# 1998–99 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1998–99 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 29th season in the National Hockey League. Miroslav Satan scored 40 goals and the Sabres would add influential centers Stu Barnes and Joe Juneau from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, respectively. Michal Grosek had the best season of his career, and the team finally returned to the Stanley Cup Finals, which was a losing effort against the Dallas Stars.

## Off-season

In the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, the Sabres picked Dmitri Kalinin with their first-round pick, 18th overall.

## Regular season
### Season 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

## Playoffs
### Eastern Conference Finals

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres met in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals. The Maple Leafs were coming off a six-game series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the Sabres were coming off a six-game series win themselves, over the Boston Bruins. Toronto was having its best playoff since 1994, when they last made a conference final series. Buffalo, on the other hand, was in the third round for the second consecutive year.
In Game 1, Dwayne Roloson filled in for injured Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Leading 3–2 midway through the game, Toronto appeared to be in control, but Stu Barnes tied the game for Buffalo at 14:37 of the second period. The Sabres went on to score twice in the third period, on goals by Curtis Brown at 5:21 and Geoff Sanderson at 11:02. Steve Thomas' goal with 6:01 remaining in the game brought Toronto to within one, but Buffalo held on to win 5–4. Roloson impressed the critics, stopping 28 of 32 shots.
In Game 2, the Maple Leafs scored two goals 18 seconds apart in the first period, as Steve Sullivan scored at 10:28 followed by Sylvain Cote at 10:46. With just over ten minutes to go in the game, Toronto held a 4–3 lead with Buffalo pressing. Steve Thomas' goal at with 7:43 to go gave the Maple Leafs a 5–3 lead and Garry Valk sealed the 6–3 win with an empty-net goal at 19:30.
With series tied at 1–1, the two teams traveled south to the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo for Games 3 and 4. Dominik Hasek returned for the Sabres in game three, but it was the away team that netted the first goal, as Maple Leafs forward Yanic Perreault scored at 16:08 of the first period. But Buffalo was not to be denied, and they scored three goals in the first 7:38 of the second period. Alexander Karpovtsev scored at 13:09 of the second to pull the Maple Leafs to within one, but they could not score the equalizer and Curtis Brown iced the game with an empty-net goal at 19:31 of the third period and the Sabres won, 4–2. Dominik Hasek made 24 saves in the victory.
Buffalo came out flying again in Game 4, holding a 5–0 lead after two periods. Hasek's shutout bid was erased when Mats Sundin scored on a penalty shot at 6:59. He scored again with 1:57 remaining in the game as Buffalo won, 5–2. This time, Hasek made 31 saves.
In Game 5 at the Air Canada Centre on May 31, the Sabres looked to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1975. After a scoreless first period, Steve Sullivan got Toronto on the board first just 33 seconds into the second. After goals by Curtis Brown, Kris King and Vaclav Varada, the game was tied 2–2 after two periods. Erik Rasmussen broke the tie with a goal at 11:35 of the third period. With less than two minutes remaining, the Maple Leafs got a power play and pulled Joseph to get a six-on-four situation, but could not score on Hasek. Dixon Ward added a shorthanded empty-net goal with 1:02 remaining as the Sabres went on to win 4–2 and take the series four games to one. With the victory, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1975.

### Stanley Cup Finals
#### "No Goal!"

In Game 6, Dallas Stars winger Brett Hull's triple-overtime goal — as Hull's skate was visibly in Dominik Hasek's crease — ended the series, and the Stars were awarded the Cup. In 1999, it was illegal to score a goal if an offensive player's skate entered the crease before the puck did. At the time, even Dallas Morning News hockey writer Keith Gave questioned the legality of the goal. NHL officials, however, maintained that Hull's two shots in the goal mouth constituted a single possession of the puck since the puck deflected off Hasek, and their ruling stood, citing that they "were going to change the rule the following year anyway." It is widely speculated that, by the time the Sabres mentioned the foul, the red carpet had already been unrolled at center ice, and the officials refused to acknowledge the non-call, also due to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's desires to see a team "South of the Mason–Dixon line" hoist the Stanley Cup. ESPN has ranked the call as the fifth worst officiating call in sports history. Conversely, Al Strachan of the Toronto Sun wrote, "There should have been no controversy whatsoever. When Hull first kicked the rebound on to his stick, he had neither foot in the crease. At the instant he kicked the puck, he became in control of it. It was only in the follow-through of that kick that his left foot moved into the crease." Buffalo sports fans, who have suffered through some of the biggest misfortunes in sports history (such as "Wide Right" and "Music City Miracle"), refer to the game as "No Goal," a phrase still used in western New York to this day, even having bumper stickers saying the phrase. The rule was changed for the following season, allowing players to be inside the goaltender's crease as long as they do not interfere with the goalie.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

