1989–90 Chicago Blackhawks season

The 1989–90 Chicago Blackhawks season was the Hawks' 64th season. The season involved winning the Norris Division.

Offseason The Blackhawks brought 1970s Soviet star goaltender Vladislav Tretiak to Chicago to help improve their netminders. The biggest offseason trade was a September 1990 deal sending Steve Ludzik to the Sabres for goalie Jacques Cloutier.

NHL draft Chicago's draft picks at the 1989 NHL entry draft held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)16Adam BennettSudbury Wolves (OHL)227Mike SpeerGuelph Platers (OHL)348Bob KelloggSpringfield Olympics (EJHL)6111Tommi PullolaSport (Finland)7132Tracy EgelandPrince Albert Raiders (WHL)8153Milan TichyPrince Albert Raiders (WHL)9174Jason GreyerbiehlColgate University (ECAC)10195Matt SaundersNortheastern University (Hockey East)11216Mike KozakClarkson University (ECAC)12237Mike DonegheyCatholic Memorial School (USHS-MA)S11Alex RobertsUniversity of Michigan (CCHA)

Regular season The Blackhawks would play consistent hockey all season as they win the Norris Division with a record of 41-33-6.

Offensively, Steve Larmer again led the team with 59 assists and 90 points. Steve Thomas led the team in goals with 40. Dennis Savard was second in points with 80 and assists with 53. Jeremey Roenick finished his first full year with 26 goals and 40 assists for 66 points. Doug Wilson had an outstanding year with 23 goals, 50 assists for a team third-best 73 points. Dave Manson was again second-highest defenseman in scoring with 28 points. On November 2, 1989, Doug Wilson scored just 18 seconds into the overtime period to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 home win over the Minnesota North Stars. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1989-90 NHL regular season.

In goal, while Alain Chevrier took the Blackhawks to the Conference finals the year before, his 16-14-3 record and 4.18 Goals Against Average in 89-90 got him traded in March 1990. Jacques Cloutier who was acquired just before the season began, was the primary goaltender with an 18-15-2 record and a 3.09 Goals Against Average. In March, the Blackhawks acquired Greg Millen from Quebec, and he began to take over in the nets at the end of the season with a 5-4-1 record. Eddie Belfour could not make the Hawks roster and instead spent six months with the Canadian national team.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||L||October 5, 1989||3–8 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||0–1–0

|2||W||October 7, 1989||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1989–90) ||1–1–0

|3||L||October 8, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1989–90) ||1–2–0

|4||W||October 12, 1989||9–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||2–2–0

|5||L||October 14, 1989||1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||2–3–0

|6||W||October 15, 1989||3–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||3–3–0

|7||T||October 17, 1989||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1989–90) ||3–3–1

|8||L||October 19, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) ||3–4–1

|9||W||October 20, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) ||4–4–1

|10||W||October 22, 1989||7–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) ||5–4–1

|11||W||October 24, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||6–4–1

|12||W||October 26, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) ||7–4–1

|13||L||October 28, 1989||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1989–90) ||7–5–1

|14||W||October 29, 1989||1–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1989–90) ||8–5–1

|15||W||October 31, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) ||9–5–1

|16||W||November 2, 1989||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||10–5–1

|17||L||November 4, 1989||0–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||10–6–1

|18||W||November 5, 1989||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) ||11–6–1

|19||W||November 9, 1989||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) ||12–6–1

|20||W||November 11, 1989||5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1989–90) ||13–6–1

|21||W||November 12, 1989||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1989–90) ||14–6–1

|22||L||November 16, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) ||14–7–1

|23||T||November 18, 1989||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) ||14–7–2

|24||L||November 19, 1989||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) ||14–8–2

|25||L||November 22, 1989||3–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) ||14–9–2

|26||L||November 26, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||14–10–2

|27||L||November 30, 1989||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1989–90) ||14–11–2

|28||L||December 3, 1989||3–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||14–12–2

|29||W||December 6, 1989||6–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||15–12–2

|30||W||December 9, 1989||6–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) ||16–12–2

|31||W||December 10, 1989||7–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) ||17–12–2

|32||W||December 13, 1989||3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) ||18–12–2

|33||L||December 15, 1989||4–8 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||18–13–2

|34||W||December 17, 1989||6–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) ||19–13–2

|35||W||December 20, 1989||9–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||20–13–2

|36||L||December 22, 1989||3–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||20–14–2

|37||W||December 23, 1989||7–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||21–14–2

|38||L||December 26, 1989||3–8 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||21–15–2

|39||T||December 28, 1989||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||21–15–3

|40||W||December 30, 1989||7–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1989–90) ||22–15–3

|41||W||January 3, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) ||23–15–3

|42||W||January 6, 1990||8–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) ||24–15–3

|43||T||January 10, 1990||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1989–90) ||24–15–4

