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
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.[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:

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

  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

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

  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

Prince of Wales Conference

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

Boston won series 4–2

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

Montreal won series 4–2

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

Pittsburgh won series 4–3

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

Washington won series 4–2

Clarence Campbell Conference

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

Minnesota won series 4–2

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

St. Louis won series 4–3

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

Los Angeles won series 4–2

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

Edmonton won series 4–3

Division Finals

Prince of Wales Conference

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

Boston won series 4–3

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

Pittsburgh won series 4–1

Clarence Campbell Conference

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

Minnesota won series 4–2

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

Edmonton won series 4–2

Conference Finals

Prince of Wales Conference Final

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

Pittsburgh won series 4–2

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.

Minnesota won series 4–1

Stanley Cup Finals

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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