The 1991–92 NHL season was a special year for the National Hockey League because it was their 75th anniversary! Twenty-two teams played 80 games each. The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row. They beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4–0 in the final series.
Regular Season Highlights
The regular season is where teams play many games to earn points. The teams with the most points get to go to the playoffs.
How Teams Ranked: Final Standings
Here's how the teams finished in their divisions. The teams in bold made it to the playoffs. Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Wales Conference Teams
Campbell Conference Teams
Top Scorers: Points Leaders
These players scored the most points during the regular season. Points are from goals and assists. Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
Best Goaltenders: Saving Goals
These goalies were the best at stopping pucks from going into their net. Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
Regular Season
| Player |
Team |
GP |
TOI |
W |
L |
T |
GA |
SO |
Sv% |
GAA |
| Patrick Roy |
Montreal |
67 |
3935 |
36 |
22 |
8 |
155 |
5 |
.914 |
2.36 |
| Ed Belfour |
Chicago |
52 |
2928 |
21 |
18 |
10 |
132 |
5 |
.894 |
2.70 |
| Kirk McLean |
Vancouver |
65 |
3852 |
38 |
17 |
9 |
176 |
5 |
.901 |
2.74 |
| John Vanbiesbrouck |
NY Rangers |
45 |
2526 |
27 |
13 |
3 |
120 |
2 |
.910 |
2.85 |
| Bob Essensa |
Winnipeg |
47 |
2627 |
21 |
17 |
6 |
126 |
5 |
.910 |
2.88 |
Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Road to the Cup
The playoffs are exciting knockout rounds where teams play best-of-seven series. The winner moves on, and the loser goes home. All games listed below happened in 1992.
Playoff Journey: The Bracket
This chart shows how teams battled through the playoffs.
First Round: Division Semifinals
This was the first round of the playoffs. Teams played within their divisions.
Wales Conference First Round
| Montreal vs. Hartford |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 19 |
Hartford 0 |
2 Montreal |
| April 21 |
Hartford 2 |
5 Montreal |
| April 23 |
Montreal 2 |
5 Hartford |
| April 25 |
Montreal 1 |
3 Hartford |
| April 27 |
Hartford 4 |
7 Montreal |
| April 29 |
Montreal 1 |
2 Hartford |
OT |
| May 1 |
Hartford 2 |
3 Montreal |
2OT |
| Montreal wins series 4–3 |
|
|
| NY Rangers vs. New Jersey |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 19 |
New Jersey 1 |
2 NY Rangers |
| April 21 |
New Jersey 7 |
3 NY Rangers |
| April 23 |
NY Rangers 1 |
3 New Jersey |
| April 25 |
NY Rangers 3 |
0 New Jersey |
| April 27 |
New Jersey 5 |
8 NY Rangers |
| April 29 |
NY Rangers 3 |
5 New Jersey |
| May 1 |
New Jersey 4 |
8 NY Rangers |
| NY Rangers wins series 4–3 |
|
| Washington vs. Pittsburgh |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 19 |
Pittsburgh 1 |
3 Washington |
| April 21 |
Pittsburgh 2 |
6 Washington |
| April 23 |
Washington 4 |
6 Pittsburgh |
| April 25 |
Washington 7 |
2 Pittsburgh |
| April 27 |
Pittsburgh 5 |
2 Washington |
| April 29 |
Washington 4 |
6 Pittsburgh |
