1998–99 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1998–99 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's 82nd season. Two moves occurred this season. The club moved from the Western to the Eastern Conference of the NHL. The club moved from Maple Leaf Gardens to the new Air Canada Centre arena. The Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs and made it to the Eastern conference finals before losing out to the Buffalo Sabres.
==Offseason==
The Toronto Maple Leafs moved from the Central Division of the Western Conference to the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
==Regular season==
The 1998–99 season was a tremendous improvement for the Maple Leafs over the 1997–98 season and the team got plenty of help from its new members, who included Bryan Berard, Sylvain Cote, Curtis Joseph, Alexander Karpovtsev (who led the league in +/- with +39 but wasn't eligible for the NHL Plus-Minus Award since he played in only 58 games), Yanic Perreault and Steve Thomas (who finished second on the team in points with 73). Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Pat Quinn replaced Mike Murphy as head coach of the team. Six Maple Leafs scored 20 or more goals. Toronto set a club record for most regular-season wins (45) and earned 97 points to finish second in the Northeast Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. They lead the league in most goals for (268), and were the only team to score 200 or more even-strength goals. 
===Maple Leaf Gardens===
* On February 13, 1999, the Toronto Maple Leafs ended a 67-year tradition when they played their last game at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Maple Leafs lost 6–2 to the Chicago Blackhawks. Former Leaf Doug Gilmour scored a fluke goal in that game and notorious tough guy Bob Probert scored the final NHL goal in MLG history during the third period. During the emotional post-game ceremony, legendary Canadian singer Anne Murray performed The Maple Leaf Forever, clad in a Leafs jersey.
===Air Canada Centre===
* The first Maple Leafs home game took place on February 20, 1999, versus the Montreal Canadiens, won by the Leafs 3–2 on an overtime goal by Steve Thomas.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
No.	R	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W	October 10, 1998 	2–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 	1–0–0
2 	W	October 13, 1998 	3–2 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 	2–0–0
3 	W	October 16, 1998 	7–3 	@ Calgary Flames (1998–99) 	3–0–0
4 	L	October 17, 1998 	1–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 	3–1–0
5 	T	October 19, 1998 	2–2 OT	Nashville Predators (1998–99) 	3–1–1
6 	W	October 23, 1998 	5–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 	4–1–1
7 	W	October 24, 1998 	6–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 	5–1–1
8 	L	October 26, 1998 	0–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 	5–2–1
9 	L	October 30, 1998 	1–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 	5–3–1
10 	L	October 31, 1998 	3–6 	Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 	5–4–1
11 	W	November 4, 1998 	3–0 	Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 	6–4–1
12 	L	November 5, 1998 	1–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 	6–5–1
13 	T	November 7, 1998 	6–6 OT	New York Rangers (1998–99) 	6–5–2
14 	L	November 9, 1998 	1–3 	New York Islanders (1998–99) 	6–6–2
15 	W	November 11, 1998	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 	7–6–2
16 	W	November 12, 1998	10–3 	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 	8–6–2
17 	W	November 14, 1998	2–1 	Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 	9–6–2
18 	L	November 18, 1998	1–4 	@ Washington Capitals (1998–99) 	9–7–2
19 	L	November 20, 1998	1–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 	9–8–2
20 	W	November 21, 1998	2–1 	Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 	10–8–2
21 	W	November 23, 1998	3–2 	Calgary Flames (1998–99) 	11–8–2
22 	W	November 25, 1998	5–1 	Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 	12–8–2
23 	L	November 27, 1998	3–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 	12–9–2
24 	W	November 28, 1998	3–2 OT	Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 	13–9–2
25 	W	December 2, 1998 	3–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 	14–9–2
26 	W	December 5, 1998 	4–3 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 	15–9–2
27 	L	December 7, 1998 	2–6 	@ New York Rangers (1998–99) 	15–10–2
28 	W	December 11, 1998	3–2 	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 	16–10–2
29 	L	December 12, 1998	0–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 	16–11–2
30 	W	December 16, 1998	5–2 	Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 	17–11–2
31 	W	December 19, 1998	7–4 	New York Rangers (1998–99) 	18–11–2
