Pittsburgh Penguins is an American professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Penguins have won the Stanley Cup five times (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016 and 2017).
History
They currently compete in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Since joining the NHL in 1996, they have been one of the strongest teams on the up. Unlike other teams, they have never been afraid to take risks and try something new. That is what has kept them successful and kept the fans coming back week after week.
In 1993, team captain Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease; however, he overcame illness and not only returned to the squad after a year off but also led the league in goals during the 1995–96 season. After Lemieux’s initial retirement in 1997, Jagr became a team captain and won the league, scoring title four years in a row (1997-1998 to 2000-2001).
The Penguins franchise struggled financially, and the team filed for bankruptcy in 1998. The following year, Lemieux converted years of unpaid salary into equity and became part-owner of the team. In 2000, he retired and became the first player-owner in NHL history before retiring again in the middle of the 2005-2006 season.
One More Chance
In 2005, a new era of penguins began with the drafting of Sidney Crosby, who in 2006-2007 was the NHL’s leading scorer and, at age 19, became the youngest team captain in the history of the NHL. In the 2007-08 season, Crosby and sophomore star Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. The following season, Malkin led the NHL in points while Crosby was third. That year, the Penguins finished fourth in the Atlantic Division but qualified for the Stanley Cup again, this time beating the Red Wings in seven games.
In the six seasons since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, Pittsburgh has remained one of the top teams in the NHL, breaking a franchise record three consecutive seasons with at least 100 points (one team receives two points for one win, one for an overtime loss, and none for a regulatory loss) between 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 and winning three division titles. However, the team failed to make it past the conference finals during that span, losing to a lower-ranked team in five of six playoffs. The team broke through in 2015-16, ending the regular season on a hot streak that continued into the playoffs, in which the Penguins won another Stanley Cup title (against the San Sharks Joseen six games). The Penguins had the second-most points in the NHL (111) in 2016-17, and in the playoffs, the team won seven-game playoffs in the second round and in the Eastern Conference finals. To return to the Stanley Cup Final, where they faced the Nashville Predators. The Penguins then beat the Predators in six games, becoming the first NHL team to win back-to-back Stanley Cups since 1998. Pittsburgh returned to the playoffs in 2018 but lost in the second round, and in 2019, the team was swept away in its first-round streak.
There are so many great players that the Pittsburgh Penguins have. Many of these players have popularized the game in their own unique ways. Some of these great players are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Dadayanov, Tom Kontelli, Marc-Oleph Osy, and now Marc-Owen Fleury. These are just a few players that have created even more hype for the fans and have increased the expectations of the game.
Interesting Facts about Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins do not play with the kind of pride that would be expected of a top team. In fact, they actually love the fact that they have to struggle for their tickets to the Stanley Cup. This has made the team eager to win each year and fight for those trophies. Many fans have said that they feel like they are part of a big family. There is a core group of players that will always be there for the team, and these are the players that are loyal and will remain to the team through thick and thin. These players are the players that have loyalty to the team spirit.
Another reason why so many fans have come to love the Pittsburgh Penguins is because of their unique fan atmosphere. During games, you can expect to see hundreds of fans, both the home team and the visitors. There is a real energy and buzz that are created whenever the Penguins are playing a game. During home games, you can even hear the fans chanting and singing. It truly gives you an authentic feeling.
Known Rivals
The Pittsburgh Penguins have also created some special memories for their fans. The team has played some amazing seasons, and it has also created some great rivalries between the team and the other teams in the league. Two of the most famous rivals in the league are the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins. Both teams have won the Stanley Cup once and lost in the finals the last two years. When the season was over, these teams became instant rivals. Even up to this day, the fans never forget the losses and always hold a strong allegiance towards their team.
Conclusion
With so much emotion packed into even a single hockey game, there is no doubt that the Pittsburgh Penguins have created quite a stir amongst their fans and the hockey world. This is a team that does not quit. They have a deep and diverse history, and they are waiting to be shown the right way and show everyone what they are made of. This is a team that has more skill than they do size. This is a team that knows how to compete and win, and if you are a fan, you need to be watching this team all year because they will give you everything you could possibly hope for. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a long road ahead of them, but the team has proven that they are the team to beat this year and into the playoffs.