Twenty Years Later - Penguins 5, Devils 3 - 01-22-11

"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' 5-3 win against the Devils, Jan. 22, 1991.

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The Penguins extended a home winning streak to six game at the Civic Arena. Center Randy Gilhen opened the scoring at 9:20 of the first period by netting a goal from the slot against goaltender Sean Burke. Assists went to defenseman Zarley Zalapski and right winger Scott Young.

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At the 15:29 mark, right winger Mark Recchi made it 2-0 with a slapper from above the left circle off assists from center John Cullen and defenseman Peter Taglianetti.

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Less than 30 seconds later at 15:46, Recchi scored again to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead. Defenseman Paul Coffey recorded the lone assist.

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Cullen made it 4-0 on a breakaway at the 7:29 mark of the second period. Left winger Bob Errey recorded the only assist.

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A goal by left winger Kevin Stevens at 11:59 gave the Penguins a 5-0 lead on a power play with a wrister from the right circle. Assists went to defenseman Larry Murphy and Recchi.

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The Devils finally got on the scoreboard at the 3:39 mark of the third period when rookie defenseman Eric Weinrich scored on a power play against goaltender Tom Barrasso. Center Peter Stastny and left winger Zdeno Ciger had assists.

Right winger Jeff Madill scored the Devils' second goal less than two minutes later at 5:14 off assists from right winger John MacLean and center Patrick Sundstrom.

A goal by center Laurie Boschman at 13:16 made it 5-3. Assists went to defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov and right winger Doug Brown.

Notes:

-Barrasso made 37 saves to record the win.

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

-Cullen appeared in his 200th career game.

-Young extended a scoring streak to six games.

-Gilhen's goal was his 13th of the season. Prior to the season, he had 13 in his entire career.

Patrick Division standings:

	Record	Points
Rangers	26-17-8	60
Flyers	25-21-6	56
Penguins	26-21-3	55
Devils	19-20-10	48
Capitals	22-25-2	46
Islanders	17-25-6	40

Also in the news that day:

-In the seventh day of the Gulf War, United States forces captured seven Iraqi soliders following a fight along the Iraq/Saudi Arabia border. An Iraqi SCUD missle got past Patriot missle defenses and struck a residential area of Tel Aviv, Israel. The attack injured 70 people.

-The U.S. Postal Service increased the price of a first-class stamp from 25 cents to 29.