1998–99 St. Louis Blues season

1998–99 St. Louis Blues
Division 2nd Central
Conference 5th Western
1998–99 record 37–32–13
Home record 18–17–6
Road record 19–15–7
Goals for 237
Goals against 209
Team information
General Manager Larry Pleau
Coach Joel Quenneville
Captain Chris Pronger
Arena Kiel Center
Team leaders
Goals Pavol Demitra
Assists Pavol Demitra
Points Pavol Demitra
<1997–98 1999–00>

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.

Offseason

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 midseason 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]

  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.
  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
13 Detroit Red Wings 82 43 32 7 245 202 1202 93
25 St. Louis Blues 82 37 32 13 237 209 1308 87
310 Chicago Blackhawks 82 29 41 12 202 248 1807 70
412 Nashville Predators 82 28 47 7 190 261 1420 63

[3]

Western Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Dallas Stars PAC 82 51 19 12 236 168 114
2 y – Colorado Avalanche NW 82 44 28 10 239 205 98
3 y – Detroit Red Wings CEN 82 43 32 7 245 202 93
4 Phoenix Coyotes PAC 82 39 31 12 205 197 90
5 St. Louis Blues CEN 82 37 32 13 237 209 87
6 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim PAC 82 35 34 13 215 206 83
7 San Jose Sharks PAC 82 31 33 18 196 191 80
8 Edmonton Oilers NW 82 33 37 12 230 226 78
9 Calgary Flames NW 82 30 40 12 211 234 72
10 Chicago Blackhawks CEN 82 29 41 12 202 248 70
11 Los Angeles Kings PAC 82 32 45 5 189 222 69
12 Nashville Predators CEN 82 28 47 7 190 261 63
13 Vancouver Canucks NW 82 23 47 12 192 258 58

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, 19980–1 New York Islanders (1998–99) 1–2–1
5WOctober 22, 19985–3 @ Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 2–2–1
6WOctober 24, 19984–3 Calgary Flames (1998–99) 3–2–1
7LOctober 27, 19981–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 3–3–1
8WOctober 29, 19983–1 Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 4–3–1
9TOctober 31, 19982–2 OT Mighty 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, 19985–2 Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 6–3–4
14LNovember 11, 19982–6 @ Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 6–4–4
15WNovember 14, 19985–1 Nashville Predators (1998–99) 7–4–4
16LNovember 19, 19982–3 @ Nashville Predators (1998–99) 7–5–4
17TNovember 21, 19983–3 OT Dallas Stars (1998–99) 7–5–5
18WNovember 24, 19984–0 Nashville Predators (1998–99) 8–5–5
19LNovember 27, 19982–4 San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 8–6–5
20WNovember 28, 19984–2 Washington Capitals (1998–99) 9–6–5
21LDecember 4, 19980–2 @ Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 9–7–5
22LDecember 5, 19981–3 Colorado Avalanche (1998–99) 9–8–5
23TDecember 8, 19982–2 OT Buffalo Sabres (1998–99) 9–8–6
24LDecember 12, 19983–4 Pittsburgh 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, 19983–2 Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 10–10–7
28WDecember 19, 19985–2 Los 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, 19984–3 Detroit 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, 19990–1 New York Rangers (1998–99) 13–12–9
35WJanuary 4, 19994–0 Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 14–12–9
36WJanuary 7, 19994–2 Chicago 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, 19992–4 Toronto 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, 19990–2 New Jersey Devils (1998–99) 19–19–9
48LFebruary 6, 19993–4 Mighty 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, 19991–5 San Jose Sharks (1998–99) 21–21–9
52LFebruary 13, 19992–3 Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 21–22–9
53WFebruary 15, 19998–1 Vancouver Canucks (1998–99) 22–22–9
54TFebruary 18, 19990–0 OT Florida Panthers (1998–99) 22–22–10
55LFebruary 20, 19993–4 Nashville Predators (1998–99) 22–23–10
56WFebruary 22, 19995–1 Los Angeles Kings (1998–99) 23–23–10
57LFebruary 24, 19991–3 Chicago 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, 19990–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1998–99) 26–25–10
62LMarch 7, 19993–4 @ Dallas Stars (1998–99) 26–26–10
63LMarch 9, 19994–7 Calgary Flames (1998–99) 26–27–10
64LMarch 11, 19990–3 Montreal Canadiens (1998–99) 26–28–10
65WMarch 13, 19996–4 Edmonton Oilers (1998–99) 27–28–10
66WMarch 14, 19995–2 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1998–99) 28–28–10
67WMarch 16, 19995–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1998–99) 29–28–10
68TMarch 18, 19992–2 OT Phoenix Coyotes (1998–99) 29–28–11
69LMarch 20, 19992–3 Ottawa Senators (1998–99) 29–29–11
70WMarch 22, 19995–2 Carolina 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, 19993–0 Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99) 32–31–11
75WApril 3, 19995–2 Dallas 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 OT Detroit Red Wings (1998–99) 34–31–13
79LApril 11, 19992–4 Colorado 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  Penguins 4     E5  Sabres 4  
8  Devils 3     E3  Bruins 2  
2  Maple Leafs 4 Eastern Conference
7  Philadelphia Flyers 2  
    E7  Maple Leafs 1  
  E5  Sabres 4  
3  Bruins 4  
6  Hurricanes 2  
4  Sabres 4   E1  Penguins 2
5  Senators 0     E7  Maple Leafs 4  
  E5  Sabres 2
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W1  Stars 4
1  Blues 4     W6  Avalanche 4
8  Coyotes 3     W3  Red Wings 1  
2  Sharks 2
7  Avalanche 4  
  W6  Avalanche 3
  W1  Stars 4  
3  Stars 4  
6  Oilers 0   Western Conference
4  Red Wings 4   W1  Stars 4
5  Mighty Ducks 0     W7  Blues 2  

