1998–99 St. Louis Blues season

The 1998–99 St. Louis Blues season was the team's 32nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite the loss of Brett Hull during the preceding off-season, the Blues made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 20th-straight season after finishing in second place with a record of 37–32–13.

1998–99 St. Louis Blues
Division2nd Central
Conference5th Western
1998–99 record37–32–13
Home record18–17–6
Road record19–15–7
Goals for237
Goals against209
Team information
General ManagerLarry Pleau
CoachJoel Quenneville
CaptainChris Pronger
ArenaKiel Center
Team leaders
GoalsPavol Demitra
AssistsPavol Demitra
PointsPavol Demitra

Off-season

Realignment came, as the NHL went from four to six divisions. Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington were grouped in the Eastern Conference's new Southeast Division and Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver moved into the new Northwest Division in the Western Conference.

Blues captain Chris Pronger was in mid-season form during one of the team's voluntary scrimmages in late August. After 90 minutes of exhausting four-on-four hockey with only eight players per team, Pronger was campaigning to prolong the game.

The sentiment was nothing new for a man who logged more ice time per game (30:37) than any other player in the league last season. And when Pronger wasn't on the ice, it seemed that Norris Trophy winner Al MacInnis was. At 35, MacInnis had the finest season of his outstanding 16-year career. He led NHL defensemen in scoring with 62 points, averaged more than 29 minutes per game (fourth in the league) and was +33 on a team whose next-highest mark in that category was center Craig Conroy's +14. The problem for the Blues was finding four other defensemen they wanted to put on the ice.

In training camp the Blues were getting ready for the regular-season wars. During intrasquad games MacInnis and Pronger exchanged slashes—MacInnis called them "love taps"—and Pronger fought rookie forward Brandon Sugden and had a nasty mid-ice collision with defenceman Jamie Rivers, who was subsequently lost in the waiver draft. That ill-tempered defense will help goalie Roman Turek, who had sparkling numbers (16–3–3, 2.08 goals-against average) as Ed Belfour's backup in Dallas last season. Turek, 29, will get his first crack at being a No. 1 goalie now that Grant Fuhr has been shipped to Calgary. Netminding was a problem for the Blues in 1998–99: St. Louis allowed the fewest shots of any team in the league, but its goals-against average ranked only 14th.

The scoring load will fall to 24-year-old forward Pavol Demitra, who broke out last season and led the team with 37 goals and 89 points. His 10 game-winning goals were one behind league-leader Brett Hull of the Stars. Crafty center Pierre Turgeon had a strong postseason (13 points in 13 games) and a solid training camp. The rookie to watch is 22-year-old forward Jochen Hecht, a German who had two goals in five playoff games after a late-season call-up. He has outstanding size (6 ft 3 in, 200 pounds) and skill and is versatile enough to play any position up front.

The Blues are a team with a scrappy attitude, a handful of stars—count 41-year-old coach Joel Quenneville among them—and a future among the Western Conference's elite teams.[1]

Regular season

Despite the loss of Brett Hull the Blues made the playoffs for the 20th straight season by finishing in 2nd place with a record of 37–32–13. Helping to keep the Blues playoff streak alive was Al MacInnis who won the Norris trophy as the best defenceman in the NHL, while Pavol Demitra provided the scoring touch with 37 goals. In the playoffs the Blues would find themselves in a quick hole as they trailed the Phoenix Coyotes 3 games to 1. However the Blues would rally and take the series in 7 games. However, in the 2nd round the Blues would be knocked off again as they are beaten by the Dallas Stars led by Brett Hull in 6 games. Hull would go on to score the Stanley Cup Clinching goal for the Stars.

The Blues tied the Washington Capitals for the fewest power-play opportunities during the regular season, with just 301. They also tied the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with 4.[2]

  • Bright spots
  1. Chris Pronger is poised to become THE defenceman in the NHL, if he's not already.
  2. Everybody wondered who would step up to replace Brett Hull's goals and, poof, here comes Pavol Demitra with 37.
  3. LW Jochen Hecht is turning heads and should make the team.
  • Gray areas
  1. Geoff Courtnall missed 58 games with a concussion, but has looked good as new in camp. Still, those head injuries are tricky.
  2. Everybody likes Roman Turek's potential.
  3. Jury still out on young guns like Michal Handzus, Jamal Mayers, Tyson Nash and Lubos Bartecko.

