Pittsbrugh Penguins win Stanley Cup
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 1973. 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's Stadium as it closed in 1994.
Pittsburgh defeated the Washington Capitals 4–3, the New York Rangers 4–2, and the Boston Bruins 4–0. Chicago had to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4–2, the 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 record to 14 with three wins against New Jersey the following season before finally losing.
The Penguins were led by captain Mario Lemieux, 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 the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for the second consecutive year, becoming only the second player in NHL history to do so.
The Stanley Cup flew home with the Penguins for the second straight season. Mario Lemieux had an incredible regular season, scoring 131 points in just 64 games. He averaged just over two points a game and was equally magnificent in the post-season scoring a league-leading 34 points while capturing his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy. This Stanley Cup win was the sixth for former Montreal Canadiens coach Scotty Bowman. Scotty actually took over the Penguins' coaching reigns after head coach Bob Johnson died suddenly. Pittsburgh tied a record winning 11 straight games en route to the Stanley Cup. Ironically, the Penguins halted the other record holder, Chicago, sweeping the final series four games to none.
