# 1998–99 Boston Bruins season

The 1998–99 Boston Bruins season was the teams' 75th season.

## Regular season

The Bruins' 11 shutouts were the most among all 27 teams. The Bruins also scored the fewest short-handed goals (3), allowed the fewest power-play goals (33) and had the best penalty-kill percentage (89.18%)

### Final standings

Northeast Division :
| R | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 44 | 23 | 15 | 239 | 179 | 892 | 103 |
| 2 | 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 45 | 30 | 7 | 268 | 231 | 1095 | 97 |
| 3 | 6 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 39 | 30 | 13 | 214 | 181 | 1182 | 91 |
| 4 | 7 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 37 | 28 | 17 | 207 | 175 | 1561 | 91 |
| 5 | 11 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 184 | 209 | 1299 | 75 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
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
### Regular season

1998–99 regular season :
October: 4–5–2 (home: 1–1–2; road: 3–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 10, 19983–3 OTSt. Louis Blues (1998–99)0–0–1Recap
2WOctober 12, 19983–0New York Islanders (1998–99)1–0–1Recap
3WOctober 14, 19983–0@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)2–0–1Recap
4LOctober 16, 19981–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)2–1–1Recap
5WOctober 18, 19983–0@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)3–1–1Recap
6LOctober 19, 19981–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)3–2–1Recap
7LOctober 21, 19980–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)3–3–1Recap
8LOctober 24, 19981–3@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)3–4–1Recap
9WOctober 28, 19989–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)4–4–1Recap
10TOctober 29, 19981–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (1998–99)4–4–2Recap
11LOctober 31, 19980–2Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)4–5–2Recap :
November: 6–2–3 (home: 3–1–1; road: 3–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12LNovember 3, 19982–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)4–6–2Recap
13WNovember 5, 19984–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)5–6–2Recap
14TNovember 7, 19980–0 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)5–6–3Recap
15WNovember 8, 19985–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)6–6–3Recap
16TNovember 13, 19983–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1998–99)6–6–4Recap
17LNovember 14, 19981–3Dallas Stars (1998–99)6–7–4Recap
18TNovember 19, 19985–5 OTFlorida Panthers (1998–99)6–7–5Recap
19WNovember 21, 19985–4 OTWashington Capitals (1998–99)7–7–5Recap
20WNovember 24, 19984–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)8–7–5Recap
21WNovember 25, 19981–0@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)9–7–5Recap
22WNovember 27, 19985–1Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)10–7–5Recap :
December: 6–6–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
23TDecember 1, 19981–1 OTVancouver Canucks (1998–99)10–7–6Recap
24WDecember 5, 19982–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)11–7–6Recap
25WDecember 10, 19983–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)12–7–6Recap
26LDecember 12, 19981–4Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)12–8–6Recap
27LDecember 16, 19983–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)12–9–6Recap
28WDecember 17, 19985–2Ottawa Senators (1998–99)13–9–6Recap
29WDecember 19, 19984–1Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)14–9–6Recap
30WDecember 21, 19983–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)15–9–6Recap
31LDecember 23, 19981–2Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)15–10–6Recap
32LDecember 26, 19982–4@ New York Islanders (1998–99)15–11–6Recap
33LDecember 28, 19981–5@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)15–12–6Recap
34WDecember 30, 19985–2@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)16–12–6Recap
35LDecember 31, 19981–6@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)16–13–6Recap :
January: 4–6–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 0–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
36WJanuary 2, 19992–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)17–13–6Recap
37WJanuary 4, 19995–1Calgary Flames (1998–99)18–13–6Recap
38WJanuary 7, 19992–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)19–13–6Recap
39LJanuary 9, 19993–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)19–14–6Recap
40LJanuary 15, 19991–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)19–15–6Recap
41TJanuary 16, 19992–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)19–15–7Recap
42WJanuary 18, 19998–1Nashville Predators (1998–99)20–15–7Recap
43LJanuary 21, 19991–3Ottawa Senators (1998–99)20–16–7Recap
44LJanuary 26, 19991–4@ New York Islanders (1998–99)20–17–7Recap
45LJanuary 28, 19990–2New Jersey Devils (1998–99)20–18–7Recap
46LJanuary 30, 19992–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)20–19–7Recap
47TJanuary 31, 19990–0 OTCarolina Hurricanes (1998–99)20–19–8Recap :
February: 5–5–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
48LFebruary 2, 19992–3Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)20–20–8Recap
49LFebruary 4, 19994–5New York Islanders (1998–99)20–21–8Recap
50TFebruary 6, 19992–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)20–21–9Recap
51WFebruary 7, 19993–2New York Rangers (1998–99)21–21–9Recap
52WFebruary 9, 19992–0@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)22–21–9Recap
53LFebruary 12, 19993–4@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)22–22–9Recap
54LFebruary 13, 19991–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)22–23–9Recap
55LFebruary 18, 19990–2@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)22–24–9Recap
56WFebruary 21, 19996–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)23–24–9Recap
57WFebruary 23, 19995–2Ottawa Senators (1998–99)24–24–9Recap
58TFebruary 25, 19993–3 OTNew Jersey Devils (1998–99)24–24–10Recap
59WFebruary 27, 19994–3Washington Capitals (1998–99)25–24–10Recap :
March: 7–4–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 5–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
60WMarch 2, 19993–2Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)26–24–10Recap
61LMarch 3, 19991–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)26–25–10Recap
62WMarch 5, 19994–1@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)27–25–10Recap
63LMarch 7, 19991–3New York Rangers (1998–99)27–26–10Recap
64WMarch 9, 19992–0Florida Panthers (1998–99)28–26–10Recap
65WMarch 12, 19995–4@ New York Rangers (1998–99)29–26–10Recap
66LMarch 13, 19991–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)29–27–10Recap
67WMarch 17, 19994–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)30–27–10Recap
68TMarch 20, 19992–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (1998–99)30–27–11Recap
69WMarch 21, 19994–1@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)31–27–11Recap
70WMarch 24, 19993–0@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)32–27–11Recap
71TMarch 25, 19993–3 OTChicago Blackhawks (1998–99)32–27–12Recap
72TMarch 27, 19992–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)32–27–13Recap
73LMarch 30, 19991–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1998–99)32–28–13Recap :
April: 7–2–0 (home: 5–0–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
74WApril 1, 19993–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)33–28–13Recap
