1991 Stanley Cup playoffs


The 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 3, 1991, following the 1990–91 regular season. The 16 teams that qualified, from the top four teams of the four divisions, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the division finals. The Conference Champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup.
This was the first of the 25 consecutive years in which the Detroit Red Wings qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs until their streak finally ended in 2017. Their streak is tied for the third longest in NHL history, and while it was running, it was the longest active playoff appearance streak in the four major American professional sports.
The finals concluded on May 25 with the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Stanley Cup, defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the final series four games to two. Pittsburgh forward Mario Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.
This was the first NHL playoffs without any series sweeps since the 1972–73 season. In addition, this season set the record for most playoff games played with 92, which stood until 2014.

Playoff seeds

In the 1990–91 season, teams qualified based on their division standing at the end of the regular season. Playoffs then proceeded among the top four teams in each division, providing a division winner. The two division winners of each conference then played off to provide a conference winner. The two conference winners then played off in the final to produce a Stanley Cup champion.
The following teams qualified for the playoffs:

Prince of Wales Conference

Adams Division

  1. Boston Bruins, Adams Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 100 points
  2. Montreal Canadiens – 89 points
  3. Buffalo Sabres – 81 points
  4. Hartford Whalers – 73 points

    Patrick Division

  5. Pittsburgh Penguins, Patrick Division champions – 88 points
  6. New York Rangers – 85 points
  7. Washington Capitals – 81 points
  8. New Jersey Devils – 79 points

    Clarence Campbell Conference

Norris Division

  1. Chicago Blackhawks, Norris Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 106 points
  2. St. Louis Blues – 105 points
  3. Detroit Red Wings – 76 points
  4. Minnesota North Stars – 68 points

    Smythe Division

  5. Los Angeles Kings, Smythe Division champions – 102 points
  6. Calgary Flames – 100 points
  7. Edmonton Oilers – 80 points
  8. Vancouver Canucks – 65 points

    Playoff bracket

Division Semifinals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (A4) Hartford Whalers

(A2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A3) Buffalo Sabres

(P1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (P4) New Jersey Devils

(P2) New York Rangers vs. (P3) Washington Capitals

Clarence Campbell Conference

(N1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (N4) Minnesota North Stars

(N2) St. Louis Blues vs. (N3) Detroit Red Wings

(S1) Los Angeles Kings vs. (S4) Vancouver Canucks

(S2) Calgary Flames vs. (S3) Edmonton Oilers

Division Finals

Prince of Wales Conference

(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (A2) Montreal Canadiens

(P1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (P3) Washington Capitals

Clarence Campbell Conference

(N2) St. Louis Blues vs. (N4) Minnesota North Stars

(S1) Los Angeles Kings vs. (S3) Edmonton Oilers

Conference Finals

Prince of Wales Conference Final

(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (P1) Pittsburgh Penguins

Clarence Campbell Conference Final

(S3) Edmonton Oilers vs. (N4) Minnesota North Stars

Minnesota's series victory was the first time since realignment in 1981 that the Clarence Campbell Conference was not represented by a Canadian or Smythe Division team in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals

Playoff statistics

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.
PlayerTeam
Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins23162844+1416
Mark RecchiPittsburgh Penguins24102434+633
Kevin StevensPittsburgh Penguins24171633+1453
Brian BellowsMinnesota North Stars23101929-630
Dave GagnerMinnesota North Stars23121527-428
Ray BourqueBoston Bruins1971825-412
Brian ProppMinnesota North Stars2381523-428
Larry MurphyPittsburgh Penguins2351823+1744
Neal BrotenMinnesota North Stars2391322+26
Craig JanneyBoston Bruins1841822-411

Goaltenders

This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 420 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.
PlayerTeam
Pittsburgh Penguins20127629512.60.9191 1175:23
Los Angeles Kings1266382372.78.9030 798:13
Washington Capitals1155294292.79.9011 624:19
New Jersey Devils734216212.94.9030 428:06
Calgary Flames734204212.95.8970 427:28