# 1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 1998–99 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the franchise's seventh season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). For the third consecutive year, the Lighting were unable to qualify for the playoffs. They also finished in last place for the second consecutive year as well.

## Offseason

On the eve of the regular season opener, Mikael Renberg stepped down as team captain and was replaced by Rob Zamuner.

## Regular season

The Lightning again finished last in scoring, with just 179 goals for. They also allowed the most goals of all 27 teams, with 292 goals against.

### All-Star Game

The 49th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 24, 1999, at the Ice Palace in Tampa Bay, Florida, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It would be Wayne Gretzky's last All-Star Game.

### Season 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 |
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: 4–6–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 1–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 9, 19981–4@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)0–1–0Recap
2TOctober 10, 19984–4 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)0–1–1Recap
3LOctober 14, 19980–2New York Islanders (1998–99)0–2–1Recap
4LOctober 16, 19982–5Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)0–3–1Recap
5LOctober 18, 19981–4Washington Capitals (1998–99)0–4–1Recap
6WOctober 21, 19985–0Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)1–4–1Recap
7WOctober 23, 19983–2Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)2–4–1Recap
8WOctober 25, 19983–2Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)3–4–1Recap
9LOctober 28, 19983–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)3–5–1Recap
10WOctober 30, 19983–0@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)4–5–1Recap
11LOctober 31, 19981–6@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)4–6–1Recap :
November: 2–8–1 (home: 1–5–1; road: 1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12WNovember 4, 19985–2@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)5–6–1Recap
13TNovember 6, 19982–2 OTChicago Blackhawks (1998–99)5–6–2Recap
14WNovember 8, 19983–1New Jersey Devils (1998–99)6–6–2Recap
15LNovember 10, 19982–10New York Rangers (1998–99)6–7–2Recap
16LNovember 13, 19981–8@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)6–8–2Recap
17LNovember 14, 19981–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)6–9–2Recap
18LNovember 19, 19981–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)6–10–2Recap
19LNovember 21, 19982–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)6–11–2Recap
20LNovember 24, 19981–4Boston Bruins (1998–99)6–12–2Recap
21LNovember 27, 19981–2Florida Panthers (1998–99)6–13–2Recap
22LNovember 29, 19983–6Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)6–14–2Recap :
December: 3–10–1 (home: 1–4–0; road: 2–6–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
23LDecember 3, 19981–4@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)6–15–2Recap
24WDecember 4, 19982–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)7–15–2Recap
25LDecember 6, 19985–7@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)7–16–2Recap
26LDecember 8, 19982–4Ottawa Senators (1998–99)7–17–2Recap
27LDecember 11, 19981–2Calgary Flames (1998–99)7–18–2Recap
28WDecember 12, 19982–1 OT@ New York Islanders (1998–99)8–18–2Recap
29LDecember 15, 19982–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)8–19–2Recap
30LDecember 18, 19981–4Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)8–20–2Recap
31TDecember 20, 19982–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)8–20–3Recap
32LDecember 21, 19982–3@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)8–21–3Recap
33LDecember 23, 19980–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)8–22–3Recap
34LDecember 26, 19981–3Florida Panthers (1998–99)8–23–3Recap
35WDecember 29, 19983–0New York Islanders (1998–99)9–23–3Recap
36LDecember 30, 19983–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)9–24–3Recap :
January: 2–9–1 (home: 1–3–0; road: 1–6–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
37LJanuary 4, 19994–5 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)9–25–3Recap
38LJanuary 7, 19991–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)9–26–3Recap
39LJanuary 8, 19991–5@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)9–27–3Recap
40LJanuary 10, 19992–5@ New York Rangers (1998–99)9–28–3Recap
41LJanuary 12, 19993–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)9–29–3Recap
42LJanuary 15, 19991–3@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)9–30–3Recap
