1990–91 NHL season


The 1990–91 NHL season was the 74th season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the best of seven series 4–2 against the Minnesota North Stars. This was the last NHL season to end in May.

League business

At meetings in Florida on December 6, 1990, the NHL Board of Governors awarded provisional franchises to groups from Ottawa and Tampa. The Ottawa franchise marked a return to one of the original cities of the NHL, while Tampa meant the first franchise in the sunbelt state of Florida. In a later book published by NHL president Gil Stein, Stein revealed that the two groups were the only ones of the applicants who agreed to the $50 million expansion fee without question. The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning began play in the 1992–93 season.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
;Wales Conference
;Campbell Conference

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

The North Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers to become the first Norris Division team to appear in the Stanley Cup Finals since the 1981 realignment. At the time a record of 92 playoff games were played, and for the first time since the 1973 playoffs, no team was swept in a playoff series.

Stanley Cup Finals

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay goals, SHG = Shorthanded goals, GWG = Game winning goals
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
Wayne GretzkyLos Angeles Kings784112216316+30805
Brett HullSt. Louis Blues78864513122+2329011
Adam OatesSt. Louis Blues61259011529+15313
Mark RecchiPittsburgh Penguins7840731134801209
John CullenPittsburgh Penguins/Hartford Whalers783971110101-61403
Joe SakicQuebec Nordiques80486110924-261237
Steve YzermanDetroit Red Wings80515710834-21264
Theoren FleuryCalgary Flames795153104136+48979
Al MacInnisCalgary Flames78287510390+421701
Steve LarmerChicago Blackhawks80445710179+371729

Leading goaltenders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
PlayerTeamGPMinWLTSOGAA
Ed BelfourChicago Blackhawks7441274319742.47
Tim CheveldaeDetroit Red Wings6536153026523.55
Bill RanfordEdmonton Oilers6034152727303.2
Ron TugnuttQuebec Nordiques56314412291004.05
Peter IngToronto Maple Leafs5631261629813.84
Jon CaseyMinnesota North Stars55318521201132.98
Bob EssensaWinnipeg Jets5529161924643.15
Mike VernonCalgary Flames5431213119313.31
Glenn HealyNew York Islanders5329991824903.32
Chris TerreriNew Jersey Devils5329702421712.91

Coaches

Patrick Division

Debuts

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1990–91 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1990–91 :