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Saturday, 26 March 2011 19:29

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

"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' 3-1 win against the Flyers, March 26, 1991.

The Penguins moved within two points of clinching the Patrick Division title with a victory at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Center Mario Lemieux scored a power-play breakaway goal 9:35 into the game against goaltender Pete Peeters off an assist from defenseman Larry Murphy and gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute later at 10:22, left winger Craig Berube scored on a rebound against goaltender Tom Barrasso to tie the game, 1-1. Assists went to center Keith Acton and right winger Dale Kushner.

At the 12:15 mark, Lemieux scored an unassisted shorthanded goal to put the Penguins up for good.

Lemieux recorded his first hat trick of the season at the 10:30 mark of the second period off assists from Murphy and defenseman Paul Coffey.

Notes:

-Barrasso made 48 saves to record the victory.

-The three stars were 1.) Lemieux 2.) Barrasso 3.) center Pelle Eklund.

-Lemieux's hat trick was the 26th of his career and the first ever by a Penguins player in Philadelphia.

-Lemieux left the game in the third period after being struck in the face with a puck. He needed 14 stitches to close a cut under his left eyebrow.

-The win was the 40th of the season for the team and tied a franchise record set in 1988-89.

Patrick Division standings:

Also in the news that day:

-Steelers guard John Rienstra, the ninth overall pick in the 1986 draft, joined the Browns as a Plan B free agent.

(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)

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