Evgeny Korolev | Russia | London Knights (OHL) |
| 8 | 209 | Frederick Brind'Amour | Canada | Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 237 | Ben Blais | United States | Walpole High School (USHS-MA) |
| 9 | 242 | Jason Doyle | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 9 | 250 | Radek Matejovsky | Czech Republic | Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) |