The 1990–91 Chicago Blackhawks season was the team's 65th season. After making the Conference Finals two years in a row, the Blackhawks hosted the NHL All-Star Game, and finished with 106 points winning the NHL Presidents' Trophy for best record in the league. The Hawks received terrific performances from Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, Dirk Graham and rookie Ed Belfour. Hockey, it seemed, was back in Chicago, and dreams of the first Stanley Cup since 1961 were rampant. However the playoffs matched the Blackhawks with their old rivals, the Minnesota North Stars, who defeated the Hawks in the first round of the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs 4–2.
Offseason
Coach Mike Keenan assumed the role General Manager while remaining coach, and traded fan-favorite Denis Savard to the Montreal Canadiens for Chicago native Chris Chelios in the summer of 1990. Several of the older Blackhawks (Al Secord, Bob Murray and Duane Sutter) retired.
NHL draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 16 Karl Dykhuis (D) Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)237Ivan Droppa (D)MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas (Czechoslovakia)479Chris Tucker (C)Bloomington Jefferson High School (USHS-MN)6121Brett Stickney (C)St. Paul's School (USHS-NH)6124Derek Edgerly (C)Stoneham High School (USHS-MA)8163Hugo Belanger (LW)Clarkson University (ECAC)9184Owen Lessard (LW)Owen Sound Platers (OHL)10205Erik Peterson (C)Brockton High School (USHS-MA)11226Steve Dubinsky (C)Clarkson University (ECAC)12247Dino Grossi (F)Northeastern University (Hockey East)S21Claude Maillet (D)Merrimack College (Hockey East)
Regular season
The Blackhawks played at a high level all season as they won the Norris Division, the Western Conference regular season, and their first Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the NHL with a record of 49–23–8 – good for 106 points. The Hawks edged St. Louis for all three titles as the Blues finished second with 105 points on the last day of the season with a win over the Red Wings. In addition to winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best team during the regular season, the Blackhawks also were the NHL's best defense, having allowed only 211 goals over 80 games. Despite being the most penalized team during the regular season, with 425 short-handed situations, the Blackhawks had a penalty-killing percentage of 84.00%, good enough for second place in the league. The Blackhawks also led the NHL in short-handed goals scored, with 20.
On October 25, 1990, Steve Larmer scored just 8 seconds into the overtime period to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 home win over the Washington Capitals. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1990-91 NHL regular season.
All-Star Game
The 42nd National Hockey League All-Star Game took place in Chicago Stadium, home of the Chicago Blackhawks, on January 19, 1991. The game saw the team of Campbell conference all-stars beat the team of Wales conference all-stars 11–5.
While the game was high-scoring and exciting, the real story was the emotions. First from a hockey perspective, Chicago had not hosted an All-Star Game since 1974, and the Blackhawks resurgence was fueled by three All-Stars – Steve Larmer, Jeremy Roenick (his first), and Chris Chelios, all of whom received great ovations from the hometown fans during introductions. The second, larger perspective was that the game was played during the war with Iraq, and Operation Desert Storm had just started two days earlier. Some players asked that the game be delayed, but the league pressed on and players wore decals on their helmets supporting the troops. When Wayne Messmer stepped to the microphone and the organ began to play the pre-game National Anthem, the roar from the Chicago Stadium crowd, many of whom waved flags and sparklers, was deafening and sustained over the length of the song, totally overwhelming the performance, and creating a patriotic moment of history that transcended the sport.
