Twenty Years Later - Devils 5, Penguins 4 - 03-19-11
"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' 5-4 loss to the Devils, March 19, 1991.
The Penguins had a seven-game unbeaten streak snapped at Brendan Byrne Arena. Defenseman Tommy Abelin gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead 4:17 into the game with an unassisted goal against goaltender Tom Barrasso.
Exactly eight minutes later at 12:17 of the first period, rookie right winger Jaromir Jagr tied the game, 1-1, by beating goaltender Chris Terreri. Defenseman Paul Coffey recorded the lone assist.
At the 14:20 mark, defenseman Ulf Samuelsson scored his first goal as a member of the Penguins to make it 2-1. Assists went to left winger Kevin Stevens and center Ron Francis.
At the 4:53 mark of the second period, center Randy Gilhen put the Penguins up 3-1 off assists from center Mario Lemieux and defenseman Larry Murphy.
Center Patrik Sundstrom scored the Devils' second goal at the 11:11 mark on a power play. Assists went to defenseman Alexei Kasatonov and left winger Kirk Muller.
Lemieux scored at 16:39 to make it 4-2. Left winger Bob Errey and defenseman Gordie Roberts were credited with assists.
Just 10 seconds into the third period, rookie left winger Zdeno Ciger scored to make it 4-3. Kasatonov netted the only assist.
At 4:00, left winger Brendan Shanahan tied the game, 4-4, off assists from defensemen Bruce Driver and Eric Weinrich.
Sundstrom scored the game-winning goal at 15:26. Assists went to Driver and Shanahan.
Notes:
-Barrasso made 28 saves and recorded the loss.
-The three stars 1.) Sundstrom 2.) Shanahan 3.) Kasatonov.
-Defenseman Grant Jennings missed the game due to a foot injury.
-Gilhen's goal was his 14th of the season. In 142 career games prior to the 1990-91 campaign, he had only scored 13.
-The win moved the Devils ahead of the Flyers and Capital for third place in the Patrick Division.
Patrick Division standings:
| Record | Points | |
| Penguins | 38-31-5 | 81 |
| Rangers | 34-28-12 | 80 |
| Devils | 31-31-12 | 74 |
| Flyers | 32-33-9 | 73 |
| Capitals | 33-34-6 | 72 |
| Islanders | 23-41-10 | 54 |
Also in the news that day:
-Blues forward Brett Hull scored his 80th goal of the season in a 2-1 defeat of the Capitals at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md. Hull joined Lemieux and Kings center Wayne Gretzky as the only players in NHL history to reach the 80-goal mark in a single season.
(Photos: Penguins Hockey Cards)