The 1990–91 New Jersey Devils season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and ninth season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season.[1] The season saw the team finish fourth in the Patrick Division and qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season, losing in the division semi-finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was the first time in the franchise's 17-year history that the team qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons. The team would make one huge move towards their future when they drafted Martin Brodeur with their first round selection in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
[2]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.
(P4) New Jersey Devils vs. (P1) Pittsburgh Penguins
The first two games took place at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. In game 1, the Devils won 3–1. However, in game 2, the Penguins tied the series with a 5–4 overtime win. Games 3 and 4 were at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Pittsburgh was victorious in game 3 by a score of 4–3, but the Devils won in game 4 4–1. Game 5 shifted back to Pittsburgh where the Devils beat the Penguins 4–2. Game 6 was back in New Jersey, where the series was evened again thanks to a Pittsburgh 4–3 win. Game 7 was back in Pittsburgh where the Penguins won the game 4-0 and won the series 4–3.
↑ 1.01.11.2The Devils traded their first-round pick (used on Trevor Kidd) and second-round pick (used on Vesa Viitakoski) to Calgary for the Flames' first-round pick (Brodeur), Detroit's second-round pick (Harlock), and Minnesota's second-round pick (Gotziaman) on June 17, 1990.
↑The Devils traded their 1989 seventh-round pick (used on Doug Evans) and Alain Chevrier to Winnipeg for Steve Rooney and the Jets' 1990 third-round pick (Bombardir) on June 19, 1988. The official Devils transaction page incorrectly lists Evans' pick as 1990.[5]