75WApril 3, 19993–0Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)34–28–13Recap
76WApril 5, 19993–0Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)35–28–13Recap
77WApril 7, 19995–2@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)36–28–13Recap
78LApril 8, 19990–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)36–29–13Recap
79WApril 10, 19993–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)37–29–13Recap
80WApril 15, 19994–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)38–29–13Recap
81WApril 17, 19992–1 OTBuffalo Sabres (1998–99)39–29–13Recap
82LApril 18, 19991–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)39–30–13Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1999 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) Carolina Hurricanes – Bruins win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 22, 19992–0@ Carolina HurricanesBruins lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 24, 19992–3 OT@ Carolina HurricanesSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 26, 19992–3Carolina HurricanesHurricanes lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 28, 19994–1Carolina HurricanesSeries tied 2–2Recap
5WApril 30, 19994–3 2OT@ Carolina HurricanesBruins lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 2, 19992–0Carolina HurricanesBruins win 4–2Recap :
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres – Sabres win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 6, 19994–2Buffalo SabresBruins lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 9, 19991–3Buffalo SabresSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LMay 12, 19992–3@ Buffalo SabresSabres lead 2–1Recap
4LMay 14, 19990–3@ Buffalo SabresSabres lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 16, 19995–3Buffalo SabresSabres lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 18, 19992–3@ Buffalo SabresSabres win 4–2Recap :
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 Bruins only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins 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 |
| 41 | Jason Allison | C | 82 | 23 | 53 | 76 | 5 | 68 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 6 |
| 12 | Dmitri Khristich | LW | 79 | 29 | 42 | 71 | 11 | 48 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 77 | Ray Bourque | D | 81 | 10 | 47 | 57 | −7 | 34 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 14 |
| 14 | Sergei Samsonov | LW | 79 | 25 | 26 | 51 | −6 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Joe Thornton | C | 81 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 3 | 69 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| 33 | Anson Carter | C | 55 | 24 | 16 | 40 | 7 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −3 | 0 |
| 23 | Steve Heinze | RW | 73 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 7 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −1 | 0 |
| 18 | Kyle McLaren | D | 52 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 1 | 48 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 19 | Rob DiMaio | C | 71 | 7 | 14 | 21 | −14 | 95 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 20 | Darren Van Impe | D | 60 | 5 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 66 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −3 | 4 |
| 11 | P. J. Axelsson | LW | 77 | 7 | 10 | 17 | −14 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 4 |
| 42 | Peter Ferraro | C | 46 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | Grant Ledyard | D | 47 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −8 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 32 | Don Sweeney | D | 81 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 26 | Tim Taylor | C | 49 | 4 | 7 | 11 | −10 | 55 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 25 | Hal Gill | D | 80 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −10 | 63 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 14 |
| 17 | Shawn Bates | C | 33 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 38 | Chris Taylor | C | 37 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Cameron Mann | RW | 33 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Landon Wilson | RW | 22 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 44 | Dave Ellett | D | 54 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 37 | Mattias Timander | D | 22 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 16 | Ken Belanger† | LW | 45 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −2 | 152 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| 22 | Ken Baumgartner | LW | 69 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −6 | 119 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Ted Donato‡ | LW | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 57 | Antti Laaksonen | LW | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Byron Dafoe | G | 68 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 21 | Randy Robitaille | C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Andre Savage | C | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 55 | Jonathan Girard | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 51 | Jay Henderson | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 61 | Marquis Mathieu† | C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 72 | Eric Nickulas | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 56 | Peter Nordstrom | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 53 | Brandon Smith | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Robbie Tallas | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Dennis Vaske | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 71 | Terry Virtue | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | 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 | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | GS | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 34 | Byron Dafoe | 68 | 67 | 32 | 23 | 11 | 1,800 | 133 | 2.00 | .926 | 10 | 4,001:17 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 330 | 26 | 1.98 | .921 | 2 | 767:58 |
| 35 | Robbie Tallas | 17 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 421 | 43 | 2.61 | .898 | 1 | 986:53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Harry Sinden |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Ray Bourque (Defense) |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Byron Dafoe (Goaltender) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Ray Bourque |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dmitri Khristich |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Month | Byron Dafoe (April) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Ray Bourque (December 21) |
| Team | Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | Byron Dafoe |
| Team | Seventh Player Award | Byron Dafoe |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Byron Dafoe (1st) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Ray Bourque (2nd) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Jason Allison (3rd) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Antti Laaksonen | October 10, 1998 |
| First game | Peter Nordstrom | October 10, 1998 |
| First game | Jonathan Girard | October 18, 1998 |
| First game | Jay Henderson | October 28, 1998 |
| First game | Marquis Mathieu | October 28, 1998 |
| First game | Eric Nickulas | January 7, 1999 |
| First game | Andre Savage | January 7, 1999 |
| First game | Brandon Smith | January 9, 1999 |
| First game | Terry Virtue | January 16, 1999 |

