2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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Mellon Arena
Average attendance17,089 (100.7%)
Team leaders
GoalsEvgeni Malkin (47)
AssistsEvgeni Malkin (59)
PointsEvgeni Malkin (106)
Penalty minutesGeorges Laraque (139)
Plus/minusSidney Crosby (+18)
WinsMarc-Andre Fleury (19)
Goals against averageMarc-Andre Fleury (2.33)

The 2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the

playoffs by the Ottawa Senators. During the season, the Penguins wore gold patches with "250" on them, honoring the city of Pittsburgh
's 250th anniversary in 2008.

Evgeni Malkin scored 106 points in the regular season, helping to offset the gap left while Sidney Crosby was injured. Goaltender Ty Conklin replaced Marc-Andre Fleury, who was also injured, to win 18 games. The team surpassed their record for total attendance, selling out all 41 home games for the first time in franchise history. The Penguins also participated in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which set the NHL single-game attendance record.

During the regular season, the Penguins finished second in the Eastern Conference, behind the Montreal Canadiens. With a 12–2 record in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the team eliminated the Senators, the New York Rangers and the Flyers, on their way to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the franchise's first in 16 years. The team was defeated in the Stanley Cup Finals by the Detroit Red Wings in six games.

Regular season

Ty Conklin went 17–6–5 in Marc-Andre Fleury's absence.

The Penguins' offseason activities began in May 2007, with the team naming Sidney Crosby its captain. At just 19 years old, Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history.[1] Crosby was named the first Penguins captain since the retirement of Mario Lemieux in January 2006; Crosby, Mark Recchi, Sergei Gonchar and John LeClair served as alternate captains after Lemieux's retirement. Veteran Gary Roberts was named as an alternate captain for the new season, joining Recchi and Gonchar. The Penguins also extended head coach Michel Therrien's contract through the 2008–09 season.[2]

On September 17, the NHL announced that on January 1, 2008, the Penguins would travel to

Ralph Wilson Stadium in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic. The event marked the first time a regular-season contest was played outdoors in the United States.[3]

The Penguins began the regular season on October 5 visiting the

Mellon Arena. The team concluded the regular season with a home-and-home series against the Philadelphia Flyers
, with each team winning a game.

The Penguins suffered from several injuries during the season. Many of the injuries were long-term. By the end of the season, the team had missed a combined total of over 280 

man games due to injury. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury sustained a high-ankle sprain against the Calgary Flames on December 6. Following the injury, Fleury was ruled out for six to eight weeks.[4] The Penguins recalled Ty Conklin from the American Hockey League to serve as a back-up to Dany Sabourin on an emergency basis. Conklin started for the first time on December 20, winning the game 5–4 in a shootout. After winning his first nine starts and supplanting Sabourin as the starting goaltender, Conklin lost his first game, a shootout, on January 12 against the Atlanta Thrashers
. Before Fleury's eventual return as a starter on March 2, Conklin recorded a mark of 17–6–5, while Sabourin went 4–6–0.

Crosby also sustained a high ankle sprain on January 18 against the

All-Star Game, where he was the leading vote-getter for the second year in a row.[7] Teammate Evgeni Malkin was selected to play for the Eastern Conference team in place of the injured Crosby.[8]

Following the release of Recchi in early December and injuries to Crosby and Roberts (Recchi's replacement), Sergei Gonchar remained the Penguins' only active captain. The team assigned two new alternate captains, with Ryan Malone and Darryl Sydor serving during the injuries.[9]

After the injury to Crosby on January 18, a makeshift line composed of Malkin, Malone and Petr Sykora, dubbed the "Steel City Line",[10] helped sustain the Penguins' standing. Malkin scored 46 points during Crosby's absence.[11]

Winter Classic

View from inside the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Winter Classic

With an attendance of 71,417, the Winter Classic, held on January 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium, surpassed the NHL single-game attendance record set on November 22, 2003, when the

