Twenty Years Later - Penguins 4, Red Wings 4 - 02-03-12
"Twenty Years Later" is a segment with a highly unimaginative name which will appear on Empty Netters throughout the 2011-12 season. We will examine the Penguins' 1991-92 season which led to the second 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' 4-4 tie against the Red Wings, Feb. 3, 1992.
The Penguins finished a four-game home stand with a tie at the Civic Arena. Center Sergei Fedorov gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead 1:36 into the game with a goal against goaltender Tom Barrasso. Right winger Sheldon Kennedy and left winger Paul Ysebaert netted assists.
Detroit took a 2-0 lead at 11:44 of the first period when right winger Ray Sheppard scored on a power play off assists from defensemen Steve Chiasson and Nicklas Lidstrom, a rookie.
Just 1:26 into the second period, right winger Mark Recchi scored his 30th goal of the season with a one-timer from the slot against former Penguins goaltender Greg Millen. Left winger Kevin Stevens recorded the only assist.
Just over three minutes later at 4:33, center Bryan Trottier scored a power-play goal with a deflection to tie tha game. Defensemen Larry Murphy and Paul Coffey had assists.
Trottier scored his second goal of the game with a backhander from the slot at 14:26 to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead. Recchi netted the lone assist.
The Red Wings tied the game, 3-3, when center Steve Yzerman scored a shorthanded goal off an assist from rookie defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov.
At 12:57, Fedorov scored his second goal of the game and 20th of the season to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead. Left winger Shawn Burr and Chiasson were credited with assists.
A power-play goal by Recchi at 15:19 tied the game, 4-4. Stevens and Trottier were credited with assists.
Notes:
-Barrasso made 27 saves in the game.
-The three stars were 1.) Trottier 2.) Recchi 3.) Fedorov.
-Recchi joined center Mario Lemieux as the only players in franchise history to record 30 or goals in their first three seasons.
Statistics:
| Player Position |
Games Played |
Goals | Assists | Points |
| Kevin Stevens, LW | 52 | 36 | 47 | 83 |
| Mario Lemieux, C | 42 | 29 | 51 | 80 |
| Mark Recchi, RW | 52 | 31 | 32 | 63 |
| Joe Mullen, RW | 52 | 29 | 33 | 62 |
| Paul Coffey, D | 50 | 9 | 51 | 60 |
| Jaromir Jagr, RW | 48 | 22 | 28 | 51 |
| Larry Murphy, D | 50 | 11 | 30 | 41 |
| Ron Francis, C | 42 | 12 | 19 | 31 |
| Bob Errey, LW | 50 | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| Troy Loney, LW | 49 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| Bryan Trottier, C | 38 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
| Gordie Roberts, D | 46 | 2 | 15 | 17 |
| Phil Bourque, LW | 36 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| Jiri Hrdina, C | 36 | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Ulf Samuelsson, D | 37 | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| Jamie Leach, RW | 32 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Ken Priestlay, C | 43 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Paul Stanton, D | 32 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Jim Paek, D | 39 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Grant Jennings, D | 38 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Peter Taglianetti, D | 35 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Glenn Mulvenna, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Nelson, D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Daniels, LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Caufield, RW | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Division standings:
| Record | Points | |
| Rangers | 34-17-2 | 70 |
| Capitals | 30-17-4 | 64 |
| Penguins | 26-20-6 | 58 |
| Devils | 25-17-7 | 57 |
| Islanders | 19-24-7 | 45 |
| Flyers | 17-24-10 | 44 |
Also in the news that day:
-Forward DeRon Hayes scored 19 points and collected 10 rebounds for Penn State in a 69-59 win against Duquesne at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)