1998–99 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1998–99 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 20th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 35–37–10 record in 1997–98, earning their 2nd straight playoff appearance. They upset the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche in the 1st round, before falling to the Dallas Stars in the 2nd round.
During the off-season, the Oilers franchise remaining in Edmonton looked very unlikely, as Oilers owner Peter Pocklington would be talking to a group from Houston, Texas, who if successful in the purchase, would relocate the club to Houston. At the last minute, the Edmonton Investors Group, a consortium of 37 Edmonton-based owners, raised the funds to purchase the team from Pocklington, vowing to keep the Oilers in Edmonton. The Oilers received support throughout the NHL, and the club would remain.
Also during the off-season, the Oilers would lose goaltender Curtis Joseph, as he would leave the team as a free agent and join the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving the goaltending duties to Bob Essensa and former Mighty Ducks of Anaheim backup Mikhail Shtalenkov, and Edmonton would join the newly created Northwest Division, along with their Western Canada rivals, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, and the Colorado Avalanche.
Edmonton would start the season with a 7–4–0 record in their opening 11 games, and would remain close to the .500 mark until early February, despite losing Doug Weight to injuries. Edmonton would then go into a slump, and would drop out of a playoff spot, and on March 17, the Oilers would be 25–33–10, sitting in 9th place. Three days later, the Oilers would send Mats Lindgren and an 8th round draft pick to the New York Islanders for goaltender Tommy Salo. Edmonton would also deal Boris Mironov and Dean McAmmond to the Chicago Blackhawks for youngsters Ethan Moreau, Christian Laflamme and Chad Kilger, and acquire Jason Smith from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 4th round draft pick on March 23.
The moves paid off for the Oilers, as they would have 8–4–2 record after the Salo deal, and sneak into the final playoff position, finishing the season with a 33–37–12 record. On April 3, 1999, Patrick Roy defeated the Edmonton Oiilers, and passed Glenn Hall with his 408th victory.Patrick Roy, winning, nothing else, p.436, by Michel Roy, translated by Charles Phillips, 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Mississauga, ON, ISBN 978-0-470-15616-2
Offensively, Bill Guerin would be Edmonton's leader, scoring a team high 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points. Josef Beranek would earn 49 points, while Mike Grier would have a breakout season, scoring 20 goals and earning 44 points. Doug Weight would register 37 points in only 43 games. Defensively, Boris Mironov would lead blueline with 40 points, but was dealt to Chicago at the trade deadline. Roman Hamrlik chipped in with 32 points, while Janne Niinimaa would earn 28. Sean Brown would have a team high 188 penalty minutes in only 51 games.
In goal, Bob Essensa and Mikhail Shtalenkov would split time for a majority of the season, each earning 12 victories. Shtalenkov would then be traded to the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Oilers would acquire Tommy Salo to become the new starter, and in 13 games, Salo would go 8–2–2 with a 2.31 GAA.
The Oilers would open the playoffs against the President's Trophy winning Dallas Stars, would finished the year with 114 points, 36 higher than the Oilers. Edmonton would find themselves down in the series 2–0 after dropping 2 close games in Dallas, and the Stars would quickly eliminate the Oilers, winning the next 2 games in Edmonton, both by 3–2 scores, to sweep the Oilers out of the playoffs.