| May 1 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
1 Washington |
| Pittsburgh wins series 4–3 |
|
Campbell Conference First Round
| Detroit vs. Minnesota |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 18 |
Minnesota 4 |
3 Detroit |
| April 20 |
Minnesota 4 |
2 Detroit |
| April 22 |
Detroit 5 |
4 Minnesota |
OT |
| April 24 |
Detroit 4 |
5 Minnesota |
| April 26 |
Minnesota 0 |
3 Detroit |
| April 28 |
Detroit 1 |
0 Minnesota |
OT |
| April 30 |
Minnesota 2 |
5 Detroit |
| Detroit wins series 4–3 |
|
| Chicago vs. St. Louis |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 18 |
St. Louis 1 |
3 Chicago |
| April 20 |
St. Louis 5 |
3 Chicago |
| April 22 |
Chicago 4 |
5 St. Louis |
2OT |
| April 24 |
Chicago 5 |
3 St. Louis |
| April 26 |
St. Louis 4 |
6 Chicago |
| April 28 |
Chicago 2 |
1 St. Louis |
| Chicago wins series 4–2 |
|
| Vancouver vs. Winnipeg |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 18 |
Winnipeg 3 |
2 Vancouver |
| April 20 |
Winnipeg 2 |
3 Vancouver |
| April 22 |
Vancouver 2 |
4 Winnipeg |
| April 24 |
Vancouver 1 |
3 Winnipeg |
| April 26 |
Winnipeg 2 |
8 Vancouver |
| April 28 |
Vancouver 8 |
3 Winnipeg |
| April 30 |
Winnipeg 0 |
5 Vancouver |
| Vancouver wins series 4–3 |
|
| Los Angeles vs. Edmonton |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| April 18 |
Edmonton 3 |
1 Los Angeles |
| April 20 |
Edmonton 5 |
8 Los Angeles |
| April 22 |
Los Angeles 3 |
4 Edmonton |
| April 24 |
Los Angeles 4 |
3 Edmonton |
| April 26 |
Edmonton 5 |
2 Los Angeles |
| April 28 |
Los Angeles 0 |
3 Edmonton |
| Edmonton wins series 4–2 |
|
Second Round: Division Finals
The winners from the first round played each other in the Division Finals.
Wales Conference
| Montreal vs. Boston |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 3 |
Boston 6 |
4 Montreal |
| May 5 |
Boston 3 |
2 Montreal |
OT |
| May 7 |
Montreal 2 |
3 Boston |
| May 9 |
Montreal 0 |
2 Boston |
| Boston win series 4–0 |
|
| NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 3 |
Pittsburgh 4 |
2 NY Rangers |
| May 5 |
Pittsburgh 2 |
4 NY Rangers |
| May 7 |
NY Rangers 6 |
5 Pittsburgh |
OT |
| May 9 |
NY Rangers 4 |
5 Pittsburgh |
OT |
| May 11 |
Pittsburgh 3 |
2 NY Rangers |
| May 13 |
NY Rangers 1 |
5 Pittsburgh |
| Pittsburgh wins series 4–2 |
|
Campbell Conference
| Detroit vs. Chicago |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 2 |
Chicago 2 |
1 Detroit |
| May 4 |
Chicago 3 |
1 Detroit |
| May 6 |
Detroit 4 |
5 Chicago |
| May 8 |
Detroit 0 |
1 Chicago |
| Chicago wins series 4–0 |
|
| Vancouver vs. Edmonton |
| Date |
Away |
Home |
| May 3 |
Edmonton 4 |
3 Vancouver |
OT |
| May 4 |
Edmonton 0 |
4 Vancouver |
| May 6 |
Vancouver 2 |
5 Edmonton |
| May 8 |
Vancouver 2 |
3 Edmonton |
| May 10 |
Edmonton 3 |
4 Vancouver |
| May 12 |
Vancouver 0 |
3 Edmonton |
| Edmonton wins series 4–2 |
|
Third Round: Conference Finals
The winners of the Division Finals played for the Conference Championships.
The Big Final: Stanley Cup Finals
The two conference champions played for the Stanley Cup!
NHL Awards: Who Won What?
