Ranking the Penguins' most memorable playoff openers

If the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t shut down the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins probably would have played their playoff opener Wednesday night. Here’s a look at the 10 most memorable playoff openers in franchise history.

1. April 13, 2016: Penguins 5, Rangers 2 — With Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury out with concussions, Jeff Zatkoff earned himself a nickname. Zatkoff made 35 saves and will forever be known as Mr. Game 1. Oh by the way, Patric Hornqvist had a hat trick, too.

2. April 5, 1989: Penguins 3, Rangers 1 — After the Penguins failed to qualify in his first four seasons, Mario Lemieux finally made his playoff debut. He had an assist, and Paul Coffey scored twice in a Penguins win. A championship era was dawning.

3. April 11, 2012: Flyers 4, Penguins 3 — With the Penguins holding a 3-0 lead in the second period, Danny Briere scored a goal on a play that was about a mile offside. Who knew that the play would be the first step down the road to total disintegration for the Penguins, who lost all composure and dropped the series in six games?

4. April 8, 1970: Penguins 2, Seals 1 — In the first playoff game in franchise history, Nick Harbaruk scored the winning goal midway through the third period, giving the Civic Arena crowd something to celebrate.

5. April 12, 2017: Penguins 3, Blue Jackets 1 — When Murray left warmups with a lower-body injury that later would be revealed as a torn hamstring, the Penguins sure were glad they didn’t deal away Fleury at the trade deadline. He made 31 saves in the win.

6. April 9, 2008: Penguins 4, Senators 0 — After the Penguins lost to Ottawa in the first round the previous season, the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era had yet to see a playoff series victory. This opener was sign that was about to change. Gary Roberts scored twice, and Fleury made 26 saves.

7. April 11, 2007: Senators 6, Penguins 3 — Crosby scored a late-third-period goal in his first NHL playoff game. He often cited the series as a critical moment in his development as a player. It’s when he realized what it would take to have playoff success.

8. April 3, 1991: Devils 3, Penguins 1 — En route to the first championship in franchise history, the Penguins lost the opener of all four series they played. This one was no exception. Lemieux gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead, but Peter Stastny scored the next two to boost the Devils to victory.

9. April 18, 1993: Penguins 6, Devils 3 — Lemieux had two goals and two assists, and the two-time defending champs looked like they were on the way to a three-peat. A month later, David Volek had other ideas.

10. April 11, 2018: Penguins 7, Flyers 0 — The Penguins gave their hated rivals a pasting to remember. Crosby recorded his third career playoff hat trick.