The 1990 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 (NHL) championship began on April 5, 1990, following the 1989–90 regular season. The sixteen 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

Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

.

This was the last time that the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 missed the playoffs. They have since made the playoffs 20 consecutive seasons.

The playoffs concluded on May 24 with the Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

 winning the Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...

 in the final series four games to one. Edmonton goaltender Bill Ranford

Bill Ranford

William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...

 was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy

Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...

 as Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.

For the first and (as of the present) only time in history, both the Flyers and the Penguins missed the playoffs in the same season.

Playoff bracket

Division Semi-finals

Boston Bruins vs. Hartford Whalers

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 5	Hartford	4	Boston	3
Apr. 7	Hartford	1	Boston	3
Apr. 9	Boston	3	Hartford	5
Apr. 11	Boston	6	Hartford	5
Apr. 13	Hartford	2	Boston	3
Apr. 15	Boston	2	Hartford	3 (OT)
Apr. 17	Hartford	1	Boston	3
Boston won best-of-seven series 4–3

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 5	Montreal	1	Buffalo	4
Apr. 7	Montreal	3	Buffalo	0
Apr. 9	Buffalo	1	Montreal	2 (OT)
Apr. 11	Buffalo	4	Montreal	2
Apr. 13	Montreal	4	Buffalo	2
Apr. 15	Buffalo	2	Montreal	5
Montreal won best-of-seven series 4–2

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 5	NY Islanders	1	NY Rangers	2
Apr. 7	NY Islanders	2	NY Rangers	5
Apr. 9	NY Rangers	3	NY Islanders	4 (2OT)
Apr. 11	NY Rangers	6	NY Islanders	1
Apr. 13	NY Islanders	5	NY Rangers	6
NY Rangers won best-of-seven series 4–1

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 5	Washington	5	New Jersey	4 (OT)
Apr. 7	Washington	5	New Jersey	6
Apr. 9	New Jersey	2	Washington	1
Apr. 11	New Jersey	1	Washington	3
Apr. 13	Washington	4	New Jersey	3
Apr. 15	New Jersey	2	Washington	3
Washington won best-of-seven series 4–2

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota North Stars

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 4	Minnesota	2	Chicago	1
Apr. 6	Minnesota	3	Chicago	5
Apr. 8	Chicago	2	Minnesota	1
Apr. 10	Chicago	0	Minnesota	4
Apr. 12	Minnesota	1	Chicago	5
Apr. 14	Chicago	3	Minnesota	5
Apr. 16	Minnesota	2	Chicago	5
Chicago won best-of-seven series 4–3

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

St. Louis Blues vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 4	Toronto	2	St. Louis	4
Apr. 6	Toronto	2	St. Louis	4
Apr. 8	St. Louis	6	Toronto	5 (OT)
Apr. 10	St. Louis	2	Toronto	4
Apr. 12	Toronto	3	St. Louis	4
St. Louis won best-of-seven series 4–1

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 4	Los Angeles	5	Calgary	3
Apr. 6	Los Angeles	5	Calgary	8
Apr. 8	Calgary	1	Los Angeles	2 (OT)
Apr. 10	Calgary	4	Los Angeles	12
Apr. 12	Los Angeles	1	Calgary	5
Apr. 14	Calgary	3	Los Angeles	4 (2OT)
Los Angeles won best-of-seven series 4–2

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 4	Winnipeg	7	Edmonton	5
Apr. 6	Winnipeg	2	Edmonton	3 (OT)
Apr. 8	Edmonton	1	Winnipeg	2
Apr. 10	Edmonton	3	Winnipeg	4 (2OT)
Apr. 12	Winnipeg	3	Edmonton	4
Apr. 14	Edmonton	4	Winnipeg	3
Apr. 16	Winnipeg	1	Edmonton	4
Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4–3

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Division Finals

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 19	Montreal	0	Boston	1
Apr. 21	Montreal	4	Boston	5 (OT)
Apr. 23	Boston	6	Montreal	3
Apr. 25	Boston	1	Montreal	4
Apr. 27	Montreal	1	Boston	3
Boston won best-of-seven series 4–1

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 19	Washington	3	NY Rangers	7
Apr. 21	Washington	6	NY Rangers	3
Apr. 23	NY Rangers	1	Washington	7
Apr. 25	NY Rangers	3	Washington	4 (OT)
Apr. 27	Washington	2	NY Rangers	1 (OT)
Washington won best-of-seven series 4–1

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 18	St. Louis	4	Chicago	3
Apr. 20	St. Louis	3	Chicago	5
Apr. 22	Chicago	4	St. Louis	5
Apr. 24	Chicago	3	St. Louis	2
Apr. 26	St. Louis	2	Chicago	3
Apr. 28	Chicago	2	St. Louis	4
Apr. 30	St. Louis	2	Chicago	8
Chicago won best-of-seven series 4–3

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
Apr. 18	Los Angeles	0	Edmonton	7
Apr. 20	Los Angeles	1	Edmonton	6
Apr. 22	Edmonton	5	Los Angeles	4
Apr. 24	Edmonton	6	Los Angeles	5 (OT)
Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4–0

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Conference Finals

Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
May 3	Washington	3	Boston	5
May 5	Washington	0	Boston	3
May 7	Boston	4	Washington	1
May 9	Boston	3	Washington	2
Boston won best-of-seven series 4–0

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
May 2	Chicago	2	Edmonton	5
May 4	Chicago	4	Edmonton	3
May 6	Edmonton	1	Chicago	5
May 8	Edmonton	4	Chicago	2
May 10	Chicago	3	Edmonton	4
May 12	Edmonton	8	Chicago	4
Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4–2

Source: Total Stanley Cup, p. 31

Final

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins in the Final series, four games to one. For the Oilers, it was their fifth Cup win in seven years, and their only one without Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...

. In game one, Petr Klima

Petr Klima

Petr Klíma is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins...

 scored at 15:13 of the third overtime period to give the Oilers a 3–2 win. The game broke the record for longest Final game, set in 1931 between Chicago and Montreal. this game remains the longest in Stanley Cup Final history (Longest NHL overtime games), edging both Brett Hull

Brett Hull

Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...

's cup-winner in 1999 and Igor Larionov

Igor Larionov

Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...

's game-winner in 2002 by less than 30 seconds. In game five at the Boston Garden

Boston Garden

The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...

 on May 24, the Oilers won 4–1. Craig Simpson

Craig Simpson

Craig Andrew Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres...

 scored the game-winning goal.

Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers

Date	Away	Score	Home	Score
May 15	Edmonton	3	Boston	2 (3OT)
May 18	Edmonton	7	Boston	2
May 20	Boston	2	Edmonton	1
May 22	Boston	1	Edmonton	5
May 24	Edmonton	4	Boston	1
Edmonton won series 4–1 and Stanley Cup Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

Source: Total Stanley Cup, pp. 31–32