1990 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Boston Bruins Vs Hartford Whalers

On April 15, 1990. The Boston Bruins (46-25-9) and Hartford Whalers (38-33-9) went toe-to-toe in game six of the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals.

This series and playoff run from the Boston Bruins, was a memorable one to say the least. After a thrilling game six, in which the Whalers prevailed victorious with a final score of 3-2 in OT, which would be the only overtime of the series even though it went seven games.


Despite the game six loss, the Bruins finished the series in game seven defeating the Whalers three to one. Boston would go on to defeat the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and fell short in the Stanley Cup Final to the juggernaut Edmonton Oilers who ran the 90's.


Since entering the NHL as expansion teams in the 1967–68 NHL season this was the first and only time until 2023 that both the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs in the same season.

This was the second Finals meeting between these two teams. Edmonton won the only previous meeting sweeping the Bruins in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers would take the Bruins down again just two years later.

For the Oilers, it was their fifth Stanley Cup win in seven years, and their only one without Wayne Gretzky. The playoffs concluded on May 24 with the Edmonton Oilers winning the Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins in the final series four games to one. Edmonton goaltender Bill Ranford was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.