# 1998–99 Washington Capitals season

The 1998–99 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 25th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Capitals missed the playoffs, despite their amazing run to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals the previous year.

## Regular season

The Caps opened the 1998–99 season by raising their "Eastern Conference Champions 1997–1998" banner to the rafters of the MCI Center then shutting out the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1–0 with Olaf Kolzig making 29 saves.
On January 16, 1999, Kelly Miller scored just nine seconds into the overtime period to give the Caps a 3–2 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1998–99 regular season.
On February 3, 1999, the Caps defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning at home by a score of 10–1. Peter Bondra scored four goals in the game. It was the first time that Washington had scored ten goals in a regular-season game since December 17, 1993, when they defeated the Ottawa Senators at home by a score of 11–2.
On March 23, 1999, the Caps traded captain Dale Hunter, Joe Juneau (who had scored the OT goal that led the Caps to the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals), and Craig Berube.
A month after the season finale owner Abe Pollin announced he had sold the team to Ted Leonsis
The Caps were shut out an NHL-high 11 times. They also tied the St. Louis Blues for the fewest power-play opportunities, with just 301. The Caps failed to make the playoffs after playing in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. They led the NHL in man-games lost to injury with 511.

### Final 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: 3–3–3 (home: 1–2–2; road: 2–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 10, 19981–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 13, 19982–3Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)1–1–0Recap
3TOctober 16, 19982–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1998–99)1–1–1Recap
4WOctober 18, 19984–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)2–1–1Recap
5LOctober 21, 19981–2Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)2–2–1Recap
6WOctober 23, 19981–0@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)3–2–1Recap
7TOctober 24, 19982–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1998–99)3–2–2Recap
8LOctober 28, 19982–8@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)3–3–2Recap
9TOctober 30, 19980–0 OT@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)3–3–3Recap :
November: 4–8–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
10LNovember 1, 19981–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)3–4–3Recap
11LNovember 4, 19982–5Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)3–5–3Recap
12LNovember 6, 19982–3Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)3–6–3Recap
13WNovember 7, 19988–5@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)4–6–3Recap
14LNovember 12, 19980–2Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)4–7–3Recap
15WNovember 14, 19985–3@ New York Islanders (1998–99)5–7–3Recap
16WNovember 18, 19984–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)6–7–3Recap
17LNovember 20, 19981–4Ottawa Senators (1998–99)6–8–3Recap
18LNovember 21, 19984–5 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)6–9–3Recap
19WNovember 25, 19985–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)7–9–3Recap
20LNovember 27, 19980–4@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)7–10–3Recap
21LNovember 28, 19982–4@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)7–11–3Recap :
December: 4–8–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 2–6–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
22LDecember 1, 19980–4New Jersey Devils (1998–99)7–12–3Recap
23WDecember 4, 19985–1New York Islanders (1998–99)8–12–3Recap
24LDecember 5, 19981–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)8–13–3Recap
25LDecember 9, 19981–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)8–14–3Recap
26LDecember 11, 19980–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)8–15–3Recap
27LDecember 12, 19981–2@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)8–16–3Recap
28WDecember 17, 19983–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)9–16–3Recap
29LDecember 19, 19980–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)9–17–3Recap
30WDecember 23, 19984–0@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)10–17–3Recap
31LDecember 26, 19981–3@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)10–18–3Recap
32WDecember 28, 19985–1Boston Bruins (1998–99)11–18–3Recap
33LDecember 30, 19982–3New Jersey Devils (1998–99)11–19–3Recap :