==Season standings==
Northwest Division	GP	W 	L 	T 	GF 	GA 	Pts
Colorado Avalanche	82	44	28	10	239	205	98
Edmonton Oilers 	82	33	37	12	230	226	78
Calgary Flames 	82	30	40	12	211	234	72
Vancouver Canucks 	82	23	47	12	192	258	58
==Game log==
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 10 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 13 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2–0 	0
3 	October 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Vancouver Canucks 	1–2–0 	2
4 	October 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	New Jersey Devils 	2–2–0 	4
5 	October 20 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	New York Rangers 	2–3–0 	4
6 	October 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	New York Islanders 	3–3–0 	6
7 	October 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Colorado Avalanche 	3–4–0 	6
8 	October 28 	Washington Capitals 	2–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4–0 	8
9 	October 31 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4–0 	10
10	November 2 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–4–0 	12
11	November 4 	Nashville Predators 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–4–0 	14
12	November 6 	Colorado Avalanche 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–5–0 	14
13	November 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Chicago Blackhawks 	8–5–0 	16
14	November 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	8–6–0 	16
15	November 12	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1 	Ottawa Senators 	8–6–1 	17
16	November 14	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Montreal Canadiens 	9–6–1 	19
17	November 18	Detroit Red Wings 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	9–7–1 	19
18	November 20	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	10–7–1 	21
19	November 21	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Phoenix Coyotes 	10–8–1 	21
20	November 25	Colorado Avalanche 	0–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–8–1 	23
21	November 27	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Calgary Flames 	12–8–1 	25
22	November 29	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–9–1 	25
23	December 2 	Phoenix Coyotes 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–9–1 	27
24	December 4 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–10–1 	27
25	December 6 	Dallas Stars 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–11–1 	27
26	December 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Nashville Predators 	13–11–2 	28
27	December 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Chicago Blackhawks 	13–12–2 	28
28	December 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	13–13–2 	28
29	December 13	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Philadelphia Flyers 	13–13–3 	29
30	December 15	Edmonton Oilers 	0–3 	Carolina Hurricanes 	13–14–3 	29
31	December 18	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	14–14–3 	31
32	December 19	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Florida Panthers 	14–15–3 	31
33	December 23	San Jose Sharks 	5–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	14–16–3 	31
34	December 27	Vancouver Canucks 	0–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–16–3 	33
35	December 29	Montreal Canadiens 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–17–3 	33
36	January 3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–17–4 	34
37	January 5 	Los Angeles Kings 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–18–4 	34
38	January 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–1 	Phoenix Coyotes 	16–18–4 	36
39	January 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1 	Los Angeles Kings 	16–18–5 	37
40	January 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	16–19–5 	37
41	January 12 	Dallas Stars 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–19–6 	38
42	January 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1 	Vancouver Canucks 	17–19–6 	40
43	January 17 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–19–6 	42
44	January 21 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	San Jose Sharks 	18–19–7 	43
45	January 27 	Chicago Blackhawks 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–20–7 	43
46	January 30 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	0–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–20–7 	45
47	February 1 	St. Louis Blues 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–21–7 	45
48	February 3 	Ottawa Senators 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–21–8 	46
49	February 5 	Nashville Predators 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–21–8 	48
50	February 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	Calgary Flames 	20–22–8 	48
51	February 9 	Boston Bruins 	2–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–23–8 	48
52	February 11	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	20–24–8 	48
53	February 13	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	St. Louis Blues 	21–24–8 	50
54	February 15	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4 	Dallas Stars 	21–25–8 	50
55	February 17	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	22–25–8 	52
56	February 18	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	22–26–8 	52
57	February 21	New York Rangers 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–27–8 	52
58	February 24	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–28–8 	52
59	February 26	Buffalo Sabres 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–28–8 	54
60	February 27	Carolina Hurricanes 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–28–9 	55
61	March 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Colorado Avalanche 	24–28–9 	57
