1999 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 21, 1999, following the 1998–99 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup. This was the first time since 1987, and only time until 2020 where all former WHA teams clinched the playoffs.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 21–June 19, 1999 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Defending champions | Detroit Red Wings |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Dallas Stars |
| Runner-up | Buffalo Sabres |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Scoring leader(s) | Peter Forsberg (Avalanche) (24 points) |
| MVP | Joe Nieuwendyk (Stars) |
Despite his team being eliminated in the Conference Finals, Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg's postseason scoring totals, with 24 points in 19 games, were not surpassed for the remainder of the 1999 playoffs. This made him the first player to lead all playoff scorers despite not making the Finals since 1986 when Doug Gilmour and Bernie Federko each tallied 21 points in 19 postseason games for the St. Louis Blues who were also eliminated in the Conference Finals.
The playoffs ended on June 19, 1999, with the Dallas Stars defeating the Buffalo Sabres to win their first Stanley Cup championship in their history. Brett Hull scored a triple overtime goal in game six for Dallas, while Joe Nieuwendyk was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.