1991 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1991 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1990–91 season, and the culmination of the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. This is the first and only (to date) Stanley Cup Finals to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series appearance, and their last before the franchise's relocation to Dallas two years later. It was also the first time since 1983 that an American franchise would win the Stanley Cup. This was the first all-American finals since 1981, which also featured the North Stars in their first appearance.

1991 Stanley Cup Finals
1 2 3 4 5 6 Total Pittsburgh Penguins 4 4 1 5 6 8 4 Minnesota North Stars 5 1 3 3 4 0 2
Location(s)	Pittsburgh: Civic Arena (1, 2, 5) Bloomington: Met Center (3, 4, 6)
Coaches	Pittsburgh: Bob Johnson Minnesota: Bob Gainey
Captains	Pittsburgh: Mario Lemieux Minnesota: Curt Giles
Referees	Don Koharski (1, 6) Andy Van Hellemond (2, 4) Kerry Fraser (3, 5)
Dates	May 15–25, 1991
MVP	Mario Lemieux (Penguins)
Series-winning goal	Ulf Samuelsson (2:00, first, G6)
Hall of Famers	Penguins: Tom Barrasso (2023) Paul Coffey (2004) Ron Francis (2007) Mario Lemieux (1997) Joe Mullen (2000) Larry Murphy (2004) Mark Recchi (2017) Bryan Trottier (1997) North Stars: Mike Modano (2014) Coaches: Bob Gainey (1992, player) Bob Johnson (1992)
Networks	Canada: (English): CBC (French): SRC United States: (National): SportsChannel America (Pittsburgh area): KBL (1–2, 5), KDKA (3–4, 6) (Minnesota area): KMSP (1–2, 5), Midwest Sports Channel (3–4, 6)
Announcers	(CBC) Bob Cole, Harry Neale, and Dick Irvin Jr. (SRC) Claude Quenneville and Gilles Tremblay (SportsChannel America) Jiggs McDonald and Bill Clement (KBL/KDKA) Mike Lange and Paul Steigerwald (KMSP/MSC) Doug McLeod and Lou Nanne
Stanley Cup Finals

This was also the first final since 1982 not to feature either of the two Alberta-based teams, the Calgary Flames or the Edmonton Oilers, and the first since 1981 not contested by a team from Western Canada, or Canada overall.

The Finals and the NHL season ended on May 25, marking the last time to date that the Stanley Cup playoffs ended before the month of June.

This series brought together four North Stars who were teammates on the other North Stars team to reach the Finals: Neal Broten, Curt Giles, and Bobby Smith for Minnesota, and Gordie Roberts for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins players had a decided edge in Finals experience, with four players having won a Stanley Cup. Bryan Trottier (who won four with the New York Islanders in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983), Paul Coffey (who won three with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984, 1985, and 1987), Jiri Hrdina and Joe Mullen (both with the Calgary Flames in 1989). On the other hand, Bobby Smith was the only North Star player that had won a Stanley Cup, having won with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. Overall, the North Stars had six players with previous Finals appearances, compared to the Penguins five.

Paths to the Finals

Further information: 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs

Minnesota defeated the first-place overall Chicago Blackhawks 4–2, the second-place overall St. Louis Blues 4–2, and the defending Cup champion Edmonton Oilers 4–1 to advance to the Finals. The North Stars became the first American team and first Norris Division team to win the Campbell Conference since the league re-aligned the divisions and adopted a divisional-based playoff format in 1981.

Pittsburgh defeated the New Jersey Devils 4–3, the Washington Capitals 4–1 and the Boston Bruins 4–2.

Game summaries

Pittsburgh centre Mario Lemieux, despite missing a game due to a back injury, recorded 12 points in 5 games to lead all scorers and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Lemieux scored one of the most famous goals in NHL history during the second period of game two. Receiving the puck in the Penguins' end of the ice, Lemieux skated solo into the North Stars' zone facing two defensemen (Shawn Chambers and Neil Wilkinson) as well as goaltender Jon Casey. Lemieux skirted the puck through the legs of Chambers, skated around him, baited goaltender Casey to commit left (Lemieux's right), then switched the puck to his backhand side and slid the puck into the net (before crashing into the net himself). A brief video of the goal has since been featured on Stanley Cup promotional advertisements by the NHL.

Schedule and results

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars
Date	Away	Score	Home	Score	Notes
May 15	Minnesota	5	Pittsburgh	4
May 17	Minnesota	1	Pittsburgh	4
May 19	Pittsburgh	1	Minnesota	3
May 21	Pittsburgh	5	Minnesota	3
May 23	Minnesota	4	Pittsburgh	6
May 25	Pittsburgh	8	Minnesota	0
Pittsburgh wins series 4–2
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh) wins Conn Smythe Trophy

Team rosters

Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Stanley Cup in the given year.

