NHL: 30 most unforgettable team runs in league history: 26. 1991 Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota and hockey accomplishments have not gone hand in hand over its history in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but for one spring in 1991, Minnesota looked like a team of destiny. They had a paltry 68 points in the regular season, going 12 games under hockey .500 by the end of the regular season. Talking about a team that probably cost bettors big money, Minnesota only had eight wins on the road in the regular season. They ended up winning six more in the postseason.
In the very first game of the playoffs, the North Stars took the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks to overtime and won on the road. It was a punch in the mouth to a team that was preparing for an easy time. The North Stars finished the first-round series in six games, and it was clear this was not the same team that was one of the worst in the regular season. It was the first time in two decades the top team in the league went out in the first round.
Minnesota ended up beating the St. Louis Blues despite going up against Adam Oates and Brett Hull, who had a combined 240 points that season. Next up, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Edmonton Oilers.
While Wayne Gretzky was now on the Los Angeles Kings, but this was still a stacked team worthy of Cup contention. The North Stars goaltender was insane in this series, putting up a .991 save percentage against the defending champs. In the deciding Game 5, Bobby Smith broke towards Grant Fuhr with the game tied at two and scored on a tipped pass. It ended up being the game-winning goal and the series-winning goal.
The North Stars went up against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mario Lemieux. They clearly weren’t intimidated because of what came before this, but the Cinderella run apparently had to come to an end. They played six games against the Penguins, and they were in just about every one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to bring the first Cup to Minnesota. But hey, at least it gave us a look at a young Mike Modano (20 points in 23 games).