43TJanuary 16, 19992–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)9–30–4Recap
44WJanuary 19, 19992–1Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)10–30–4Recap
45WJanuary 21, 19993–2@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)11–30–4Recap
46LJanuary 26, 19991–2Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)11–31–4Recap
47LJanuary 29, 19991–4Dallas Stars (1998–99)11–32–4Recap
48LJanuary 30, 19992–6@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)11–33–4Recap :
February: 2–8–1 (home: 2–6–0; road: 0–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
49LFebruary 2, 19990–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)11–34–4Recap
50LFebruary 3, 19991–10@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)11–35–4Recap
51LFebruary 5, 19993–5Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)11–36–4Recap
52LFebruary 10, 19994–5St. Louis Blues (1998–99)11–37–4Recap
53LFebruary 13, 19991–3San Jose Sharks (1998–99)11–38–4Recap
54TFebruary 15, 19993–3 OT@ New York Islanders (1998–99)11–38–5Recap
55LFebruary 17, 19991–7@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)11–39–5Recap
56WFebruary 19, 19994–2Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)12–39–5Recap
57LFebruary 20, 19992–3Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)12–40–5Recap
58LFebruary 22, 19992–3New Jersey Devils (1998–99)12–41–5Recap
59WFebruary 26, 19994–1Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)13–41–5Recap :
March: 4–9–1 (home: 2–4–0; road: 2–5–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
60LMarch 2, 19992–8Washington Capitals (1998–99)13–42–5Recap
61WMarch 4, 19992–1Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)14–42–5Recap
62WMarch 6, 19996–1@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)15–42–5Recap
63LMarch 8, 19993–9@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)15–43–5Recap
64LMarch 9, 19991–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)15–44–5Recap
65WMarch 11, 19995–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)16–44–5Recap
66LMarch 13, 19990–1@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)16–45–5Recap
67LMarch 17, 19990–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)16–46–5Recap
68LMarch 19, 19993–5Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)16–47–5Recap
69WMarch 22, 19996–3New York Rangers (1998–99)17–47–5Recap
70LMarch 24, 19990–3Nashville Predators (1998–99)17–48–5Recap
71LMarch 26, 19991–6@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)17–49–5Recap
72TMarch 28, 19993–3 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)17–49–6Recap
73LMarch 31, 19994–6@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)17–50–6Recap :
April: 2–4–3 (home: 2–0–3; road: 0–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74LApril 1, 19990–3@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)17–51–6Recap
75WApril 3, 19994–3Washington Capitals (1998–99)18–51–6Recap
76TApril 5, 19994–4 OTOttawa Senators (1998–99)18–51–7Recap
77WApril 8, 19993–0Boston Bruins (1998–99)19–51–7Recap
78LApril 10, 19992–3@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)19–52–7Recap
79LApril 12, 19991–2@ New York Rangers (1998–99)19–53–7Recap
80TApril 13, 19992–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1998–99)19–53–8Recap
81TApril 16, 19992–2 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)19–53–9Recap
82LApril 17, 19992–6@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)19–54–9Recap :
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 Lightning only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Darcy Tucker | RW | 82 | 21 | 22 | 43 | −34 | 176 |
| 17 | Wendel Clark‡ | LW | 65 | 28 | 14 | 42 | −25 | 35 |
| 44 | Stephane Richer | RW | 64 | 12 | 21 | 33 | −10 | 22 |
| 8 | Vincent Lecavalier | C | 82 | 13 | 15 | 28 | −19 | 23 |
| 77 | Chris Gratton† | C | 52 | 7 | 19 | 26 | −20 | 102 |
| 33 | Benoit Hogue‡ | C | 62 | 11 | 14 | 25 | −12 | 50 |
| 21 | Craig Janney‡ | C | 38 | 4 | 18 | 22 | −13 | 10 |
| 13 | Pavel Kubina | D | 68 | 9 | 12 | 21 | −33 | 80 |
| 7 | Rob Zamuner | LW | 58 | 8 | 11 | 19 | −15 | 24 |
| 61 | Alexander Selivanov‡ | RW | 43 | 6 | 13 | 19 | −8 | 18 |
| 4 | Cory Cross | D | 67 | 2 | 16 | 18 | −25 | 92 |
| 5 | Jassen Cullimore | D | 78 | 5 | 12 | 17 | −22 | 81 |
| 23 | Petr Svoboda† | D | 34 | 1 | 16 | 17 | −4 | 53 |
| 21 | Alexandre Daigle† | C | 32 | 6 | 6 | 12 | −12 | 2 |
| 10 | Sandy McCarthy‡ | RW | 67 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −22 | 135 |
| 20 | Mikael Renberg‡ | RW | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −2 | 4 |
| 26 | Mike Sillinger† | C | 54 | 8 | 2 | 10 | −20 | 28 |
| 18 | Daymond Langkow‡ | C | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 15 |
