Twenty Years Later - Kings 2, Penguins 1 - 11-17-10
"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' 2-1 overtime loss against the Kings, Nov. 17, 1990.
The Penguins concluded their four-game road trip with a visit to the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. After a scoreless first period, the Kings took a 1-0 lead 7:15 into the second period when center Todd Elik flipped a backhander past goaltender Frank Pietrangelo's glove. Assists when to right winger Dave Taylor and left winger Luc Robitaille.
At 12:55 of the period, center Randy Gilhen tied it up by shoving a loose puck through the five hole of goaltender Kelly Hrudey. The puck hit the skate of defenseman Tim Watters and deflected into the net. The goal was unassisted.
The third period went scoreless. It took all of 52 seconds into the overtime period for left winger Tony Granato to give the Kings a victory with a breakaway goal off assists from right winger Tomas Sandstrom and defenseman Steve Duchesne.
Notes:
-Pietrangelo recorded the loss after making 26 saves.
-The three stars were 1.) Hrudey 2.) defenseman Paul Coffey 3.) Taylor.
-Penguins center John Cullen missed the game due to an abdominal injury. He had a 13-game scoring streak snapped.
-Right winger Mark Recchi (11) and left winger Kevin Stevens (10) also had scoring streaks snapped.
-Gilhen set a career high with his sixth goal of the season.
-Kings captain Wayne Gretzky was limited to one shot on goal. He had a 14-game scoring streak snapped.
-Cullen (34 points) maintained his lead over Gretzky (30) in the league's scoring race.
-The Kings won their ninth consecutive home game.
Also in the news that day:
-A field goal by kicker Craig Fayak with four seconds left in regulation, helped No. 18 Penn State upset top-ranked Notre Dame, 24-21 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
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-Quarterback Greg Jones rushed for West Virginia's only touchdown in a 31-7 loss to Syracuse at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, W.Va.
-President George H.W. Bush addressed approximately 100,000 people at Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Helping celebrate the one-year anniversary of a student demonstration which eventually led to an overthrow of the communist government, Bush was the first U.S. president to visit the country.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)