1990–91 Detroit Red Wings season

Template:Short description The 1990–91 Detroit Red Wings season saw the team return to the playoffs after missing the previous season, despite winning only thirty-four games. Until the 2016–17 season, this was the Red Wings' last losing season, who were to set a National Hockey League record for the most consecutive winning seasons during the following two decades.

Regular season

Final standings

Norris Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Chicago Blackhawks	80	49	23	8	284	211	106
St. Louis Blues	80	47	22	11	310	250	105
Detroit Red Wings	80	34	38	8	273	298	76
Minnesota North Stars	80	27	39	14	256	266	68
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	23	46	11	241	318	57

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-tied |1||T||October 4, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||0–0–1 |- Template:Game-lost |2||L||October 6, 1990||4–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||0–1–1 |- Template:Game-lost |3||L||October 7, 1990||2–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||0–2–1 |- Template:Game-won |4||W||October 10, 1990||6–5 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||1–2–1 |- Template:Game-won |5||W||October 12, 1990||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||2–2–1 |- Template:Game-tied |6||T||October 13, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||2–2–2 |- Template:Game-won |7||W||October 16, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||3–2–2 |- Template:Game-won |8||W||October 18, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||4–2–2 |- Template:Game-lost |9||L||October 20, 1990||3–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||4–3–2 |- Template:Game-won |10||W||October 23, 1990||6–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||5–3–2 |- Template:Game-won |11||W||October 26, 1990||8–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||6–3–2 |- Template:Game-tied |12||T||October 27, 1990||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||6–3–3 |- Template:Game-lost |13||L||October 30, 1990||2–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||6–4–3 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |14||W||November 1, 1990||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||7–4–3 |- Template:Game-lost |15||L||November 3, 1990||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||7–5–3 |- Template:Game-lost |16||L||November 6, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||7–6–3 |- Template:Game-lost |17||L||November 8, 1990||1–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||7–7–3 |- Template:Game-lost |18||L||November 10, 1990||1–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||7–8–3 |- Template:Game-lost |19||L||November 14, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||7–9–3 |- Template:Game-won |20||W||November 17, 1990||8–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||8–9–3 |- Template:Game-lost |21||L||November 19, 1990||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||8–10–3 |- Template:Game-won |22||W||November 21, 1990||4–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||9–10–3 |- Template:Game-won |23||W||November 23, 1990||5–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||10–10–3 |- Template:Game-won |24||W||November 27, 1990||4–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||11–10–3 |- Template:Game-won |25||W||November 29, 1990||5–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||12–10–3 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |26||W||December 1, 1990||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||13–10–3 |- Template:Game-tied |27||T||December 2, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||13–10–4 |- Template:Game-lost |28||L||December 4, 1990||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||13–11–4 |- Template:Game-lost |29||L||December 7, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||13–12–4 |- Template:Game-lost |30||L||December 8, 1990||1–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||13–13–4 |- Template:Game-won |31||W||December 11, 1990||8–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||14–13–4 |- Template:Game-won |32||W||December 13, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||15–13–4 |- Template:Game-won |33||W||December 15, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||16–13–4 |- Template:Game-lost |34||L||December 16, 1990||1–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||16–14–4 |- Template:Game-won |35||W||December 18, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) ||17–14–4 |- Template:Game-won |36||W||December 20, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||18–14–4 |- Template:Game-won |37||W||December 22, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||19–14–4 |- Template:Game-lost |38||L||December 23, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||19–15–4 |- Template:Game-lost |39||L||December 28, 1990||0–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||19–16–4 |- Template:Game-lost |40||L||December 31, 1990||0–4 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||19–17–4 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |41||W||January 2, 1991||6–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||20–17–4 |- Template:Game-lost |42||L||January 4, 1991||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||20–18–4 |- Template:Game-lost |43||L||January 5, 1991||0–7 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||20–19–4 |- Template:Game-won |44||W||January 9, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||21–19–4 |- Template:Game-won |45||W||January 11, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1990–91) ||22–19–4 |- Template:Game-tied |46||T||January 12, 1991||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1990–91) ||22–19–5 |- Template:Game-lost |47||L||January 14, 1991||1–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||22–20–5 |- Template:Game-lost |48||L||January 16, 1991||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1990–91) ||22–21–5 |- Template:Game-lost |49||L||January 22, 1991||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1990–91) ||22–22–5 |- Template:Game-lost |50||L||January 25, 1991||4–9 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||22–23–5 |- Template:Game-lost |51||L||January 26, 1991||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||22–24–5 |- Template:Game-lost |52||L||January 28, 1991||2–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||22–25–5 |- Template:Game-lost |53||L||January 30, 1991||2–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||22–26–5 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won |54||W||February 1, 1991||4–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||23–26–5 |- Template:Game-won |55||W||February 2, 1991||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||24–26–5 |- Template:Game-lost |56||L||February 4, 1991||4–6 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) ||24–27–5 |- Template:Game-won |57||W||February 8, 1991||8–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1990–91) ||25–27–5 |- Template:Game-lost |58||L||February 9, 1991||5–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||25–28–5 |- Template:Game-won |59||W||February 12, 1991||6–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) ||26–28–5 |- Template:Game-lost |60||L||February 13, 1991||2–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||26–29–5 |- Template:Game-lost |61||L||February 16, 1991||0–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||26–30–5 |- Template:Game-tied |62||T||February 17, 1991||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||26–30–6 |- Template:Game-tied |63||T||February 19, 1991||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) ||26–30–7 |- Template:Game-tied |64||T||February 22, 1991||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) ||26–30–8 |- Template:Game-lost |65||L||February 23, 1991||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) ||26–31–8 |- Template:Game-won |66||W||February 25, 1991||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||27–31–8 |- Template:Game-won |67||W||February 27, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) ||28–31–8 |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost |68||L||March 1, 1991||1–6 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1990–91) ||28–32–8 |- Template:Game-won |69||W||March 5, 1991||6–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) ||29–32–8 |- Template:Game-won |70||W||March 7, 1991||2–0 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1990–91) ||30–32–8 |- Template:Game-lost |71||L||March 9, 1991||2–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) ||30–33–8 |- Template:Game-won |72||W||March 10, 1991||4–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) ||31–33–8 |- Template:Game-won |73||W||March 13, 1991||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1990–91) ||32–33–8 |- Template:Game-lost |74||L||March 14, 1991||2–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) ||32–34–8 |- Template:Game-won |75||W||March 16, 1991||5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) ||33–34–8 |- Template:Game-lost |76||L||March 22, 1991||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||33–35–8 |- Template:Game-lost |77||L||March 23, 1991||1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) ||33–36–8 |- Template:Game-lost |78||L||March 27, 1991||4–7 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) ||33–37–8 |- Template:Game-won |79||W||March 30, 1991||6–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1990–91) ||34–37–8 |- Template:Game-lost |80||L||March 31, 1991||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) ||34–38–8 |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

