Twenty Years Later - Blackhawks 4, Penguins 1 - 10-11-10
"Twenty Years Later" is a segment, with a highly unimaginative name, 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' 4-1 loss against the Blackhawks, Oct. 11, 1990.
The Penguins continued their road trip with a second consecutive loss at Chicago Stadium. Chicago took an early 1-0 lead 3:59 into the first when center Jeremy Roenick scored his first goal of the season on a power play by putting a puck behind Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso. Right winger Steve Larmer and left winger Michel Goulet recorded assists.
Less than two minutes later at 5:54, off a two-on-one with Goulet, Roenick put Chicago up 2-0 with Goulet and defenseman Trent Yawney getting assists.
At 10:07 of the second, right winger Rob Brown pushed a puck from behind the net with a backhanded pass to the slot. Left winger Kevin Stevens was there and punched a shot by rookie goaltender Ed Belfour's left leg to cut the score to 2-1. Brown and defenseman Chris Dahlquist had assists.
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Roenick recorded a hat trick at 14:03 of the third and made it 3-1 when he fought off a check from Penguins right winger Tony Tanti and knocked a puck out of the air by Barrasso off a rebound from a shot by Larmer. Assists went to Larmer and Goulet once again.
Chicago got an insurance goal to make it 4-1 from center Mike Hudson at 16:18 of the period off another two-on-one. Defenseman Wayne Presley got an assist.
Notes:
-Barrasso made 27 saves and suffered his first loss of the season. His record stood at 2-1-0
-The three stars were: 1.) Roenick 2.) Goulet 3.) Belfour
-Two defensemen - Presley and Paul Coffey - led the game with five shots each.
-Roenick's hat trick was the second of his career.
-The Blackhawks recorded the first 11 shots of the game.
-Stevens' goal gave him an league-leading 12 points.
-Penguins defenseman Jim Johnson was scratched due to a back injury.
-The Penguins' power play went 0 for 3.
-Of the team's sputtering power play, Stevens told the Pittsburgh Press: "For us to win, we've got to have the power play clicking. And it's not right now. We're scoring one here and one there, but when we need a big goal, we've got to come up with it and we're really not getting it right now."
Also in the news that day:
-Pirates manager Jim Leyland was given a two-year contract extension worth $400,000 per season.
-Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum officials announced they would ban beer sales for that weekend's game between the Los Angeles Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. The decision stemmed from the assault of Steelers fan Paul Albrecht who was beaten into a coma by Raiders fan Christopher Geringer Sept. 23.
-Snap bracelets were banned in all New York City schools after several children were cut by metal from the popular fashion fad.