Minnesota North Stars

#	Nat	Player	Position	Hand	Acquired	Place of birth	Finals appearance
23		Brian Bellows	LW	R	1982	St. Catharines, Ontario	first
21		Perry Berezan	C	R	1988–89	Edmonton, Alberta	second (1986)
7		Neal Broten – A	C	L	1979	Roseau, Minnesota	second (1981)
28		Marc Bureau	C	R	1990–91	Trois-Rivières, Quebec	first
30		Jon Casey	G	L	1984–85	Grand Rapids, Minnesota	first
26		Shawn Chambers	D	L	1987	Royal Oak, Michigan	first
27		Shane Churla	RW	R	1989–90	Fernie, British Columbia	first
20		Mike Craig	RW	R	1989	St. Mary's, Ontario	first
22		Ulf Dahlen	RW	L	1989–90	Östersund, Sweden	first
4		Chris Dahlquist	D	L	1990–91	Fridley, Minnesota	first
11		Gaetan Duchesne	LW	L	1989–90	Quebec City, Quebec	first
15		Dave Gagner – A	C	L	1987–88	Chatham, Ontario	first
12		Stewart Gavin	RW	L	1988–89	Ottawa, Ontario	first
2		Curt Giles – C	D	L	1987–88	The Pas, Manitoba	second (1981) (did not play)
6		Brian Glynn	D	L	1990–91	Iserlohn, West Germany	first
1		Brian Hayward	G	L	1990–91	Georgetown, Ontario	second (1989)
8		Jim Johnson	D	L	1991–92	New Hope, Minnesota	first
17		Basil McRae – A	LW	L	1987–88	Beaverton, Ontario	first
9		Mike Modano	C	L	1988	Livonia, Michigan	first
16		Brian Propp	LW	L	1990–91	Lanigan, Saskatchewan	fifth (1980, 1985, 1987, 1990)
14		Doug Smail	LW	L	1990–91	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan	first
18		Bobby Smith	C	L	1990–91	North Sydney, Nova Scotia	fourth (1981, 1986, 1989)
24		Mark Tinordi	D	L	1988–89	Red Deer, Alberta	first
5		Neil Wilkinson	D	R	1986	Selkirk, Manitoba	first

Note: Neal Broten served as the North Stars acting team captain during the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs. Curt Giles, who was injured late in the season and played in only 10 playoff games, missing the entire finals, is listed as the official team captain.

Pittsburgh Penguins

#	Nat	Player	Position	Hand	Acquired	Place of birth	Finals appearance
35		Tom Barrasso	G	R	1988–89	Boston, Massachusetts	first
29		Phil Bourque	LW	L	1983–84	Chelmsford, Massachusetts	first
16		Jay Caufield	RW	R	1988–89	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	first (did not play)
77		Paul Coffey – A	D	L	1987–88	Weston, Ontario	fifth (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987)
12		Bob Errey – A	LW	L	1983	Montreal, Quebec	first
9		Ron Francis	C	L	1990–91	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario	first
15		Randy Gilhen	C	L	1990–91	Zweibrücken, West Germany	first
23		Randy Hillier – A	D	R	1984–85	Toronto, Ontario	first (did not play)
38		Jiri Hrdina	C	L	1990–91	Prague, Czechoslovakia	second (1989)
68		Jaromir Jagr	RW	L	1990	Kladno, Czechoslovakia	first
3		Grant Jennings	D	L	1990–91	Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan	first
66		Mario Lemieux – C	C	R	1984	Montreal, Quebec	first
24		Troy Loney	LW	L	1982	Bow Island, Alberta	first
7		Joe Mullen	RW	R	1990–91	New York, New York	third (1986, 1989)
55		Larry Murphy	D	R	1989–90	Scarborough, Ontario	first
2		Jim Paek	D	L	1985	Seoul, South Korea	first
10		Barry Pederson	C	R	1991–92	Big River, Saskatchewan	first (did not play)
40		Frank Pietrangelo	G	L	1983	Niagara Falls, Ontario	first
8		Mark Recchi	RW	L	1988	Kamloops, British Columbia	first
28		Gordie Roberts	D	L	1990–91	Detroit, Michigan	second (1981)
5		Ulf Samuelsson	D	L	1990–91	Fagersta, Sweden	first
22		Paul Stanton	D	R	1985	Boston, Massachusetts	first
25		Kevin Stevens	LW	L	1983–84	Brockton, Massachusetts	first
32		Peter Taglianetti	D	L	1990–91	Framingham, Massachusetts	first
19		Bryan Trottier – A	C	L	1990–91	Val Marie, Saskatchewan	sixth (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
34		Scott Young	RW	R	1990–91	Clinton, Massachusetts	first
1		Wendell Young	G	L	1988–89	Halifax, Nova Scotia	first (did not play)

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1991 Stanley Cup was presented to Penguins captain Mario Lemieux by NHL President John Ziegler following the Penguins 8–0 win over the North Stars in game six.