At the end of the season, special awards are given to players and teams for their amazing achievements.
| Presidents' Trophy: |
New York Rangers |
| Prince of Wales Trophy: |
Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: |
Chicago Blackhawks |
| Art Ross Memorial Trophy: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: |
Mark Fitzpatrick, New York Islanders |
| Calder Memorial Trophy: |
Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks |
| Conn Smythe Trophy: |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy: |
Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens |
| Hart Memorial Trophy: |
Mark Messier, New York Rangers |
| Jack Adams Award: |
Pat Quinn, Vancouver Canucks |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy: |
Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy: |
Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins |
| Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: |
Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings |
| Lester B. Pearson Award: |
Mark Messier, New York Rangers |
| NHL Plus/Minus Award: |
Paul Ysebaert, Detroit Red Wings |
| Vezina Trophy: |
Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens |
| William M. Jennings Trophy: |
Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens |
| Lester Patrick Trophy: |
Al Arbour, Art Berglund, Lou Lamoriello |
All-Star Teams: The Best Players
The NHL also picks the very best players for "All-Star" teams.
| First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
| Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens |
G |
Kirk McLean, Vancouver Canucks |
| Brian Leetch, New York Rangers |
D |
Phil Housley, Winnipeg Jets |
| Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins |
D |
Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils |
| Mark Messier, New York Rangers |
C |
Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues |
RW |
Mark Recchi, PIT/PHI |
| Kevin Stevens, Pittsburgh Penguins |
LW |
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings |
Throwback Uniforms: A Look Back in Time
For the NHL's 75th anniversary, some teams wore special "throwback" jerseys. These jerseys looked like the ones worn by teams many years ago. The "Original Six" teams wore these old-style uniforms for some games. The All-Star Game also featured throwback jerseys.
The teams that wore throwback uniforms were:
These throwback jerseys were so popular that other sports leagues, like the National Football League and National Basketball Association, started doing it too for their own anniversaries!
New Faces: First NHL Games
Here are some players who played their very first NHL game during the 1991–92 season. Some of these players became big stars! (A star (*) means they started in the playoffs.)
- Glen Murray, Boston Bruins
- Joe Juneau, Boston Bruins
- Jozef Stumpel, Boston Bruins
- Brad May, Buffalo Sabres
- Keith Carney, Buffalo Sabres
- Dean McAmmond, Chicago Blackhawks
- Martin Lapointe, Detroit Red Wings
- Vyacheslav Kozlov, Detroit Red Wings
- Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
- Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings
- Martin Rucinsky, Edmonton Oilers
- Darryl Sydor, Los Angeles Kings
- Derian Hatcher, Minnesota North Stars
- Bill Guerin, New Jersey Devils
- Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
- Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils
- Adam Foote, Quebec Nordiques
- Valeri Kamensky, Quebec Nordiques
- Arturs Irbe, San Jose Sharks
- Pat Falloon, San Jose Sharks
- Ray Whitney, San Jose Sharks
- Bret Hedican, St. Louis Blues
- Guy Hebert, St. Louis Blues
- Felix Potvin, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Pavel Bure, Vancouver Canucks
- Steve Konowalchuk, Washington Capitals
- Keith Tkachuk, Winnipeg Jets
- Stu Barnes, Winnipeg Jets
Saying Goodbye: Last NHL Games
These players played their final NHL game during the 1991–92 season.
- Barry Pederson, Boston Bruins
- Rick Vaive, Buffalo Sabres
- Tony Tanti, Buffalo Sabres
- Clint Malarchuk, Buffalo Sabres
- Greg Millen, Detroit Red Wings
- Ilkka Sinisalo, Los Angeles Kings
- Larry Robinson, Los Angeles Kings
- Chris Nilan, Montreal Canadiens
- Patrik Sundstrom, New Jersey Devils
- Rick Green, New York Islanders
- John Tonelli, Quebec Nordiques
- Mark Pavelich, San Jose Sharks
- Ken Linseman, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Mike Bullard, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Randy Gregg, Vancouver Canucks
- Mike Liut, Washington Capitals
- Mario Marois, Winnipeg Jets
- Lucien DeBlois, Winnipeg Jets
- Aaron Broten, Winnipeg Jets