62	March 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Buffalo Sabres 	25–28–9 	59
63	March 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	25–28–10	60
64	March 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Washington Capitals 	25–29–10	60
65	March 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Dallas Stars 	25–30–10	60
66	March 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–6 	St. Louis Blues 	25–31–10	60
67	March 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Nashville Predators 	25–32–10	60
68	March 17 	New Jersey Devils 	4–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–33–10	60
69	March 20 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–33–10	62
70	March 22 	Calgary Flames 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–33–11	63
71	March 24 	Montreal Canadiens 	2–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–34–11	63
72	March 26 	St. Louis Blues 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	27–34–11	65
73	March 28 	San Jose Sharks 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–34–11	67
74	March 30 	Phoenix Coyotes 	7–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–35–11	67
75	April 1 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	5–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–36–11	67
76	April 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Colorado Avalanche 	28–37–11	67
77	April 7 	Calgary Flames 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–37–11	69
78	April 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Calgary Flames 	30–37–11	71
79	April 10 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1 	Vancouver Canucks 	30–37–12	72
80	April 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	San Jose Sharks 	31–37–12	74
81	April 16 	Colorado Avalanche 	1–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–37–12	76
82	April 17 	Calgary Flames 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–37–12	78
==Playoffs==
===Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 0===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 21	Edmonton Oilers	1–2 	Dallas Stars 	0–1
2	April 23	Edmonton Oilers	2–3 	Dallas Stars 	0–2
3	April 25	Dallas Stars 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	0–3
4	April 27	Dallas Stars 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	0–4
==Season stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Bill Guerin 	80	30	34	64 	133
Josef Beranek	66	19	30	49 	23
Mike Grier 	82	20	24	44 	54
Pat Falloon 	82	17	23	40 	20
Boris Mironov	63	11	29	40 	104
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Tommy Salo 	13	700 	8 	2 	2	27	0 	.903 	2.31
Mikhail Shtalenkov	34	1819	12	17	3	81	3 	.896 	2.67
Bob Essensa 	39	2091	12	14	6	96	0 	.901 	2.75
Steve Passmore 	6 	362 	1 	4 	1	17	0 	.907 	2.82
==Playoff stats==
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Ryan Smyth 	3 	3	0	3 	0
Ethan Moreau 	4 	0	3	3 	6
Doug Weight 	4 	1	1	2 	15
Todd Marchant	4 	1	1	2 	12
Mike Grier 	4 	1	1	2 	6
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Tommy Salo	4 	296	0	4	11	0 	.926 	2.23
==Transactions==
====Trades====
June 16, 1998 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBobby DollasTony Hrkac 	To Edmonton OilersJosef Beranek
June 18, 1998 	To New York IslandersMike Watt 	To Edmonton OilersEric Fichaud
June 27, 1998 	To New Jersey Devils*3rd round pick in 1998 - Brian Gionta 	To Edmonton OilersFredrik Lindquist4th round pick in 1998 - Kristian Antila5th round pick in 1998 - Oleg Smirnov
October 1, 1998 	To Nashville PredatorsDrake BerehowskyGreg de VriesEric Fichaud 	To Edmonton OilersJim DowdMikhail Shtalenkov
October 5, 1998 	To Philadelphia FlyersValeri Zelepukin 	To Edmonton OilersDaniel Lacroix
January 29, 1999	To Philadelphia FlyersAndrei Kovalenko 	To Edmonton OilersAlexandre Daigle
January 29, 1999	To Tampa Bay LightningAlexandre Daigle 	To Edmonton OilersAlexander Selivanov
February 3, 1999	To Washington CapitalsBarrie Moore 	To Edmonton OilersBrad Church
March 11, 1999 	To Phoenix CoyotesMikhail Shtalenkov 	To Edmonton Oilers**5th round pick in 2000 - Matt Koalska
March 20, 1999 	To Chicago BlackhawksBoris MironovDean McAmmondJonas Elofsson2nd round pick in 1999 - Dmitri Levinsky	To Edmonton OilersEthan MoreauChad KilgerChristian LaflammeDaniel Cleary2nd round pick in 1999 - Alexei Semenov
March 20, 1999 	To New York IslandersMats Lindgren8th round pick in 1999 - Radek Martinek 	To Edmonton OilersTommy Salo
March 23, 1999 	To New York RangersKevin Brown 	To Edmonton OilersVladimir Vorobiev
March 23, 1999 	To Toronto Maple Leafs4th round pick in 1999 - Jonathan Zion2nd round pick in 2000 - Kris Vernarsky 	To Edmonton OilersJason Smith
*Later traded to the New Jersey Devils.
**Later traded to the Nashville Predators.
====Free agents====
{|class="wikitable"	 	
Player 	Former team 	Contract terms
F Chris Ferraro 	Pittsburgh Penguins	1 year,
F Kevin Brown 	Carolina Hurricanes	1 year, $0.3309 million
F Pat Falloon 	Ottawa Senators 	1 year, $0.29781 million
D Todd Reirden 	New Jersey Devils 	1 year,
D Marty McSorley	San Jose Sharks 	1 year, $1 million
====Draft picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1 	13 	Michael Henrich 	 	Barrie Colts (OHL)
3 	67 	Alex Henry 	 	London Knights (OHL)
4 	99 	Shawn Horcoff 	 	Michigan State Spartans (NCAA)
4 	113	Kristian Antila 	 	Ilves (Finland)
5 	128	Paul Elliott 	 	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
5 	144	Oleg Smirnov 	 	Elektrostal Kristall (Russia)
6 	159	Trevor Ettinger 	 	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7 	186	Mike Morrison 	 	Exeter High School (USHS)
8 	213	Christian Lefebvre	 	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
9 	241	Maxim Spiridonov 	 	London Knights (OHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers seasons, 1998–99
Edmonton Oilers seasons, 1998–99