1991 Stanley Cup Finals

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The 1991 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series 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. As of 2009, this is the first and only Stanley Cup Final to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series appearance. It is the last time that an NHL franchise would appear in the finals prior to relocation. It is also the first time since 1983 that an American franchise would win the Stanley Cup. This is the first all American finals since 1981, the last time the North Stars made the finals.

[edit] Paths to the Final

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

[edit] The series

Pittsburgh center 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.

[edit] Quotes

...brings it back to center with 5, 4, 3, time runs out. The Stanley Cup has come to the city of Pittsburgh! The 1991 Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins!

—Mike Lange, Penguins broadcaster, calling the dying seconds of game 6

[edit] Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 Stanley Cup champions

Roster

• †† Goalie Wendell Young missed the first three rounds with an injury. Tom Barrasso also missed the last two games of Round 1 and first two games of Round 2 while injured. Bruce Racine was called up from the minors to serve as back-up to Frank Pietrangelo. Racine's name was left off the Stanley Cup because he had not played in the NHL – in fact, Racine never played for Pittsburgh. His only NHL experience came in 1995–96 for the St. Louis Blues. Racine was included in the team picture, and does have a 1991 Stanley Cup ring.
• † 4 more players were included on the 1991 Stanley Cup picture, but were not engraved on the Cup. They did not play in the playoffs or qualify to be on the Cup.

Stanley Cup engraving

• Bob Johnson became the second American-born head coach to win the Stanley Cup. Bill Stewart was the first in 1938 with the Chicago Blackhawks.
• Jay Caufield spent the whole 1990–91 season with Pittsburgh. He played only 23 regular season games and did not dress in the playoffs. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup due to the team's petition, even though he did not qualify.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] 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.