The 1990–91 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 24th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Kings finish first in the Smythe Division with a 46–24–10 record for 102 points. This was the first (and as of 2025, only) regular season division title in Kings history. It also served as the second-best regular-season finish in franchise history. The team defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the Smythe Division Semifinals in six games before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Division Finals in six games.
Offseason
NHL draft Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1990 NHL entry draft held at the BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)17Darryl SydorKamloops Blazers (WHL)228Brandy SemchukCanadian National Team349Bob BergBelleville Bulls (OHL)591David GoverdeSudbury Wolves (OHL)6112Erik AnderssonDanderyds HC (Sweden)7133Robert LangHC CHZ Litvinov (Czechoslovakia)8154Dean HulettLake Superior State University (CCHA)9175Denis LeBlancSaint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL)10196Patrik RossHV71 (Sweden)11217Kevin WhiteWindsor Spitfires (OHL)12238Troy MohnsColgate University (ECAC)S12Peter SentnerUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell (Hockey East)
Regular season
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||W||October 4, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1990–91) ||1–0–0
|2||L||October 6, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||1–1–0
|3||W||October 9, 1990||6–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||2–1–0
|4||T||October 11, 1990||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||2–1–1
|5||W||October 13, 1990||7–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||3–1–1
|6||W||October 14, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||4–1–1
|7||W||October 17, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||5–1–1
|8||W||October 19, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||6–1–1
|9||W||October 23, 1990||6–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||7–1–1
|10||L||October 26, 1990||2–6 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||7–2–1
|11||W||October 28, 1990||6–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||8–2–1
|12||W||October 30, 1990||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1990–91) ||9–2–1
|13||L||October 31, 1990||4–9 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1990–91) ||9–3–1
|14||L||November 2, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||9–4–1
|15||W||November 4, 1990||2–0 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||10–4–1
|16||W||November 8, 1990||5–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||11–4–1
|17||W||November 10, 1990||7–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||12–4–1
|18||W||November 14, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||13–4–1
|19||W||November 17, 1990||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||14–4–1
|20||W||November 20, 1990||5–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||15–4–1
|21||L||November 22, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||15–5–1
|22||W||November 24, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||16–5–1
|23||T||November 25, 1990||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||16–5–2
|24||L||November 27, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||16–6–2
|25||T||November 29, 1990||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||16–6–3
|26||L||December 1, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||16–7–3
|27||T||December 5, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||16–7–4
|28||T||December 8, 1990||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||16–7–5
|29||L||December 11, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1990–91) ||16–8–5
|30||L||December 13, 1990||1–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||16–9–5
|31||W||December 15, 1990||8–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||17–9–5
|32||L||December 18, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||17–10–5
|33||W||December 20, 1990||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||18–10–5
|34||L||December 22, 1990||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||18–11–5
|35||L||December 27, 1990||5–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||18–12–5
|36||L||December 29, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||18–13–5
|37||W||December 31, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||19–13–5
|38||L||January 2, 1991||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1990–91) ||19–14–5
|39||W||January 3, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1990–91) ||20–14–5
|40||W||January 5, 1991||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||21–14–5
|41||W||January 6, 1991||3–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||22–14–5
|42||W||January 8, 1991||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||23–14–5
|43||W||January 10, 1991||5–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||24–14–5
|44||W||January 12, 1991||6–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||25–14–5
|45||W||January 14, 1991||6–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||26–14–5
|46||L||January 16, 1991||3–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||26–15–5
|47||L||January 17, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||26–16–5
|48||L||January 22, 1991||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||26–17–5
|49||W||January 25, 1991||5–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||27–17–5
|50||W||January 26, 1991||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||28–17–5
|51||L||January 30, 1991||2–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||28–18–5