Season standings
Schedule and results
|1||W||October 4, 1990||4–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1990–91) ||1–0–0
|2||W||October 6, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||2–0–0
|3||L||October 7, 1990||2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1990–91) ||2–1–0
|4||W||October 11, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||3–1–0
|5||W||October 13, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||4–1–0
|6||L||October 14, 1990||1–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||4–2–0
|7||L||October 16, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||4–3–0
|8||W||October 18, 1990||3–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||5–3–0
|9||L||October 20, 1990||2–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||5–4–0
|10||W||October 21, 1990||7–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||6–4–0
|11||W||October 25, 1990||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||7–4–0
|12||L||October 27, 1990||4–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||7–5–0
|13||W||October 28, 1990||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||8–5–0
|14||W||November 1, 1990||6–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||9–5–0
|15||W||November 3, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||10–5–0
|16||L||November 4, 1990||0–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||10–6–0
|17||T||November 6, 1990||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||10–6–1
|18||W||November 8, 1990||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||11–6–1
|19||W||November 10, 1990||5–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||12–6–1
|20||T||November 11, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||12–6–2
|21||W||November 14, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||13–6–2
|22||W||November 16, 1990||4–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||14–6–2
|23||W||November 17, 1990||7–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||15–6–2
|24||W||November 20, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||16–6–2
|25||L||November 21, 1990||1–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||16–7–2
|26||W||November 24, 1990||5–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||17–7–2
|27||L||November 29, 1990||1–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||17–8–2
|28||L||December 1, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||17–9–2
|29||W||December 2, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||18–9–2
|30||W||December 6, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1990–91) ||19–9–2
|31||W||December 8, 1990||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||20–9–2
|32||L||December 9, 1990||4–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||20–10–2
|33||W||December 11, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||21–10–2
|34||W||December 13, 1990||5–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||22–10–2
|35||L||December 15, 1990||1–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||22–11–2
|36||W||December 16, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||23–11–2
|37||W||December 19, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||24–11–2
|38||L||December 22, 1990||0–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||24–12–2
|39||W||December 23, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||25–12–2
|40||T||December 26, 1990||6–6 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||25–12–3
|41||L||December 28, 1990||0–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||25–13–3
|42||W||December 29, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1990–91) ||26–13–3
|43||W||December 31, 1990||4–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||27–13–3
|44||W||January 3, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||28–13–3
|45||L||January 6, 1991||1–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||28–14–3
|46||W||January 10, 1991||7–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||29–14–3
|47||W||January 11, 1991||3–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||30–14–3
|48||W||January 13, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||31–14–3
|49||T||January 16, 1991||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||31–14–4
|50||W||January 17, 1991||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1990–91) ||32–14–4
|51||L||January 24, 1991||4–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||32–15–4
|52||W||January 26, 1991||5–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||33–15–4
|53||W||January 28, 1991||1–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||34–15–4
|54||L||February 1, 1991||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||34–16–4
|55||L||February 2, 1991||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||34–17–4
|56||W||February 6, 1991||8–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||35–17–4
|57||L||February 9, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||35–18–4
|58||L||February 10, 1991||1–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||35–19–4
|59||W||February 14, 1991||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||36–19–4
|60||T||February 17, 1991||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||36–19–5
|61||L||February 18, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||36–20–5
|62||W||February 21, 1991||4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||37–20–5
|63||T||February 23, 1991||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||37–20–6
|64||W||February 24, 1991||6–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||38–20–6
|65||L||February 26, 1991||1–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||38–21–6
|66||W||February 28, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||39–21–6
|67||W||March 3, 1991||8–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||40–21–6
|68||L||March 6, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||40–22–6
|69||W||March 8, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||41–22–6
|70||W||March 10, 1991||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1990–91) ||42–22–6
|71||W||March 14, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||43–22–6
|72||W||March 16, 1991||3–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||44–22–6
|73||W||March 17, 1991||6–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||45–22–6
|74||T||March 21, 1991||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||45–22–7
|75||W||March 23, 1991||7–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||46–22–7
|76||W||March 24, 1991||5–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||47–22–7
|77||T||March 26, 1991||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||47–22–8
|78||W||March 28, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||48–22–8
|79||L||March 30, 1991||1–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||48–23–8
|80||W||March 31, 1991||5–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||49–23–8
Legend:
Player statistics
Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 44 57 101 79371729 C 79 41 53 94 803815410 LW 74 27 38 65 6527901 D 77 12 52 64 19223522 LW 69 19 35 54 1298203 C 72 22 29 51 13501026 W 80 24 21 45 8812467 D 51 11 29 40 3225611 C 75 14 23 37 7413402 RW 71 15 19 34 12211103 D 75 14 15 29 19120612 LW 72 10 15 25 586100 C/LW 55 7 9 16 625001 D 61 3 13 16 776300 D 40 2 12 14 323100 RW 67 6 7 13 119-7112 D 70 0 12 12 4011000 D 45 1 10 11 559000 D 77 4 5 9 1518000 LW 53 6 1 7 320-3200 C 13 0 5 5 531000 RW 23 2 2 4 6-1010 RW 7 0 4 4 2-1000 G 74 0 3 3 340000 LW 35 0 1 1 183-3000 LW 9 0 1 1 4-2000 C 7 0 1 1 20000 G 10 0 0 0 20000 G 5 0 0 0 00000 G 3 0 0 0 00000 D 3 0 0 0 51000 G 1 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 4127 74 43 19 7 170 2.47 418831713.910 195 5 3 0 1 8 2.46 09385.914 403 10 2 3 0 24 3.57 0175151.863 60 1 1 0 0 2 2.00 02826.929 58 3 0 1 0 4 4.14 03228.875 Team: 4843 80 49 23 8 208 2.58 422112003.906
Playoffs