XM satellite radio. The Penguins defeated the Sabres, 2–1, with a shootout goal from Crosby.[12]

Fan support

On December 21, 2007, at a game against the New York Islanders, the Penguins tied a franchise record with 30 straight regular-season sellouts, dating to the second half of the 2006–07 season.[13] The record was surpassed at the next home game against the Boston Bruins on December 23, with the 31st consecutive sellout of the regular season.[14] On March 12, against the Buffalo Sabres, with a standing-room-only crowd of 17,132, the Penguins set a franchise record after selling out all 35 games to date, surpassing the record set during the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons when the Penguins sold out 34 of 40 home games.[15] For the first time in the franchise's 41-year history, the team sold out all 41 home games, concluding with their Atlantic Division-clinching victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on April 2.[16] At 17,089, the average attendance for a home game was greater than Mellon Arena's seating capacity of 16,940, causing the team's season attendance to exceed 100% capacity. The 67 consecutive sellouts attracted 888,653 total fans, a record for home attendance for the franchise.[17]

The March 27 game against the Islanders received a

Fox Sports Net regional affiliates for the second year in a row.[18]

Colby Armstrong and Maxime Talbot appear in a commercial for a Pittsburgh-based luxury car dealership.

Strong support from fans continued into the playoffs, as the Penguins sold out their first two home games in 11 minutes.

JumboTron during the Stanley Cup Finals; over 13,500 people attended Game 1.[28] Fans who watched the three games played in Detroit raised over $85,000 for the Mario Lemieux Foundation for cancer research.[17] The Penguins also ranked first in the league in merchandise sales.[29]

In an annual survey of over 80,000 fans conducted by ESPN The Magazine titled "Ultimate Standings: Fan Satisfaction Rankings," the Penguins ranked as the best National Hockey League team in terms of fan relations. The team also ranked third in that category, out of all 122 major sports franchises of the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the NHL. In the overall standings, the Penguins ranked seventh in the NHL, and 24th of the 122 teams in all four leagues.[30] During the 2006–07 season, the team ranked 11th in the NHL, and 35th overall.[31]

Plans for the future

During the All-Star break, the league announced that the Penguins would open the 2008–09 season with games on October 4 and 5 against the Ottawa Senators at the

Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.[33]

Progress was made towards the team's

new arena on March 22, when the former St. Francis Hospital, across the street from Mellon Arena, was imploded.[34] Following debris removal and site preparation, groundbreaking for construction began in the summer.[35]

Season results

The Penguins clinched their second consecutive playoff berth on March 25 in a 2–0 victory against the New Jersey Devils and earned the second-seed in the Eastern Conference.[36] Two years removed from their last-place Eastern Conference finish in 2006,[37] the Penguins clinched the Atlantic Division for the first time ever, when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2.[38] The division championship was the first for the Penguins since winning the Northeast Division in 1998. It was the best finish by the team since finishing second in the 1997–98 season. The 102 points the Penguins gained during the season was the team's fifth 100-point season. The Penguins raised banners for their top finish in the Atlantic Division and subsequent Eastern Conference playoff championship prior to the first Mellon Arena home game of the 2008–09 season.[39]

This was the first time since the New York Rangers won the 1994 Stanley Cup that the Atlantic Division title was not won by either the New Jersey Devils or the Philadelphia Flyers.

Game log

2007–2008 Schedule
October: 6–4–1 (Home: 3–3–1 ; Road: 3–2–0), 13 Points
# Oct Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
1 5 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Carolina Hurricanes PNC Arena (17,816) 0–1–0 0
2 6 7:30 PM Anaheim Ducks 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 1–1–0 2
3 10 7:30 PM Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,006) 1–2–0 2
4 13 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Toronto Maple Leafs
Air Canada Centre
(19,479)
2–2–0 4
5 17 7:30 PM New Jersey Devils 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (16,990) 2–3–0 4
6 19 7:30 PM Carolina Hurricanes 3–4 SO Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 3–3–0 6
7 20 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Washington Capitals Verizon Center (18,277) 4–3–0 8
8 23 7:00 PM New York Rangers 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,012) 5–3–0 10
9 25 7:30 PM Toronto Maple Leafs 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,051) 5–4–0 10
10 27 7:00 PM Montreal Canadiens 4–3 SO Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,085) 5–4–1 11
11 30 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center (18,568) 6–4–1 13
November: 5–7–1 (Home: 3–3–1 ; Road: 2–4–0), 11 Points
# Nov Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
12 1 9:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Colorado Avalanche
Pepsi Center
(18,007)
6–5–1 13
13 3 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum
(16,234)
6–6–1 13
14 5 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 5–0 New Jersey Devils Prudential Center (14,032) 7–6–1 15
15 7 7:00 PM Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 7–7–1 15
16 8 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (18,200) 7–8–1 15
17 10 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center (19,859) 7–9–1 15
18 12 7:30 PM New Jersey Devils 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,096) 7–10–1 15
19 15 7:30 PM New York Islanders 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (16,972) 8–10–1 17
20 17 7:30 PM New York Rangers 4–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,125) 8–10–2 18
21 21 7:30 PM New Jersey Devils 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 8–11–2 18
22 22 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 6–5 SO Ottawa Senators Canadian Tire Centre (20,061) 9–11–2 20
23 24 7:30 PM Atlanta Thrashers 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 10–11–2 22
24 30 7:30 PM Dallas Stars 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 11–11–2 24
December: 9–5–0 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 5–3–0), 18 Points
# Dec Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
25 1 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs
Air Canada Centre
(19,534)
11–12–2 24
26 3 7:30 PM Phoenix Coyotes 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (16,979) 12–12–2 26
27 5 9:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Edmonton Oilers
Rexall Place
(16,839)
13–12–2 28
28 6 9:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 SO Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome (19,289) 14–12–2 30
29 8 10:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 SO Vancouver Canucks Rogers Arena (18,630) 15–12–2 32
30 11 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center (19,409) 15–13–2 32
31 13 7:30 PM Ottawa Senators 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (16,982) 15–14–2 32
32 15 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum
(15,269)
16–14–2 34
33 18 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (18,200) 16–15–2 34
34 20 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 SO Boston Bruins TD Garden (15,304) 17–15–2 36
35 21 7:30 PM New York Islanders 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,008) 17–16–2 36
36 23 3:00 PM Boston Bruins 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,060) 18–16–2 38
37 27 7:30 PM Washington Capitals 3–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 19–16–2 40
38 29 7:30 PM Buffalo Sabres 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 20–16–2 42
January: 8–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 5–2–1), 18 Points
# Jan Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
39 1 1:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 SO Buffalo Sabres
Ralph Wilson Stadium
(71,217)
21–16–2 44
40 3 7:30 PM Toronto Maple Leafs 2–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,074) 22–16–2 46
41 5 3:00 PM Florida Panthers 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,090) 23–16–2 48
