1992 Stanley Cup Finals
Encyclopedia
The 1992 Stanley Cup Final NHL
championship series was contested by the Prince of Wales Conference and defending Stanley Cup
champion Pittsburgh Penguins
and the Clarence Campbell Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks
. The Blackhawks were making their first appearance in the Final since . After the Blackhawks jumped to an early 4-1 lead in Game 1, Mario Lemieux and the Penguins came back to win the game, sweep the series in four games, and win their second straight and second overall Stanley Cup. It was the 99th year of the Stanley Cup. It was the last final for Chicago Stadium
as it closed in 1994.
4–3, the New York Rangers
4–2, and the Boston Bruins
4–0.
Chicago had to defeat two of their biggest rivals, first
the St. Louis Blues
4–2, then their long-time Original Six rival
Detroit Red Wings
4–0, and the Edmonton Oilers
4–0.
Chicago set an NHL playoff record in winning 11 games in a row to reach the finals. Pittsburgh had won seven in a row entering the finals and swept Chicago in four games to tie Chicago's record. Pittsburgh then extended the playoff winning streak record to 14 with three wins against the New Jersey Devils
the following season's first playoff round before finally losing.
, coach Scotty Bowman
, and goaltender Tom Barrasso
. The Blackhawks were led by captain Dirk Graham
, coach Mike Keenan
, and goaltender Ed Belfour
.
Mario Lemieux
captured a Conn Smythe Trophy
as playoff MVP for the second consecutive year, becoming only the second player in NHL history to do so.
Game four was the first NHL game played in the month of June.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
championship series was contested by the Prince of Wales Conference and defending Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
and the Clarence Campbell Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. The Blackhawks were making their first appearance in the Final since . After the Blackhawks jumped to an early 4-1 lead in Game 1, Mario Lemieux and the Penguins came back to win the game, sweep the series in four games, and win their second straight and second overall Stanley Cup. It was the 99th year of the Stanley Cup. It was the last final for Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium
The Chicago Stadium was an indoor sports arena and theater in Chicago. It opened in 1929, and closed in 1994.-History:The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929–1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967–1994....
as it closed in 1994.
Paths to the Final
Pittsburgh defeated the Washington CapitalsWashington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
4–3, the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
4–2, and the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
4–0.
Chicago had to defeat two of their biggest rivals, first
Blues–Blackhawks rivalry
The Blues—Blackhawks rivalry features two teams in the Central Division of the National Hockey League, the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues. Since , the two teams have been in the same division together. It is the most intense rivalry in terms of penalty minutes and fighting. It was...
the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
4–2, then their long-time Original Six rival
Blackhawks – Red Wings rivalry
The rivalry between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League is the most intense rivalry in the Central Division. It has existed since and continued ever since through the Original Six days into the present...
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
4–0, and the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
4–0.
Chicago set an NHL playoff record in winning 11 games in a row to reach the finals. Pittsburgh had won seven in a row entering the finals and swept Chicago in four games to tie Chicago's record. Pittsburgh then extended the playoff winning streak record to 14 with three wins against the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
the following season's first playoff round before finally losing.
The series
The Penguins were led by captain Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
, coach Scotty Bowman
Scotty Bowman
William Scott "Scotty" Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
, and goaltender Tom Barrasso
Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
. The Blackhawks were led by captain Dirk Graham
Dirk Graham
Dirk Milton Graham is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League. He was honored in 1991 as the Frank J. Selke Trophy winner for outstanding defensive play by a forward...
, coach Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan
Michael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
, and goaltender Ed Belfour
Ed Belfour
Edward John Belfour is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the...
.
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
captured a Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as playoff MVP for the second consecutive year, becoming only the second player in NHL history to do so.
Game four was the first NHL game played in the month of June.
Pittsburgh Penguins - 1992 Stanley Cup champions
See also
- 1991–92 NHL season
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- 1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks seasonThe 1991–92 Chicago Blackhawks season saw the Blackhawks finish second in the Norris Division with a record of 36 wins, 29 losses, and 15 ties for 87 points. They defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Division Semi-finals and swept the first-place Detroit Red Wings in the Division Finals...
- 1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins seasonThe 1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins 25th season in the NHL, and they were coming off of their 1st ever Stanley Cup victory in 1990–91, as they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in the Finals in 6 games...