1991 Stanley Cup playoffs

The 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the National Hockey League (NHL) 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.

1991 Stanley Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 3 – May 25, 1991
Teams16
Defending championsEdmonton Oilers
Final positions
ChampionsPittsburgh Penguins
Runner-upMinnesota North Stars
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Scoring leader(s)Mario Lemieux (Penguins)
(44 points)
MVPMario Lemieux (Penguins)
1990
1992

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.[1]

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:

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

  1. Pittsburgh Penguins, Patrick Division champions – 88 points
  2. New York Rangers – 85 points
  3. Washington Capitals – 81 points
  4. New Jersey Devils – 79 points

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

  1. Los Angeles Kings, Smythe Division champions – 102 points
  2. Calgary Flames – 100 points
  3. Edmonton Oilers – 80 points
  4. Vancouver Canucks – 65 points

Playoff bracket

  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  

Division Semifinals

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

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. This was a rematch of last year's Adams Division Semifinals in which Boston won in seven games.

Boston won series 4–2

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

This was fifth playoff series between these two teams, and were meeting for the second straight year. Both teams split their previous four playoff meetings. Montreal won last year's Adams Division Semifinals in six games.

Montreal won series 4–2

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

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Pittsburgh won series 4–3

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

This was the third playoff series meeting between these two teams, and were meeting for the second straight year. Both teams split the previous two meetings. Washington won last year's Patrick Division Finals in five games.

Washington won series 4–2

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

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, and were meeting for the second straight year. Chicago won four of the previous five playoff meetings, including last year's Norris Division Semifinals in seven games.

Minnesota won series 4–2

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

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams. Both teams split the previous two meetings. Detroit won their most recent meeting in five games in the 1988 Norris Division Finals.

St. Louis won series 4–3

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

This was the second playoff meeting these two teams. Vancouver won the only prior meeting in five games in the 1982 Smythe Division Finals.

Los Angeles won series 4–2

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

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams. Edmonton won three of the previous four meetings, including their most recent in a four-game sweep in the 1988 Smythe Division Finals.

Edmonton won series 4–3

Division Finals

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

This was the eighth straight and 26th overall playoff meeting these two teams. Montreal lead the all-time meetings 21–4. Boston won last year's Adams Division Finals in five games.

Boston won series 4–3

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

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Pittsburgh won series 4–1

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

This was the ninth playoff series between these two teams, and the last one before the North Stars relocated to Dallas. St. Louis won five of the previous eight playoff series, including the most recent one in five games in the 1989 Norris Division Semifinals.

Minnesota won series 4–2

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

This was the third straight and sixth overall playoff meeting between these two teams. Edmonton won three of the previous five meetings, including last year's Smythe Division Finals in a four-game sweep.

Edmonton won series 4–2

Conference Finals

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

This was the third playoff series between these two teams. Boston won both previous series in consecutive years, with Boston winning the most recent series 3–2 in the 1980 Preliminary Round.

Pittsburgh won series 4–2

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

This was the second playoff series between these two teams. Edmonton won the only previous meeting in a four-game sweep in the 1984 Clarence Campbell Conference Final. 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.

Minnesota won series 4–1

Stanley Cup Finals

This was the first playoff series between these two teams.

Pittsburgh won series 4–2

Playoff statistics

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.[2]

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
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.[3]

Player Team GP W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
Tom BarrassoPittsburgh Penguins20127629512.60.9191 1175:23
Kelly HrudeyLos Angeles Kings1266382372.78.9030 798:13
Don BeaupreWashington Capitals1155294292.79.9011 624:19
Chris TerreriNew Jersey Devils734216212.94.9030 428:06
Mike VernonCalgary Flames734204212.95.8970 427:28

See also

Preceded by
1990 Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup Champions Succeeded by
1992 Stanley Cup playoffs

References

  1. Mike Zeisberger – The Toronto Sun (June 14, 2014). "NHL playoff highlights during this lengthy post-season". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. NHL.com - Skater Stats
  3. NHL.com - Goalie Stats
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