42 8 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Florida Panthers
BB&T Center
(17,086)
24–16–2 50
43 10 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena (20,426) 25–16–2 52
44 12 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 SO Atlanta Thrashers
Philips Arena
(18,545)
25–16–3 53
45 14 7:00 PM New York Rangers 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,000) 26–16–3 55
46 18 7:30 PM Tampa Bay Lightning 3–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 26–17–3 55
47 19 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Montreal Canadiens Bell Centre (21,273) 27–17–3 57
48 21 7:30 PM Washington Capitals 6–5 SO Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,050) 27–17–4 58
49 24 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center (19,807) 27–18–4 58
50 29 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New Jersey Devils Prudential Center (13,595) 28–18–4 60
51 30 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Atlanta Thrashers
Philips Arena
(14,070)
28–19–4 60
February: 8–3–3 (Home: 5–1–2 ; Road: 3–2–1), 19 Points
# Feb Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
52 2 7:30 PM Carolina Hurricanes 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,058) 29–19–4 62
53 4 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 OT New Jersey Devils Prudential Center (13,012) 29–19–5 63
54 7 7:30 PM New York Islanders 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,075) 30–19–5 65
55 9 1:00 PM Los Angeles Kings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,034) 31–19–5 67
56 10 1:00 PM Philadelphia Flyers 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 32–19–5 69
57 13 7:30 PM Boston Bruins 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (16,982) 32–20–5 69
58 14 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Carolina Hurricanes PNC Arena (14,922) 32–21–5 69
59 17 6:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Buffalo Sabres
First Niagara Center
(18,690)
33–21–5 71
60 19 7:30 PM Florida Panthers 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,075) 34–21–5 73
61 21 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Montreal Canadiens Bell Centre (21,273) 35–21–5 75
62 23 3:00 PM Ottawa Senators 4–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 35–21–6 76
63 24 3:00 PM San Jose Sharks 2–1 SO Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 35–21–7 77
64 26 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum
(11,258)
36–21–7 79
65 28 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Boston Bruins TD Garden (17,565) 36–22–7 79
March: 10–4–1 (Home: 7–0–0 ; Road: 3–4–1), 21 Points
# Mar Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
66 1 3:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Ottawa Senators Canadian Tire Centre (20,153) 36–23–7 79
67 2 3:00 PM Atlanta Thrashers 2–3 SO Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 37–23–7 81
68 4 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena (19,206) 38–23–7 83
69 6 7:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Florida Panthers
BB&T Center
(17,012)
38–24–7 83
70 9 12:30 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Washington Capitals Verizon Center (18,277) 39–24–7 85
71 12 7:30 PM Buffalo Sabres 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 40–24–7 87
72 16 12:00 PM Philadelphia Flyers 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 41–24–7 89
73 18 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (18,200) 41–25–7 89
74 20 7:30 PM Tampa Bay Lightning 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,044) 42–25–7 91
75 22 7:30 PM New Jersey Devils 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 43–25–7 93
76 24 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum
(16,234)
43–26–7 93
77 25 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 New Jersey Devils Prudential Center (16,292) 44–26–7 95
78 27 7:30 PM New York Islanders 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,025) 45–26–7 97
79 30 12:30 PM New York Rangers 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,020) 46–26–7 99
80 31 7:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (18,200) 46–26–8 100
April: 1–1–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 0–1–0), 2 Points
# Apr Time (ET) Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
81 2 7:30 PM Philadelphia Flyers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (17,132) 47–26–8 102
82 6 3:00 PM Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Philadelphia Flyers Wells Fargo Center (19,767) 47–27–8 102
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = OT/SO Loss

