1990–91 New Jersey Devils season

New Jersey Devils

Industry	Professional ice hockey
Founded	1974 (as Colorado Rockies), relocated to New Jersey in 1982
Headquarters	East Rutherford, New Jersey , United States
Products	Ice hockey team
Website	www.nhl.com/devils

The 1990–91 New Jersey Devils season represented the team's 17th campaign in the NHL and their ninth since the franchise's relocation from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 season. Concluding the year in fourth place within the Patrick Division, the Devils earned a playoff berth for the second year running—a milestone never before achieved by the organization. Their postseason journey ended in the division semi-finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. A pivotal development this season was selecting future elite goaltender Martin Brodeur during the first round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, highlighting a forward-looking approach to building sustained team competitiveness.

Schedule and results

|- |1||T||October 4, 1990||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings||0–0–1 |- |2||W||October 6, 1990||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers||1–0–1 |- |3||L||October 7, 1990||4–7 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins||1–1–1 |- |4||W||October 9, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars||2–1–1 |- |5||L||October 11, 1990||4–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers||2–2–1 |- |6||W||October 13, 1990||5–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames||3–2–1 |- |7||W||October 17, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals||4–2–1 |- |8||W||October 19, 1990||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers||5–2–1 |- |9||L||October 20, 1990||0–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals||5–3–1 |- |10||W||October 23, 1990||8–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders||6–3–1 |- |11||W||October 25, 1990||5–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres||7–3–1 |- |12||W||October 27, 1990||7–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins||8–3–1 |- |13||L||October 30, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames||8–4–1

|- |14||L||November 1, 1990||1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks||8–5–1 |- |15||W||November 3, 1990||5–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers||9–5–1 |- |16||L||November 7, 1990||3–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders||9–6–1 |- |17||L||November 9, 1990||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers||9–7–1 |- |18||L||November 10, 1990||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens||9–8–1 |- |19||W||November 13, 1990||6–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens||10–8–1 |- |20||L||November 15, 1990||2–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers||10–9–1 |- |21||W||November 17, 1990|||3−2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers ||11−9−1 |- |22|||W|||November18,1990|||4−1 ||align="left"|||@Philadelphia Flyers]|||12−9−1 |- |23|||L|||November20,1990|||4−5 ||align="left"|||@Los Angeles Kings]|||12−10−1 |- |24|||W|||November24,1990|||5−3 ||align="left"|||@Minnesota North Stars]|||13−10−1 |- |25|||T|||November28,1990|||5−5 OT|||align="left"|||Philadelphia Flyers]|||13−10−2 |- |26|||T|||November30,1990|||5−5 OT|||align="left"|||New York Islanders]|||13−10−3

|- |27|||W|||December1,1990|||4−1 ||align="left"|||@St. Louis Blues]|||14−10−3 |- |28|||T|||December3,1990|||4−4 OT|||align="left"|||@Winnipeg Jets (1972-96)]|||14−10−4 |- |29|||W|||December5,1990|||9−4 ||align="left"|||Vancouver Canucks]|||15−10−4 |- |30|||L|||December7,1990|||2−5 ||align="left"|||@Washington Capitals]|||15−11−4 |- |31|||W|||December8,1990|||4−2 ||align="left"|||Washington Capitals]|||16−11−4 |- |32|||L|||December11,1990|||2−3 ||align="left"|||@New York Islanders]|||16−12−4 |- |33|||L|||December13,1990|||5−9 ||align="left"|||@Pittsburgh Penguins]|||16−13−4 |- |34|||T|||December15,1990|||1−1 OT||||align="left" [[[Boston Bruins]]]||||16−13−5 |- |35||||W||||December18||||8−3||||align=“left” [[[Boston Bruins]]]||||17−13−5 |- {{game-tied}|36||||T||||December20||||3−3 OT||||align=”left” [[[Philadelphia Flyers]]]||||17−13−6 |- {{game-won}|37||||W||||December22||||4−1||||align=”left” [[[Quebec Nordiques]]]||||18−13−6 |- {{game-won}|38||||W||||December23||||4−2||||align=”left” [[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]]||||19−13−6 |- {{game-tied}|39||||T||||December27||||1−1 OT||||align=”left” [[[New York Islanders]]]||||19−13−7 |- {{game-tied}|40||||T||||December29||||4−4 OT||||align=”left” [[[Buffalo Sabres]]]||||19−13−8 |- {{game-tied}|41||||T||||December30||||2−2 OT||||align=”left” [[[New York Rangers]]]||||19−13−9

... (continued)

(P4) New Jersey Devils vs. (P1) Pittsburgh Penguins

The initial two matches took place at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, where New Jersey secured a 3–1 victory in game 1. The Penguins responded by leveling the series in game 2 with a 5–4 win in overtime. Moving to New Jersey's Meadowlands for games 3 and 4, the teams split results: Pittsburgh edged out a 4–3 triumph in game 3, while the Devils dominated game 4 with a 4–1 scoreline. Game 5 returned to Pittsburgh, where New Jersey prevailed 4–2. The Penguins forced a game 7 by winning game 6, 4–3, on New Jersey ice. The series concluded in Pittsburgh with the Penguins shutting out the Devils 4–0, clinching the series 4–3.