January: 5–7–1 (home: 2–5–0; road: 3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
34LJanuary 1, 19993–4Ottawa Senators (1998–99)11–20–3Recap
35WJanuary 2, 19995–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)12–20–3Recap
36WJanuary 7, 19995–1New York Rangers (1998–99)13–20–3Recap
37WJanuary 9, 19993–2@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)14–20–3Recap
38WJanuary 11, 19994–3New York Islanders (1998–99)15–20–3Recap
39LJanuary 13, 19990–3Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)15–21–3Recap
40LJanuary 15, 19990–3Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)15–22–3Recap
41WJanuary 16, 19993–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)16–22–3Recap
42TJanuary 18, 19994–4 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)16–22–4Recap
43LJanuary 21, 19991–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)16–23–4Recap
44LJanuary 26, 19991–4New York Rangers (1998–99)16–24–4Recap
45LJanuary 29, 19993–6Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)16–25–4Recap
46LJanuary 30, 19993–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)16–26–4Recap :
February: 9–4–1 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
47WFebruary 1, 19993–1@ New York Rangers (1998–99)17–26–4Recap
48WFebruary 3, 199910–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)18–26–4Recap
49WFebruary 5, 19994–1Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)19–26–4Recap
50WFebruary 7, 19993–1Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)20–26–4Recap
51WFebruary 9, 19992–1@ New York Islanders (1998–99)21–26–4Recap
52WFebruary 12, 19993–2@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)22–26–4Recap
53LFebruary 13, 19991–2@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)22–27–4Recap
54LFebruary 15, 19993–7@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)22–28–4Recap
55TFebruary 18, 19992–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)22–28–5Recap
56WFebruary 20, 19993–1San Jose Sharks (1998–99)23–28–5Recap
57WFebruary 22, 19994–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)24–28–5Recap
58LFebruary 24, 19991–2Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)24–29–5Recap
59LFebruary 27, 19993–4@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)24–30–5Recap
60WFebruary 28, 19994–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)25–30–5Recap :
March: 4–8–1 (home: 2–6–0; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
61WMarch 2, 19998–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)26–30–5Recap
62LMarch 4, 19992–4New York Rangers (1998–99)26–31–5Recap
63WMarch 6, 19994–3Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)27–31–5Recap
64LMarch 9, 19992–3 OTColorado Avalanche (1998–99)27–32–5Recap
65LMarch 11, 19991–2Florida Panthers (1998–99)27–33–5Recap
66LMarch 13, 19994–5 OTCalgary Flames (1998–99)27–34–5Recap
67TMarch 15, 19991–1 OT@ New York Rangers (1998–99)27–34–6Recap
68WMarch 17, 19992–1 OTDallas Stars (1998–99)28–34–6Recap
69WMarch 20, 19991–0@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)29–34–6Recap
70LMarch 21, 19991–4Boston Bruins (1998–99)29–35–6Recap
71LMarch 25, 19992–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)29–36–6Recap
72LMarch 26, 19991–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)29–37–6Recap
73LMarch 30, 19992–3Nashville Predators (1998–99)29–38–6Recap :
April: 2–7–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 1, 19995–3Florida Panthers (1998–99)30–38–6Recap
75LApril 3, 19993–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)30–39–6Recap
76WApril 5, 19993–0@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)31–39–6Recap
77LApril 7, 19992–4St. Louis Blues (1998–99)31–40–6Recap
78LApril 8, 19990–1@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)31–41–6Recap
79LApril 10, 19991–2Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)31–42–6Recap
80LApril 12, 19992–4Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)31–43–6Recap
81LApril 14, 19990–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)31–44–6Recap
82LApril 18, 19990–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)31–45–6Recap :
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 Capitals only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 12 | Peter Bondra | RW | 66 | 31 | 24 | 55 | −1 | 56 |
| 77 | Adam Oates | C | 59 | 12 | 42 | 54 | −1 | 22 |
| 90 | Joe Juneau‡ | C | 63 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −3 | 20 |
| 23 | Brian Bellows | LW | 76 | 17 | 19 | 36 | −12 | 26 |
| 13 | Andrei Nikolishin | C | 73 | 8 | 27 | 35 | 0 | 28 |
| 55 | Sergei Gonchar | D | 53 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 1 | 57 |
| 28 | James Black† | LW | 75 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 5 | 14 |
| 6 | Calle Johansson | D | 67 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 10 | 22 |
| 22 | Steve Konowalchuk | LW | 45 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 26 |
| 8 | Jan Bulis | C | 38 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Ken Klee | D | 78 | 7 | 13 | 20 | −9 | 80 |
| 44 | Richard Zednik | RW | 49 | 9 | 8 | 17 | −6 | 50 |
| 15 | Dmitri Mironov | D | 46 | 2 | 14 | 16 | −5 | 80 |
| 34 | Jaroslav Svejkovsky | RW | 25 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −2 | 12 |
| 20 | Michal Pivonka | C | 36 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −6 | 12 |
| 17 | Chris Simon | LW | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −4 | 48 |
| 29 | Joe Reekie | D | 73 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 68 |
| 27 | Craig Berube‡ | LW | 66 | 5 | 4 | 9 | −7 | 166 |
| 48 | Benoit Gratton | C | 16 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −1 | 16 |
| 10 | Kelly Miller | LW | 62 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −5 | 29 |
| 19 | Brendan Witt | D | 54 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −6 | 87 |
| 36 | Mike Eagles | C | 52 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −5 | 50 |
| 21 | Jeff Toms | C | 21 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| 24 | Mark Tinordi | D | 48 | 0 | 6 | 6 | −6 | 108 |
| 32 | Dale Hunter‡ | C | 50 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −7 | 102 |
| 26 | Matt Herr | C | 30 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −7 | 8 |
| 18 | Trevor Halverson | LW | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −5 | 28 |
| 39 | Enrico Ciccone† | D | 43 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −6 | 103 |
| 9 | Tom Chorske†‡ | LW | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −4 | 4 |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | G | 64 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 19 |
| 41 | Patrick Boileau | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 2 |
| 14 | Patrik Augusta† | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Nolan Baumgartner | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 1 | Martin Brochu | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 14 | Patrice Lefebvre† | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 3 | Stewart Malgunas | D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 6 |
| 33 | Steve Poapst | D | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −8 | 8 |
| 40 | Mike Rosati | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 4 | Brad Shaw†‡ | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 31 | Rick Tabaracci | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 4 | Alexei Tezikov† | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| 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 |
| 37 | Olaf Kolzig | 64 | 26 | 31 | 3 | 1538 | 154 | 2.58 | .900 | 4 | 3586 |
| 31 | Rick Tabaracci | 23 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 530 | 50 | 2.51 | .906 | 2 | 1193 |
| 40 | Mike Rosati | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 0 | 28 |
| 1 | Martin Brochu | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 6 | 3.00 | .891 | 0 | 120 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Peter Bondra | |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Peter Bondra (February 8) | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Matt Herr | October 10, 1998 |
| First game | Trevor Halverson | October 13, 1998 |
| First game | Mike Rosati | November 7, 1998 |
| First game | Patrice Lefebvre | December 19, 1998 |
| First game | Alexei Tezikov | April 8, 1999 |
| First game | Martin Brochu | April 14, 1999 |
| 1,000th game played | Kelly Miller | October 21, 1998 |
| 1,000th point | Brian Bellows | January 2, 1999 |

## Draft picks

Washington'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) |
| 2 | 49 | Jomar Cruz | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 3 | 59 | Todd Hornung | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 4 | 106 | Krys Barch | Canada | London Knights (OHL) |
| 4 | 107 | Chris Corrinet | United States | Princeton University (ECAC) |
| 5 | 118 | Mike Siklenka | Canada | Lloydminster Blazers (AJHL) |
| 5 | 125 | Erik Wendell | United States | Maple Grove Senior High School (USHS-MN) |
| 7 | 179 | Nathan Forster | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 7 | 193 | Rastislav Stana | Slovakia | HC Kosice (Slovakia) |
| 8 | 220 | Mike Farrell | United States | Providence College (Hockey East) |
| 9 | 251 | Blake Evans | Canada | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |