1998–99 New York Rangers season
1998–99 New York Rangers | |
---|---|
Division | 4th Atlantic |
Conference | 11th Eastern |
1998–99 record | 33–38–11 |
Home record | 17–19–5 |
Road record | 16–19–6 |
Goals for | 217 |
Goals against | 227 |
Team information | |
General manager | Neil Smith |
Coach | John Muckler |
Captain | Brian Leetch |
Alternate captains | Adam Graves Jeff Beukeboom |
Arena | Madison Square Garden |
Average attendance | 18,200 (100%) |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Adam Graves (38) |
Assists | Wayne Gretzky (53) |
Points | Wayne Gretzky (62) |
Penalty minutes | Ulf Samuelsson (93) |
Wins | Mike Richter (27) |
Goals against average | Mike Richter (2.63) |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/GretzkyFinal.jpg/220px-GretzkyFinal.jpg)
The 1998–99 New York Rangers season was the 73rd season for the franchise. The Rangers missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season in what was Wayne Gretzky's final season in the National Hockey League.
Regular season[]
Final standings[]
R | CR | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 47 | 24 | 11 | 248 | 196 | 105 |
2 | 5 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 37 | 26 | 19 | 231 | 196 | 93 |
3 | 8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 30 | 14 | 242 | 225 | 90 |
4 | 10 | New York Rangers | 82 | 33 | 38 | 11 | 217 | 227 | 77 |
5 | 13 | New York Islanders | 82 | 24 | 48 | 10 | 194 | 244 | 58 |
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
The Great One retires[]
Wayne Gretzky's last NHL game in Canada was on April 16, 1999, in a 2–2 tie with the Ottawa Senators. His 1,487th and final game was a 2–1 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins which had Jaromir Jagr, a future Ranger captain, scoring the game-winning goal on April 18, 1999, at Madison Square Garden. The national anthems in that game were adjusted to accommodate Gretzky's departure. In place of "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee," Bryan Adams sang "We're going to miss you Wayne Gretzky."[3] John Amirante changed lyrics in "The Star-Spangled Banner" from "the land of the free" to "the land of Wayne Gretzky." He scored his final point in this game, assisting on the lone New York goal scored by Brian Leetch. Gretzky was named as the first, second and third star of both games; only Maurice Richard had such an honour previously, for his performance in a 1944 playoff game.
At the time of his retirement, Gretzky was the second-to-last former WHA player still active in professional hockey, Mark Messier being the last. Messier, himself a former Ranger who would return to spend his final four playing years there, along with other representatives of the great Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s, attended the game.[4] Gretzky's final game was considered a "national retirement party" in Canada,[4] and Bryan Adams' rendition of "O Canada" was like a "lullaby."[4] As the final seconds ticked away, the crowd at Madison Square Garden gave him a standing ovation, capping off "an entirely satisfying, weekend-long going-away party" in Canada,[4] as there would be "No Regretzkys."[4]
Gretzky told Scott Morrison that the final game of his career was his greatest day.[5] He recounted:
My last game in New York was my greatest day in hockey...Everything you enjoy about the sport of hockey as a kid, driving to practice with mom [Phyllis] and dad [Walter], driving to the game with mom and dad, looking in the stands and seeing your mom and dad and your friends, that all came together in that last game in New York.[5]
Schedule and results[]
1998-99 Game Log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 3-4-3 (Home: 3-3-1; Road: 0-1-2)
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November: 3-5-4 (Home: 1-1-1; Road: 2-4-3)
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December: 7-6-0 (Home: 3-2-0; Road: 4-4-0)
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January: 6-7-0 (Home: 3-4-0; Road: 3-3-0)
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February: 6-6-0 (Home: 4-4-0; Road: 2-2-0)
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March: 6-5-3 (Home: 2-3-3; Road: 4-2-0)
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April: 2-5-1 (Home: 1-2-0; Road: 1-3-1)
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Playoffs[]
The Rangers failed to qualify for the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
Player statistics[]
- Skaters
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- Goaltenders
Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Richter | 68 | 3878 | 27 | 30 | 8 | 170 | 2.63 | 1897 | .910 | 4 |
Dan Cloutier | 22 | 1097 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 2.68 | 570 | .914 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.
Draft picks[]
New York's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York at the Marine Midland Arena.
Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Manny Malhotra | C | ![]() |
Guelph Storm (OHL) |
2 | 40 | Randy Copley | LW | ![]() |
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) |
3 | 66 | Jason LaBarbera | G | ![]() |
Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
4 | 114 | Boyd Kane | LW | ![]() |
Regina Pats (WHL) |
5 | 122 | Pat Leahy | RW | ![]() |
Miami University (Ohio) (NCAA) |
5 | 131 | Tomas Kloucek | D | ![]() |
Slavia Prague (Czech Extraliga) |
7 | 180 | Stefan Lundqvist | RW | ![]() |
Brynas IF (SEL) |
8 | 207 | Johan Witehall | LW | ![]() |
Leksands IF (SEL) |
9 | 235 | Jan Mertzig | D | ![]() |
Lulea HF (SEL) |
Awards and honors[]
- Wayne Gretzky, Lady Byng Trophy
- Wayne Gretzky, MVP of NHL All-Star Game
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.
- Rangers on Hockey Database
- ^ Dinger 2011, p. 155.
- ^ "1998-1999 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
- ^ Brady, Erik (April 19, 1999). "He loved 'every part of the game'". USA Today. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Cole, Stephen (2004). The Best of Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto: McArthur & Company. p. 133. ISBN 1-55278-408-8.
- ^ a b Morrison, Scott (2008). Hockey Night in Canada: My Greatest Day. Toronto: Key Porter Books. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-55470-086-8.
- ^ "1998-99 New York Rangers". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- New York Rangers seasons
- 1998–99 NHL season by team
- 1998–99 in American ice hockey by team
- 1998 in sports in New York City
- 1999 in sports in New York City
- 1990s in Manhattan
- Madison Square Garden