Classic Pens: The 50 Greatest Games in Pittsburgh Penguins History Second Edition, Revised and Updated

by David Finoli

Overview

Includes the 2016 Stanley Cup Championship Series

In the first edition of Classic Pens readers were reminded of the franchise’s most memorable contests, from its beginnings in the 1960s through the 2010s. This new edition brings the team’s standout games up to date, including their triumphant 2016 Stanley Cup victory.

During the Penguins’ early years, it wasn’t uncommon to buy a $5 ticket for a seat at the top of the Civic Arena (the “Igloo”) and at the end of the first period move to a seat in the first row behind the glass. Except for a few winning moments scattered through their first three decades, the idea of a full-season sold-out arena was too farfetched, never mind the thought of a Stanley Cup. The only constant was that the Penguins were always in financial trouble and often threatening to move out of the Steel City.

The 1983–84 campaign proved to be the season that turned everything around. The Penguins’ prize was Mario Lemieux, an 18-year-old center from Montreal, Quebec, who would lift the Pens out of the canyon of last-place finishes to the lofty heights of back to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992. Lemieux went on to become one of the greatest players the game had ever seen. He and teammates such as Jaromir Jagr, Tom Barrasso, Ron Francis, Joe Mullen, Kevin Stevens, Larry Murphy, and Paul Coffey soon made the Civic Arena the place to be.

In 1999 Mario Lemieux, now in his 30s, headed a group that purchased the club. The new ownership began a renaissance in which players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang, and Jordan Staal again made the Pens a powerhouse on the ice, led them to a third Stanley Cup championship in 2009, and secured one of the best new buildings in the NHL: the Consol Energy Center. In 2016 the Penguins qualified for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season, winning their fourth Stanley Cup by defeating the San Jose Sharks in a 4–2 series.

In Classic Pens, author David Finoli’s tour of the best moments in the Penguins’ long history will evoke special memories from longtime fans and delight those who currently follow the team.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631013003
Publisher:	Kent State University Press
Publication date:	09/15/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	855,415
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

David Finoli is an author and sports historian who has written 22 books, mostly dealing with the history of sports in Western Pennsylvania, including two previous titles published by the Kent State University Press: Classic Bucs (2013) and Classic Steelers (2014). He is also a contributor to various books, magazines, and sports websites. Originally from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Finoli lives in Monroeville with his wife Vivian and children Cara, Matt, and Tony.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

#50 Yes, We Belong

Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, March 19, 2016 1

#49 The Glorious Steam Bath

Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars, May 23, 1991 5

#48 The Perfect Month

Penguins vs. New York Islanders, March 30, 2013 9

#47 It's a Great Day for Hockey

Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, November 27, 1991 13

#46 The Win Column

Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues, October 13, 1967 17

#45 Contenders

Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues, April 10, 1975 21

#44 The Greatest

Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues, October 15, 1988 25

#43 The Postseason Waters

Penguins vs. Oakland Seals, April 8, 1970 29

#42 Backs Against the Wall

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, May 14, 1995 33

#41 The Concussion

Penguins vs. New York Islanders, November 21, 2011 37

#40 Le Magnifique

Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens, January 26, 1997 41

#39 Goalie Number 3

Penguins vs. New York Rangers, April 13, 2016 45

#38 Wales Squared

Penguins vs. Boston Bruins, May 23, 1992 49

#37 Long Odds

Penguins vs. St Louis Blues, April 2, 1972 53

#36 The '62 Mets Revisited

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, March 15, 1975 57

#35 Breaking the Islanders' Jinx

Penguins vs. New York Islanders, May 11, 2013 61

#34 No Comparison

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, May 13, 2009 65

#33 Bonino, Bonino, Bonino

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, May 10, 2016 69

#32 Cowher Karma

Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes, May 26, 2009 73

#31 The Igloo

Penguins vs. New York Islanders, April 8, 2010 77

#30 Shhhhh

Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, April 25, 2009 81

#29 First Game, First Shift

Penguins vs. Boston Bruins, October 11, 1984 85

#28 Banners

Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings, March 27, 1991 89

#27 Where No Team Has Gone Before

Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, April 22, 1993 93

#26 Two Minutes to Remember

Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues, November 22, 1972 97

#25 The Keystone Champions

Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, May 18, 2008 101

#24 Put Stanley Back in the Case

Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings, June 2, 2008 105

#23 The Great Outdoors

Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres, January 1, 2008 109

#22 Mario 2.0

Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, December 27, 2000 113

#21 What Could Have Been

Penguins vs. Oakland Seals, April 12, 1970 117

#20 Survival of the Fittest

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, April 24, 1996 121

#19 The Goal That Saved Pittsburgh

Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, May 2, 1999 125

#18 The Streak

Penguins vs. New York Rangers, April 9, 1993 129

#17 Cancel the Parade

Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars, May 21, 1991 133

#16 The Called Shot

Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks, June 1, 2016 137

#15 The Pride of Notre Dame

Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, May 26, 2016 141

#14 The 15-Year Nightmare

Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, February 2, 1989 145

#13 Never Say Die

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals, May 1, 1992 149

#12 The Rented Mule

Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, April 25, 1989 153

#11 The Fergie Flyer

Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres, April 14, 1979 157

#10 The Kasparaitis Slide

Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres, May 10, 2001 161

#9 The Save

Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, April 13, 1991 165

#8 When It Seems All Hope Is Gone

Penguins vs. New York Rangers, May 9, 1992 169

#7 Never Let Him Out of Your Sight

Penguins vs. Chicago Black Hawks, May 26, 1992 173

#6 Five Goals, Five Ways

Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, December 31, 1988 177

#5 Sweeter the Second Time Around

Penguins vs. Chicago Black Hawks, June 1, 1992 181

#4 Spit Shine Your Shoes

Penguins vs. Boston Bruins, May 11, 1991 185

#3 On the Road Again

Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks, June 12, 2016 189

#2 A Dream Come True

Penguins vs. Minnesota North Stars, May 25, 1991 193

#1 Max

Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings, June 12, 2009 197

Notes 201

Special Bonus Chapter: The Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff Run 207