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
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
|
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
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
- 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.