The 3rd-seeded ’89-’90 Hartford Whalers began this series with a bang by taking Game 1 by a final of 8-6. A PP goal from Pat Verbeek for the 6th-seeded ’90-’91 Hartford Whalers tied the game 5-5 early in the third period. The ’89-’90 Whalers scored just 11 seconds after that Verbeek goal thanks to a goal from Todd Krygier. Then, six minutes later Krygier was awarded a penalty shot and he scored to give the ’89-’90 Whalers a 7-5 lead. After a goal from Rob Brown for the ’90-’91 Whalers, Verbeek potted an empty-netter for the ’89-’90 Whalers to seal the deal. The ’90-’91 Whalers responded with five goals in the first period of Game 2 with Verbeek accounting for two of them. They held a 7-2 lead going into the third period. The ’89-’90 Whalers scored three goals while the ’90-’91 Whalers scored an insurance marker and the final was 8-6. Verbeek, Ron Francis and John Cullen all scored two goals for the ’90-’91 Whalers in the 8-6 win.

Cullen then scored two goals in the first period alone in Game 3 to help lead the ’90-’91 Whalers to a 4-0 lead after one. Brown scored for the ’90-’91 Whalers in the second and that eventually was the insurance marker they needed for a 5-3 win in Game 3. Then, in Game 4, Verbeek scored for the ’89-’90 Whalers with five minutes left in the game to tie the game 5-5. However, Dineen potted home a rebound with about a minute and a half left in the game to give the ’90-’91 Whalers a 6-5 win and a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 was another high-scoring affair with Sylvain Cote for the ’90-’91 Whalers getting it started just a minute and a half into the game on the PP. They took a 4-2 lead into the second period. Just shy of the six minute mark of the second period, Verbeek for the ’90-’91 Whalers and Cote for the ’89-’90 Whalers scrapped, but Verbeek was also called for instigating and received a 2-5-10, two for instigating, five for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct. Later in the period, Verbeek, for the ’89-’90 Whalers would get a five-minute major elbowing and a game misconduct. Defenseman Ulf Samuelsson scored on the resulting PP for the ’90-’91 Whalers to give them a 7-3 lead. That same Samuelsson would later receive a five and a game for kneeing. The ’89-’90 Whalers narrowed that big gap in the third period thanks to four goals, but the ’90’91 Whalers scored twice in the final period to finish off the series with a 9-7 win in Game 5.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: ’89-’90 HAR – 8   ’90-’91 HAR – 6    (1-0 ’89-’90 HAR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Pat Verbeek (’89-’90 HAR) – 3 G   1 A   4 P   +2   12 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: RW – Rob Brown (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   4 S

3rd Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’89-’90 HAR) – 1 G   4 A   5 P   +1   7 S   2 PIM

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: ’90-’91 HAR – 8   ’89-’90 HAR – 5    (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Ron Francis (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   Even   5 S

2nd Star: LW – Pat Verbeek (’89-’90 HAR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   Even   11 S

3rd Star: LW – Pat Verbeek (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   -2   6 S   2 PIM

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: ’90-’91 HAR – 5   ’89-’90 HAR – 3    (2-1 ’90-’91 HAR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Randy Cunneyworth (’90-’91 HAR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   2 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: C – John Cullen (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +3   7 S

3rd Star: RW – Rob Brown (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   4 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: ’90-’91 HAR – 6   ’89-’90 HAR – 5    (3-1 ’90-’91 HAR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Pat Verbeek (’89-’90 HAR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   6 S

2nd Star: C – Ron Francis (’89-’90 HAR) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +1   13 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: C – Ray Ferraro (’89-’90 HAR) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   4 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY: ’90-’91 HAR – 9   ’89-’90 HAR – 7    (4-1 ’90-’91 HAR)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +2   8 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: C – Bobby Holik (’90-’91 HAR) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +2   5 S

3rd Star: RW – Kevin Dineen (’89-’90 HAR) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   Even   8 S

That wraps up the 1st Round! The Semifinal Round will take place tomorrow!