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 all the teams were moved around in 1981. 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 beat in four games in a playoff series.

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

 Regular season 
 Final standings 
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

+ 'Wales Conference+ Adams Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Boston Bruins  44  24  12  299  264  100 Montreal Canadiens  39  30  11  273  249  89 Buffalo Sabres  31  30  19  292  278  81 Hartford Whalers  31  38  11  238  276  73 Quebec Nordiques  16  50  14  236  354  46+ Patrick Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Pittsburgh Penguins  41  33  6  342  305  88 New York Rangers  36  31  13  297  265  85 Washington Capitals  37  36  7  258  258  81 New Jersey Devils  32  33  15  272  264  79 Philadelphia Flyers  33  37  10  252  267  76 New York Islanders  25  45  10  223  290  60

+ Campbell Conference+ Norris Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Chicago Blackhawks  49  23  8  284  211  106 St. Louis Blues  47  22  11  310  250  105 Detroit Red Wings  34  38  8  273  298  76 Minnesota North Stars  27  39  14  256  266  68 Toronto Maple Leafs  23  46  11  241  318  57+ Smythe Division Team  W  L  T  GF  GA  Pts Los Angeles Kings  46  24  10  340  254  102 Calgary Flames  46  26  8  344  263  100 Edmonton Oilers  37  37  6  272  272  80 Vancouver Canucks  28  43  9  243  315  65 Winnipeg Jets  26  43  11  260  288  63

 Scoring leaders 

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
 Player Team GP G A Pts PIM 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 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 4–2and 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 4–2and 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 TeamEd Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks GPatrick Roy, Montreal CanadiensRay Bourque, Boston Bruins DChris Chelios, Chicago BlackhawksAl MacInnis, Calgary Flames DBrian Leetch, New York RangersWayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings CAdam Oates, St. Louis BluesBrett Hull, St. Louis Blues RWCam Neely, Boston BruinsLuc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings LWKevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins

 First games 
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1990–91 (listed with their first team, stars(*) mark start 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

 1991 Trading Deadline 
 Trading Deadline: MARCH 5, 1991http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/3969 
 March 4, 1991: Ron Francis, Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson traded from Hartford to Pittsburgh for John Cullen, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski.
 March 5, 1991: Allan Bester traded from Toronto to Detroit for Detroit's 6th round pick in 1991 Entry Draft.
 March 5, 1991: Geoff Courtnall, Robert Dirk, Sergio Momesso, Cliff Ronning and future considerations traded from St. Louis to Vancouver for Dan Quinn and Garth Butcher.
 March 5, 1991: Mark Hunter traded from Calgary to Hartford for Carey Wilson.
 March 5, 1991: Mark Pederson traded from Montreal to Philadelphia for Philadelphia's 2nd round pick in 1991 Entry Draft and future considerations.
 March 5, 1991: Keith Osborne traded from St. Louis to Toronto for Darren Veitch and future considerations.
 March 5, 1991: Ken Priestlay traded from Buffalo to Pittsburgh for Tony Tanti.
 March 5, 1991: Dana Murzyn traded from Calgary to Vancouver for Ron Stern, Kevan Guy and future considerations.
 March 5, 1991: Kim Issel traded from Edmonton to Pittsburgh for Brad Aitken.
 March 5, 1991: Steve Weeks traded from Vancouver to Buffalo for future considerations.
 March 5, 1991: Marc Bureau traded from Calgary to Minnesota for Minnesota's 3rd round choice in 1991 Entry Draft.
 March 5, 1991: Joey Kocur and Per Djoos traded from Detroit to NY Rangers for Kevin Miller, Jim Cummins and Dennis Vial.
 March 5, 1991: Bobby Reynolds traded from Toronto to Washington for Robert Mendel.
 March 5, 1991: Mike McNeill and Ryan McGill traded from Chicago to Quebec for Paul Gillis and Daniel Vincelette.
 March 5, 1991: Ilkka Sinisalo traded from Minnesota to Los Angeles for Los Angeles' 8th round choice in 1991 Entry Draft.

Notes

 References 

Other websites
 Hockey Database
 http://nhl.com/

Category:National Hockey League seasons