As Penguins fans, we’ve truly been blessed to watch some of the greatest players ever to lace on a pair of hockey skates. Generational talents Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Czech-mate Jaromir Jagr and the incomparable Mario Lemieux have graced Steel City ice surfaces and wowed us with their exploits for going on 40 years.
Given such a glittering array of superstars, it comes as no surprise that we’ve witnessed some truly brilliant goals through the years.
A half-dozen immediately spring to mind. Mario’s first goal way back in 1984; Jagr’s OT winner against the Devils in the ’91 playoffs; No. 68’s description defying skate-through-the-Blackhawks tally the following spring. Setting the table for Mario’s eventual game-winner with 13 seconds left.
Then there’s “The Geno,” Malkin’s no-look stunner against the ‘Canes in ’09. Last but certainly not least? “The Goal,” authored by Lemieux in the ’91 Final.
While each stand out in my mind and merit consideration for the greatest goal in franchise history, there’s yet another I rate even higher than those superhuman efforts.
Step into the WABAC machine with me if you will and travel back in time. Our destination…the 1992 playoffs. Engaged in a desperate struggle to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, the Pens rallied from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to oust a very tough Capitals squad in the first round. Then we won our second-round opener against the Presidents’ Trophy winning Rangers, led by six-time Cup winner Mark Messier.
After scoring the opening goal early in Game 2, our fortunes took a seismic turn for the worse. While killing a penalty, Adam Graves zeroed Lemieux and approached our captain with evil intent. Wielding his stick like a baseball bat, Graves swung for the fences and delivered a wicked slash to Mario’s left hand. The big center crumpled to the ice in pain.
With one barbaric chop, Graves had heeded coach Roger Neilson’s directive to “take Lemieux out of the game.” Literally.
X-rays revealed the worst. Lemieux’s left hand was broken.
In a remarkable display of heart, soul and plain old championship guts, the wounded Pens…sans Mario and 40-goal scorer Joey Mullen…pulled together and banished the Rangers in six brutally hard-fought games.
Although we prevailed over Boston in Game 1 of the Conference Final on an overtime tally by Jagr, Mario sensed the team needed him. Wearing a makeshift pad to protect a broken bone that had only partially healed, No. 66 returned for Game 2. Incredibly, he struck for a pair of goals and assisted on a third to key a 5-2 black-and-gold triumph.
If I close my eyes, I can still see that white pad protruding from Mario’s sleeve.
As if that feat wasn’t astounding enough, Mario followed up with three more assists in Game 3 to pace the Pens to a 5-1 victory.
The stage was set for the knockout blow.
While killing a penalty just past the 13-minute mark of the first period in Game 4, Mario scooped up a loose puck in front of his net and made a bee-line for the Bruins’ end. As he entered the neutral zone he encountered five-time Norris Trophy winner Ray Bourque.
Rather than swerving to avoid the future Hall-of-Famer as logic would dictate, Mario stunned everyone…including Bourque…by heading straight for him. While accelerating to top speed, he audaciously wove the puck into and around Bourque’s skates as if the rubber were attached to a string. Effectively undressing the Bruins’ great the way a little girl would her Barbie doll.
Having left Bourque in the dust, No. 66 bore down on goalie Andy Moog at top speed. Moog bravely set himself at the top of his crease and braced himself for Mario’s arrival. However, in this particular battle of skill and wits he was hopelessly outclassed.
Lemieux was practically on top the B’s goalie when he feinted left, opened up his stick blade and roofed the puck to Moog’s glove side from point-blank range.
With a hand that was still on the mend.
“Have you ever seen such finesse?’ marveled the play-by-play announcer.
I sure as heck haven’t.
To this day, I don’t think I’ve witnessed a more consummate display of skill. The goal defined Mario as a player. An exquisite and unparalleled blend of size, reach, touch, speed, power, deception, smarts and vision.
With all due respect to Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Connor McDavid and Jagr, there’s never been anyone to match Mario.
IMHO, there will never be another like him.
I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have watched him play.
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Rick
I couldn't agree more - if he was playing today he would put up 250 points. Back when Mario
played they would hang all over him, holding, grabbing anything they could do to try and stop
him. If I was picking a team tomorrow he would be my 1st pick, hands down. I was also fortunate
to see him play - in those days I had Season tickets.