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.
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
The Stanley Cup Note: All dates in 1991
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
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 51 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
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
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
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 4–2Prince 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 andClarence S. Campbell Bowl
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
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
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 FlamesDominik Hasek , Chicago BlackhawksKeith Primeau , Detroit Red WingsMike Sillinger , Detroit Red WingsSergei Fedorov , Detroit Red WingsBobby Holik , Hartford WhalersGeoff Sanderson , Hartford WhalersJohn LeClair , Montreal CanadiensPatrice Brisebois , Montreal CanadiensSean Hill *, Montreal CanadiensDoug Weight *, New York RangersTony Amonte *, New York RangersMike Ricci , Philadelphia FlyersJaromir Jagr , Pittsburgh PenguinsMats Sundin , Quebec NordiquesOwen Nolan , Quebec NordiquesPetr Nedved , Vancouver CanucksDmitri Khristich , Washington CapitalsPeter Bondra , Washington CapitalsKris Draper , Winnipeg Jets
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 BruinsTony McKegney , Chicago BlackhawksGlen Hanlon , Detroit Red WingsDon Maloney , New York IslandersLindy Ruff , New York RangersPete Peeters , Philadelphia FlyersGuy Lafleur , Quebec NordiquesHarold Snepsts , St. Louis BluesPaul MacLean , St. Louis BluesRick Meagher , St. Louis BluesStan Smyl , Vancouver CanucksJoel Quenneville , Washington Capitals
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. 
