1990–91 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1990–91 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 12th season in the NHL. The Oilers finished 3rd in the Smythe Division and lost in the Conference Finals to the Minnesota North Stars 4 games to 1.
==Regular Season==
The Oilers would finish the season with a 37–37–6 record for 80 points, their lowest point total since 1980–81, and Edmonton would score a franchise low 272 goals, however, the Oilers would set a franchise record for fewest goals against, with 272. After a 2–11–2 start to the season, the Oilers would rebound, and finish 3rd in the Smythe Division and continue their playoff streak of making the playoffs every year they've been in the NHL.
Prior to the season, long time Oiler Jari Kurri left the team due to a contract dispute and signed with Italian club Milano Devils, leaving a big hole on the teams top line. Injuries would also hurt the Oilers, as Mark Messier would miss 29 games due to injuries, and his 64 points was his lowest total since 1984–85. Messier would also match the lowest goal total of his career with 12, which matched his rookie season total back in 1979–80. Esa Tikkanen would lead the club in points with 69, while Petr Klima scored a career high 40 goals to lead Edmonton in that department. Steve Smith would lead the Oilers defense with 54 points, and his 193 penalty minutes would lead the club.
In goal, Bill Ranford had a solid season, winning a team high 27 games and posting a 3.20 GAA. Grant Fuhr returned from his substance abuse suspension near the end of the season, and put together a solid 6–4–3 record with a 3.01 GAA.
In the playoffs, the Oilers would face their Battle of Alberta rivals, the Calgary Flames, who were huge favourites to win the series, as they finished with 20 more points than the Oilers did. The series went the full 7 games, with the Oilers winning the series in OT at the Saddledome in Calgary to advance to the division finals. There, they met the Los Angeles Kings, who finished 22 points better than Edmonton, however, the Oilers overtime magic continued after dropping the first game of the series, as Edmonton would win 2 games in a row in double OT to take the series lead. Edmonton would go on to win the series in 6 games, clinching the series in OT. In the Conference Finals, the Oilers would face the surprising Minnesota North Stars, who finished the season 12 games under .500, however, they defeated the Presidents Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues, who finished 1 point behind Chicago, to make it to the 3rd round against Edmonton. The North Stars Cinderella playoff run would continue, as they defeated the Oilers in 5 games, ending Edmonton's chance for back-to-back Stanley Cups.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 6 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–0–1 	1
2 	October 7 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–0–1 	3
3 	October 11 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–5 	Los Angeles Kings 	1–0–2 	4
4 	October 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	1–1–2 	4
5 	October 16 	St. Louis Blues 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2–2 	4
6 	October 19 	Boston Bruins 	1–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2–2 	6
7 	October 21 	Calgary Flames 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3–2 	6
8 	October 24 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–4–2 	6
9 	October 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Calgary Flames 	2–5–2 	6
10	October 28 	Washington Capitals 	1–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–6–2 	6
11	October 31 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–7–2 	6
12	November 3 	New Jersey Devils 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–8–2 	6
13	November 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–2 	St. Louis Blues 	2–9–2 	6
14	November 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Chicago Blackhawks 	2–10–2 	6
15	November 10	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–11–2 	6
16	November 14	Vancouver Canucks 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–11–2 	8
17	November 16	Buffalo Sabres 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–11–2 	10
18	November 18	New York Islanders 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–11–2 	12
19	November 20	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–12–2 	12
20	November 23	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Buffalo Sabres 	5–13–2 	12
21	November 24	Edmonton Oilers 	4–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	6–13–2 	14
22	November 27	Edmonton Oilers 	7–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	7–13–2 	16
23	November 29	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Boston Bruins 	7–14–2 	16
24	December 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Hartford Whalers 	8–14–2 	18
25	December 2 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	9–14–2 	20
26	December 5 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	10–14–2	22
27	December 7 	New York Rangers 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–14–2	24
28	December 9 	Minnesota North Stars	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	11–15–2	24
29	December 12	Vancouver Canucks 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–15–2	26
30	December 15	Edmonton Oilers 	3–8 	Los Angeles Kings 	12–16–2	26
31	December 18	Los Angeles Kings 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	13–16–2	28
32	December 20	Edmonton Oilers 	4–7 	Vancouver Canucks 	13–17–2	28
33	December 22	Edmonton Oilers 	6–2 	Calgary Flames 	14–17–2	30
34	December 23	Vancouver Canucks 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	15–17–2	32
35	December 27	Calgary Flames 	1–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	16–17–2	34
36	December 28	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Vancouver Canucks 	17–17–2	36
37	December 30	Hartford Whalers 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–17–2	38
38	January 2 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–18–2	38
39	January 4 	Detroit Red Wings 	2–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	19–18–2	40
40	January 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–6 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	19–19–2	40
41	January 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–5 	Detroit Red Wings 	19–20–2	40
42	January 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	New Jersey Devils 	20–20–2	42
43	January 13 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	21–20–2	44
44	January 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–2 	New York Rangers 	21–20–3	45
45	January 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–1 	New York Islanders 	22–20–3	47
46	January 22 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–20–3	49