|52||W||February 2, 1991||9–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||29–18–5
|53||W||February 4, 1991||6–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) ||30–18–5
|54||W||February 5, 1991||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||31–18–5
|55||T||February 8, 1991||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||31–18–6
|56||L||February 9, 1991||4–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||31–19–6
|57||T||February 12, 1991||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||31–19–7
|58||W||February 14, 1991||4–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||32–19–7
|59||L||February 16, 1991||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||32–20–7
|60||W||February 18, 1991||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||33–20–7
|61||W||February 20, 1991||6–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||34–20–7
|62||W||February 22, 1991||6–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||35–20–7
|63||W||February 24, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||36–20–7
|64||W||February 26, 1991||8–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||37–20–7
|65||W||February 28, 1991||4–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||38–20–7
|66||W||March 2, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||39–20–7
|67||T||March 5, 1991||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||39–20–8
|68||L||March 7, 1991||2–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||39–21–8
|69||W||March 9, 1991||3–0 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||40–21–8
|70||T||March 10, 1991||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||40–21–9
|71||W||March 12, 1991||6–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||41–21–9
|72||L||March 14, 1991||3–6 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||41–22–9
|73||W||March 16, 1991||4–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||42–22–9
|74||L||March 17, 1991||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||42–23–9
|75||T||March 20, 1991||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||42–23–10
|76||W||March 23, 1991||8–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||43–23–10
|77||W||March 24, 1991||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||44–23–10
|78||W||March 26, 1991||2–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||45–23–10
|79||W||March 28, 1991||6–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||46–23–10
|80||L||March 31, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||46–24–10
Legend:
Playoffs Round 1: (S1) Los Angeles Kings vs. (S4) Vancouver Canucks
Round 2: (S1) Los Angeles Kings vs. (S3) Edmonton Oilers
Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 78 41 122 163 1630805 LW 76 45 46 91 68281105 RW 68 45 44 89 106271606 RW 68 30 34 64 154221113 D 78 21 41 62 6619803 C 74 21 37 58 5820204 RW 73 23 30 53 14827602 D 75 12 34 46 1253902 D 61 7 32 39 22148111 RW 72 23 13 36 469233 D 61 7 24 31 12712201 LW 71 14 16 30 493205 C 67 9 19 28 333011 D 62 1 22 23 1622000 LW 53 9 11 20 5711011 LW 66 8 12 20 2599100 C 56 8 5 13 1156010 LW 53 7 5 12 413002 D 57 3 8 11 18214000 RW 31 2 4 6 12-5001 LW/C 15 1 5 6 107100 RW 17 1 4 5 6-1000 D 34 1 3 4 1338000 D 45 0 4 4 927000 RW 8 1 0 1 190001 D 3 0 1 1 101000 C 3 0 1 1 00000 G 37 0 0 0 100000 D 4 0 0 0 50000 G 47 0 0 0 140000 RW 7 0 0 0 24000 D 4 0 0 0 43000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 2730 47 26 13 6 132 2.90 313211189.900 2119 37 20 11 4 117 3.31 11086969.892 Team: 4849 80 46 24 10 249 3.08 424072158.897 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG LW 12 12 4 16 22-2502 C 12 4 11 15 20102 D 12 4 8 12 87100 C 10 4 6 10 84010 LW 12 5 4 9 66000 C 12 2 7 9 60000 RW 10 4 4 8 141300 LW 12 2 4 6 121100 RW 8 3 2 5 24000 D 12 1 4 5 26-1100 RW 12 1 4 5 281000 D 12 1 4 5 157000 D 12 0 5 5 61000 RW 12 2 1 3 12-3001 LW 8 1 1 2 22001 D 2 0 2 2 222000 C 12 0 1 1 24-2000 RW 2 0 1 1 01000 RW 2 0 0 0 00000 D 3 0 0 0 0-2000 G 12 0 0 0 20000 D 12 0 0 0 58-1000 LW 8 0 0 0 17-1000 D 7 0 0 0 12-4000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO SA SV SV% 798 12 6 6 37 2.78 0382345.903 Team: 798 12 6 6 37 2.78 0382345.903
Awards and records Wayne Gretzky, Art Ross Trophy Wayne Gretzky, Longest Consecutive Games Assist Streak, 23 games (48 assists during the streak)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 187, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Marty McSorley, NHL Plus-Minus Award Dave Taylor, Masterton Trophy WinnerNational Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.220, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Tom Webster, runner-up for the Jack Adams Trophy
Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1990–91 season.
Trades August 15, 1990To Los Angeles KingsShawn McCoshTo Detroit Red Wings8th round pick in 1992 - Justin Krall September 6, 1990To Los Angeles KingsDaniel BerthiaumeTo Minnesota North StarsCraig Duncanson September 30, 1990To Los Angeles KingsMike DonnellyTo Buffalo SabresMikko Mäkelä November 9, 1990To Los Angeles KingsJohn McIntyreTo Toronto Maple LeafsMike Krushelnyski March 5, 1991To Los Angeles KingsIlkka SinisaloTo Minnesota North Stars8th round pick in 1991 - Michael Burkett
Free agent signings July 1, 1990From Hartford WhalersTom Martin July 2, 1990From New Jersey DevilsJim Thomson July 11, 1990From Montreal CanadiensStéphane Richer July 11, 1990From Boston BruinsBilly O'Dwyer July 15, 1990From Calgary FlamesRick Hayward July 16, 1990From Edmonton OilersSteve Graves July 27, 1990From Boston BruinsBrian Lawton September 28, 1990From Washington CapitalsDennis Smith April 5, 1991From Boston University (HE)Peter Ahola
Free agents lost July 11, 1990To New York RangersEric Germain
Waivers October 1, 1990From Pittsburgh PenguinsRod Buskas
References Kings on Hockey Database