Five games, five nights: Pick one Penguins game to watch per Stanley Cup playoff run

During the coronavirus-induced sports blackout, everybody and their brother is re-airing classic old games.

The NFL, MLB and NHL networks are doing it. Local radio stations are, too. As is AT&T SportsNet.

So for this week’s hockey podcast, Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer and I put a twist on the idea.

Monday through Friday, one game every night. We decided to pick our favorite game from each of the Pens’ five playoff runs to a Stanley Cup if we were going to program a week of viewing.

One game. Per Cup run. Per postseason.

Although, as I’ve mentioned in this space before, let’s give a little love to the triple-overtime Game 5 victory in the 2008 Final over Detroit before the Penguins eventually lost to the Red Wings in Game 6.

Here’s what Brian and I decided.

2017

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final vs. the Ottawa Senators

This one at PPG Paints Arena was pretty obvious.

Chris Kunitz eliminates the Ottawa Senators in double overtime of Game 7.

CHRIS KUNITZ WITH THE OT WINNER! @Penguins beat the @Senators 3-2 in double OT and advance to the #StanleyCup Final! pic.twitter.com/VddTkjj3R1

— Hockey Night Punjabi (@HkyNightPunjabi) May 26, 2017

That victory allowed the Pens to clinch their second straight Eastern Conference title, and they moved on to eventually beat the Nashville Predators in the Cup Final, winning their fifth Cup.

There were 84 shots in that game. Matt Murray and Craig Anderson were both great in goal.

But Kunitz scored twice. His only two goals of the playoffs. And the Pens needed them both en route to the 3-2 win.

Honorable mention: Marc-Andre Fleury pitches a 2-0 shutout to eliminate the Washington Capitals in D.C. during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal… The Pens blow a three-goal lead but beat Nashville 5-3 in Game 1 of the Final… Patric Hornqvist scores the game’s first goal with 1:35 left as Murray and the Pens shut out the Preds 2-0 to win the Cup in Game 6.

2016

Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal vs. the Washington Capitals

Nick Bonino scores in overtime to beat the Caps 4-3.

"IT'S OVERRRRR!"

With an OVERTIME winner from Nick Bonino the @penguins were able to advance in 6 games. #HockeyWeekNBC | @penguins pic.twitter.com/jcRQbzqMPN

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) March 29, 2020

That was after the Pens saw a 3-1 lead disappear in the third period thanks in part to three consecutive delay of game penalties.

But Bonino — who committed one of the infractions — won it in overtime. It was the fourth goal by the famed “HBK” line on the day as Phil Kessel scored twice, and Carl Hagelin had the other.

Honorable mention: Conor Sheary scores in overtime to win Game 1 of the Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks… Kris Letang dazzles as the Penguins eliminate the Sharks in Game 6 to win the Cup… Bryan Rust scores three times over two games as the Penguins win Games 6 and 7 against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Final.

2009

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Detroit Red Wings

No need to overcomplicate things here.

Max Talbot scored twice, and Marc-Andre Fleury did this at the end of the decisive game.

Sixty minutes of pure, unadulterated angst and tension.

That preserved a 2-1 win, ending Pittsburgh’s 17-year Stanley Cup drought.

Honorable mention: Jordan Staal scores shorthanded and the Penguins rally from 2-1 down in Game 4 against the Wings to win 4-2… Evgeni Malkin dominates the Carolina Hurricanes with a hat trick in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final on the way to a 7-4 win… Max Talbot’s “SHHHH” in Game 6 to eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 in the opening round… Fleury stops Alex Ovechkin on a breakaway in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal and the Pens go on to win 6-2.

1992

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Chicago Blackhawks

The Penguins erase a 4-1 deficit as Jaromir Jagr scores one of the most jaw-dropping goals of his career to tie the contest 4-4 late in the third period.

Then Mario Lemieux wins it with 12.6 seconds left. Many in attendance say it is the loudest they ever heard the old Civic Arena.

The Penguins would go on to win 5-4 and sweep Chicago to claim the Cup for a second year in a row.

Honorable mention: Tom Barrasso backstops a 27-save shutout to blank the Blackhawks 1-0 in Game 3… The Penguins win a 6-5 seesaw affair in Chicago to claim the Cup in Game 4… Mario Lemieux scores three times and assists on three others as the Penguins avoid falling behind 3-0 to Washington with a 6-4 win in the first round… Ron Francis nets a hat trick in a 5-4 overtime win against the New York Rangers with Lemieux injured to even the Patrick Division Final series 2-2.

1991

We split the vote on this one

Metz went with Frank Pietrangelo’s “The Save.”

That was Game 6 of the first round. The Pens trailed New Jersey in the series, 3-2, and were facing elimination. That’s when the Pens’ backup goalie made the stop of his life to preserve a 4-3 lead.

The Pens went on to win 4-0 in Game 7 and advance to the second round.

I went with the organization’s 5-3 win in Game 6 of the Wales Conference Final to eliminate the Boston Bruins. After climbing out of an early 2-0 hole, the Pens found themselves tied 3-3 in the third. Mark Recchi scored a memorable game-winner with 4:20 left in the third period.

That was the first time in my life I ever truly allowed myself to believe the Penguins could actually become Stanley Cup Champions.

Which they did six games later.

Then four more times after that.

Honorable mention: Kevin Stevens scores the overtime game-winner during a 7-6 slugfest against the Capitals in the second round… The Penguins even the Cup Final at 2-2 in Game 4 versus the Minnesota North Stars thanks to five different goal scorers in a 5-3 victory… The 8-0 coronation blowout of Minnesota to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in Game 6.

Listen as Metz and I go through all of our reasons why we chose the games that we did, we talk about the potential return of hockey in late summer and some honors for Sidney Crosby.