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.
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 which, 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, as well as 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 ninth place. Three days later, the Oilers would send Mats Lindgren and an eighth-round draft pick to the New York Islanders in exchange 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 fourth-round draft pick on March 23.
The moves paid off for the Oilers, as they would post an 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 Oilers 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,
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 goals against average (GAA).
The Oilers opened the playoffs against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Dallas Stars, who had finished the year with 114 points, 36 higher than the Oilers. Edmonton found themselves down in the series 2–0 after dropping two close games in Dallas. The Stars quickly eliminated the Oilers, winning the next two games in Edmonton by 3–2 scores to sweep the series. The Stars continued on to win the Stanley Cup.
Regular season The Oilers lead the NHL in power-play opportunities, with 438.
Season standings
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 10 || Los Angeles Kings || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 17,100 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 13 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 16,433 || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Vancouver Canucks || || Shtalenkov || 14,474 || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || New Jersey Devils || || Shtalenkov || 15,737 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || New York Rangers || || Essensa || 18,200 || 2–3–0 || 4 ||
| 6 || October 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 2 || New York Islanders || || Shtalenkov || 5,200 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || Colorado Avalanche || || Essensa || 16,061 || 3–4–0 || 6 ||
| 8 || October 28 || Washington Capitals || 2 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 14,290 || 4–4–0 || 8 ||
| 9 || October 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 16,171 || 5–4–0 || 10 ||
| 10 || November 2 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 15,260 || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 || November 4 || Nashville Predators || 2 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 14,054 || 7–4–0 || 14 ||
| 12 || November 6 || Colorado Avalanche || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 17,100 || 7–5–0 || 14 ||
| 13 || November 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Chicago Blackhawks || OT || Shtalenkov || 16,395 || 8–5–0 || 16 ||
| 14 || November 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Shtalenkov || 15,726 || 8–6–0 || 16 ||
| 15 || November 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 1 || Ottawa Senators || OT || Essensa || 14,680 || 8–6–1 || 17 ||
| 16 || November 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Montreal Canadiens || || Shtalenkov || 20,341 || 9–6–1 || 19 ||
| 17 || November 18 || Detroit Red Wings || 6 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 17,100 || 9–7–1 || 19 ||
| 18 || November 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || OT || Shtalenkov || 16,367 || 10–7–1 || 21 ||
| 19 || November 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Phoenix Coyotes || OT || Shtalenkov || 16,210 || 10–8–1 || 21 ||
| 20 || November 25 || Colorado Avalanche || 0 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 15,499 || 11–8–1 || 23 ||
| 21 || November 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || Calgary Flames || || Shtalenkov || 17,104 || 12–8–1 || 25 ||
| 22 || November 29 || Chicago Blackhawks || 3 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 15,515 || 12–9–1 || 25 ||
| 23 || December 2 || Phoenix Coyotes || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 14,281 || 13–9–1 || 27 ||
| 24 || December 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 15,303 || 13–10–1 || 27 ||
| 25 || December 6 || Dallas Stars || 6 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 16,458 || 13–11–1 || 27 ||
| 26 || December 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || Nashville Predators || OT || Shtalenkov || 14,529 || 13–11–2 || 28 ||
| 27 || December 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 3 || Chicago Blackhawks || || Shtalenkov || 15,546 || 13–12–2 || 28 ||
| 28 || December 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Detroit Red Wings || || Essensa || 19,983 || 13–13–2 || 28 ||
| 29 || December 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 2 || Philadelphia Flyers || OT || Shtalenkov || 19,513 || 13–13–3 || 29 ||
| 30 || December 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 0 – 3 || Carolina Hurricanes || || Shtalenkov || 5,684 || 13–14–3 || 29 ||
| 31 || December 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || || Essensa || 10,289 || 14–14–3 || 31 ||
| 32 || December 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 3 || Florida Panthers || || Shtalankov || 17,953 || 14–15–3 || 31 ||
| 33 || December 23 || San Jose Sharks || 5 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa ||| 16,350 || 14–16–3 || 31 ||
| 34 || December 27 || Vancouver Canucks || 0 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 17,100 || 15–16–3 || 33 ||
| 35 || December 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 17,100 || 15–17–3 || 33 ||
| 36 || January 3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Shtalenkov || 17,100 || 15–17–4 || 34 ||
| 37 || January 5 || Los Angeles Kings || 4 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Shtalenkov || 14,370 || 15–18–4 || 34 ||
| 38 || January 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 1 || Phoenix Coyotes || || Essensa || 15,102 || 16–18–4 || 36 ||
| 39 || January 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 1 || Los Angeles Kings || OT || Essensa || 14,936 || 16–18–5 || 37 ||
| 40 || January 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || || Shtalenkov || 17,174 || 16–19–5 || 37 ||
| 41 || January 12 || Dallas Stars || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Essensa || 16,201 || 16–19–6 || 38 ||
| 42 || January 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 1 || Vancouver Canucks || || Essensa || 15,910 || 17–19–6 || 40 ||
| 43 || January 17 || Detroit Red Wings || 1 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 17,100 || 18–19–6 || 42 ||
| 44 || January 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || San Jose Sharks || OT || Essensa || 17,483 || 18–19–7 || 43 ||
| 45 || January 27 || Chicago Blackhawks || 4 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Essensa || 16,281 || 18–20–7 || 43 ||
| 46 || January 30 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 0 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 17,100 || 19–20–7 || 45 ||
| 47 || February 1 || St. Louis Blues || 4 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Shtalenkov || 14,021 || 19–21–7 || 45 ||
| 48 || February 3 || Ottawa Senators || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Essensa || 14,487 || 19–21–8 || 46 ||
| 49 || February 5 || Nashville Predators || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 15,552 || 20–21–8 || 48 ||
| 50 || February 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 2 || Calgary Flames || || Essensa || 16,842 || 20–22–8 || 48 ||
| 51 || February 9 || Boston Bruins || 2 – 0 || Edmonton Oilers || || Shtalenkov || 16,173 || 20–23–8 || 48 ||
| 52 || February 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || Detroit Red Wings || || Essensa || 19,983 || 20–24–8 || 48 ||
| 53 || February 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 2 || St. Louis Blues || || Essensa || 20,209 || 21–24–8 || 50 ||
| 54 || February 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 4 || Dallas Stars || || Essensa || 16,928 || 21–25–8 || 50 ||
| 55 || February 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 2 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || || Shtalenkov || 14,540 || 22–25–8 || 52 ||
| 56 || February 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles Kings || || Shtalenkov || 11,287 || 22–26–8 || 52 ||
| 57 || February 21 || New York Rangers || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Essensa || 17,100 || 22–27–8 || 52 ||
| 58 || February 24 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Passmore || 16,001 || 22–28–8 || 52 ||
| 59 || February 26 || Buffalo Sabres || 3 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Essensa || 17,100 || 23–28–8 || 54 ||
| 60 || February 27 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Passmore || 17,100 || 23–28–9 || 55 ||
| 61 || March 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Essensa || 16,061 || 24–28–9 || 57 ||
| 62 || March 3 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Buffalo Sabres || || Passmore || 18,595 || 25–28–9 || 59 ||
| 63 || March 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || OT || Essnesa || 15,688 || 25–28–10 || 60 ||
| 64 || March 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Washington Capitals || || Passmore || 19,740 || 25–29–10 || 60 ||
| 65 || March 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 7 || Dallas Stars || || Shtalenkov || 16,928 || 25–30–10 || 60 ||
| 66 || March 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || St. Louis Blues || || Essensa || 18,071 || 25–31–10 || 60 ||
| 67 || March 14 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 3 || Nashville Predators || || Passmore || 16,148 || 25–32–10 || 60 ||
| 68 || March 17 || New Jersey Devils || 4 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Passmore || 15,581 || 25–33–10 || 60 ||
| 69 || March 20 || Vancouver Canucks || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Salo || 17,100 || 26–33–10 || 62 ||
| 70 || March 22 || Calgary Flames || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || OT || Salo || 17,100 || 26–33–11 || 63 ||
| 71 || March 24 || Montreal Canadiens || 2 – 0 || Edmonton Oilers || || Salo || 17,100 || 26–34–11 || 63 ||
| 72 || March 26 || St. Louis Blues || 1 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Salo || 16,318 || 27–34–11 || 65 ||