Twenty Years Later - Penguins 7, Capitals 4 - 10-05-10
NOTE: This post has been updated with clips provided by EN contributor Jay Korber who has a superb collection of older Penguins videos on his priceless YouTube channel, pensgoals.
"Twenty Years Later" is a highly unimaginatively named segment which will appear on Empty Netters throughout the 2010-11 season. We will examine the Penguins' 1990-91 season which led to the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. We will look back on games on a particular date and catch up with former players, coaches, executives and media members who were a part or around that team.
Today, we look at the Penguins' season-opening 7-4 defeat of the Capitals, Oct. 5, 1990.
The Penguins kicked off the 1990-91 season without the services of Mario Lemieux who was recovering from a back ailment by routing the Capitals at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md. Left winger Kevin Stevens started the scoring by taking a pass from center John Cullen, fending off Washington defenseman Joel Quenneville and putting a backhander by goaltender Mike Liut at 4:58 of the first period. Cullen recorded the only assist.
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With center Bryan Trottier, making his Penguins debut, in the penalty box for hooking, the Capitals tied the game when center Dale Hunter put a backhander over the shoulder of Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso at 6:45. Right winger John Druce and center Mikhail Pivonka recorded assists.
At 8:36, defenseman Paul Coffey put the Penguins back up, 2-1, by taking a pass from Stevens and put a shot behind Liut.
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Play was delayed in the first intermission when the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine broke down three times. When action resumed in the second period, right winger Tony Tanti moved a backhanded pass to center Barry Pederson in the left faceoff circle. Pederson put a snap shot into the cage at exactly 5:00 in the period to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead. Tanti and defenseman Zarley Zalapski recorded assists.
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Washington responded again on a power play at 11:17 when center Mike Ridley beat Barrasso off assists from Hunter and Pivonka.
The Capitals tied the game, 3-3, at 7:04 of a high-scoring third period as left winger Kelly Miller beat Barrasso off assists from center Mike Ridley and defenseman Mike Lalor.
The Penguins would regain the lead in just over two minutes at 9:21 when right winger Joe Mullen, also making his Penguins debut, beat Liut on a power play off assists from right winger Mark Recchi and Stevens.
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Washington kept fighting back and tied the game again when center Peter Zezel beat Barrasso, again on a power play, at 12:07 with assists from right winger Dino Ciccarelli and defenseman Bob Rouse.
Stevens gave the Penguins the lead for good by beating Liut less than a minute later at 12:45. His "Option Line" linemates, Recchi and Cullen, recorded the assists.
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Recchi would net insurance goals at 14:37 and 19:24 with Cullen and Stevens getting assists on each score.
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Notes:
-Barrasso earned the win by making 19 saves.
-The three stars were: 1.) Stevens 2.) Hunter 3.) Mullen
-Of the high-scoring game, Stevens told the Post-Gazette, "Their team had to open it up and take some chances, but we know how to play that style. We came in just trying to play some tight defense and convert our scoring chances."
-An 18-year-old right winger named Jaromir Jagr, the club's first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in that summer's draft, and defenseman Paul Stanton each made their NHL debuts. Each payer recorded a shot.
-Former Flames coach Bob Johnson earned his first win as the Penguins' head coach.
-Washington's power play was 3 for 6.
-The Penguins outshot the Capitals, 29-24.
-Defenseman Randy Hiller was named the team's temporary captain as Lemieux recovered from his back ailment. Coffey and Cullen served as alternate captains.
-General manager Craig Patrick rejoined the team that night after spending time in Czechoslovakia negotiating a release for the contract of Jagr with Kladno of the Czech Elite League.
Also in the news that day:
-The Pirates lost Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, 2-1, to the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Tom Browning earned the win by allowing one earned run in six innings. Jose Lind scored the Pirates' only run with a home run in the fifth inning. The series moved to Pittsburgh tied, 1-1.
-President George H.W. Bush ordered a shutdown of all non-essential services of the federal government in an attempt to curtail soaring budget deficits.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)