The 1998–99 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 32nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.
Off-season In the off-season, the Flyers went looking for a new goaltender. They opted not to re-sign Sean Burke, and Ron Hextall was about to enter his final season as a backup. They chose to sign former Florida Panther John Vanbiesbrouck over former Edmonton Oilers goalie Curtis Joseph, who ended up signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Regular season Looking to put the previous year's disappointment behind them, the Flyers began the season 4–0–1. However, a quick 1–6–3 downturn caused the first casualties – as Trent Klatt was dealt to Vancouver and Shjon Podein was shipped to Colorado for Keith Jones. Jones scored a goal in his first game in orange and black, a 6–1 rout of New Jersey, keying a 6–1–0 run.
Turmoil continued, as, after a 5–4 overtime loss to the Devils on December 10 saw the Flyers blow a 4–1 lead, the decision was made to end the Chris Gratton experiment. He was dealt back to Tampa Bay along with Mike Sillinger for Mikael Renberg and Daymond Langkow, and the move paid immediate dividends. Philly topped Toronto, 3–0, spurring a 15-game unbeaten streak (10–0–5) during which the club matched a record by shutting out their opponents in four consecutive games (Islanders, Carolina, Nashville, Washington).
Another run, this time a 6–0–2 streak from January 18 to February 6, tied the Flyers atop the NHL standings with the Dallas Stars. That momentum did not last long, as the club went 1–4–1 after the All-Star break, including an inexplicable 4–3 loss in Los Angeles where the Kings scored three goals in the final minutes, including a 60-foot game-winner by Jozef Stumpel just before the final buzzer.
Following a win over Pittsburgh, the team suffered through a then franchise-worst 12 games without a victory (0–8–4), broken up only by a rally from two goals down to Detroit on March 21. Eric Lindros, who was having an MVP-type season with 40 goals and 53 assists in 71 games, was felled and lost for the season by a collapsed lung sustained during a 2–1 win against the expansion Nashville Predators on April 1. It is said that if roommate Keith Jones had not intervened at the last minute, Lindros might have died on the plane ride back to Philadelphia.
The Flyers managed to lock up the five-seed on the final day of the season with a win over Boston.
John LeClair continued his goal-scoring streak with 43 on the year, matching Tim Kerr's team record of four straight seasons with 40 or more goals. He was one of only a handful of players to make it through the entire season, as general manager Bob Clarke made 12 trades involving NHL players throughout the regular season, including re-acquiring former Flyer Mark Recchi from the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline.
Season standings
Playoffs Although Vanbiesbrouck allowed nine goals to Curtis Joseph's eleven allowed, the Flyers lost their first round series with Toronto in six games. Flyers chairman Ed Snider and head coach Roger Neilson were fined $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, for criticizing the officiating in game six.
Schedule and results
Preseason
| 1 || September 19 || 6–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || 1–0–0 || W
| 2 || September 22 || 2–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0–1 || T
| 3 || September 23 || 7–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || 2–0–1 || W
| 4 || September 26 || 0–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1–1 || L
| 5 || September 29 || 5–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || 3–1–1 || W
| 6 || October 1 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || 4–1–1 || W
| 7 || October 2 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || 4–2–1 || L
| 8 || October 3 || 3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || 5–2–1 || W
| 9 || October 4 || 5–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || 6–2–1 || W |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| Notes: Game played at Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Legend:
Regular season
| 1 || October 9 || 1–0 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Vanbiesbrouck || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 11 || 4–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || Vanbiesbrouck || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 16 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 17 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Vanbiesbrouck || 3–0–1 || 7 ||
| 5 || October 20 || 3–1 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks || Vanbiesbrouck || 4–0–1 || 9 ||
| 6 || October 22 || 2–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Vanbiesbrouck || 4–1–1 || 9 ||
| 7 || October 24 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| New York Rangers || Vanbiesbrouck || 4–1–2 || 10 ||
| 8 || October 27 || 2–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–1–2 || 12 ||
| 9 || October 29 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Hextall || 5–2–2 || 12 ||
| 10 || October 31 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–3–2 || 12 ||
| 11 || November 1 || 4–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Hextall || 5–4–2 || 12 ||
| 12 || November 3 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–4–3 || 13 ||
| 13 || November 7 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–4–4 || 14 ||
| 14 || November 9 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–5–4 || 14 ||
| 15 || November 12 || 1–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Vanbiesbrouck || 5–6–4 || 14 ||
| 16 || November 14 || 6–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 6–6–4 || 16 ||
| 17 || November 17 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Vanbiesbrouck || 7–6–4 || 18 ||
| 18 || November 20 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Hextall || 8–6–4 || 20 ||
| 19 || November 22 || 2–1 OT || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Vanbiesbrouck || 9–6–4 || 22 ||
| 20 || November 25 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Vanbiesbrouck || 9–7–4 || 22 ||