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

### Playoffs

1999 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Ottawa Senators – Sabres win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 21, 19992–1@ Ottawa SenatorsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 23, 19993–2 2OT@ Ottawa SenatorsSabres lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 25, 19993–0Ottawa SenatorsSabres lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 27, 19994–3Ottawa SenatorsSabres win 4–0Recap :
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (6) Boston Bruins – Sabres win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 6, 19992–4@ Boston BruinsBruins lead 1–0Recap
2WMay 9, 19993–1@ Boston BruinsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 12, 19993–2Boston BruinsSabres lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 14, 19993–0Boston BruinsSabres lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 16, 19993–5@ Boston BruinsSabres lead 3–2Recap
6WMay 18, 19993–2Boston BruinsSabres win 4–2Recap :
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (4) Toronto Maple Leafs – Sabres win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 23, 19995–4@ Toronto Maple LeafsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 25, 19993–6@ Toronto Maple LeafsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 27, 19994–2Toronto Maple LeafsSabres lead 2–1Recap
4WMay 29, 19995–2Toronto Maple LeafsSabres lead 3–1Recap
5WMay 31, 19994–2@ Toronto Maple LeafsSabres win 4–1Recap :
Stanley Cup Finals vs. (W1) Dallas Stars – Stars win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WJune 8, 19993–2 OT@ Dallas StarsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2LJune 10, 19992–4@ Dallas StarsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LJune 12, 19991–2Dallas StarsStars lead 2–1Recap
4WJune 15, 19992–1Dallas StarsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LJune 17, 19990–2@ Dallas StarsStars lead 3–2Recap
6LJune 19, 19991–2 3OTDallas StarsStars 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 Sabres only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres 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 |
| 81 | Miroslav Satan | LW | 81 | 40 | 26 | 66 | 24 | 44 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 27 | Michael Peca | C | 82 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 7 | 81 | 21 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 18 |
| 18 | Michal Grosek | LW | 76 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 21 | 102 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 28 |
| 37 | Curtis Brown | C | 78 | 16 | 31 | 47 | 23 | 56 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 10 |
| 15 | Dixon Ward | RW | 78 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 10 | 44 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 32 |
| 5 | Jason Woolley | D | 80 | 10 | 33 | 43 | 16 | 62 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 0 | 10 |
| 19 | Brian Holzinger | C | 81 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 2 | 45 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 33 |
| 44 | Alexei Zhitnik | D | 81 | 7 | 26 | 33 | −6 | 96 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −6 | 52 |
| 25 | Vaclav Varada | RW | 72 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 11 | 61 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 14 |
| 80 | Geoff Sanderson | LW | 75 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 8 | 22 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 14 |
| 36 | Matthew Barnaby‡ | RW | 44 | 4 | 14 | 18 | −2 | 143 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | Derek Plante‡ | C | 41 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Darryl Shannon | D | 71 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 28 | 52 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 42 | Richard Smehlik | D | 72 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -9 | 44 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −4 | 10 |
| 22 | Wayne Primeau | C | 67 | 5 | 8 | 13 | −6 | 38 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Erik Rasmussen | C | 42 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 37 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 18 |
| 3 | James Patrick | D | 45 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
| 74 | Jay McKee | D | 72 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 75 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 24 |
| 17 | Randy Cunneyworth | LW | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 41 | Stu Barnes† | C | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 10 | −1 | 6 |
| 32 | Rob Ray | RW | 76 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −2 | 261 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Paul Kruse | LW | 43 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 114 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Mike Wilson‡ | D | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 90 | Joe Juneau† | C | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 | 20 | 3 | 8 | 11 | −2 | 10 |
| 4 | Rhett Warrener† | D | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 32 |
| 34 | Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre | D | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43 | Martin Biron | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 14 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 8 |
| 29 | Jason Holland | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | Mike Hurlbut | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Rumun Ndur‡ | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 83 | Domenic Pittis | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Dwayne Roloson | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 6 | Cory Sarich | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 46 | Dean Sylvester | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |

### 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 |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | 64 | 30 | 18 | 14 | 1877 | 119 | 1.87 | .937 | 9 | 3817 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 587 | 36 | 1.77 | .939 | 2 | 1217 |
| 30 | Dwayne Roloson | 18 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 460 | 42 | 2.77 | .909 | 1 | 911 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 67 | 10 | 4.31 | .851 | 0 | 139 |
| 43 | Martin Biron | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 120 | 10 | 2.14 | .917 | 0 | 281 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

Dominik Hasek was also a nominee for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Trophy.
| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | King Clancy Memorial Trophy | Rob Ray |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star Team | Dominik Hasek (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | Vezina Trophy | Dominik Hasek |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dominik Hasek |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Lindy Ruff (coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Alexei Zhitnik |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Month | Dominik Hasek (December) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Dominik Hasek (December 7) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Dominik Hasek (December 14) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Miroslav Satan (February 22) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Miroslav Satan (March 22) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Dominik Hasek (April 12) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Cory Sarich | February 9, 1999 |
| First game | Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre | February 19, 1999 |
| First game | Dean Sylvester | April 14, 1999 |

## Transactions

* On March 11, 1999, the Sabres traded Matthew Barnaby to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stu Barnes.
* On March 13, 1999, the Sabres traded Derek Plante to the Dallas Stars for a 1999 2nd round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.
* Also on March 13, 1999, the Sabres acquired Joe Juneau and a 1999 3rd round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, in exchange for Alexei Tezikov and a 2000 4th round pick in the NHL Draft.
* On March 23, 1999, the Sabres traded Mike Wilson to the Florida Panthers for Rhett Warrener and a 1999 5th round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

## Draft picks

Buffalo'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 |
| 1 | 18 | Dmitri Kalinin (D) | Russia | Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia) |
| 2 | 34 | Andrew Peters (LW) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 2 | 47 | Norm Milley (RW) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 2 | 50 | Jaroslav Kristek (RW) | Czech Republic | HC Zlín (Extraliga) |
| 3 | 77 | Mike Pandolfo (RW) | United States | Saint Sebastian's School (USHS-MA) |
| 5 | 137 | Aaron Goldade (LW) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 6 | 164 | Ales Kotalik (RW) | Czech Republic | HC České Budějovice (Czech Republic) |
| 7 | 191 | Brad Moran (LW) | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 8 | 218 | David Moravec (LW) | Czech Republic | HC Vítkovice (Czech Republic) |
| 9 | 249 | Edo Terglav (RW) | Slovenia | Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) |