ocr: The Sabres eventually fell to the Capitals in six games, but their performance marked the team's best playoi finish since 1980. Hasek once again shone brightly, taking home his fourth Vezina Trophy and becoming the first goaltender ever to win two consecutive Hart urophies. Earlier in the year, Hasek had also been instrumental in leading the underdog Czech Republic to a Gold Medal at the winter Olympic Games in, Nagano, Japan. The year ended on a sad note when team co-founder Northrup Knox passed away in July 1998. The Knox brothers persistence ine acquiring a franchise and their determination ...