32 	W	December 21, 1998	7–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 	19–11–2
33 	L	December 23, 1998	1–5 	Dallas Stars (1998–99) 	19–12–2
34 	L	December 26, 1998	1–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 	19–13–2
35 	W	December 30, 1998	4–1 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)	20–13–2
36 	W	December 31, 1998	4–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 	21–13–2
37 	L	January 2, 1999 	2–5 	Washington Capitals (1998–99) 	21–14–2
38 	W	January 4, 1999 	5–4 OT	Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 	22–14–2
39 	L	January 7, 1999 	1–2 	@ Boston Bruins (1998–99) 	22–15–2
40 	W	January 9, 1999 	6–3 	Boston Bruins (1998–99) 	23–15–2
41 	W	January 12, 1999 	4–3 	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 	24–15–2
42 	T	January 13, 1999 	3–3 OT	@ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 	24–15–3
43 	W	January 16, 1999 	4–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 	25–15–3
44 	L	January 18, 1999 	2–4 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 	25–16–3
45 	W	January 20, 1999 	6–4 	@ Dallas Stars (1998–99) 	26–16–3
46 	W	January 21, 1999 	4–2 	@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 	27–16–3
47 	L	January 28, 1999 	0–6 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99) 	27–17–3
48 	W	January 30, 1999 	5–3 	Washington Capitals (1998–99) 	28–17–3
49 	W	February 2, 1999 	3–0 	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 	29–17–3
50 	L	February 3, 1999 	2–5 	@ Florida Panthers (1998–99) 	29–18–3
51 	W	February 6, 1999 	3–2 	@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 	30–18–3
52 	L	February 10, 1999	5–6 	Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 	30–19–3
53 	L	February 13, 1999	2–6 	Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 	30–20–3
54 	T	February 15, 1999	3–3 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 	30–20–4
55 	W	February 17, 1999	3–2 OT	@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 	31–20–4
56 	W	February 20, 1999	3–2 OT	Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 	32–20–4
57 	L	February 22, 1999	3–4 	@ Washington Capitals (1998–99) 	32–21–4
58 	T	February 24, 1999	2–2 OT	Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 	32–21–5
59 	W	February 25, 1999	4–1 	@ New York Islanders (1998–99) 	33–21–5
60 	W	February 27, 1999	4–1 	Florida Panthers (1998–99) 	34–21–5
61 	L	March 3, 1999 	2–5 	New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 	34–22–5
62 	W	March 4, 1999 	4–0 	@ St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 	35–22–5
63 	L	March 6, 1999 	1–3 	@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 	35–23–5
64 	L	March 8, 1999 	2–3 OT	@ New York Rangers (1998–99) 	35–24–5
65 	W	March 9, 1999 	6–1 	Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 	36–24–5
66 	W	March 11, 1999 	2–1 	@ New York Islanders (1998–99) 	37–24–5
67 	L	March 13, 1999 	1–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 	37–25–5
68 	L	March 17, 1999 	1–4 	Boston Bruins (1998–99) 	37–26–5
69 	W	March 20, 1999 	3–1 	New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 	38–26–5
70 	L	March 22, 1999 	1–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 	38–27–5
71 	L	March 24, 1999 	5–8 	San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 	38–28–5
72 	W	March 26, 1999 	7–2 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99) 	39–28–5
73 	T	March 27, 1999 	2–2 OT	Boston Bruins (1998–99) 	39–28–6
74 	W	March 31, 1999 	6–5 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 	40–28–6
75 	W	April 1, 1999 	5–1 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 	41–28–6
76 	W	April 3, 1999 	5–1 	@ Calgary Flames (1998–99) 	42–28–6
77 	T	April 5, 1999 	2–2 OT	St. Louis Blues (1998–99) 	42–28–7
78 	W	April 7, 1999 	4–2 	Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 	43–28–7
79 	L	April 8, 1999 	1–3 	@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 	43–29–7
80 	W	April 10, 1999 	9–1 	Florida Panthers (1998–99) 	44–29–7
81 	W	April 14, 1999 	3–2 OT	New York Islanders (1998–99) 	45–29–7
82 	L	April 17, 1999 	2–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 	45–30–7
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring
Player	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	82	31	52	83 	58 	22 	4 	0 	6
 	78	28	45	73 	33 	26 	11 	0 	7
 	76	37	22	59 	12 	16 	9 	1 	4
 	81	24	28	52 	20 	15 	8 	0 	4
 	66	13	34	47 	46 	11 	1 	0 	2
 	79	20	24	44 	35 	13 	5 	3 	2
 	63	20	20	40 	28 	12 	4 	0 	5
 	67	16	15	31 	35 	14 	1 	0 	3
 	77	8 	21	29 	53 	8 	1 	0 	0
 	79	5 	24	29 	28 	22 	0 	0 	1
 	78	6 	22	28 	88 	25 	2 	1 	0
 	56	2 	25	27 	52 	38 	1 	0 	1
 	39	9 	15	24 	2 	7 	1 	0 	1
 	72	8 	14	22 	198	5 	0 	0 	1
 	57	4 	18	22 	12 	3 	0 	0 	2
 	53	9 	10	19 	28 	-6 	1 	0 	1
 	38	5 	14	19 	22 	7 	2 	0 	2
 	12	7 	8 	15 	12 	10 	2 	1 	2
 	60	2 	11	13 	40 	-9 	0 	0 	0
 	57	4 	8 	12 	47 	5 	0 	0 	0
