# 1998–99 New Jersey Devils season

The 1998–99 New Jersey Devils season was the 25th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 17th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. Despite winning the Atlantic Division and being the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Devils were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

## Regular season

The Devils' 28 regular-season road wins were the most in the NHL.

### Season 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

## Playoffs

The Devils opened the 1999 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins having only reached the second round of the playoffs once in the three years following its 1995 Cup win. They appeared to be on their way to a series victory against the Penguins when they led Game 6 late; but Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr, silent all series to that point, scored with two minutes to go in the third to send the game to overtime and later scored the overtime winner to ensure a seventh game. The Devils never recovered, never once leading in Game 7 before eventually losing 4–2.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1998–99 regular season :
October: 5–4–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 10, 19981–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 14, 19981–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)0–2–0Recap
3WOctober 16, 19982–1@ New York Rangers (1998–99)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 17, 19982–4Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)1–3–0Recap
5WOctober 22, 19983–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)2–3–0Recap
6WOctober 24, 19983–1Boston Bruins (1998–99)3–3–0Recap
7LOctober 28, 19980–4Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)3–4–0Recap
8WOctober 29, 19982–1@ New York Islanders (1998–99)4–4–0Recap
9WOctober 31, 19983–1Florida Panthers (1998–99)5–4–0Recap :
November: 8–3–1 (home: 4–0–1; road: 4–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
10WNovember 3, 19983–1New York Rangers (1998–99)6–4–0Recap
11WNovember 7, 19984–3@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)7–4–0Recap
12LNovember 8, 19981–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)7–5–0Recap
13WNovember 11, 19983–0Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)8–5–0Recap
14WNovember 13, 19984–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)9–5–0Recap
15LNovember 14, 19981–6@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)9–6–0Recap
16WNovember 19, 19983–2 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)10–6–0Recap
17TNovember 21, 19983–3 OTFlorida Panthers (1998–99)10–6–1Recap
18WNovember 22, 19985–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)11–6–1Recap
19WNovember 25, 19985–2@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)12–6–1Recap
20LNovember 26, 19982–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)12–7–1Recap
21WNovember 28, 19983–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)13–7–1Recap :
December: 8–2–3 (home: 3–2–2; road: 5–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
22WDecember 1, 19984–0@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)14–7–1Recap
23TDecember 4, 19981–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (1998–99)14–7–2Recap
24WDecember 5, 19987–5@ New York Islanders (1998–99)15–7–2Recap
25TDecember 8, 19985–5 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1998–99)15–7–3Recap
26WDecember 10, 19985–4 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)16–7–3Recap
27WDecember 12, 19985–3Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)17–7–3Recap
28WDecember 16, 19986–3New York Rangers (1998–99)18–7–3Recap
29LDecember 18, 19982–5Calgary Flames (1998–99)18–8–3Recap
30TDecember 19, 19981–1 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)18–8–4Recap
31WDecember 23, 19984–2St. Louis Blues (1998–99)19–8–4Recap
32LDecember 26, 19980–2Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)19–9–4Recap
33WDecember 28, 19987–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)20–9–4Recap
34WDecember 30, 19983–2@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)21–9–4Recap :
January: 6–6–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 4–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
35LJanuary 2, 19990–6@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)21–10–4Recap
36TJanuary 5, 19993–3 OTSan Jose Sharks (1998–99)21–10–5Recap
37WJanuary 6, 19995–2@ New York Rangers (1998–99)22–10–5Recap
38LJanuary 9, 19992–3Washington Capitals (1998–99)22–11–5Recap
39LJanuary 11, 19992–4Ottawa Senators (1998–99)22–12–5Recap
40LJanuary 14, 19992–3@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)22–13–5Recap
41WJanuary 15, 19993–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)23–13–5Recap
42LJanuary 18, 19991–3@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)23–14–5Recap
43WJanuary 20, 19994–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)24–14–5Recap
44WJanuary 21, 19993–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)25–14–5Recap
45WJanuary 26, 19994–1Ottawa Senators (1998–99)26–14–5Recap
46WJanuary 28, 19992–0@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)27–14–5Recap
47LJanuary 30, 19992–3 OTNashville Predators (1998–99)27–15–5Recap :
February: 6–5–3 (home: 3–4–2; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
48TFebruary 1, 19992–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (1998–99)27–15–6Recap
49WFebruary 3, 19994–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)28–15–6Recap
50WFebruary 4, 19992–0@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99)29–15–6Recap
51LFebruary 6, 19992–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)29–16–6Recap
52LFebruary 9, 19993–4Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)29–17–6Recap
53LFebruary 12, 19992–3Washington Capitals (1998–99)29–18–6Recap
54WFebruary 13, 19996–4Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)30–18–6Recap
55TFebruary 15, 19993–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)30–18–7Recap
56WFebruary 17, 19997–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)31–18–7Recap
57LFebruary 19, 19991–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)31–19–7Recap
58LFebruary 20, 19992–3New York Islanders (1998–99)31–20–7Recap
59WFebruary 22, 19993–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)32–20–7Recap
60TFebruary 25, 19993–3 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)32–20–8Recap
61WFebruary 28, 19994–1Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)33–20–8Recap :
March: 7–2–3 (home: 2–1–2; road: 5–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62WMarch 3, 19995–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)34–20–8Recap
63LMarch 5, 19991–4Boston Bruins (1998–99)34–21–8Recap
64WMarch 7, 19994–2@ New York Islanders (1998–99)35–21–8Recap
65WMarch 9, 19993–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)36–21–8Recap
66WMarch 15, 19992–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)37–21–8Recap
67WMarch 17, 19994–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)38–21–8Recap
68LMarch 20, 19991–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)38–22–8Recap
