Twenty Years Later - Canadiens 5, Penguins 4 - 10-23-10
"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' 5-4 loss against the Canadiens, Oct. 23, 1990.
The Penguins extended a winless streak to four games with a defeat in front of 15,627 fans at the Civic Arena. They took a 1-0 lead at 10:55 of the first period when left winger Bob Errey beat Montreal goaltender Patrick Roy with a backhander. Right wingers Mark Recchi and Joe Mullen recorded assists.
At 16:15 of the period, left winger Brent Gilchrist tied the game, 1-1 by beating goaltender Tom Barrasso. Right winger Russ Courtnall and center Guy Carbonneau had assists.
The Penguins reclaimed the lead, 2-1, at 5:35 of the second periods when center John Cullen beat Roy off assists from defensemen Paul Coffey and Randy Hillier.
A power play goal by right winger Stephane Richer tied the game again, 2-2 at 14:56 of the period. Left winger Mike McPhee and center Brian Skrudland were credited with assists.
Just over a minute and a half later at 16:32, an unassisted goal by center Denis Savard gave Montreal a 3-2 advantage.
At 13:48 of the third period, defenseman Zarley Zalapski tied the game, 3-3, with a power-play goal. Coffey and Cullen recorded assists.
Right winger Rob Brown would score another power play goal at 15:21 to give the Penguins a 4-3 lead. Zalapski and Coffey had assists.
The Penguins would lose the lead for good at 17:00 when defenseman Eric Desjardins beat Barrasso from the right circle off assists from Savard and defenseman Sylvain Lefebvre.
The Canadiens reclaimed the lead 38 seconds later when defenseman Mathieu Schneider ripped a wrister from the slot by Barrasso. Courtnall and Carbneau had assists.
Notes:
-Barrasso made 28 saves in the defeat.
-The three stars were 1.) Savard 2.) Coffey 3.) Richer
-On the Penguins' 0-3 record in one-goal games, head coach Bob Johnson said, "I guarantee we're going to start winning some of those games. I don't know exactly when. It may take awhile."
Also in the news that day:
-Kings captain Wayne Gretzky recorded two assists in a 6-4 home win against the Flames and moved his career point total to 1,999.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)