The following Penguins players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1990–91 Pittsburgh Penguins

Players

  Centres

• 9 Ron Francis
• 10 Barry Pederson
• 15 Randy Gilhen
• 19 Bryan Trottier (A)
• 38 Jiri Hrdina
• 66 Mario Lemieux (Captain)

  Wingers

• 7 Joe Mullen
• 8 Mark Recchi
• 12 Bob Errey (A)
• 16 Jay Caufield
• 24 Troy Loney
• 25 Kevin Stevens
• 29 Phil Bourque
• 34 Scott Young (also played center)
• 68 Jaromir Jagr

  Defencemen

• 2 Jim Paek
• 3 Grant Jennings
• 5 Ulf Samuelsson
• 22 Paul Stanton
• 23 Randy Hillier (A)
• 28 Gordie Roberts
• 32 Peter Taglianetti
• 55 Larry Murphy
• 77 Paul Coffey (A)

  Goaltenders

• 35 Tom Barrasso
• 40 Frank Pietrangelo
• 1 Wendell Young

Coaching and administrative staff

• Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. (Chairman/Owner)
• Marie Denise DeBartolo York (President/Owner)
• Paul Martha (Vice President-General Council), Craig Patrick (Vice President/General Manager)
• William Scotty Bowman (Director of Player Development-Recruitment), Bob Johnson (Head Coach)
• Rick Kehoe (Asst. Coach), Rick Paterson (Asst. Coach), Barry Smith (Asst. Coach)
• Gilles Meloche (Goaltending Coach/Scout)
• Steve Latin (Equipment Manager), Charles "Skip" Thayer (Trainer)
• John Welday (Strength-Conditioning Coach), Greg Malone (Head Scout)

Stanley Cup engraving

• Jay Caufield played only 23 games. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup because he spent the whole season with Pittsburgh.
• Barry Pederson (C) did not play a single game in the 1991 playoffs, but he qualified to get his name on the Stanley Cup and get a Stanley Cup ring because he played 46 games during the season.
• Pierre McGuire, Les Binkley, John Gill, Charlie Hodge, Ralph Cox were with the team as scouts in 1990–91, but names were not included on the Stanley Cup that year. All five of these scouts were awarded Stanley Cup rings.
• Randy Gilhen was the first German-born player to win the Stanley Cup, but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• Jim Paek was the first Korean-born hockey player to both play in the NHL, and have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Included on the team picture, but left off the Stanley Cup

• #5 Gord Dineen (D - 9 games played), #20 Jamie Leach (RW - 7 games played), #18 Ken Priestlay (2 games played), did not qualify to be included on the Stanley Cup for playing rest of the season in minors.
• #27 Gilbert Delorme (D) missed the whole season due to a car accident in the offseason.
• #30 Bruce Racine was called up from the minors to serve as back-up to Frank Pietrangelo. He was dressed for the last two games of round one, and first two games of round two. Both Wendell Young (who missed first three rounds due to injury), and Tom Barrasso (missed four games due to injury) were unable to play. Racine name was left off the Stanley Cup, because he had not played in the NHL - in fact, Racine has never played for Pittsburgh. His only NHL experience came in 1995-96 for the St. Louis Blues.
• Pittsburgh filled the last spot on the bottom ring. The larger rings were filled a year early then planned. See 1965 Stanley Cup Finals and 1992 Stanley Cup Finals

Broadcasting

In Canada, the series was televised in English on the CBC and in French on SRC.

In the United States, the series aired nationally on SportsChannel America. However, SportsChannel America's national coverage was blacked out in the Minnesota and Pittsburgh areas due to the local rights to North Stars and Penguins games in those respective TV markets. In Minnesota, KMSP-TV aired games one, two and five while the Midwest Sports Channel had games three, four, and six. In Pittsburgh, KBL televised games one, two and five while KDKA aired games three, four, and six. Had there been a game seven, it would have aired on KMSP-TV in Minnesota and KBL in Pittsburgh respectively.

See also

• 1990–91 NHL season
• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 1990–91 Minnesota North Stars season
• 1990–91 Pittsburgh Penguins season

References

• Total Stanley Cup. NHL. 2000.
• Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont: Fenn Pub. pp. 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7.