The 1992 Season
The Second Title
Before the season started, coach Bob Johnson was diagnosed with brain tumor,
having emergency surgery on August 29, 1991. On october 1st, Scottie Bowman, who
was already at the Pens organization,was named head coach on an interim basis.
Then, on November 26, 1991, Johnson passed away at his house in Colorado, at the
age of 60. This day is considered the saddest day in Penguins history.
On the ice, with Scottie Bowman behind the bench, the Pens had a .544 record,
finishing just third in the Patrick Division standings, and 6th overall in the
league, now with 22 teams. With a record of 39-32-9, the Penguins were scheduled
to meet again with the Capitals, who they have faced the year before, in the
First round of the playoffs.
Like 1991, the Penguins had trouble in the early rounds, but raised as the
race was getting tougher. The Pens amazingly overcame deficits against both the
Capitals and the NY Rangers, including a 3-1 come from behind against
Washington, to win that series in 7 games.
The Wales Conference championship series put again front in front Penguins
and Bruins, but this time the Penguins had a much easier time, as they rolled
into a 4-0 sweep, returning to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they would try to
defend the Title. And they did exactly this, facing a red-hot Blackhawks team,
but the Penguins showed no fear, and again swept the series 4-0, consolidating
the Penguins as a victorious team, and Mario Lemieux as the new NHL superstar.
Some of the best moments in the Cup run :
- May 1 - The Capitals had a 3-1 lead in the Division Semifinals, but the
Penguins, as a true champion, didn't give up, winning games 5 and 6, forcing
a 7th game in Capitals' home ice. And again they showed the heart of a
champion, not allowing the Caps to score more than 1 goal, and with a 3-1
win, they went through to the 2nd round.
- May 9 - Again trailing in a series, this time to the Rangers in the
Division finals, Ron Francis managed a 5-4 come from behind win, scoring a
hat trick, which included a 60-foot blast over goalie Mike Richter, and a
deflection at 2:47 of OT.
- May 26 - The Penguins started the defence of the Stanley Cup against the
Blackhawks, but not without fighting. The streaky Hawks, with 11 straight
wins, couldn't handle, though, Mario Lemieux and his rebound goal with 13
seconds to go. The 5-4 win in game one set the tone for the rest of the
series.
- May 30 - Behind goalie Tom Barrasso, who had an outsatnding game, the
Penguins notched a 1-0 win at Chicago Stadium. The goal was scored on a
deflection by Kevin Stevens' skate, with # 25's back facing the net. The win
made almost assured the Pens of a second title, with the series now 3-0.
- June 1 - In an 11 goal thriller, the Penguins had the edging one,
defeating the Blackhawks for the 4th straight time, 6-5 this time, clinching
the series 4-0, and once again leaving the ice as Stanley Cup Champions.
Penguins Playoff Run
Regular Season - 80 games, 39 wins, 32 losses, 9 ties.
Play Offs - 21 games, 16 wins, 5 losses.
Play Offs Results :
Division Semi-Finals - Penguins 4 - 3 Washington Capitals
Division Finals - Penguins 4 - 2 New York Rangers
Conference Finals - Penguins 4 - 0 Boston Bruins
Stanley Cup Finals - Penguins 4 - 0 Chicago Blackhawks
Finals Scores
Tue, May 26, 1992 : Blackhawks 4 at Penguins 5
Thu, May 28, 1992 : Blackhawks 1 at Penguins 3
Sat, May 30, 1992 : Penguins 1 at Blackhawks 0
Mon, June 1, 1992 : Penguins 6 at Blackhawks 5