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.

1990–91 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 4, 1990 – May 25, 1991
Number of games	80
Number of teams	21
TV partner(s)	CBC, TSN, SRC (Canada) SportsChannel America, NBC[a] (United States)
Draft
Top draft pick	Owen Nolan
Picked by	Quebec Nordiques
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy	Chicago Blackhawks
Season MVP	Brett Hull (Blues)
Top scorer	Wayne Gretzky (Kings)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Mario Lemieux (Penguins)
Stanley Cup
Champions	Pittsburgh Penguins
Runners-up	Minnesota North Stars

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

The Stanley Cup

Note: All dates in 1991

Playoff bracket

Division Semifinals

Division Finals

Conference Finals

Stanley Cup Finals

A1

Boston

4

A4

Hartford

2

A1

Boston

4

A2

Montreal

3

A2

Montreal

4

A3

Buffalo

2

A1

Boston

2

Prince of Wales Conference

P1

Pittsburgh

4

P1

Pittsburgh

4

P4

New Jersey

3

P1

Pittsburgh

4

P3

Washington

1

P2

NY Rangers

2

P3

Washington

4

P1

Pittsburgh

4

N4

Minnesota

2

N1

Chicago

2

N4

Minnesota

4

N4

Minnesota

4

N2

St. Louis

2

N2

St. Louis

4

N3

Detroit

3

N4

Minnesota

4

Clarence Campbell Conference

S3

Edmonton

1

S1

Los Angeles

4

S4

Vancouver

2

S1

Los Angeles

2

S3

Edmonton

4

S2

Calgary

3

S3

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

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, 1991^[1]
• 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

1. NBC only televised the All-Star Game.