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1990-91 NHL season facts for kids

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1990–91 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 4, 1990 – May 25, 1991
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Chicago Blackhawks
Season MVP Brett Hull, (St. Louis)
Top scorer Wayne Gretzky, (Los Angeles)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Pittsburgh Penguins
  Eastern runners-up Boston Bruins
Western champions Minnesota North Stars
  Western runners-up Edmonton Oilers
Playoffs MVP Mario Lemieux, (Pittsburgh)
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins
  Runners-up Minnesota North Stars
NHL seasons

← 1989–90

1991–92 →

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)
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

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
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 Road to the Championship

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

Hhof stanley cup
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)
  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1  Boston 4  
4  Hartford 2  
  1  Boston 4  
 
  2  Montreal 3  
2  Montreal 4
3  Buffalo 2  
  A1  Boston 2  
Prince of Wales Conference
  P1  Pittsburgh 4  
1  Pittsburgh 4  
4  New Jersey 3  
  1  Pittsburgh 4
 
  3  Washington 1  
2  NY Rangers 2
3  Washington 4  
  P1  Pittsburgh 4
  N4  Minnesota 2
1  Chicago 2  
4  Minnesota 4  
  2  St. Louis 2
 
  4  Minnesota 4  
2  St. Louis 4
3  Detroit 3  
  S3  Edmonton 1
Clarence Campbell Conference
  N4  Minnesota 4  
1  Los Angeles 4  
4  Vancouver 2  
  1  Los Angeles 2
 
  3  Edmonton 4  
2  Calgary 3
3  Edmonton 4  

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

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 Semifinals

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

Stanley Cup Finals: The Championship Battle

The final series for the Stanley Cup!

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: Celebrating the Best Players

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

All-Star Teams: The Dream Teams

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

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

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.
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