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Demitra, PavolPavol Demitra LW 82 37 52 89 161314010
Turgeon, PierrePierre Turgeon C 67 31 34 65 3641005
MacInnis, AlAl MacInnis D 82 20 42 62 70331112
Young, ScottScott Young RW 75 24 28 52 278804
Pronger, ChrisChris Pronger D 67 13 33 46 1133800
Pellerin, ScottScott Pellerin LW 80 20 21 41 421054
Conroy, CraigCraig Conroy C 69 14 25 39 3814011
Eastwood, MikeMike Eastwood C 82 9 21 30 366000
Rheaume, PascalPascal Rheaume C 60 9 18 27 2410200
Yake, TerryTerry Yake C 60 9 18 27 34-9304
Campbell, JimJim Campbell RW 55 4 21 25 41-8100
Picard, MichelMichel Picard LW 45 11 11 22 165002
Bartecko, LubosLubos Bartecko LW 32 5 11 16 64001
Handzus, MichalMichal Handzus C 66 4 12 16 30-9000
Persson, RicardRicard Persson D 54 1 12 13 944000
Courtnall, GeoffGeoff Courtnall LW 24 5 7 12 282102
Chase, KellyKelly Chase RW 45 3 7 10 1432001
Reasoner, MartyMarty Reasoner C 22 3 7 10 82100
Mayers, JamalJamal Mayers RW 34 4 5 9 40-3000
Twist, TonyTony Twist LW 63 2 6 8 1490000
Rivers, JamieJamie Rivers D 76 2 5 7 47-3100
Gill, ToddTodd Gill D 28 2 3 5 16-6100
Atcheynum, BlairBlair Atcheynum RW 12 2 2 4 22001
Helmer, BryanBryan Helmer D 29 0 4 4 193000
Finley, JeffJeff Finley D 30 1 2 3 2012000
Bergevin, MarcMarc Bergevin D 52 1 1 2 99-14000
McAlpine, ChrisChris McAlpine D 51 1 1 2 50-10000
Carey, JimJim Carey G 4 0 0 0 00000
Fitzpatrick, RoryRory Fitzpatrick D 1 0 0 0 2-3000
Fuhr, GrantGrant Fuhr G 39 0 0 0 120000
Hecht, JochenJochen Hecht LW 3 0 0 0 0-2000
Johnson, BrentBrent Johnson G 6 0 0 0 00000
McLennan, JamieJamie McLennan G 33 0 0 0 00000
Nash, TysonTyson Nash LW 2 0 0 0 5-1000
Parent, RichRich Parent G 10 0 0 0 20000
Poeschek, RudyRudy Poeschek RW/D 16 0 0 0 330000
Shaw, BradBrad Shaw D 12 0 0 0 40000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Fuhr, GrantGrant Fuhr 2193 39 16 11 8 89 2.44 2827738.892
McLennan, JamieJamie McLennan 1763 33 13 14 4 70 2.38 3640570.891
Parent, RichRich Parent 519 10 4 3 1 22 2.54 1193171.886
Johnson, BrentBrent Johnson 286 6 3 2 0 10 2.10 0127117.921
Carey, JimJim Carey 202 4 1 2 0 13 3.86 07663.829
Team: 4963 82 37 32 13 204 2.47 618631659.890

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Turgeon, PierrePierre Turgeon C 13 4 9 13 63002
MacInnis, AlAl MacInnis D 13 4 8 12 20-2200
Young, ScottScott Young RW 13 4 7 11 102101
Demitra, PavolPavol Demitra LW 13 5 4 9 4-5301
Courtnall, GeoffGeoff Courtnall LW 13 2 4 6 10-4200
Pronger, ChrisChris Pronger D 13 1 4 5 28-2100
Atcheynum, BlairBlair Atcheynum RW 13 1 3 4 62000
Conroy, CraigCraig Conroy C 13 2 1 3 6-3000
Finley, JeffJeff Finley D 13 1 2 3 8-4001
Yake, TerryTerry Yake C 13 1 2 3 14-3100
Persson, RicardRicard Persson D 13 0 3 3 17-1000
Hecht, JochenJochen Hecht LW 5 2 0 2 04000
Eastwood, MikeMike Eastwood C 13 1 1 2 62000
Rivers, JamieJamie Rivers D 9 1 1 2 2-2101
Handzus, MichalMichal Handzus C 11 0 2 2 80000
Pellerin, ScottScott Pellerin LW 8 1 0 1 4-2000
Rheaume, PascalPascal Rheaume C 5 1 0 1 41000
Fuhr, GrantGrant Fuhr G 13 0 1 1 20000
Mayers, JamalJamal Mayers RW 11 0 1 1 8-2000
Bartecko, LubosLubos Bartecko LW 5 0 0 0 2-3000
McAlpine, ChrisChris McAlpine D 13 0 0 0 20000
McLennan, JamieJamie McLennan G 1 0 0 0 60000
Nash, TysonTyson Nash LW 1 0 0 0 2-3000
Picard, MichelMichel Picard LW 5 0 0 0 2-3000
Shaw, BradBrad Shaw D 4 0 0 0 02000
Twist, TonyTony Twist LW 1 0 0 0 0-1000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Fuhr, GrantGrant Fuhr 790 13 6 6 31 2.35 1305274.898
McLennan, JamieJamie McLennan 37 1 0 1 0 0.00 0771.000
Team: 827 13 6 7 31 2.25 1312281.901

[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

Roster

Center

Right wing

Left wing

Defense

Goalie

See also

References

External links

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