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Playoffs

At 34–38–8, the Red Wings finished third in the Campbell Conference. In the playoffs, they faced the St. Louis Blues, who had finished 47–22–11 (and second in the Campbell Conference). The Red Wings were beaten in the seven-game series, three victories to four.

Round 1: St. Louis Blues vs. Detroit Red Wings

April 4	Detroit Red Wings		6–3		St. Louis Blues	St. Louis Arena	Recap
Brad McCrimmon (1) – 13:37		First period			No scoring
Steve Yzerman (1) – 07:08 Steve Yzerman (2) – pp – 12:01		Second period			13:10 – Brett Hull (1)
Sergei Fedorov (1) – 01:52 Kevin Miller (1) – 09:19 Steve Yzerman (3) – 14:55		Third period			10:23 – pp – Brett Hull (2) 12:44 – Adam Oates (1)
Tim Cheveldae 37 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Vincent Riendeau 17 saves / 22 shots Pat Jablonski 4 saves / 5 shots

April 6	Detroit Red Wings		2–4		St. Louis Blues	St. Louis Arena	Recap
Yves Racine (1) – pp – 09:08 Bob Probert (1) – 16:56		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
No scoring		Third period			05:28 – Jeff Brown (1) 06:46 – pp – Dan Quinn (1) 12:00 – Brett Hull (3) 19:24 – Rich Sutter (1)
Tim Cheveldae 37 saves / 40 shots		Goalie stats			Vincent Riendeau 19 saves / 21 shots

April 8	St. Louis Blues		2–5		Detroit Red Wings	Joe Louis Arena	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
Bob Bassen (1) – 11:00		Second period			15:19 – Kevin Miller (2)
Gino Cavallini (1) – 18:39		Third period			01:12 – Keith Primeau (1) 08:34 – Jimmy Carson (1) 009:05 – Steve Chiasson (1) 19:42 – sh – Kevin Miller (3)
Vincent Riendeau 19 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Tim Cheveldae 21 saves / 23 shots

April 10	St. Louis Blues		3–4		Detroit Red Wings	Joe Louis Arena	Recap
Dan Quinn (2) – pp – 18:10		First period			04:01 – Steve Chiasson (2)
No scoring		Second period			17:05 – pp – Steve Chiasson (3)
Brett Hull (4) – 05:22 Brett Hull (5) – 17:09		Third period			08:58 – Rick Zombo (1) 11:16 – Brent Fedyk (1)
Vincent Riendeau 30 saves / 34 shots		Goalie stats			Tim Cheveldae 26 saves / 29 shots

April 12	Detroit Red Wings		1–6		St. Louis Blues	St. Louis Arena	Recap
Bobby Dollas (1) – 02:12		First period			03:45 – Adam Oates (2) 04:58 – Brett Hull (6) 09:29 – Adam Oates (3)
No scoring		Second period			00:40 – Paul Cavallini (1) 10:33 – Adam Oates (4)
No scoring		Third period			08:08 – Brett Hull (7)
Tim Cheveldae 25 saves / 30 shots Allan Bester 11 saves / 12 shots		Goalie stats			Vincent Riendeau 17 saves / 18 shots

April 14	St. Louis Blues		3–0		Detroit Red Wings	Joe Louis Arena	Recap
Dave Thomlinson (1) – 07:00		First period			No scoring
Jeff Brown (2) – 02:24		Second period			No scoring
Dave Lowry (1) – 18:19		Third period			No scoring
Vincent Riendeau 23 saves / 23 shots		Goalie stats			Tim Cheveldae 18 saves / 21 shots

April 16	Detroit Red Wings		2–3		St. Louis Blues	St. Louis Arena	Recap
No scoring		First period			12:24 – Dan Quinn (3)
Yves Racine (2) – pp – 03:24		Second period			19:39 – Brett Hull (8)
Jimmy Carson (2) – 12:27		Third period			01:59 – Rich Sutter (2)
Tim Cheveldae 22 saves / 25 shots		Goalie stats			Vincent Riendeau 18 saves / 20 shots