69TMarch 23, 19991–1 OTBuffalo Sabres (1998–99)38–22–9Recap
70WMarch 25, 19995–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)39–22–9Recap
71TMarch 27, 19994–4 OTChicago Blackhawks (1998–99)39–22–10Recap
72TMarch 28, 19992–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)39–22–11Recap
73WMarch 31, 19997–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)40–22–11Recap :
April: 7–2–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 3, 19994–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)41–22–11Recap
75WApril 4, 19994–1New York Rangers (1998–99)42–22–11Recap
76LApril 6, 19992–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)42–23–11Recap
77WApril 8, 19991–0Washington Capitals (1998–99)43–23–11Recap
78WApril 10, 19996–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)44–23–11Recap
79LApril 12, 19992–4New York Islanders (1998–99)44–24–11Recap
80WApril 14, 19992–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)45–24–11Recap
81WApril 16, 19993–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1998–99)46–24–11Recap
82WApril 17, 19994–1@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)47–24–11Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1999 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (8) Pittsburgh Penguins – Penguins win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 22, 19993–1Pittsburgh PenguinsDevils lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 24, 19991–4Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 25, 19992–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 27, 19994–2@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5WApril 30, 19994–3Pittsburgh PenguinsDevils lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 2, 19992–3 OT@ Pittsburgh PenguinsSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LMay 4, 19992–4Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins win 4–3Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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 Devils only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 17 | Petr Sykora | RW | 80 | 29 | 43 | 72 | 16 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 4 |
| 16 | Bobby Holik | C | 78 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 16 | 119 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −1 | 6 |
| 14 | Brian Rolston | C | 82 | 24 | 33 | 57 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 25 | Jason Arnott | C | 74 | 27 | 27 | 54 | 10 | 79 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −3 | 4 |
| 26 | Patrik Elias | LW | 74 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 19 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Brendan Morrison | C | 76 | 13 | 33 | 46 | −4 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 27 | Scott Niedermayer | D | 72 | 11 | 35 | 46 | 16 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −5 | 18 |
| 21 | Randy McKay | RW | 70 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 10 | 143 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 | Lyle Odelein | D | 70 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 6 | 114 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −1 | 10 |
| 23 | Dave Andreychuk | LW | 52 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 20 | Jay Pandolfo | LW | 70 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −5 | 0 |
| 8 | Vadim Sharifijanov | LW | 53 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 11 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Scott Stevens | D | 75 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 64 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 10 |
| 10 | Denis Pederson | C | 76 | 11 | 12 | 23 | −10 | 66 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Sergei Brylin | LW | 47 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 29 | Krzysztof Oliwa | LW | 64 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 240 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Ken Daneyko | D | 82 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 28 | Kevin Dean | D | 62 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 |
| 19 | Bob Carpenter | C | 56 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −3 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 6 | Brad Bombardir | D | 56 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −4 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Sheldon Souray | D | 70 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 110 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | Sergei Nemchinov† | LW | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 30 | Martin Brodeur | G | 70 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 2 |
| 32 | Sasha Lakovic | RW | 16 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Ken Sutton | D | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | John Madden | C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Chris Terreri | G | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Scott Daniels | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Bryan Muir‡ | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 30 | Martin Brodeur | 70 | 39 | 21 | 10 | 1728 | 162 | 2.29 | .906 | 4 | 4239 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 139 | 20 | 2.82 | .856 | 0 | 425 |
| 31 | Chris Terreri | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 294 | 30 | 2.48 | .898 | 1 | 726 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Martin Brodeur |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Robbie Ftorek (coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bobby Holík |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Scott Stevens |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Vadim Sharifijanov (December) |
| Team | Devils' Players' Player | Sergei Brylin |
| Team | Hugh Delano Unsung Hero | Jay Pandolfo |
| Team | Most Valuable Devil | Martin Brodeur |
| Team | Three-Star Award | Petr Sykora |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| 600th assist | Dave Andreychuk | November 3, 1998 | |
| First game | John Madden | January 6, 1999 | |

## Draft picks

The Devils' draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.
| Rd # | Pick # | Player | Nat | Pos | Team (League) |
| 1 | 26 | Mike Van Ryn | Canada | D | University of Michigan (CCHA) |
| 1 | 27 | Scott Gomez | United States | C | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 2 | 37 | Christian Berglund | Sweden | C | Färjestad BK (Elitserien) |
| 3 | 82 | Brian Gionta | United States | RW | Boston College (Hockey East) |
| 4 | 96 | Mikko Jokela | Finland | D | HIFK (SM-liiga) |
| 4 | 105 | Pierre Dagenais | Canada | LW | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 119 | Anton But | Russia | LW | Torpedo-2 Yaroslavl (Russian Superleague) |
| 5 | 143 | Ryan Flinn | Canada | LW | Laval Titan Collège Français (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 172 | Jacques Lariviere | Canada | LW | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 199 | Erik Jensen | United States | W | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| 8 | 227 | Marko Ahosilta | Finland | F | KalPa (SM-liiga) |
| 9 | 257 | Ryan Held | Canada | W | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |