1999 Stanley Cup playoffs
Thus, the 16-team, conference-oriented playoff format used since 1994 was modified accordingly to allow each of the division winners to automatically qualify, along with five other teams from each conference.
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.
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.
The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.
They last met in the 1991 Adams Division Semifinals where Boston defeated the Hartford Whalers in six games.
Their only previous meeting was in the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals, where Detroit won in a four-game sweep.
Their only previous meeting was in the 1982 Norris Division Semifinals, where St. Louis defeated the original Winnipeg Jets in four games.
In game one the Sabres backup goaltender Dwayne Roloson filled in for the injured Dominik Hasek.
The Sabres went on to score twice in the third period on goals by Curtis Brown and Geoff Sanderson, as Buffalo held on to win 5–4.
In game two the Maple Leafs got two goals 18 seconds apart in the first period as Steve Sullivan and Sylvain Cote scored.
Toronto held a 4–3 lead halfway through the third period with Buffalo pressing, the Maple Leafs scored twice to seal a 6–3 win.
Dominik Hasek returned for the Sabres in game three but it was the away team that netted the first goal as Maple Leafs forward Yanic Perreault scored late in the first period.
Buffalo was not to be denied and they scored three goals early in the second period and the Sabres held on to win the game 4–2.
Valeri Kamensky scored the go ahead goal with 5:58 remaining in the game, as Colorado hung on to win 2–1.
With the score tied at 2–2 in game two Joe Nieuwendyk gave Dallas a 3–2 lead with a goal at 11:52 of the third period.
Mike Modano added a power-play goal with 3:32 remaining as the Stars won 4–2 to tie the series at 1–1.
In the extra period 22-year-old rookie Chris Drury scored at 19:29 to give Colorado a 3–2 win and tie the series at two games apiece.
They last advanced to the Finals in 1991, where the Minnesota North Stars lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
