1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins
Stanley Cup Champions
Wales Conference Champions
Division 3rd Patrick
Conference 4th Wales
1991–92 record 39–32–9
Home record 21–13–6
Road record 18–19–3
Goals for 343 (1st)
Goals against 308 (20th)
General Manager Craig Patrick
Coach Scotty Bowman
Captain Mario Lemieux
Arena Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance 15,993
Team leaders
Goals Kevin Stevens (54)
Assists Mario Lemieux (87)
Points Mario Lemieux (131)
Penalties in minutes Kevin Stevens (252)
Wins Tom Barrasso (25)
Goals against average Tom Barrasso (3.53)

The 1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins 25th season in the NHL, and they were coming off of their 1st ever Stanley Cup victory in 1990–91, as they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in the Finals in 6 games.

In the off-season, head coach Bob Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer, causing him to step down, and the Penguins would bring in former St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres head coach, Scotty Bowman, to replace Johnson. Bowman had led the Canadiens to 5 Stanley Cup championships in the 1970's. Johnson would lose his battle to cancer on November 26, 1991, and the Penguins would honor him by wearing a patch on the left sleeve of their jersey with his nickname "Badger" written on it along with his birth year and death year.

Pittsburgh started the season off very well, and through their first 38 games, they had a record of 22–12–4, earning 48 points and fighting with the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers for 1st in the division. The team, along with Mario Lemieux missing some time due to his back injuries, would slump in their next 24 games, going 5–15–4, to slide down to .500, and battling with the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers for the final playoff position in the division. The Penguins, facing losing Paul Coffey as a free agent after the season, would deal him to the Los Angeles Kings in a move that looked like they were giving up for the season, however, they would make a move to bring some more grit to the team, acquiring Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson and Ken Wregget from the Philadelphia Flyers for Mark Recchi, and the club would have a 12–5–1 record to close out the season, and finish in 3rd place in the Patrick Division, making the playoffs for the 2nd straight season.

Mario Lemieux led the club offensively, despite missing 16 games to injuries, as he earned an NHL high 131 points, as he scored 44 goals and 87 assists, to win the Art Ross Trophy. Kevin Stevens led the team with 54 goals, and finished 2nd in league scoring behind Lemieux with 123 points. Joe Mullen would also have a solid season, as he scored 42 goals and earned 87 points, while Jaromir Jagr continued to develop, as he recorded 69 points in 70 games. Larry Murphy put up a defense high 77 points in his 1st full season with the Penguins.

In goal, Tom Barrasso played the majority of the games, earning a team high 25 victories, along with a team best 3.53 GAA, while earning a shutout for the club.

In the playoffs, the Penguins would open up against the Washington Capitals, who they defeated in the 2nd round in the previous season en route to the Stanley Cup championship. The Capitals finished the season 11 points ahead of Pittsburgh, and had home ice for the series. Washington would open the series up with 2 solid victories at home, however, Pittsburgh responded with a game 3 victory to cut the Caps series lead in half. Washington would demolish the Penguins in the 4th game, going up 3–1 in the series, and returning home in hopes of closing it out. Pittsburgh had no trouble beating the Capitals in game 5, winning 5–2, and evened the series up at home in game 6 with a 6–4 win. In the 7th and deciding game of the series, Tom Barrasso would step up, allowing only 1 goal, as Pittsburgh won the final game by a 3–1 score to upset the favored Capitals, and complete their comeback.

Up next was the Patrick Division winning New York Rangers, who had 18 more points than Pittsburgh during the regular season. Pittsburgh would surprise the Rangers with a 4–2 victory in the opening game, however, New York tied the series up in the 2nd game. The Rangers took a 2–1 series lead with 6–5 overtime victory. The Penguins would tie the series up with their own overtime win in the 4th game, as the series returned to New York for the 5th game. Pittsburgh would hang on for a 3–2 victory in the 5th game, and close out the series at home with a 5–1 win, to upset the Rangers, and return to the Conference Finals.

The Penguins next opponent was the Boston Bruins, who they defeated last season in 6 games. The Bruins had 84 points during the regular season, 3 less than the Penguins, giving Pittsburgh home ice advantage. The Pens opened up the series with a 4–3 overtime win, then went up 2–0 in the series with a 5–2 win, as the series would shift to Boston. The Penguins stayed hot, winning games 3 and 4 by identical 5–1 scores, to sweep the Bruins, and reach the Stanley Cup finals for the 2nd straight season.

Pittsburgh had to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in hopes of a 2nd straight Stanley Cup. The Hawks finished the season with 87 points, the same amount as the Penguins, and had defeated the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and Edmonton Oilers to reach the finals, going into the series with an NHL playoff record 10 game winning streak. The Penguins were on their own 7 game winning streak, as they won the last 3 games of the Rangers series, and swept Boston. Pittsburgh stayed hot, with a 5–4 victory in game 1, and then defeated Chicago 3–1 in the 2nd game to go up 2–0 as the series would move to Chicago Stadium. The Penguins would shutout Chicago 1–0 in the 3rd game to win their 10th game in a row, and Pittsburgh finished off the sweep with a 6–5 game 4 win, setting an NHL playoff record with their 11th straight win, as they would become the 1st team since the 1986–87 and 1987–88 Edmonton Oilers to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Mario Lemieux would win his 2nd Conn Smythe Trophy, as he recorded a league high 34 points in only 15 playoff games.

Contents

[edit] Season standings

Patrick Division GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Rangers 80 50 25 5 321 246 105
Washington Capitals 80 45 27 8 330 275 98
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 39 32 9 343 308 87
New Jersey Devils 80 38 31 11 289 259 87
New York Islanders 80 34 35 11 291 299 79
Philadelphia Flyers 80 32 37 11 252 273 75

[edit] Game log

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Buffalo Sabres 1–0–0 2
2 October 6 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0–1 3
3 October 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Philadelphia Flyers 2–0–1 5
4 October 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 New Jersey Devils 2–1–1 5
5 October 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–6 New York Islanders 3–1–1 7
6 October 17 New York Islanders 5–8 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1–1 9
7 October 19 New York Rangers 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2–1 9
8 October 22 Chicago Blackhawks 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2–2 10
9 October 24 New Jersey Devils 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3–2 10
10 October 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Montreal Canadiens 4–4–2 10
11 October 29 Washington Capitals 8–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5–2 10
12 October 31 Minnesota North Stars 1–8 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–5–2 12
13 November 2 Hartford Whalers 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6–2 12
14 November 5 Boston Bruins 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6–3 13
15 November 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Winnipeg Jets 6–6–3 15
16 November 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Minnesota North Stars 7–6–3 17
17 November 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 New York Rangers 7–7–3 17
18 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–7–3 19
19 November 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Washington Capitals 8–8–3 19
20 November 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Quebec Nordiques 9–8–3 21
21 November 20 Philadelphia Flyers 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 10–8–3 23
22 November 23 New York Islanders 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 10–8–4 24
23 November 27 New Jersey Devils 4–8 Pittsburgh Penguins 11–8–4 26
24 November 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–3 Philadelphia Flyers 12–8–4 28
25 November 30 Philadelphia Flyers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 13–8–4 30
26 December 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Edmonton Oilers 13–9–4 30
27 December 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–0 San Jose Sharks 14–9–4 32
28 December 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–6 St. Louis Blues 14–10–4 32
29 December 10 New York Rangers 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 15–10–4 34
30 December 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 New Jersey Devils 16–10–4 36
31 December 14 Washington Capitals 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 16–11–4 36
32 December 17 San Jose Sharks 2–10 Pittsburgh Penguins 17–11–4 38
33 December 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Boston Bruins 18–11–4 40
34 December 21 New York Rangers 7–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 18–12–4 40
35 December 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 New York Islanders 19–12–4 42
36 December 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–12 Pittsburgh Penguins 20–12–4 44
37 December 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Washington Capitals 21–12–4 46
38 December 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 New York Rangers 22–12–4 48
39 December 31 New Jersey Devils 7–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 22–13–4 48
40 January 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 New Jersey Devils 22–14–4 48
41 January 4 Winnipeg Jets 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 23–14–4 50
42 January 7 Los Angeles Kings 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 23–15–4 50
43 January 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Calgary Flames 23–16–4 50
44 January 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Vancouver Canucks 24–16–4 52
45 January 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Detroit Red Wings 24–16–5 53
46 January 23 Buffalo Sabres 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 24–17–5 53
47 January 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 New York Islanders 25–17–5 55
48 January 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Washington Capitals 25–18–5 55
49 January 28 Winnipeg Jets 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins 25–19–5 55
50 January 30 New York Islanders 8–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 25–20–5 55
51 February 1 St. Louis Blues 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 26–20–5 57
52 February 3 Detroit Red Wings 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 26–20–6 58
53 February 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Rangers 26–21–6 58
54 February 8 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 26–22–6 58
55 February 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Boston Bruins 26–23–6 58
56 February 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Minnesota North Stars 26–24–6 58
57 February 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Philadelphia Flyers 26–24–7 59
58 February 18 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–24–7 61
59 February 20 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–24–8 62
60 February 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Montreal Canadiens 27–25–8 62
61 February 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Washington Capitals 27–26–8 62
62 February 27 Hartford Whalers 8–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 27–27–8 62
63 February 29 Buffalo Sabres 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 28–27–8 64
64 March 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Calgary Flames 29–27–8 66
65 March 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 San Jose Sharks 30–27–8 68
66 March 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Los Angeles Kings 30–28–8 68
67 March 10 Calgary Flames 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 31–28–8 70
68 March 12 New York Islanders 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 32–28–8 72
69 March 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Toronto Maple Leafs 32–29–8 72
70 March 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Chicago Blackhawks 33–29–8 74
71 March 17 Edmonton Oilers 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 34–29–8 76
72 March 19 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 35–29–8 78
73 March 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Hartford Whalers 35–29–9 79
74 March 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Detroit Red Wings 35–30–9 79
75 March 26 Vancouver Canucks 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins 36–30–9 81
76 March 28 Montreal Canadiens 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 37–30–9 83
77 March 31 Philadelphia Flyers 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 38–30–9 85
78 April 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 New Jersey Devils 38–31–9 85
79 April 15 Washington Capitals 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 39–31–9 87
80 April 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–7 New York Rangers 39–32–9 87

