# 1989–90 Minnesota North Stars season

The 1989–90 Minnesota North Stars season was the North Stars' 23rd season.
Coached by Pierre Page, the team compiled a record of 36–40–4 for 76 points to finish the regular season 4th in the Norris Division. The North Stars were nearly unbeatable at the Met Center, winning 26, the best in the Norris Division and third-best home record overall. In the playoffs, they lost the division semi-finals 4–3 to the Chicago Blackhawks.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 7 | Doug Zmolek (D) | United States | Rochester John Marshall H.S. (USHS-MN) |
| 2 | 28 | Mike Craig (RW) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 3 | 60 | Murray Garbutt (C) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 4 | 75 | J. F. Quintin (LW) | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 87 | Pat MacLeod (D) | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 5 | 91 | Bryan Schoen (G) | United States | Minnetonka High School (USHS-MN) |
| 5 | 97 | Rhys Hollyman (D) | Canada | Miami University (CCHA) |
| 6 | 112 | Scott Cashman (G) | Canada | Kanata (COJHL) |
| 8 | 154 | Jon Pratt (LW) | United States | Pingree High School (USHS-MA) |
| 9 | 175 | Kenneth Blum (C) | United States | St. Joseph Central High School (USHS-MA) |
| 10 | 196 | Arturs Irbe (G) | Soviet Union | Dinamo Riga (USSR) |
| 11 | 217 | Tom Pederson (D) | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 12 | 238 | Helmuts Balderis (RW) | Soviet Union | Dinamo Riga (USSR) |
| S | 12 | Jamie Loewen (G) | Canada | University of Alaska Fairbanks (CCHA) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 41 | 33 | 6 | 315 | 294 | 88 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 295 | 279 | 83 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 38 | 38 | 4 | 337 | 358 | 80 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 36 | 40 | 4 | 284 | 291 | 76 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 28 | 38 | 14 | 288 | 323 | 70 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Campbell Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Calgary Flames | SMY | 80 | 42 | 23 | 15 | 348 | 265 | 99 |
| 2 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 38 | 28 | 14 | 315 | 283 | 90 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | NRS | 80 | 41 | 33 | 6 | 316 | 294 | 88 |
| 4 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 37 | 32 | 11 | 298 | 290 | 85 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | NRS | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 295 | 279 | 83 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NRS | 80 | 38 | 38 | 4 | 337 | 358 | 80 |
| 7 | Minnesota North Stars | NRS | 80 | 36 | 40 | 4 | 284 | 291 | 76 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Kings | SMY | 80 | 34 | 39 | 7 | 338 | 337 | 75 |
| 9 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 28 | 38 | 14 | 288 | 323 | 70 |
| 10 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 25 | 41 | 14 | 245 | 306 | 64 |
Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs

### Record vs. opponents
#### Vs. Campbell Conference

1989–90 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| Chicago | — | 4–3–1 | 3–4–1 | 2–5–1 | 5–3 | 14–15–3 |
| Detroit | 3–4–1 | — | 4–4 | 3–4–1 | 4–3–1 | 14–15–3 |
| Minnesota | 4–3–1 | 4–4 | — | 4–4 | 5–3 | 17–14–1 |
| St. Louis | 5–2–1 | 4–3–1 | 4–4 | — | 1–7 | 14–16–2 |
| Toronto | 3–5 | 3–4–1 | 3–5 | 7–1 | — | 16–15–1 |
1989–90 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| Chicago | 0–2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 8–6–1 |
| Detroit | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 7–6–2 |
| Minnesota | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 6–9–0 |
| St. Louis | 0–2–1 | 0–2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 4–8–3 |
| Toronto | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 7–7–1 |
Vs. Wales Conference
1989–90 NHL records :
| Team | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| Chicago | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 8–7–0 |
| Detroit | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2–1 | 0–1–2 | 3–0 | 4–8–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 6–8–1 |
| St. Louis | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1–2 | 3–0 | 8–5–2 |
| Toronto | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 7–7–1 |
1989–90 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| Chicago | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 11–5–2 |
| Detroit | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 0–2–1 | 1–0–2 | 0–2–1 | 0–3 | 3–9–6 |
| Minnesota | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 0–3 | 7–9–2 |
| St. Louis | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0–1 | 11–5–2 |
| Toronto | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 8–9–1 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 5, 1989 | 6–5 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 7, 1989 | 6–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | T | October 8, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | W | October 12, 1989 | 3–0 | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 3–0–1 |
| 5 | W | October 14, 1989 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 4–0–1 |
| 6 | W | October 17, 1989 | 6–3 | @ New York Islanders (1989–90) | 5–0–1 |
| 7 | L | October 18, 1989 | 3–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | L | October 21, 1989 | 2–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | W | October 25, 1989 | 4–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | L | October 26, 1989 | 1–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | W | October 28, 1989 | 6–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | L | October 31, 1989 | 4–6 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | L | November 2, 1989 | 3–4 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 7–5–1 |
| 14 | W | November 4, 1989 | 3–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | L | November 6, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 8–6–1 |
| 16 | W | November 9, 1989 | 5–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 9–6–1 |
| 17 | W | November 11, 1989 | 3–2 OT | Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 10–6–1 |
| 18 | W | November 12, 1989 | 6–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 11–6–1 |
| 19 | W | November 15, 1989 | 2–1 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 12–6–1 |
| 20 | L | November 16, 1989 | 3–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 12–7–1 |
| 21 | W | November 18, 1989 | 3–0 | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 13–7–1 |
| 22 | L | November 21, 1989 | 4–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 13–8–1 |
| 23 | W | November 22, 1989 | 6–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 14–8–1 |
| 24 | W | November 24, 1989 | 7–6 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 15–8–1 |
| 25 | W | November 26, 1989 | 5–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 16–8–1 |
| 26 | L | November 30, 1989 | 2–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 16–9–1 |
| 27 | L | December 2, 1989 | 1–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 16–10–1 |
| 28 | L | December 3, 1989 | 5–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 16–11–1 |
| 29 | L | December 6, 1989 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 16–12–1 |
| 30 | L | December 8, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 16–13–1 |
| 31 | L | December 9, 1989 | 1–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 16–14–1 |
| 32 | L | December 12, 1989 | 2–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 16–15–1 |
| 33 | T | December 14, 1989 | 4–4 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 16–15–2 |
| 34 | W | December 16, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 17–15–2 |
| 35 | L | December 19, 1989 | 0–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 17–16–2 |
| 36 | L | December 21, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 17–17–2 |
| 37 | L | December 23, 1989 | 3–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 17–18–2 |
| 38 | L | December 26, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 17–19–2 |
| 39 | T | December 28, 1989 | 1–1 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 17–19–3 |
| 40 | L | December 30, 1989 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 17–20–3 |
| 41 | W | December 31, 1989 | 2–1 OT | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 18–20–3 |
| 42 | W | January 4, 1990 | 8–2 | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 19–20–3 |
| 43 | W | January 6, 1990 | 4–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 20–20–3 |
| 44 | L | January 9, 1990 | 0–9 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 20–21–3 |
| 45 | L | January 11, 1990 | 4–8 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 20–22–3 |
| 46 | W | January 13, 1990 | 6–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 21–22–3 |
| 47 | L | January 15, 1990 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 21–23–3 |
| 48 | L | January 17, 1990 | 1–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 21–24–3 |
| 49 | W | January 18, 1990 | 7–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 22–24–3 |
| 50 | L | January 24, 1990 | 3–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 22–25–3 |
| 51 | W | January 26, 1990 | 6–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 23–25–3 |
| 52 | L | January 27, 1990 | 1–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 23–26–3 |
| 53 | W | January 29, 1990 | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 24–26–3 |
| 54 | L | January 31, 1990 | 3–4 OT | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 24–27–3 |
| 55 | L | February 3, 1990 | 6–7 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 24–28–3 |
| 56 | L | February 4, 1990 | 3–4 | @ New York Rangers (1989–90) | 24–29–3 |
| 57 | L | February 7, 1990 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 24–30–3 |
| 58 | W | February 10, 1990 | 6–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 25–30–3 |
| 59 | L | February 11, 1990 | 3–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 25–31–3 |
| 60 | L | February 13, 1990 | 1–2 OT | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 25–32–3 |
| 61 | W | February 15, 1990 | 6–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 26–32–3 |
| 62 | L | February 18, 1990 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 26–33–3 |
| 63 | L | February 21, 1990 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 26–34–3 |
| 64 | L | February 24, 1990 | 2–3 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 26–35–3 |
| 65 | W | February 27, 1990 | 8–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 27–35–3 |
| 66 | W | March 3, 1990 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 28–35–3 |
| 67 | L | March 4, 1990 | 6–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 28–36–3 |
| 68 | W | March 7, 1990 | 5–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 29–36–3 |
| 69 | T | March 10, 1990 | 2–2 OT | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 29–36–4 |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1990 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 30–36–4 |
| 71 | L | March 13, 1990 | 1–3 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 30–37–4 |
| 72 | W | March 17, 1990 | 6–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 31–37–4 |
| 73 | L | March 18, 1990 | 3–4 | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 31–38–4 |
| 74 | W | March 20, 1990 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 32–38–4 |
| 75 | W | March 22, 1990 | 5–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 33–38–4 |
| 76 | W | March 24, 1990 | 7–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 34–38–4 |
| 77 | W | March 26, 1990 | 5–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 35–38–4 |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1990 | 2–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 35–39–4 |
| 79 | W | March 31, 1990 | 6–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 36–39–4 |
| 80 | L | April 1, 1990 | 1–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 36–40–4 |