| 9 | Michael Nylander† | C | 24 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −10 | 6 |
| 49 | David Wilkie | D | 46 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −19 | 69 |
| 14 | Robert Petrovicky† | C | 28 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −8 | 6 |
| 2 | Mike McBain | D | 37 | 0 | 6 | 6 | −11 | 14 |
| 34 | Mikael Andersson‡ | LW | 40 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −8 | 4 |
| 28 | Kjell Samuelsson† | D | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −6 | 38 |
| 27 | Colin Forbes† | C | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −5 | 10 |
| 11 | Steve Kelly | C | 34 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −15 | 27 |
| 32 | Corey Schwab | G | 40 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 4 |
| 14 | Karl Dykhuis‡ | D | 33 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −21 | 18 |
| 27 | Brent Peterson‡ | LW | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0 |
| 55 | Drew Bannister† | D | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 24 |
| 23 | Michal Sykora | D | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −7 | 0 |
| 64 | Jason Bonsignore | C | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −4 | 8 |
| 3 | Sergey Gusev† | D | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −8 | 10 |
| 62 | Andrei Nazarov‡ | LW | 26 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −5 | 43 |
| 39 | Enrico Ciccone‡ | D | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 24 |
| 22 | Paul Mara | D | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 0 |
| 46 | Andrei Skopintsev | D | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 6 | Karel Betik | D | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −3 | 2 |
| 3 | Sami Helenius†‡ | D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 15 |
| 93 | Daren Puppa | G | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 20 | Corey Spring | RW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Paul Ysebaert | C | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 2 |
| 1 | Zac Bierk | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 12 | John Cullen‡ | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 43 | Xavier Delisle | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Kevin Hodson† | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 71 | Mario Larocque | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 16 |
| 30 | Bill Ranford‡ | G | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 35 | Derek Wilkinson | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning 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 |
| 32 | Corey Schwab | 40 | 8 | 25 | 3 | 1153 | 126 | 3.52 | .891 | 0 | 2146 |
| 93 | Daren Puppa | 13 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 350 | 33 | 2.87 | .906 | 2 | 691 |
| 30 | Bill Ranford‡ | 32 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 858 | 102 | 3.90 | .881 | 1 | 1568 |
| 31 | Kevin Hodson† | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 118 | 11 | 2.77 | .907 | 0 | 238 |
| 35 | Derek Wilkinson | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 128 | 13 | 3.08 | .898 | 0 | 253 |
| 1 | Zac Bierk | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 2.03 | .905 | 0 | 59 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy | John Cullen |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Wendel Clark |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Vincent Lecavalier (February) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Vincent Lecavalier | October 9, 1998 |
| First game | Andrei Skopintsev | November 19, 1998 |
| First game | Mario Larocque | January 7, 1999 |
| First game | Xavier Delisle | February 13, 1999 |
| First game | Karel Betik | February 15, 1999 |
| First game | Paul Mara | April 17, 1999 |

## Draft picks

Tampa Bay'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 | 1 | Vincent Lecavalier | Canada | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 64 | Brad Richards | Canada | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 72 | Dmitri Afanasenkov | Russia | Torpedo Yaroslavl (Russia) |
| 4 | 92 | Eric Beaudoin | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 5 | 121 | Curtis Rich | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 6 | 146 | Sergei Kuznetsov | Russia | Torpedo-2 Yaroslavl (Russia) |
| 7 | 174 | Brett Allan | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 7 | 194 | Oak Hewer | Canada | North Bay Centennials (OHL) |
| 8 | 221 | Daniel Hulak | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 9 | 229 | Chris Lyness | Canada | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) |