[edit] Playoffs

[edit] Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Washington Capitals 3

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Washington Capitals 0–1
2 April 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–6 Washington Capitals 0–2
3 April 23 Washington Capitals 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2
4 April 25 Washington Capitals 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3
5 April 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Washington Capitals 2–3
6 April 29 Washington Capitals 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3
7 May 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Washington Capitals 4–3

[edit] Pittsburgh Penguins 4, New York Rangers 2

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Rangers 1–0
2 May 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 New York Rangers 1–1
3 May 7 New York Rangers 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2
4 May 9 New York Rangers 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2
5 May 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 New York Rangers 3–2
6 May 13 New York Rangers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2

[edit] Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Boston Bruins 0

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 17 Boston Bruins 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0
2 May 19 Boston Bruins 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0
3 May 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Boston Bruins 3–0
4 May 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Boston Bruins 4–0

[edit] Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 26 Chicago Blackhawks 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0
2 May 28 Chicago Blackhawks 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0
3 May 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Chicago Blackhawks 3–0
4 June 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–5 Chicago Blackhawks 4–0

[edit] Season stats

[edit] Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Mario Lemieux 64 44 87 131 94
Kevin Stevens 80 54 69 123 252
Joe Mullen 77 42 45 87 30
Larry Murphy 77 21 56 77 50
Mark Recchi 58 33 37 70 78

[edit] Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO Save % GAA
Tom Barrasso 57 3329 25 22 9 196 1 .885 3.53
Wendell Young 18 838 7 6 0 53 0 .889 3.79
Ken Wregget 9 448 5 3 0 31 0 .847 4.15
Frank Pietrangelo 5 225 2 1 0 20 0 .846 5.33

[edit] Playoff stats

[edit] Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Mario Lemieux 15 16 18 34 2
Kevin Stevens 21 13 15 28 28
Ron Francis 21 8 19 27 6
Jaromir Jagr 21 11 13 24 6
Rick Tocchet 14 6 13 19 24

[edit] Goaltending

Player GP TOI W L GA SO Save % GAA
Tom Barrasso 21 1233 16 5 58 1 .907 2.82
Ken Wregget 1 40 0 0 4 0 .750 6.00

[edit] Draft picks

Pittsburgh's draft picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 16 Markus Naslund Flag of Sweden Sweden MODO Hockey (Sweden)
2 38 Rusty Fitzgerald Flag of the United States United States Duluth East High School (USHS)
3 60 Shane Peacock Flag of Canada Canada Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
4 82 Joe Tamminen Flag of the United States United States Virginia High School (USHS)
5 104 Rob Melanson Flag of Canada Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
6 126 Brian Clifford Flag of the United States United States Nichols School (USHS)
7 148 Ed Patterson Flag of Canada Canada Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
8 170 Peter McLaughlin Flag of the United States United States Belmont High School (USHS)
9 192 Jeff Lembke Flag of the United States United States Omaha Lancers (USHL)
10 214 Chris Tok Flag of the United States United States Greenway High School (USHS)
11 236 Paul Dyck Flag of Canada Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
12 258 Pasi Huura Flag of Finland Finland Ilves (Finland)
This sports related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] References

v • d • e
1991–92 NHL season by team
Patrick
New Jersey • NY Islanders • NY Rangers • Philadelphia • Pittsburgh • Washington
Adams
Boston • Buffalo • Hartford • Montreal • Québec
Norris
Smythe
Calgary • Edmonton • Los Angeles • San Jose • Winnipeg • Vancouver
See also
v • d • e
Pittsburgh Penguins
v • d • e
Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
1967–68 • 1968–69 • 1969–70 • 1970–71 • 1971–72 • 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1975–76 • 1976–77 • 1977–78 • 1978–79 • 1979–80 • 1980–81 • 1981–82 • 1982–83 • 1983–84 • 1984–85 • 1985–86 • 1986–87 • 1987–88 • 1988–89 • 1989–90 • 1990–91 • 1991–92 • 1992–93 • 1993–94 • 1994–95 • 1995–96 • 1996–97 • 1997–98 • 1998–99 • 1999–00 • 2000–01 • 2001–02 • 2002–03 • 2003–04 • 2004–05 • 2005–06 • 2006–07 • 2007–08 • 2008-09
Bold indicates Stanley Cup victory