|44||W||January 11, 1990||5–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) ||25–15–4

|45||L||January 14, 1990||5–6 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1989–90) ||25–16–4

|46||L||January 15, 1990||6–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||25–17–4

|47||W||January 17, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||26–17–4

|48||W||January 19, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) ||27–17–4

|49||L||January 24, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) ||27–18–4

|50||W||January 26, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) ||28–18–4

|51||L||January 27, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) ||28–19–4

|52||W||February 1, 1990||7–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) ||29–19–4

|53||L||February 4, 1990||3–7 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) ||29–20–4

|54||W||February 8, 1990||8–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||30–20–4

|55||L||February 10, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||30–21–4

|56||W||February 13, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) ||31–21–4

|57||L||February 15, 1990||1–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1989–90) ||31–22–4

|58||W||February 17, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1989–90) ||32–22–4

|59||W||February 18, 1990||6–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) ||33–22–4

|60||W||February 20, 1990||8–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||34–22–4

|61||L||February 22, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1989–90) ||34–23–4

|62||L||February 24, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1989–90) ||34–24–4

|63||W||February 25, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) ||35–24–4

|64||L||February 27, 1990||0–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1989–90) ||35–25–4

|65||L||March 1, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||35–26–4

|66||L||March 3, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) ||35–27–4

|67||L||March 4, 1990||1–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1989–90) ||35–28–4

|68||L||March 7, 1990||4–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||35–29–4

|69||T||March 10, 1990||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||35–29–5

|70||L||March 11, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1989–90) ||35–30–5

|71||T||March 13, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||35–30–6

|72||W||March 15, 1990||6–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) ||36–30–6

|73||L||March 17, 1990||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) ||36–31–6

|74||W||March 19, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||37–31–6

|75||W||March 22, 1990||6–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1989–90) ||38–31–6

|76||L||March 24, 1990||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||38–32–6

|77||W||March 25, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) ||39–32–6

|78||W||March 29, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||40–32–6

|79||L||March 31, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) ||40–33–6

|80||W||April 1, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) ||41–33–6

Legend:

Player stats

Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 31 59 90 4025824 C 60 27 53 80 5681024 D 70 23 50 73 40131312 LW 76 40 30 70 91-31307 C 80 34 36 70 22441203 C 78 26 40 66 542604 C 68 17 38 55 86-2314 W 73 22 32 54 1021231 LW 70 12 25 37 5427003 D 59 5 23 28 3014101 D 67 5 20 25 8726200 D 49 5 19 24 453301 LW 43 14 7 21 1315100 RW 39 10 11 21 470101 C/LW 49 9 12 21 56-3003 D 70 5 15 20 82-6101 RW 72 4 14 18 156-2001 D 75 3 14 17 346100 RW 49 6 7 13 69-19100 D 69 2 10 12 204-7010 LW 61 7 4 11 303-3001 LW 8 4 1 5 91110 LW 12 2 2 4 170000 C/LW 23 1 2 3 34-4000 C 6 1 1 2 81000 D 2 1 1 2 0-1100 G 39 0 2 2 60000 RW 8 0 2 2 60000 G 10 0 1 1 00000 D 19 0 1 1 27-3000 G 43 0 0 0 80000 LW 2 0 0 0 150000 LW 2 0 0 0 4-1000 G 4 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 2178 43 18 15 2 112 3.09 2931819.880 1894 39 16 14 3 132 4.18 0898766.853 575 10 5 4 1 32 3.34 0267235.880 183 4 2 0 0 14 4.59 09278.848 Team: 4830 80 41 33 6 290 3.60 221881898.867

Playoffs After reaching the Conference finals the year before, hopes were high entering the playoffs. The first round reunited the Hawks with their old rivals, the Minnesota North Stars for the first time since their four-year consecutive playoff match streak ended in 1985. The playoff format had changed since then, and now featured a seven-game series. The Blackhawks would barely survive this seven game war with the fourth place Minnesota North Stars. The Hawks defeated the North Stars four games to three with the Hawks outscoring Minnesota by a total of three goals over the series.

The second round Norris Division Finals, saw the Blackhawks pitted against the St. Louis Blues. The Blackhawks again needed all seven games to advance. In a bold move, coach Mike Keenan decided to start Ed Belfour, who was recently recalled from the minors, in net in three of the games, and Eddie the Eagle won all three. The first six games were decided by one or two goals each, and game seven in Chicago was set for another close battle, however after Jeremy Roenick gave the Hawks a 2-0 first period lead, the Blues went on a powerplay only to have Steve Larmer score a demoralizing shorthanded goal, and the rout was on - resulting in 8-2 victory. The Blackhawks were again headed to the conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Unlike their previous playoff loses to Edmonton, this time the Oilers were without Wayne Gretzky.)