An Off-Day Look Back In Time

There's something I've been wanting to post for a month -- or maybe even two -- now, but just haven't gotten to it. I thought that, with the Penguins on an off-day today in advance of their home tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night at Mellon Arena, this was as good a time as any.

One of the best things about the NHL Network is that it frequently broadcasts specials like the top 10 goal scorers of the 1990's, or revisits classic playoff series' from the last several decades.

Well, I happened to catch a recap of the Penguins'/Sabres' Eastern Conference Semi-final in 2001 not too long ago, and I have to say I enjoyed the refresher on how great of a series that truly was. I thought all of you would enjoy a look back to that, as well.

As most know, that was the playoff year of THE MOOSE in Pittsburgh. Goaltender Johan Hedberg, acquired as a throw-in part to a trade deadline deal by then-GM Craig Patrick that saw the Penguins acquire defenseman Jeff Norton from the San Jose Sharks, took the Penguins' goaltending reins down the stretch and never looked back.

Hedberg -- who had never really gotten a fair crack at NHL work in San Jose -- looked like a Vezina Trophy winner, and he got the nickname THE MOOSE because he had played most of the season for San Jose's then-farm club, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Of course, Hedberg had a powder blue colored mask (wouldn't that fit in with the Pens' 3rd jerseys today?) that had a moose on it, too, so combine those 2 things and you had moose antlers all over The Igloo for playoff games.

In any case, Hedberg game into the Sabres series with a 1.33 GAA and was outstanding in the first two games against Buffalo that year, staking the Penguins to a 2-0 series' lead by winning both games in Buffalo and giving up only 1 goal combined in the process. He was square to the puck and frequently absorbed shots right in the chest. When he wasn't, he was able to come up with the big save.

Despite Hedberg's efforts, however, the Sabres rallied to take the next 3 games, including games 3 and 4 in Pittsburgh, as well as the 5th game in Buffalo, putting Pittsburgh on the brink of elimination in game 6 at home.

Who doesn't remember that game?

That was the contest where the play happened that would thereafter be known in Pittsburgh as The Immaculate Deflection.

With the Penguins' down by one in the closing minute, and with Hedberg pulled, Alexei Kovalev takes a shot from the point that is deflected high in the air and comes down right in the goal crease at the feet of then-Sabres' all-world goaltender Dominik Hasek.

It was like slow motion. I'll never forget everyone watching that puck go up and come down -- including the last player anyone on Buffalo hoped to be tracking that biscuit so well:

Mario Lemieux.

As the puck landed, Lemieux took two whacks at it.

Bam. Tie game.

For those who need a refresher, take a look see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVkM2QGztCo

Of course, what happened next was destiny at that point, some would say.

Martin Straka won the game for the Penguins in overtime, setting up a game 7 on the road in Buffalo that also went to extra time.

Who would have imagined the hero in that one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuVy1sk3Kds

That's right.

Darius f'ing Kasparaitis.

Beating one of the greatest goaltenders of all time on a simple wrister from the top of the left wing circle.

Unbelievable.

You know, I think just as unbelievable was the state of the Penguins' roster that playoff year.

Pittsburgh was loaded up front. Lemieux. Jagr. Kovalev. Straka. Lang. All were great point-producers at the time.

But what boggles my mind is the guys Pittsburgh was trotting out defensively.

I've already mentioned Kaspar. Here is the rest of the players on "D" the Penguins actually got to the Eastern Conference Finals with:

Janne Laukkanen
Marc Bergevin
Hans Jonsson
Bob Boughner
Andrew Ference

Are you kidding me? Kaspar added a key element, Boughner was tough as well, and Jonsson was fairly decent defensively, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Kasparaitis' OT goal in game 7 was the only one anyone in that group contributed for all 3 rounds of that post-season.

I remember that era as one where the Penguins' never had what I would consider a championship-caliber defense. That was one of Pittsburgh's biggest weaknesses for years. It carried through in the next several years after 2001 to guys like Joe Melichar, Jamie Pushor and others. Finally, after the lockout, we started to get some pieces.

Sergei Gonchar was signed. Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski were drafted. Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi developed through the system into fundamental parts. Finally the Penguins got themselves a strong, two-way defense with depth.

Make no mistake how big of a role the blueliners have had in getting the Penguins to the Cup Final the last 2 seasons.

I just can't get over who the Penguins trotted out there in 2001. The fact that Pittsburgh made it one step shy of the Cup Final that year is really a testament to Hedberg, and how great their offense really was that season.

Anyway, I thought everyone would enjoy reminiscing over that series. I know I did.

Recap of the Pens'/Lightning contest over the weekend.

Let's Go Pens.