Josh Yohe, of DKonPittsburghSports.com, made an observation today:
What many consider the greatest game in Penguins history took place 23 years ago today. Enjoy. https://t.co/4OsY4fLODx
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) May 26, 2015
A couple of things:
- The goal where Mario Lemieux banked it in off of Ed Belfour, as the announcers rightly made note, was not just a lucky break – it was vintage Mario. For fans today who may not have seen Mario play, he was able to make the extraordinary seem routine.
- Jaromir Jagr tied the game at 4 on what has to be one of the greatest moments of puck possession in Finals history. He avoided 4 players and was able to work his way towards the center of the ice in a Herculean effort.
- The speed of the game back then was noticeably slower than it is today. The progression in sports towards the bigger, stronger, and faster have certainly changed the game – and not necessarily for the better.
Trailing 4-1 in Game 1 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals only to come back and win in the final minute 5-4; there may have been larger deficits that the Pens were able to claw back from, but none were bigger than this one.
The Pens would go on to sweep the series and win their 2nd consecutive championship.
Here is the video: