1999 Stanley Cup Final

Did You Know?

• In Canada, the series was televised on CBC.
• In the United States, coverage was split between Fox and ESPN; Fox aired games one, two, and five, while ESPN aired games three, four, and six.
• Under U.S. TV contracts beginning the next season, ABC would take over for Fox as the NHL's network television partner.

Background

This was the third meeting between teams from Dallas and Buffalo for a major professional sports championship, following two Super Bowls in 1993 and 1994. Buffalo entered the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, sweeping the Ottawa Senators, then defeating the Boston Bruins in six games and the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games. This was Buffalo's first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1975, when they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. The Sabres became the second seventh-seeded team to reach the Finals after the Vancouver Canucks in 1994. Dallas entered as the Presidents' Trophy winner for the second straight season, sweeping the Edmonton Oilers, then defeating the St. Louis Blues in six games and the Colorado Avalanche in seven games.

Game summaries

In game one in Dallas, Buffalo won 3–2 in overtime. Dallas led 1–0 on a power-play goal by Brett Hull, but Stu Barnes and Wayne Primeau scored in the third period to give Buffalo a 2–1 lead. Jere Lehtinen tied the game late in the third, and Jason Woolley scored at 15:30 of overtime. With three seconds left in the first period, Mike Modano tripped Dominik Hasek, leading to scrums and fighting majors for Joe Nieuwendyk and Brian Holzinger.

In game two, after a scoreless first period, the teams traded goals in the second. Craig Ludwig's first goal in 102 playoff games gave Dallas the lead in the third, but Alexei Zhitnik tied it 71 seconds later. Brett Hull scored with 2:50 remaining, and Derian Hatcher added an empty-net goal after killing a penalty, evening the series. Modano left with a broken wrist.

In game three in Buffalo, Dallas won 2–1 behind two goals from Joe Nieuwendyk. In game four, Buffalo won 2–1 on Dixon Ward's game-winning goal in the second period. In game five back in Dallas, Ed Belfour made 23 saves for a shutout, moving Dallas within one win of the Cup.

Hull's series-ending goal

In the third overtime of game six, Jere Lehtinen fired a shot from the left circle that Brett Hull redirected, but Dominik Hasek stopped it. Hull was outside the crease for that initial attempt. The puck bounced near Hull's left skate, and he kicked it to his stick, which remained just outside the crease. His left skate slid into the crease just before his second shot went in, ending the series.

No Sabres player or coach raised any issue with the goal right away. Only after commissioner Gary Bettman stepped onto the ice to hand out trophies did Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff rush back to his bench and yell at Bettman, demanding to know why the play hadn't been reviewed. In the locker room, Sabres players who had seen replays were furious. Hasek later recalled thinking they should get back on the ice, but it was 2 a.m. and everyone was already out of their gear.

Earlier that season, the NHL had sent a private memo clarifying that if a player had control of the puck, his skate could be in the crease even if the puck wasn't, and such a goal would count. Director of Officiating Bryan Lewis stated after the game that the goal had been reviewed, as every goal that season was, and the video review booth determined Hull had possession throughout, so the goal stood. Among Sabres fans, the play and the game are simply called "No Goal."

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1999 Stanley Cup was presented to Stars captain Derian Hatcher by Commissioner Gary Bettman following the Stars' 2–1 triple-overtime win in game six. Derek Plante and Brent Severyn did not play in the Final but were engraved after Dallas successfully requested an exemption. Mike Modano and Shawn Chambers were the only players on the roster who had played for the Minnesota North Stars. Chambers left the Stars in 1991, joined Tampa Bay in 1992, won the Cup with New Jersey in 1995, and rejoined the Stars in 1997.

Modano spent the first 20 years of his NHL career with the Stars franchise. Brad Lukowich and Doug Lidster, who played in the conference finals, were left off the engraving but received rings and were in the team picture. Video coordinator Leon Friedrich, assistant trainer Craig Lowery, and equipment assistant Doug Warner were also left off the engraving but included in the team picture and received rings.