St. Louis won series 4–3

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
	C	80	51	57	108	34	-2	12	6	4
	C	77	31	48	79	66	11	11	3	5
	LW/C	80	20	30	50	112	14	6	0	4
	D	62	7	40	47	33	1	2	0	1
	C	64	21	25	46	28	3	5	1	4
	RW	70	18	22	40	55	20	2	2	2
	LW	71	18	22	40	18	-4	2	0	3
	LW	55	16	23	39	315	-3	4	0	3
	LW	67	16	19	35	38	20	0	0	1
	C	51	15	18	33	16	-8	5	0	1
	LW	45	10	16	26	111	6	3	0	1
	D	77	4	19	23	55	-2	0	0	0
	D	42	3	17	20	80	0	1	0	1
	RW/C	46	9	8	17	22	-10	0	4	1
	D	65	2	14	16	24	10	0	0	0
	C	58	3	12	15	106	-12	0	0	1
	D	64	0	13	13	81	7	0	0	0
	D	26	0	12	12	16	-2	0	0	0
	C	27	5	5	10	4	6	2	0	1
	D	21	3	7	10	50	6	1	0	0
	RW	52	5	4	9	253	-6	0	0	0
	D	56	3	5	8	20	6	0	0	1
	RW	47	1	7	8	183	-15	0	0	0
	C	11	5	2	7	4	-4	0	1	0
	D	17	3	4	7	17	-6	1	0	0
	G	65	0	5	5	2	0	0	0	0
	D	20	1	3	4	16	-3	0	0	0
	D	22	0	4	4	43	-2	0	0	0
	RW	6	1	2	3	6	1	0	0	0
	D	8	1	2	3	2	-2	0	0	0
	RW	7	1	0	1	12	-1	0	0	0
	D	4	0	1	1	4	0	0	0	0
	C	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
	RW	7	0	1	1	14	0	0	0	0
	C	3	0	1	1	0	-2	0	0	0
	G	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	C	5	0	0	0	0	-4	0	0	0
	G	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	19	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0
	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	D	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
	RW	3	0	0	0	7	-4	0	0	0
	RW	9	0	0	0	55	-4	0	0	0
	D/LW	9	0	0	0	16	-3	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
	3615	65	30	26	5	214	3.55	2	1716	1502	.875
	862	19	4	6	3	46	3.20	0	438	392	.895
	178	3	0	3	0	13	4.38	0	99	86	.869
	108	3	0	2	0	11	6.11	0	55	44	.800
	35	2	0	1	0	6	10.29	0	28	22	.786
	45	1	0	0	0	2	2.67	0	11	9	.818
Team:	4843	80	34	38	8	292	3.62	2	2347	2055	.876

Playoffs

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
	C	7	3	3	6	4	1	0	0
	C	7	1	5	6	4	0	0	1
	C	7	3	2	5	20	0	1	0
	D	6	0	5	5	6	0	0	0
	D	5	3	1	4	19	1	0	0
	LW/C	7	0	4	4	15	0	0	0
	C	7	2	1	3	4	0	0	1
	LW	6	1	2	3	50	0	0	0
	D	7	2	0	2	0	2	0	0
	D	7	1	1	2	21	0	0	0
	C	5	1	1	2	25	0	0	0
	C	2	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
	D	7	1	0	1	13	0	0	0
	LW	6	1	0	1	2	0	0	1
	D	7	1	0	1	10	0	0	0
	LW	6	0	1	1	4	0	0	0
	RW	5	0	1	1	41	0	0	0
	C	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
	G	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	G	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	D	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	RW/C	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	D	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	RW	6	0	0	0	32	0	0	0
	RW	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
	398	7	3	4	22	3.32	0	208	186	.894
	20	1	0	0	1	3.00	0	12	11	.917
Team:	418	7	3	4	23	3.30	0	220	197	.895

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Draft picks

Detroit'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)
1	3	Keith Primeau		Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
3	45	Vyacheslav Kozlov		Khimik Voskresenki (USSR)
4	66	Stewart Malgunas		Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
5	87	Tony Burns		Duluth-Denfeld High School (USHS-MN)
6	108	Claude Barthe		Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7	129	Jason York		Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8	150	Wes McCauley		Michigan State University (CCHA)
9	171	Tony Gruba		Hill-Murray School (USHS-MN)
10	192	Travis Tucker		Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)
11	213	Brett Larson		Duluth-Denfeld High School (USHS-MN)
12	234	John Hendry		Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
S	3	Mike Casselman		Clarkson University (ECAC)
S	8	Donny Oliver		Ohio State University (CCHA)

See also

• 1990–91 NHL season