## Draft picks

Boston's draft picks at the 1998 NHL entry draft held at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 48 | Jonathan Girard | D | Canada | Laval Titan Collège Français (QMJHL) |
| 2$^1$ | 52 | Bobby Allen | D | United States | Boston College (Hockey East) |
| 3 | 78 | Peter Nordstrom | LW | Sweden | Färjestad BK (Sweden) |
| 5 | 135 | Andrew Raycroft | G | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 6 | 165 | Ryan Milanovic | LW | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |

### Notes

* The Bruins acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 1, 1997 that sent Bill Ranford, Adam Oates and Rick Tocchet to Washington in exchange for Jason Allison, Jim Carey, Anson Carter, a third-round pick in 1997 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).
* The Bruins first-round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche as the result of a trade on November 22, 1996 that sent Landon Wilson and Anders Myrvold to Boston in exchange for this pick (19th overall).
* The Bruins fourth-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 18, 1998 that sent Doug Bodger to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick (105th overall).
       Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on August 29, 1997 that sent Byron Dafoe and Dmitri Khristich to Boston in exchange for Jozef Stumpel, Sandy Moger and this pick.
* The Bruins seventh-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent Mike Sullivan to Boston in exchange for this pick (192nd overall).
* The Bruins eighth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on March 3, 1998 that sent Grant Ledyard to Boston in exchange for this pick (219th overall).
* The Bruins ninth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 27, 1998 that sent and ninth-round pick in 1999 to Boston in exchange for this pick (250th overall).