Twenty Years Later - Penguins 6, Flames 3 - 03-03-12
"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' 6-2 win against the Flames, March. 3, 1992.
The Penguins started a three-game road trip at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary. The Penguins took a 1-0 lead when defenseman Jim Paek scored his first career regular season goal 1:16 into the game with a slapper against rookie goaltender Trevor Kidd. Center Ron Francis and defenseman Larry Murphy netted assists.
Right winger Jaromir Jagr made it a 2-0 game with a power-play goal at the 7:27 mark off assists from former Flames right winger Joe Mullen and center Bryan Trottier.
The Flames got on the scoreboard at 15:26 with a power-play goal by center Joe Nieuwendyk against goaltender Tom Barrasso. Right wingers Theo Fleury and Sergei Makarov had assists.
The Penguins took a 3-1 lead just 40 seconds into the second period when left winger Bob Errey scored off assists from defensemen Kjell Samuelsson and Gordie Roberts.
Makarov narrowed the lead to 3-2 with a goal exactly a minute later at 1:40. Assists went to left winger Gary Roberts and defenseman Mark Osiecki.
Left winger Kevin Steven's 40th goal of the season at the 6:57 mark proved to be the game winner. Murphy and right winger Rick Tocchet were credited with assists.
At the 10:52 mark, a goal by Francis made it a 5-2 game. Assists were credited to left winger Phil Bourque and Mullen.
Late in the period at 18:58, Roberts scored the Flames' final goal on a power play off assists from defenseman Al MacInnis and Makarov.
Stevens scored the games' final goal late in the third period at teh 19:31 mark on an empty net. Tocchet had the only assist.
Notes:
-Barrasso made 23 saves in the win.
-Penguins center Mario Lemieux and defenseman Ulf Samuelsson missed the game due to illness.
-Penguins center Shawn McEachern, a member of the United States' Olympic team, made his NHL debut. He replaced Lemieux on the team's top line between Stevens and Tocchet.
-The Penguins snapped a seven-game road winless streak (0-6-1).
-Kjell Samuelsson recorded his first point as a Penguin.
-Following the game, Flames general manager and coach Doug Risebrough relinquished his coaching duties.
Statistics:
| Player Position |
Games Played |
Goals | Assists | Points |
| Kevin Stevens, LW | 64 | 41 | 56 | 97 |
| Mario Lemieux, C | 50 | 32 | 62 | 94 |
| Joe Mullen, RW | 64 | 39 | 38 | 77 |
| Larry Murphy, D | 62 | 17 | 42 | 59 |
| Jaromir Jagr, RW | 54 | 27 | 30 | 57 |
| Ron Francis, C | 54 | 16 | 23 | 39 |
| Rick Tocchet, RW | 48 | 13 | 22 | 35 |
| Bob Errey, LW | 62 | 14 | 13 | 27 |
| Bryan Trottier, C | 50 | 9 | 16 | 25 |
| Troy Loney, LW | 60 | 8 | 14 | 22 |
| Phil Bourque, LW | 44 | 8 | 14 | 21 |
| Gordie Roberts, D | 58 | 2 | 19 | 21 |
| Jiri Hrdina, C | 47 | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| Kjell Samuelsson, D | 60 | 4 | 10 | 14 |
| Ulf Samuelsson, D | 47 | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| Ken Priestlay, C | 50 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| Jamie Leach, RW | 38 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Paul Stanton, D | 40 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Jim Paek, D | 46 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Grant Jennings, D | 42 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Peter Taglianetti, D | 43 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jeff Chychrun, D | 30 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Gord Dineen, D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shawn McEachern, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Mulvenna, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Todd Nelson, D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Daniels, LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Caufield, RW | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Division standings:
| Record | Points | |
| Rangers | 42-20-4 | 88 |
| Capitals | 37-23-6 | 80 |
| Devils | 33-22-9 | 75 |
| Penguins | 29-27-8 | 66 |
| Islanders | 27-30-7 | 61 |
| Flyers | 24-30-11 | 59 |
Also in the news that day:
-Forward Chris McNeal had career highs of 27 points and 20 rebounds for Pitt which defeated Boston College, 90-66, at the Fitzgerald Field House.
(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)