Season standings

Central Division
R CR GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
13Detroit Red Wings8243327245202120293
25St. Louis Blues82373213237209130887
310Chicago Blackhawks82294112202248180770
412Nashville Predators8228477190261142063

[3]

Western Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Dallas StarsPAC82511912236168114
2y – Colorado AvalancheNW8244281023920598
3y – Detroit Red WingsCEN824332724520293
4Phoenix CoyotesPAC8239311220519790
5St. Louis BluesCEN8237321323720987
6Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC8235341321520683
7San Jose SharksPAC8231331819619180
8Edmonton OilersNW8233371223022678
9Calgary FlamesNW8230401221123472
10Chicago BlackhawksCEN8229411220224870
11Los Angeles KingsPAC823245518922269
12Nashville PredatorsCEN822847719026163
13Vancouver CanucksNW8223471219225858

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy; y – Won division

Schedule and results

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1TOctober 10, 19983–3 OT@ Boston Bruins (1998–99)0–0–1
2WOctober 12, 19984–2@ New York Rangers (1998–99)1–0–1
3LOctober 16, 19981–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)1–1–1
4LOctober 17, 19980–1New York Islanders (1998–99)1–2–1
5WOctober 22, 19985–3@ Ottawa Senators (1998–99)2–2–1
6WOctober 24, 19984–3Calgary Flames (1998–99)3–2–1
7LOctober 27, 19981–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)3–3–1
8WOctober 29, 19983–1Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)4–3–1
9TOctober 31, 19982–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)4–3–2
10WNovember 4, 19983–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)5–3–2
11TNovember 5, 19982–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)5–3–3
12TNovember 7, 19982–2 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)5–3–4
13WNovember 10, 19985–2Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)6–3–4
14LNovember 11, 19982–6@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)6–4–4
15WNovember 14, 19985–1Nashville Predators (1998–99)7–4–4
16LNovember 19, 19982–3@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)7–5–4
17TNovember 21, 19983–3 OTDallas Stars (1998–99)7–5–5
18WNovember 24, 19984–0Nashville Predators (1998–99)8–5–5
19LNovember 27, 19982–4San Jose Sharks (1998–99)8–6–5
20WNovember 28, 19984–2Washington Capitals (1998–99)9–6–5
21LDecember 4, 19980–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)9–7–5
22LDecember 5, 19981–3Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)9–8–5
23TDecember 8, 19982–2 OTBuffalo Sabres (1998–99)9–8–6
24LDecember 12, 19983–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)9–9–6
25TDecember 14, 19980–0 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)9–9–7
26LDecember 15, 19983–7@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)9–10–7
27WDecember 17, 19983–2Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)10–10–7
28WDecember 19, 19985–2Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)11–10–7
29TDecember 22, 19983–3 OT@ New York Islanders (1998–99)11–10–8
30LDecember 23, 19982–4@ New Jersey Devils (1998–99)11–11–8
31WDecember 26, 19984–3Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)12–11–8
32TDecember 28, 19984–4 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99)12–11–9
33WJanuary 1, 19996–5@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)13–11–9
34LJanuary 2, 19990–1New York Rangers (1998–99)13–12–9
35WJanuary 4, 19994–0Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)14–12–9
36WJanuary 7, 19994–2Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)15–12–9
37LJanuary 9, 19991–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1998–99)15–13–9
38LJanuary 11, 19991–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)15–14–9
39WJanuary 13, 19994–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1998–99)16–14–9
40LJanuary 16, 19990–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)16–15–9
41LJanuary 19, 19992–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)16–16–9
42LJanuary 21, 19992–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)16–17–9
43WJanuary 26, 19993–0@ San Jose Sharks (1998–99)17–17–9
44WJanuary 28, 19994–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)18–17–9
45LJanuary 30, 19993–4@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)18–18–9
46WFebruary 1, 19994–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)19–18–9
47LFebruary 4, 19990–2New Jersey Devils (1998–99)19–19–9
48LFebruary 6, 19993–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)19–20–9
49WFebruary 8, 19995–4@ Florida Panthers (1998–99)20–20–9
50WFebruary 10, 19995–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)21–20–9
51LFebruary 11, 19991–5San Jose Sharks (1998–99)21–21–9
52LFebruary 13, 19992–3Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)21–22–9
53WFebruary 15, 19998–1Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)22–22–9
54TFebruary 18, 19990–0 OTFlorida Panthers (1998–99)22–22–10
55LFebruary 20, 19993–4Nashville Predators (1998–99)22–23–10
56WFebruary 22, 19995–1Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)23–23–10
57LFebruary 24, 19991–3Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)23–24–10
58WFebruary 26, 19994–2@ Calgary Flames (1998–99)24–24–10
59WFebruary 28, 19993–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)25–24–10
60WMarch 2, 19995–1@ Nashville Predators (1998–99)26–24–10
61LMarch 4, 19990–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)26–25–10
62LMarch 7, 19993–4@ Dallas Stars (1998–99)26–26–10
63LMarch 9, 19994–7Calgary Flames (1998–99)26–27–10
64LMarch 11, 19990–3Montreal Canadiens (1998–99)26–28–10
65WMarch 13, 19996–4Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)27–28–10
66WMarch 14, 19995–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)28–28–10
67WMarch 16, 19995–2Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99)29–28–10
68TMarch 18, 19992–2 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1998–99)29–28–11
69LMarch 20, 19992–3Ottawa Senators (1998–99)29–29–11
70WMarch 22, 19995–2Carolina Hurricanes (1998–99)30–29–11
71WMarch 25, 19994–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1998–99)31–29–11
72LMarch 26, 19991–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1998–99)31–30–11
73LMarch 28, 19991–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99)31–31–11
74WApril 1, 19993–0Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)32–31–11
75WApril 3, 19995–2Dallas Stars (1998–99)33–31–11
76TApril 5, 19992–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99)33–31–12
77WApril 7, 19994–2@ Washington Capitals (1998–99)34–31–12
78TApril 9, 19991–1 OTDetroit Red Wings (1998–99)34–31–13
79LApril 11, 19992–4Colorado Avalanche (1998–99)34–32–13
80WApril 14, 19993–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1998–99)35–32–13
81WApril 15, 19996–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99)36–32–13
82WApril 18, 19993–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1998–99)37–32–13

