1990-91 NHL season facts for kids

The 1990–91 NHL season was a super exciting time for ice hockey fans! It was the 74th regular season for the National Hockey League (NHL). During this season, 21 different teams played 80 games each.

The big winners of the Stanley Cup were the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won the championship series 4–2 against the Minnesota North Stars. The North Stars made history by beating the Edmonton Oilers to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. They were the first team from the Norris Division to make it that far since 1981. This championship was also the very first one for the Penguins!

This season had a record 92 playoff games. Also, for the first time since the 1973 playoffs, no team was swept (lost 4–0) in any playoff series. This was also the last NHL season to finish in May.

Regular Season Highlights

How Teams Finished: Final Standings

Here's how all the teams ranked at the end of the regular season.

• W = Wins (how many games a team won)
• L = Losses (how many games a team lost)
• T = Ties (games that ended with no winner)
• GF = Goals For (total goals a team scored)
• GA = Goals Against (total goals scored against a team)
• Pts = Points (points earned, usually 2 for a win, 1 for a tie)

Top Scorers: Who Led the League?

These players scored the most points during the season.

• GP = Games Played
• G = Goals
• A = Assists
• Pts = Points (Goals + Assists)
• PIM = Penalties in Minutes

Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Championship

The playoffs are where the best teams battle it out for the Stanley Cup! All these games happened in 1991.

The famous Stanley Cup, awarded to the NHL champions.

Playoff Bracket: Who Played Whom?

This bracket shows how teams moved through the playoffs.

• RD1 = Division Semifinals (First Round)
• RD2 = Division Finals (Second Round)
• RD3 = Conference Finals (Third Round)
• RD4 = Stanley Cup Finals (Championship Round)

Playoff Rounds: Game by Game

Here are the results of each playoff series. The team that wins 4 games first moves on!

Wales Conference Semifinals

Campbell Conference Semifinals

Division Finals

Conference Finals

Stanley Cup Finals: The Championship Battle

The final series for the Stanley Cup!

NHL Awards: Celebrating the Best Players

At the end of the season, special awards are given to the best players and teams.

• Presidents' Trophy: Given to the team with the most points in the regular season. Won by Chicago Blackhawks.
• Prince of Wales Trophy: Awarded to the champion of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Won by Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Awarded to the champion of the Western Conference playoffs. Won by Minnesota North Stars.
• Art Ross Memorial Trophy: For the player who leads the league in points. Won by Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings.
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: For dedication and sportsmanship. Won by Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings.
• Calder Memorial Trophy: For the best rookie player. Won by Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.
• Conn Smythe Trophy: For the most valuable player in the playoffs. Won by Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Frank J. Selke Trophy: For the best defensive forward. Won by Dirk Graham, Chicago Blackhawks.
• Hart Memorial Trophy: For the most valuable player to his team. Won by Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues.
• Jack Adams Award: For the best coach. Won by Brian Sutter, St. Louis Blues.
• James Norris Memorial Trophy: For the best defenseman. Won by Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins.
• King Clancy Memorial Trophy: For leadership and community service. Won by Dave Taylor, Los Angeles Kings.
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: For sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Won by Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings.
• Lester B. Pearson Award: Voted by players as the most outstanding player. Won by Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues.
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: For the players with the best plus/minus rating. Won by Marty McSorley, Los Angeles Kings & Theo Fleury, Calgary Flames.
• Vezina Trophy: For the best goalie. Won by Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.
• William M. Jennings Trophy: For the goalie(s) on the team that allowed the fewest goals. Won by Ed Belfour, Chicago Blackhawks.
• Lester Patrick Trophy: For outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Won by Rod Gilbert, Mike Ilitch.

All-Star Teams: The Dream Teams

These are the best players chosen for the "First Team" and "Second Team" based on their amazing performance.

Player Milestones: First and Last Games

New Faces: Players Who Debuted This Season

Here are some notable players who played their very first NHL game during the 1990–91 season. An asterisk (*) means they started in the 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

Saying Goodbye: Players Who Retired This Season

These are some well-known players who played their last NHL game in the 1990–91 season.

• 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

Trading Deadline: Big Player Moves

The trading deadline is when teams can no longer trade players during the season. Here are some of the big trades that happened on March 5, 1991:

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