47	January 23 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	Vancouver Canucks 	23–21–3	49
48	January 25 	New York Rangers 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	23–22–3	49
49	January 27 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	24–22–3	51
50	January 30 	Vancouver Canucks 	4–9 	Edmonton Oilers 	25–22–3	53
51	February 1 	Chicago Blackhawks 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	26–22–3	55
52	February 3 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–2 	Buffalo Sabres 	27–22–3	57
53	February 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–6 	Boston Bruins 	27–23–3	57
54	February 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Hartford Whalers 	27–24–3	57
55	February 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Washington Capitals 	27–25–3	57
56	February 11	Pittsburgh Penguins 	5–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–25–3	59
57	February 12	St. Louis Blues 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–26–3	59
58	February 14	Los Angeles Kings 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	28–27–3	59
59	February 16	Edmonton Oilers 	2–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	28–28–3	59
60	February 18	Edmonton Oilers 	4–0 	New Jersey Devils 	29–28–3	61
61	February 20	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Minnesota North Stars	29–29–3	61
62	February 22	Detroit Red Wings 	5–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	29–29–4	62
63	February 24	Quebec Nordiques 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–29–4	64
64	February 27	Edmonton Oilers 	2–4 	Calgary Flames 	30–30–4	64
65	March 1 	Minnesota North Stars	1–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–30–5	65
66	March 2 	Montreal Canadiens 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	30–31–5	65
67	March 5 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	31–31–5	67
68	March 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Minnesota North Stars	31–32–5	67
69	March 8 	Philadelphia Flyers 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–32–5	69
70	March 10 	Washington Capitals 	5–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	32–33–5	69
71	March 13 	New York Islanders 	1–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–33–5	71
72	March 15 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	33–34–5	71
73	March 17 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	34–34–5	73
74	March 19 	Edmonton Oilers 	7–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	35–34–5	75
75	March 23 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–0 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–35–5	75
76	March 24 	Los Angeles Kings 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	35–36–5	75
77	March 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	35–37–5	75
78	March 28 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–4 	Calgary Flames 	35–37–6	76
79	March 29 	Calgary Flames 	5–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	36–37–6	78
80	March 31 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–37–6	80
==Playoffs==
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Calgary Flames 3 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 4 	Edmonton Oilers	3–1 	Calgary Flames 	1–0
2	April 6 	Edmonton Oilers	1–3 	Calgary Flames 	1–1
3	April 8 	Calgary Flames 	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers	2–1
4	April 10	Calgary Flames 	2–5 	Edmonton Oilers	3–1
5	April 12	Edmonton Oilers	3–5 	Calgary Flames 	3–2
6	April 14	Calgary Flames 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers	3–3
7	April 16	Edmonton Oilers	5–4 	Calgary Flames 	4–3
=== Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 2 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 18	Edmonton Oilers 	3–4 	Los Angeles Kings	0–1
2	April 20	Edmonton Oilers 	4–3 	Los Angeles Kings	1–1
3	April 22	Los Angeles Kings	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–1
4	April 24	Los Angeles Kings	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–1
5	April 26	Edmonton Oilers 	2–5 	Los Angeles Kings	3–2
6	April 28	Los Angeles Kings	3–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2
=== Minnesota North Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 1 ===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 2 	Minnesota North Stars	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	0–1
2	May 4 	Minnesota North Stars	2–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–1
3	May 6 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–7 	Minnesota North Stars	1–2
4	May 8 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–5 	Minnesota North Stars	1–3
5	May 10	Minnesota North Stars	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	1–4
==Season Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Esa Tikkanen 	79	27	42	69 	85
Petr Klima 	70	40	28	68 	113
Mark Messier 	53	12	52	64 	34
Joe Murphy 	80	27	35	62 	35
Craig Simpson	75	30	27	57 	66
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr 	13	778 	6 	4 	3	39 	1 	.897 	3.01
Bill Ranford 	60	3415	27	27	3	182	0 	.893 	3.20
Kari Takko 	11	529 	4 	4 	0	37 	0 	.867 	4.20
Pokey Reddick	2 	120 	0 	2 	0	9 	0 	.847 	4.50
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Esa Tikkanen 	18	12	8 	20 	24
Craig Simpson 	18	5 	11	16 	12
Mark Messier 	18	4 	11	15 	16
Petr Klima 	18	7 	6 	13 	16
Glenn Anderson	18	6 	7 	13 	41
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr 	17	1019	8	7	51	0 	.895 	3.00
Bill Ranford	3 	135 	1	2	8 	0 	.897 	3.56
==Transactions==
====Trades====
October 22, 1990 	To Boston BruinsVladimir Ruzicka 	To Edmonton OilersGreg Hawgood
November 10, 1990	To New Jersey Devils9th round pick in 1991 - Brent Brekke	To Edmonton OilersMax Middendorf
November 22, 1990	To Minnesota North StarsBruce BellFuture considerations 	To Edmonton OilersKari Takko
March 5, 1991 	To Philadelphia FlyersKim Issel 	To Edmonton OilersBrad Aitken
====Free Agents====
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former Team
F Ken Linseman	Philadelphia Flyers
====Draft Picks====
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1990 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	17 	Scott Allison 	 	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
2 	38 	Alexander Legault	 	Boston University (NCAA)
3 	59 	Joe Crowley 	 	Lawrence Academy (USHS)
4 	67 	Joel Blain 	 	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
5 	101	Greg Louder 	 	Cushing Academy (USHS)
6 	122	Keijo Säilynoja 	 	Jokerit (SM-liiga)
7 	143	Mike Power 	 	Western Michigan University (NCAA)
8 	164	Roman Mejzlik 	 	Dukla Jihlava (Czech.)
9 	185	Richard Zemlicka 	 	Sparta Praha (Czech.)
10 	206	Petr Korinek 	 	Dukla Jihlava (Czech.)
12 	248	Sami Nuutinen 	 	Kiekko-Espoo (SM-liiga)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons
Edmonton Oilers season, 1990–91
Edmonton Oilers season, 1990–91