Twenty Years Later: Penguins 4, Blues 3 - 12-31-10

"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' 4-3 defeat of the Blues, Dec. 31, 1990.

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The Penguins the final game of the 1990 calendar year on New Year's Eve at the Civic Arena. Former Penguins center Rich Sutter gave the Blues a 1-0 lead 2:13 into the game with a wrister from the right circle against goaltender Tom Barrasso off assists from center Rod Brind'Amour and defenseman Jeff Brown.

St. Louis increased its lead to 2-0 at 14:36 when right winger Herb Raglan scored off a rebound. Assists went to left winger Sergio Momesso and center Ron Wilson.

Less than two minutes later at 16:34, rookie defenseman Paul Stanton put the Penguins on the scoreboard with a goal off a wrist shot against goaltender Curtis Joseph off assists from left winger Troy Loney and former Blues right winger Joe Mullen.

Just 1:28 into the second, right winger Mark Recchi scored his 20th goal of the season off a power play with a wrister to the short side from the right circle. Defenseman Paul Coffey and center John Cullen netted assists.

At the 9:58 mark of the period, Wilson scored again to regain the lead for St. Louis. Assists went to left winger Gino Cavallini and Brown.

Cullen tied the game again, 3-3, at 15:25 of the period by cleaning up a rebound. Coffey and left winger Bob Errey had assists.

Recchi would score the game-winning goal late at the 16:49 mark of the third period by redirecting a shot by defenseman Larry Murphy. Murphy and Cullen netted assists.

Notes:

-Barrasso earn the win by making 36 saves. It was his seventh consecutive win. That tied Roberto Romano's franchise record for consecutive wins by a goaltender.

-The three stars were: 1.) Recchi 2.) Cullen 3.) Wilson.

-Blues right winger Brett Hull, the NHL's leading goal-scorer with 38, was limited to two shots.

-Recchi tied Hull for the league lead with six game-winning goals.

-The Penguins snapped a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) to the Blues which dated to October of 1988.

-Penguins captain Mario Lemieux resumed skating for the first time since offseason back surgery.

Patrick Division Standings

	Record	Points
Rangers	21-13-7	49
Devils	19-13-9	47
Flyers	20-18-5	47
Penguins	21-18-3	45
Capitals	18-22-1	37
Islanders	14-19-5	33

Also in the news that day:

-Former Redskins and Rams coach George Allen passed away. He was 72. Allen would be posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)