| 21 || November 27 || 4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Vanbiesbrouck || 10–7–4 || 24 ||
| 22 || November 29 || 6–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Hextall || 11–7–4 || 26 ||
| 23 || December 4 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Vanbiesbrouck || 11–8–4 || 26 ||
| 24 || December 5 || 2–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 12–8–4 || 28 ||
| 25 || December 8 || 5–5 OT || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 12–8–5 || 29 ||
| 26 || December 10 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Hextall || 12–9–5 || 29 ||
| 27 || December 12 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Vanbiesbrouck || 13–9–5 || 31 ||
| 28 || December 13 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Vanbiesbrouck || 13–9–6 || 32 ||
| 29 || December 17 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Vanbiesbrouck || 13–9–7 || 33 ||
| 30 || December 19 || 3–1 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Vanbiesbrouck || 14–9–7 || 35 ||
| 31 || December 20 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 14–9–8 || 36 ||
| 32 || December 23 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Vanbiesbrouck || 15–9–8 || 38 ||
| 33 || December 26 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks || Vanbiesbrouck || 16–9–8 || 40 ||
| 34 || December 28 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks || Vanbiesbrouck || 16–9–9 || 41 ||
| 35 || December 29 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Hextall || 17–9–9 || 43 ||
| 36 || December 31 || 6–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks || Vanbiesbrouck || 18–9–9 || 45 ||
| 37 || January 3 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers || Vanbiesbrouck || 18–9–10 || 46 ||
| 38 || January 7 || 5–0 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Vanbiesbrouck || 19–9–10 || 48 ||
| 39 || January 9 || 2–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Hextall || 20–9–10 || 50 ||
| 40 || January 11 || 8–0 || align="left"| Nashville Predators || Vanbiesbrouck || 21–9–10 || 52 ||
| 41 || January 13 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Vanbiesbrouck || 22–9–10 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 16 || 3–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Vanbiesbrouck || 22–10–10 || 56 ||
| 43 || January 18 || 5–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Vanbiesbrouck || 23–10–10 || 56 ||
| 44 || January 21 || 4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Hextall || 24–10–10 || 58 ||
| 45 || January 26 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Vanbiesbrouck || 24–10–11 || 59 ||
| 46 || January 28 || 4–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes || Vanbiesbrouck || 25–10–11 || 61 ||
| 47 || January 30 || 6–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 26–10–11 || 63 ||
| 48 || February 1 || 4–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings || Vanbiesbrouck || 27–10–11 || 65 ||
| 49 || February 4 || 5–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Vanbiesbrouck || 28–10–11 || 67 ||
| 50 || February 6 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Hextall || 28–10–12 || 68 ||
| 51 || February 10 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || Vanbiesbrouck || 28–11–12 || 68 ||
| 52 || February 11 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Hextall || 28–12–12 || 68 ||
| 53 || February 14 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Vanbiesbrouck || 28–12–13 || 69 ||
| 54 || February 16 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes || Vanbiesbrouck || 29–12–13 || 71 ||
| 55 || February 18 || 1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Vanbiesbrouck || 29–13–13 || 71 ||
| 56 || February 20 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Vanbiesbrouck || 29–14–13 || 71 ||
| 57 || February 21 || 2–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 30–14–13 || 73 ||
| 58 || February 24 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–15–13 || 73 ||
| 59 || February 26 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Hextall || 30–16–13 || 73 ||
| 60 || February 28 || 5–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–17–13 || 73 ||
| 61 || March 2 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–18–13 || 73 ||
| 62 || March 4 || 0–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Pelletier || 30–19–13 || 73 ||
| 63 || March 6 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| New York Islanders || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–19–14 || 74 ||
| 64 || March 7 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–19–15 || 75 ||
| 65 || March 9 || 2–2 OT || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–19–16 || 76 ||
| 66 || March 11 || 3–5 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–20–16 || 76 ||
| 67 || March 13 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Hextall || 30–21–16 || 76 ||
| 68 || March 14 || 1–1 OT || align="left"| Dallas Stars || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–21–17 || 77 ||
| 69 || March 16 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Vanbiesbrouck || 30–22–17 || 77 ||
| 70 || March 21 || 5–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Vanbiesbrouck || 31–22–17 || 79 ||
| 71 || March 22 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Vanbiesbrouck || 32–22–17 || 81 ||
| 72 || March 27 || 3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Vanbiesbrouck || 33–22–17 || 83 ||
| 73 || March 28 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Vanbiesbrouck || 33–23–17 || 83 ||
| 74 || March 30 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Hextall || 33–23–18 || 84 ||
| 75 || April 1 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators || Vanbiesbrouck || 34–23–18 || 86 ||
| 76 || April 3 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Vanbiesbrouck || 34–24–18 || 86 ||
| 77 || April 5 || 1–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Hextall || 34–25–18 || 86 ||
| 78 || April 8 || 3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Vanbiesbrouck || 35–25–18 || 88 ||
| 79 || April 10 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Vanbiesbrouck || 36–25–18 || 90 ||