Regular season

Scoring

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
Template:Sortname	RW	78	45	33	78	150	8	19	2	7
Template:Sortname	LW	80	19	51	70	76	1	7	0	3
Template:Sortname	LW	75	29	37	66	141	4	7	0	2
Template:Sortname	C	77	18	42	60	53	0	4	0	3
Template:Sortname	RW	78	30	17	47	105	-8	10	0	2
Template:Sortname	C	71	15	31	46	48	7	4	1	1
Template:Sortname	D	73	9	36	45	62	11	7	0	2
Template:Sortname	D	78	10	31	41	76	23	1	0	3
Template:Sortname	D	76	4	34	38	48	10	1	0	0
Template:Sortname	RW	58	14	16	30	4	18	0	2	2
Template:Sortname	C	53	9	19	28	27	9	1	0	1
Template:Sortname	LW	45	8	17	25	8	3	2	0	1
Template:Sortname	LW	64	8	14	22	151	9	1	0	3
Template:Sortname	C	78	11	9	20	79	-1	0	1	1
Template:Sortname	D	80	4	16	20	249	-10	1	2	1
Template:Sortname	67	3	16	19	62	5	1	0	0

Goaltending

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Template:Sortname	2970	53	24	21	7	144	2.91	1	1348	1204	.893
Template:Sortname	1870	35	8	12	8	112	3.59	0	875	763	.872
Template:Sortname	20	1	0	0	0	2	6.00	0	7	5	.714
Team: 4860 80 32 33 15 258 3.19 1 2230 1972 .884

Playoffs

Offensive Statistics

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
Template:Sortname	RW	7	5	3	8	20	1	0	0
Template:Sortname	LW	7	3	5	8	12	2	0	0
Template:Sortname	C	7	3	4	7	2	1	0	2
Template:Sortname	RW	7	4	0	4	34	2	0	1
Template:Sortname	RW	7	2	2	4	2	0	1	0
Template:Sortname	D	7	1	3	4	10	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	C	5	0	4	4	2	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	D	7	1	2	3	12	1	0	0
Template:Sortname	D	7	1	2	3	6	1	0	0
Template:Sortname	C	7	1	1	2	16	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	LW	6	0	2	2	4	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	LW	7	0	2	2	2	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	RW	7	0	2	2	8	0	0	0
Template:Sortname	LW	7	0	2	2	10	0	0	0
Others*

Goaltending Performance

Player	MIN	GP	W	L	GA	GAA	SO	SA	SV	SV%
Template:Sortname	428	7	3	4	21	2.94	0	216	195	.903

Abbreviations: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals allowed; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots faced; SV = Saves made; SV% = Save percentage

Honors

Regular Season Achievements
Player	Honor	Time Awarded
Eric Weinrich	Named to NHL All-Rookie Team as Defenseman	Conclusion of regular season

Draft Selections

The players chosen by the Devils during the 1990 NHL entry draft.

Round #	Overall Pick #	Player Name	Nationality	Position	Previous Team (League)	Additional Information
1	20	Martin Brodeur	Canada	Goaltender	Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL)	Obtained by trading first- and second-round picks to Calgary Flames on June 17, 1990, in exchange for this first-round pick plus two second-round selections.
2	24	David Harlock	Canada	Defenseman	University of Michigan (CCHA)	Part of the same trade referenced above.
2	29	Chris Gotziaman	United States	Right Wing	Roseau High School (Minnesota)	Included in the same transaction as above.
3	53	Mike Dunham	United States	Goaltender	Canterbury High School (Connecticut)
3	56	Brad Bombardir	Canada	Defenseman	Powell River Kings (British Columbia Hockey League)	Acquired via trade with Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) on June 19, 1988.
4	64	Mike Bodnarchuk	Canada	Right Wing		Received through a trade with Quebec Nordiques on June 17, 1989.
5	95	Dean Malkoc	Canada	Defenseman	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
5	104	Petr Kuchyna	Template:TCH	Defenseman	HC Jihlava (Czechoslovak Extraliga)	Acquired from Calgary Flames in a trade dated March 6, 1990.
6	116	Lubomir Kolnik	Template:TCH	Right Wing	HC Dukla Trenčín (Czechoslovak Extraliga)
7	137	"Chris McAlpine"	"Template:Country data "United States""	"Defenseman"	"Roseville Area High School (Minnesota)"
"8"	"158"	No selection made in the eighth round"	""
"9"	"179"	"Jaroslav Modry"	"Template:TCH"	"Defenseman"	"HC České Budějovice (Czechoslovak Extraliga)"	""
"10"	"200"	"Corey Schwab"	"Template:Country data "Canada""	"Goaltender"	"Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)"	""
"11"	"221"	"Valeri Zelepukin"	"Template:URS"	"Left Wing"	"Khimik Voskresensk (Soviet League)"	""
"12"	"242"	"Todd Reirden"	"Template:Country data "United States""	"Defenseman"	"Tabor Academy, Massachusetts (Massachusetts)"	""
"S"	16	"Mike Haviland"	"Template:Country data 'United States'"	Forward	Elmira College (NCAA)

Related Topics

• 1990–91 NHL season