Playoffs

  Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1 Devils 3     E4 Maple Leafs 4  
8 Penguins 4     E8 Penguins 2  
2 Senators 0 Eastern Conference
7 Sabres 4  
    E4 Maple Leafs 1  
  E7 Sabres 4  
3 Hurricanes 2  
6 Bruins 4  
4 Maple Leafs 4   E6 Bruins 2
5 Flyers 2     E7 Sabres 4  
  E7 Sabres 2
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W1 Stars 4
1 Stars 4     W1 Stars 4
8 Oilers 0     W5 Blues 2  
2 Avalanche 4
7 Sharks 2  
  W1 Stars 4
  W2 Avalanche 3  
3 Red Wings 4  
6 Mighty Ducks 0   Western Conference
4 Coyotes 3   W2 Avalanche 4
5 Blues 4     W3 Red Wings 2  
  • During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.
The Stanley Cup

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Pavol DemitraLW82375289161314010
Pierre TurgeonC673134653641005
Al MacInnisD8220426270331112
Scott YoungRW75242852278804
Chris ProngerD671333461133800
Scott PellerinLW80202141421054
Craig ConroyC691425393814011
Mike EastwoodC8292130366000
Pascal RheaumeC60918272410200
Terry YakeC609182734-9304
Jim CampbellRW554212541-8100
Michel PicardLW45111122165002
Lubos BarteckoLW325111664001
Michal HandzusC664121630-9000
Ricard PerssonD5411213944000
Geoff CourtnallLW245712282102
Kelly ChaseRW4537101432001
Marty ReasonerC22371082100
Jamal MayersRW3445940-3000
Tony TwistLW632681490000
Jamie RiversD7625747-3100
Todd GillD2823516-6100
Blair AtcheynumRW1222422001
Bryan HelmerD29044193000
Jeff FinleyD301232012000
Marc BergevinD5211299-14000
Chris McAlpineD5111250-10000
Jim CareyG400000000
Rory FitzpatrickD10002-3000
Grant FuhrG39000120000
Jochen HechtLW30000-2000
Brent JohnsonG600000000
Jamie McLennanG3300000000
Tyson NashLW20005-1000
Rich ParentG1000020000
Rudy PoeschekRW/D16000330000
Brad ShawD1200040000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Grant Fuhr21933916118892.442827738.892
Jamie McLennan17633313144702.383640570.891
Rich Parent51910431222.541193171.886
Brent Johnson2866320102.100127117.921
Jim Carey2024120133.8607663.829
Team:4963823732132042.47618631659.890

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Pierre TurgeonC13491363002
Al MacInnisD13481220-2200
Scott YoungRW134711102101
Pavol DemitraLW135494-5301
Geoff CourtnallLW1324610-4200
Chris ProngerD1314528-2100
Blair AtcheynumRW1313462000
Craig ConroyC132136-3000
Jeff FinleyD131238-4001
Terry YakeC1312314-3100
Ricard PerssonD1303317-1000
Jochen HechtLW520204000
Mike EastwoodC1311262000
Jamie RiversD91122-2101
Michal HandzusC1102280000
Scott PellerinLW81014-2000
Pascal RheaumeC510141000
Grant FuhrG1301120000
Jamal MayersRW110118-2000
Lubos BarteckoLW50002-3000
Chris McAlpineD1300020000
Jamie McLennanG100060000
Tyson NashLW10002-3000
Michel PicardLW50002-3000
Brad ShawD400002000
Tony TwistLW10000-1000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Grant Fuhr7901366312.351305274.898
Jamie McLennan3710100.000771.000
Team:8271367312.251312281.901

[5]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

All-Star teams

Transactions

Roster

Center

Right wing

Left wing

Defense

Goalie

Draft picks

St. Louis'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 (League)
124Christian Backman SwedenVästra Frölunda HC (Sweden)
241Maxym Linnik UkraineSt. Thomas Stars (GOJHL)
383Matt Walker CanadaPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)
6157Brad Voth CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
6170Andrei Troschinsky KazakhstanTorpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan)
7197Brad Twordik CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
8225Yevgeni Pastukh UkraineKhimik Voskresensk (Russia)
9255John Pohl United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (CCHA)

Farm teams

See also

References

Bibliography
  • Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Toronto: Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-22-5.
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