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Thursday, 21 April 2011 14:00

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 Capitals in Game 3 of the Patrick Division final, April 21, 1991.

The Penguins took a 2-1 series lead with a victory at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md. Center Mario Lemieux put the Penguins up 1-0 4:53 into the game with a goal against goaltender Don Beaupre. Assists went to right winger Mark Recchi and defenseman Larry Murphy.

Less than four minutes later at 8:25 of the first period, right winger Dino Ciccarelli scored on a power play against goaltender Tom Barrasso to tie the game, 1-1. Centers Dale Hunter and Michal Pivonka recorded assists.

A goal by left winger Kevin Stevens at 9:20 of the second period put the Penguins up for good, 2-1. Lemieux and Barrasso were credited with assists.

At 15:32 of the second, center Bryan Trottier scored his first goal of the playoffs to make it 3-1. Murphy and rookie right winger Jaromir Jagr had assists.

Notes:

-Barrasso made 26 saves to record the win.

-The three stars were 1.) Lemieux 2.) Barrasso 3.) Ciccarrelli.

-Barrasso returned to the lineup after missing four games due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Game 5 of the Patrick Division semifinal series against the Devils.

-With defensemen Paul Coffey (jaw), Ulf Samuelsson (hand) and Peter Taglianetti (undisclosed) all sidelined, the Penguins dressed rookie defenseman Jim Paek who made his Stanley Cup playoff debut. Paek, the first Korean-born player in NHL history, had no shots and was a plus-2.

Also in the news that day:

-Rookie center Ken Hodge had a goal and an assist for the Bruins in a 3-2 win against the Canadiens in Game 3 of the Adams Division final. Boston led the series, 2-1.

-A two-run double to centerfield in the bottom of the 11th inning by catcher Don Slaught scored outfielders Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds and gave the Pirates a wild 13-12 win against the Cubs in Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates overcame two seperate five-run deficits to claim victory.

-Day 1 of the NFL draft saw the Steelers select Florida outside linebacker Huey Richardson in the first round, Ohio State wide receiver Jeff Graham in the second round, Florida wide receiver Ernie Mills in the third round, and Texas Tech corner back Sammie Walker and Oklahoma tight end Adrian Cooper in the fourth round. Miami defensive tackle Russell Maryland was selected first overall by the Cowboys. Southern Mississippi quarterback Brett Favre was selected in the second round (No. 33 overall) by the Falcons.

(Photo: Penguins Hockey Cards)

Comments (3)

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written by cappster, April 21, 2011 - 03:26 PM

What a great memory. Watched as much of that Cubs-
Bucs game as I could on WGN that Sunday afternoon but then had to leave for the old Cap Centre for this game. Went by myself and had the greatest time with a few thousand other Pens fans who were there. (Did you hear how loud they/we were on that clip above when Mario scored?)

Went again two nights later and I think they won by the exact same score that night. Think it was after that game, when they were one win from the conference championship, that I started to realize that a Cup was not just a Penguins pipedream.

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written by Staal Tactics11, April 21, 2011 - 09:25 PM

All of that is starting to make me feel old.

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written by jameshutton, April 22, 2011 - 01:58 PM

Wow - talk about your best of times (Pens, Bucs) and worst of times (Huey Richardson/Jeff Graham).

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