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Buffalo Sabres: Reliving the 1999 Stanley Cup Final

By Sion Fawkes |
31 May 1999: The Buffalo Sabres celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs during the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
31 May 1999: The Buffalo Sabres celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs during the Stanley Cup playoffs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
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6 Nov 1999: Goalkeeper Martin Biron #43 of the Buffalo Sabres in action during the game against the New York Islanders at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Islanders 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
6 Nov 1999: Goalkeeper Martin Biron #43 of the Buffalo Sabres in action during the game against the New York Islanders at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Islanders 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

Once upon a time, the Buffalo Sabres were the class of the Eastern Conference. And in 1999, they nearly ended the season with their first Stanley Cup.

The Buffalo Sabres square off with the Dallas Stars this afternoon in what will be a memorable affair. Coming off of a strong showing against one of the NHL’s best teams, the Sabres face a lesser opponent in the Stars. A team they have a bit of a history with.

Let’s flashback and party like it’s 1999. Times were good in Buffalo. The Sabres made a deep playoff run and of course, the Bills geared up for a playoff appearance over in Orchard Park.

Early in the series, the Sabres took an advantage, before unfortunately falling to the Stars in six games. But that sixth game was and still is among the most memorable in NHL history. And perhaps the most memorable in Stanley Cup Final history. No, the Sabres didn’t win, but they gave the Stars all they could handle. Here’s how things played out.

31 May 1999: Brian Holzinger #19 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leavs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
31 May 1999: Brian Holzinger #19 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leavs 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

Game 1: Sabres 3, Stars 2

The Final started off with a bang, with the Sabres edging out the Stars in overtime. Dallas took a 1-0 lead early, thanks to a Brett Hull power play. Stu Barnes answered with a Sabres goal, before teammate Wayne Primeau tacked on another to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.

The Sabres looked to be on the cusp of taking Game 1 in regulation, but Jere Lehtinen scored with less than a minute to go to force overtime. In the overtime period, the teams went back and forth, before Jason Woolley sealed the game for the Sabres at the 15:30 mark.

While the game remained defensive well into the third period, the Sabres outscored the Stars 3-1 in a historic rally. Goaltender Domenik Hasek was beyond impressive, saving an amazing 35 out of 37 shots on goal while his counterpart, Ed Belfour, finished 21 for 24. The win also gave the Sabres home-ice advantage.

29 May 1999: Rob Ray #32 of the Buffalo Sabres is hugged by teammates after his goal during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leavs 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
29 May 1999: Rob Ray #32 of the Buffalo Sabres is hugged by teammates after his goal during the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Maple Leavs 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

Games 2 and 3: Dallas takes command

Game 2 is best remembered for an incident involving Stars center Mike Modano tripping Hasek, leading to bad blood between the teams. Following a defensive first period, the Sabres and Stars tacked one on the board in the second before the Stars scorers broke out in the third, handing them a 4-2 win.

With the series tied 1-1, the Sabres scorers continued to struggle even as the affair shifted to Buffalo. The Stars took a 2-1 win in a defensive tilt which returned home-ice advantage back in their favor. Dallas also faced adversity in this one, losing both Modano and Hull to injury. Following the next skater up mentality, it was Joe Nieuwendyk converting both goals.

Down 2-1 in the series, the Sabres found themselves in serious danger of allowing the Stars to break this Stanley Cup Final open in Game 4. And what a memorable game that one was.

20 Oct 1999: Miroslav Satan #81 of the Buffalo Sabres skates on the ice during the game against the Nashville Predators at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Predators defeated the Sabres 3-2.
20 Oct 1999: Miroslav Satan #81 of the Buffalo Sabres skates on the ice during the game against the Nashville Predators at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Predators defeated the Sabres 3-2. /

Games 4 and 5: Stars stay in command

The Sabres needed a miracle on their home ice in Game 4, and they pulled through. After finding twine in the first period, the Stars answered just two minutes later with a power play goal. Midway through the second, the Sabres scored again, and following a scoreless third period, Buffalo managed to tie the series 2-2.

It wouldn’t last, however. In Game 5, the Sabres held the Stars scoreless in the first only to allow two goals in the second and third period. With the loss, the Sabres failed to reclaim home ice advantage and they fell behind the Stars 3-2.

Down but not out, the series would return to Buffalo for Game 6, allowing the Sabres to feed off their home crowd in an attempt to bring the series south for a Game 7. And what followed was one of the most memorable games in league history.

11 Mar 1999: Jason Woolley #5 of the Buffalo Sabres in action during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Lightning defeated the Sabres 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
11 Mar 1999: Jason Woolley #5 of the Buffalo Sabres in action during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Lightning defeated the Sabres 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /

Game 6: Three overtimes seals it for the Stars

Through the first and second periods, the Sabres and Stars split goals. And following a scoreless third period, the two teams literally started a second game in overtime. Over the first two overtime periods, neither the Stars nor the Sabres found twine, with both goalies playing the games of their lives, saving a combined 101 out of 104 shots on goal when the game reached its conclusion.

Unfortunately for the Sabres, Brett Hull ended the series. Jere Lehtinen took a shot that, but Sabres goaltender Domenik Hasek let the puck rebound. Hull kicked the puck in front of him with his skate and drilled the game-winner, ending Buffalo’s chances for the franchise’s first cup.

Must Read. Most memorable seasons in Buffalo Sabres history. light

While the Sabres lost, they gave the Stars all they could handle in Game 6 and the series instantly became an NHL classic. The Sabres would make a few more playoff appearances in the 2000s, each of which ended on a sour note. The 1999 Stanley Cup Final also served as the Stars last appearance.

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