 	35	2 	7 	9 	16 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	35	2 	3 	5 	30 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	67	0 	5 	5 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	67	2 	2 	4 	105	-16	0 	1 	1
 	16	1 	3 	4 	4 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	7 	3 	0 	3 	4 	3 	0 	0 	0
 	18	0 	2 	2 	24 	3 	0 	0 	0
 	20	0 	2 	2 	39 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	9 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	4001	67	35	24	7	171	2.56	3 	1903	1732	.910
 	546 	9 	6 	3 	0	27 	2.97	0 	257 	230 	.895
 	299 	5 	3 	2 	0	19 	3.81	0 	142 	123 	.866
 	106 	2 	1 	1 	0	8 	4.53	0 	51 	43 	.843
Team: 	4952	82	45	30	7	225	2.73	3 	2353	2128	.904
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	17	8	8	16 	16 	3 	0 	2
 	17	6	6	12 	4 	2 	0 	2
 	17	6	3	9 	12 	2 	0 	1
 	9 	3	6	9 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	17	3	6	9 	6 	0 	0 	2
 	17	1	8	9 	8 	1 	0 	0
 	17	3	4	7 	22 	0 	0 	1
 	13	3	3	6 	14 	2 	0 	0
 	17	1	5	6 	22 	1 	0 	0
 	17	0	6	6 	18 	0 	0 	0
 	17	3	2	5 	4 	0 	0 	1
 	14	1	3	4 	12 	1 	0 	0
 	16	1	3	4 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	17	2	1	3 	10 	0 	0 	0
 	14	0	3	3 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	17	1	1	2 	25 	0 	0 	0
 	7 	0	2	2 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	14	0	2	2 	24 	0 	0 	0
 	5 	1	0	1 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	6 	0	1	1 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	1 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	1 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	17	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	2 	0	0	0 	5 	0 	0 	0
 	1 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	8 	0	0	0 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	9 	0	0	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W	L	GA	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	1011	17	9	8	41	2.43	1 	440	399	.907
 	20 	1 	0	0	0 	0.00	0 	5 	5 	1.000
Team: 	1031	17	9	8	41	2.39	1 	445	404	.908
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage; 
==Transactions==
==Transactions==
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1998-99 season.
===Trades===
July 2, 1998 	To Calgary FlamesDavid Cooper 	To Toronto Maple LeafsLadislav Kohn
October 14, 1998 	To New York RangersMathieu Schneider 	To Toronto Maple LeafsAlexander Karpovtsev 4th round pick in 1999 - Mirko Murovic
January 9, 1999 	To New York IslandersFelix Potvin 6th round pick in 1999 - Fedor Fedorov 	To Toronto Maple LeafsBryan Berard 6th round pick in 1999 - Jan Socher
February 16, 1999	To Vancouver CanucksDarby Hendrickson 	To Toronto Maple LeafsChris McAllister
February 17, 1999	To Florida PanthersJeff Ware 	To Toronto Maple LeafsDave Nemirovsky
March 23, 1999 	To Edmonton OilersJason Smith 	To Toronto Maple Leafs4th round pick in 1999 - Jonathan Zion 2nd round pick in 2000 - Kris Vernarsky
March 23, 1999 	To Los Angeles KingsJason Podollan 3rd round pick in 1999 - Cory Campbell	To Toronto Maple LeafsYanic Perreault
===Waivers===
October 5, 1998	From St. Louis BluesKevin Dahl
===Expansion Draft===
June 25, 1999	To Atlanta ThrashersYannick Tremblay
===Free agents===
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
Steve Thomas 	New Jersey Devils
Dallas Eakins 	Florida Panthers
Curtis Joseph 	Edmonton Oilers
Niklas Andersson 	San Jose Sharks
Garry Valk 	Pittsburgh Penguins
Glen Featherstone	Chicago Wolves (IHL)
==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. 
With the series victory, the Sabres advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 24 years.
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" 	Toronto (4) vs. Buffalo (7) 	Toronto (4) vs. Buffalo (7) 	Toronto (4) vs. Buffalo (7) 	Toronto (4) vs. Buffalo (7)
Date 	Away 	Home 	Score 	
May 23 	Buffalo 	Toronto 	5 – 4 	
May 25 	Buffalo 	Toronto 	6 – 3 	
May 27 	Toronto 	Buffalo 	4 – 2 	
May 29 	Toronto 	Buffalo 	5 – 2 	
May 31 	Buffalo 	Toronto 	4 – 2 	
Buffalo wins series 4–1 and Prince of Wales Trophy	Buffalo wins series 4–1 and Prince of Wales Trophy	Buffalo wins series 4–1 and Prince of Wales Trophy	Buffalo wins series 4–1 and Prince of Wales Trophy	
==Roster==
						
Goaltenders
* 
* 
* 
*		
Defensemen
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
*		
Wingers
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
*		
Centres
* 
* - C
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
*GM: Ken Dryden
*Coach: Pat Quinn
==Awards and honors==
* Curtis Joseph, Runner-up, Vezina Trophy.
* Curtis Joseph, Runner-up, Lester B. Pearson Award.
* Pat Quinn, Runner-Up, Jack Adams Award.National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5.
==References==
* Maple Leafs on Hockey Database
Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1998–99
Toronto Maple Leafs season, 1998–99
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons