1990-91 NHL season

The 1990-91 NHL season was the 74th regular season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the best of seven series 4–2 against the Minnesota North Stars. The North Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers to become the first Norris Division team to appear in the Stanley Cup Finals since the 1981 realignment. The championship was the first in Penguins history. A record high 92 playoff games were held, and for the first time since the 1973 playoffs, no team was swept in a playoff series.

This was the last NHL season to end in the month of May.

Regular Season

Final Standings

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Boston Bruins	80	44	24	12	299	264	100
Montreal Canadiens	80	39	30	11	273	249	89
Buffalo Sabres	80	31	30	19	292	278	81
Hartford Whalers	80	31	38	11	238	276	73
Quebec Nordiques	80	16	50	14	236	354	46

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	41	33	6	342	305	88
New York Rangers	80	36	31	13	297	265	85
Washington Capitals	80	37	36	7	258	258	81
New Jersey Devils	80	32	33	15	272	264	79
Philadelphia Flyers	80	33	37	10	252	267	76
New York Islanders	80	25	45	10	223	290	60

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Clarence Campbell Conference

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Los Angeles Kings	80	46	24	10	340	254	102
Calgary Flames	80	46	26	8	344	263	100
Edmonton Oilers	80	37	37	6	272	272	80
Vancouver Canucks	80	28	43	9	243	315	65
Winnipeg Jets	80	26	43	11	260	288	63

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Chicago Blackhawks	80	49	23	8	284	211	106
St. Louis Blues	80	47	22	11	310	250	105
Detroit Red Wings	80	34	38	8	273	298	76
Minnesota North Stars	80	27	39	14	256	266	68
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	23	46	11	241	318	57

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Scoring Leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Wayne Gretzky	Los Angeles Kings	78	41	122	163
Brett Hull	St. Louis Blues	78	86	45	131
Adam Oates	St. Louis Blues	61	25	90	115
Mark Recchi	Pittsburgh Penguins	78	40	73	113
John Cullen	Pittsburgh Penguins / Hartford Whalers	78	39	71	110
Joe Sakic	Quebec Nordiques	80	48	61	109
Steve Yzerman	Detroit Red Wings	80	51	57	108
Theoren Fleury	Calgary Flames	79	51	53	104
Al MacInnis	Calgary Flames	78	28	75	103
Steve Larmer	Chicago Blackhawks	80	44	57	101

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Note: All dates in 1991

Playoff Bracket

	Division Semifinals					Division Finals					Conference Finals					Stanley Cup Finals
	1	Boston	4
	4	Hartford	2
						1	Boston	4
						2	Montreal	3
	2	Montreal	4
	3	Buffalo	2
											A1	Boston	2
	Prince of Wales Conference
										P1	Pittsburgh	4
	1	Pittsburgh	4
	4	New Jersey	3
						1	Pittsburgh	4
						3	Washington	1
	2	NY Rangers	2
	3	Washington	4
																P1	Pittsburgh	4
															N4	Minnesota	2
	1	Chicago	2
	4	Minnesota	4
						2	St. Louis	2
						4	Minnesota	4
	2	St. Louis	4
	3	Detroit	3
											S3	Edmonton	1
	Clarence Campbell Conference
										N4	Minnesota	4
	1	Los Angeles	4
	4	Vancouver	2
						1	Los Angeles	2
						3	Edmonton	4
	2	Calgary	3
	3	Edmonton	4

Division Semi-finals

Wales Conference

Boston vs. Hartford Date Away Home April 3 Hartford 5 2 Boston April 5 Hartford 3 4 Boston April 7 Boston 6 3 Hartford April 9 Boston 3 4 Hartford April 11 Hartford 1 6 Boston April 13 Boston 3 1 Hartford Boston wins series 4–2	Montreal vs. Buffalo Date Away Home April 3 Buffalo 5 7 Montreal April 5 Buffalo 4 5 Montreal April 7 Montreal 4 5 Buffalo April 9 Montreal 4 6 Buffalo April 11 Buffalo 3 4 Montreal OT April 13 Montreal 5 1 Buffalo Montreal wins series 4–2
Pittsburgh vs. New Jersey Date Away Home April 3 New Jersey 3 1 Pittsburgh April 5 New Jersey 4 5 Pittsburgh OT April 7 Pittsburgh 4 3 New Jersey April 9 Pittsburgh 1 4 New Jersey April 11 New Jersey 4 2 Pittsburgh April 13 Pittsburgh 4 3 New Jersey April 15 New Jersey 0 4 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh wins series 4–3	NY Rangers vs. Washington Date Away Home April 3 Washington 1 2 NY Rangers April 5 Washington 3 0 NY Rangers April 7 NY Rangers 6 0 Washington April 9 NY Rangers 2 3 Washington April 11 Washington 5 4 NY Rangers April 13 NY Rangers 2 4 Washington Washington wins series 4–2

Campbell Conference

Chicago vs. Minnesota Date Away Home April 4 Minnesota 4 3 Chicago OT April 6 Minnesota 2 5 Chicago April 8 Chicago 6 5 Minnesota April 10 Chicago 1 3 Minnesota April 12 Minnesota 6 0 Chicago April 14 Chicago 1 3 Minnesota Minnesota wins series 4–2	St. Louis vs. Detroit Date Away Home April 4 Detroit 6 3 St. Louis April 6 Detroit 2 4 St. Louis April 8 St. Louis 2 5 Detroit April 10 St. Louis 3 4 Detroit April 12 Detroit 1 6 St. Louis April 14 St. Louis 3 0 Detroit April 16 Detroit 2 3 St. Louis St. Louis wins series 4–3
Los Angeles vs. Vancouver Date Away Home April 4 Vancouver 6 5 Los Angeles April 6 Vancouver 2 3 Los Angeles OT April 8 Los Angeles 1 2 Vancouver OT April 10 Los Angeles 6 1 Vancouver April 12 Vancouver 4 7 Los Angeles April 14 Los Angeles 4 1 Vancouver Los Angeles wins series 4–2	Calgary vs. Edmonton Date Away Home April 4 Edmonton 3 1 Calgary April 6 Edmonton 1 3 Calgary April 8 Calgary 3 4 Edmonton April 10 Calgary 2 5 Edmonton April 12 Edmonton 3 5 Calgary April 14 Calgary 2 1 Edmonton OT April 16 Edmonton 5 4 Calgary OT Edmonton wins series 4–3

Division Finals

Wales Conference

Boston vs. Montreal Date Away Home April 17 Montreal 1 2 Boston April 19 Montreal 4 3 Boston OT April 21 Boston 3 2 Montreal April 23 Boston 2 6 Montreal April 25 Montreal 1 4 Boston April 27 Boston 2 3 Montreal OT April 29 Montreal 1 2 Boston Boston win series 4–3

Pittsburgh vs. Washington Date Away Home April 17 Washington 4 2 Pittsburgh April 19 Washington 6 7 Pittsburgh OT April 21 Pittsburgh 3 1 Washington April 23 Pittsburgh 3 1 Washington April 25 Washington 1 4 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh wins series 4–1

Campbell Conference

St. Louis vs. Minnesota Date Away Home April 18 Minnesota 2 1 St. Louis April 20 Minnesota 2 5 St. Louis April 22 St. Louis 1 5 Minnesota April 24 St. Louis 4 8 Minnesota April 26 Minnesota 2 4 St. Louis April 28 St. Louis 2 3 Minnesota Minnesota wins series 4–2

Los Angeles vs. Edmonton Date Away Home April 18 Edmonton 3 4 Los Angeles OT April 20 Edmonton 4 3 Los Angeles 2OT April 22 Los Angeles 3 4 Edmonton 2OT April 24 Los Angeles 2 4 Edmonton April 26 Edmonton 2 5 Los Angeles April 28 Los Angeles 3 4 Edmonton OT Edmonton wins series 4–2

Conference Finals

Wales Conference Boston vs. Pittsburgh Date Away Home May 1 Pittsburgh 3 6 Boston May 3 Pittsburgh 4 5 Boston OT May 5 Boston 1 4 Pittsburgh May 7 Boston 1 4 Pittsburgh May 9 Pittsburgh 7 2 Boston May 11 Boston 3 5 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh wins series 4–2 and Prince of Wales Trophy

Campbell Conference Edmonton vs. Minnesota Date Away Home May 2 Minnesota 3 1 Edmonton May 4 Minnesota 2 7 Edmonton May 6 Edmonton 3 7 Minnesota May 8 Edmonton 1 5 Minnesota May 10 Minnesota 3 2 Edmonton Minnesota wins series 4–1 and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars
Date	Away	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 15	Minnesota	5	Pittsburgh	4
May 17	Minnesota	1	Pittsburgh	4
May 19	Pittsburgh	1	Minnesota	3
May 21	Pittsburgh	5	Minnesota	3
May 23	Minnesota	4	Pittsburgh	6
May 25	Pittsburgh	8	Minnesota	0
Pittsburgh wins series 4–2 and Stanley Cup
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh) wins Conn Smythe Trophy

NHL Awards

Presidents' Trophy:	Chicago Blackhawks
Prince of Wales Trophy:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:	Minnesota North Stars
Art Ross Memorial Trophy:	Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:	Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings
Calder Memorial Trophy:	Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks
Conn Smythe Trophy:	Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
Frank J. Selke Trophy:	Dirk Graham, Chicago Blackhawks
Hart Memorial Trophy:	Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
Jack Adams Award:	Brian Sutter, St. Louis Blues
James Norris Memorial Trophy:	Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins
King Clancy Memorial Trophy:	Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:	Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
Lester B. Pearson Award:	Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
NHL Plus/Minus Award:	Marty McSorley, Los Angeles Kings & Theo Fleury, Calgary Flames
Vezina Trophy:	Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks
William M. Jennings Trophy:	Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks
Lester Patrick Trophy:	Rod Gilbert, Mike Ilitch

All-Star Teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks	G	Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins	D	Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks
Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames	D	Brian Leetch, New York Rangers
Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings	C	Adam Oates, St. Louis Blues
Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues	RW	Cam Neely, Boston Bruins
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings	LW	Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1990-91 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

• Robert Reichel, Calgary Flames
• Dominik Hasek, Chicago Blackhawks
• Keith Primeau, Detroit Red Wings
• Mike Sillinger, Detroit Red Wings
• Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings
• Bobby Holik, Hartford Whalers
• Geoff Sanderson, Hartford Whalers
• John LeClair, Montreal Canadiens
• Patrice Brisebois, Montreal Canadiens
• Sean Hill*, Montreal Canadiens
• Doug Weight*, New York Rangers
• Tony Amonte*, New York Rangers
• Mike Ricci, Philadelphia Flyers
• Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Mats Sundin, Quebec Nordiques
• Owen Nolan, Quebec Nordiques
• Petr Nedved, Vancouver Canucks
• Dmitri Khristich, Washington Capitals
• Peter Bondra, Washington Capitals
• Kris Draper, Winnipeg Jets

Last Games

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1990-91 (listed with their last team):

• Gord Kluzak, Boston Bruins
• Tony McKegney, Chicago Blackhawks
• Glen Hanlon, Detroit Red Wings
• Don Maloney, New York Islanders
• Lindy Ruff, New York Rangers
• Pete Peeters, Philadelphia Flyers
• Guy Lafleur, Quebec Nordiques
• Harold Snepsts, St. Louis Blues
• Paul MacLean, St. Louis Blues
• Rick Meagher, St. Louis Blues
• Stan Smyl, Vancouver Canucks
• Joel Quenneville, Washington Capitals

See Also

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 1990 NHL Entry Draft
• 42nd National Hockey League All-Star Game
• National Hockey League All-Star Game
• NHL All-Rookie Team

References

• Hockey Database
• http://nhl.com/