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The 1991 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. As of 2011, this is the first and only Stanley Cup Final to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series appearance. It is the last time that an NHL franchise would appear in the finals prior to relocation. It is also the first time since 1983 that an American franchise would win the Stanley Cup. This is the first all American finals since 1981, the only previous time the North Stars made the finals.
This was also the first final since 1982 not to feature either the Calgary Flames or the Edmonton Oilers, and the first since 1981 not contested by a team from Western Canada.
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Minnesota defeated the first-place overall Chicago Blackhawks 4–2, the second-place overall St. Louis Blues 4–2, and the defending cup champion Edmonton Oilers 4–1 to advance to the Final. The North Stars became the first American team and first Norris Division team to win the Campbell Conference since the league re-aligned the divisions and adopted a divisional-based playoff format in 1981.
Pittsburgh defeated the New Jersey Devils 4–3, the Washington Capitals 4–1 and the Boston Bruins 4–2.
Pittsburgh center Mario Lemieux, despite missing a game due to a back injury, recorded 12 points in 5 games to lead all scorers, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy. One of the most famous goals in NHL history was the goal he made in the 2nd period of the 2nd game. Receiving the puck between the Penguins blue line and the center line, Lemieux skated solo into the North Stars zone facing 2 defensemen and the goalie by himself. Mario skirted the puck through one of the defenders legs, skated around him, forced the goalie to commit left, then switched the puck to his backand side and sliding the puck in before crashing into the net himself. The brief video of the goal has been since featured on recent Stanley Cup promo ads by the NHL.
| May 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 - 5 | Minnesota North Stars | Mellon Arena | ||||
| May 17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 – 1 | Minnesota North Stars | Mellon Arena | ||||
| May 19 | Minnesota North Stars | 3 – 1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Met Center | ||||
| May 21 | Minnesota North Stars | 3 – 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Met Center | ||||
| May 23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 – 4 | Minnesota North Stars | Mellon Arena | ||||
| May 25 | Minnesota North Stars | 0 – 8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Met Center | ||||
(dressed for 4 playoff games, did not play)
| Preceded by Edmonton Oilers 1990 |
Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Champions 1991 |
Succeeded by Pittsburgh Penguins 1992 |