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 47 27 8 247 216 102
2 New Jersey Devils 82 46 29 7 206 197 99
3 New York Rangers 82 42 27 13 213 199 97
4 Philadelphia Flyers 82 42 29 11 248 233 95
5 New York Islanders 82 35 38 9 194 243 79

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Montreal Canadiens NE 82 47 25 10 262 222 104
2 y – Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 47 27 8 247 216 102
3 y – Washington Capitals SE 82 43 31 8 242 231 94
4 New Jersey Devils AT 82 46 29 7 206 197 99
5 New York Rangers AT 82 42 27 13 213 199 97
6 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 42 29 11 248 233 95
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 43 31 8 261 247 94
8 Boston Bruins NE 82 41 29 12 212 222 94
8.5
9 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 43 33 6 252 249 92
10 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 39 31 12 255 242 90
11 Florida Panthers SE 82 38 35 9 216 226 85
12 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 36 35 11 231 260 83
13 New York Islanders AT 82 35 38 9 194 243 79
14 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 34 40 8 216 272 76
15 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 31 42 9 223 267 71

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)


Detailed records

Final[40]

Eastern Conference
Atlantic GP W L OT SHOTS GF GA PP PK FO W–L
New Jersey Devils 8 4 3 1 220–210 28 17 11–34 7–37 202–225
New York Islanders 8 5 3 0 224–268 22 21 9–38 5–35 190–270
New York Rangers 8 3 3 2 180–260 16 21 5–35 9–42 205–213
Philadelphia Flyers 8 3 5 0 214–229 23 28 9–40 11–46 222–253
Pittsburgh Penguins
Division Total 32 15 14 3 838–967 89 87 34–147 32–160 819–961
Northeast GP W L OT SHOTS GF GA PP PK FO W–L
Boston Bruins 4 2 2 0 103–135 11 13 2–21 3–21 111–133
Buffalo Sabres 4 4 0 0 111–132 15 5 4–16 1–14 112–119
Montreal Canadiens 4 2 1 1 107–115 12 11 5–16 4–14 101–121
Ottawa Senators 4 1 2 1 116–120 14 18 3–22 6–13 99–138
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 2 2 0 133–130 16 15 4–23 3–20 125–114
Division Total 20 11 7 2 570–632 68 62 18–98 17–82 548–625
Southeast GP W L OT SHOTS GF GA PP PK FO W–L
Atlanta Thrashers 4 2 1 1 129–126 11 9 2–13 4–17 103–121
Carolina Hurricanes 4 2 2 0 114–139 11 12 5–23 5–20 117–135
Florida Panthers 4 3 1 0 125–134 11 8 3–22 0–8 99–131
Tampa Bay Lightning 4 3 1 0 102–126 10 6 1–11 2–14 88–120
Washington Capitals 4 3 0 1 90–124 15 12 5–20 4–18 106–132
Division Total 20 13 5 2 560–649 58 47 16–89 15–77 513–639
Conference Total 72 39 26 7 1968–2248 215 196 68–334 64–319 1880–2225
Western Conference
Northwest GP W L OT SHOTS GF GA PP PK FO W–L
Calgary Flames 1 1 0 0 35–28 3 2 1–5 1–3 33–32
Colorado Avalanche 1 0 1 0 28–33 2 3 1–6 1–6 27–29
Edmonton Oilers 1 1 0 0 31–19 4 2 1–2 0–1 28–29
Minnesota Wild 1 1 0 0 27–30 4 2 1–1 0–2 38–23
Vancouver Canucks 1 1 0 0 33–36 2 1 0–5 0–5 23–34
Division Total 5 4 1 0 154–146 15 10 4–19 2–17 149–147
Pacific GP W L OT SHOTS GF GA PP PK FO W–L
Anaheim Ducks 1 1 0 0 29–23 5 4 1–5 1–5 32–37
Dallas Stars 1 1 0 0 28–23 4 1 0–2 0–3 21–25
Los Angeles Kings 1 1 0 0 36–28 4 2 2–6 0–5 22–37
Phoenix Coyotes 1 1 0 0 33–18 3 1 1–8 1–3 34–29
San Jose Sharks 1 0 0 1 21–37 1 2 1–4 0–5 23–26
Division Total 5 4 0 1 147–129 17 10 5–25 2–21 132–154
Conference Total 10 8 1 1 301–275 32 20 9–44 4–38 281–301
NHL Total 82 47 27 8 2269–2523 247 216 77–378 68–357 2161–2526

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal

The Penguins opened the playoffs against the seventh-seeded

Scotiabank Place.[43] Two days later, the Penguins managed to eliminate the Senators in four games, the only team to do so in the first round. The team got goals from Malkin, Crosby and the series-winner from Jarkko Ruutu in the second period to defeat the Senators, 3–1.[44] The Penguins were the first team to advance from the opening round. The series win was the team's first since the 2001 playoffs, and the first sweep of a playoff series in 16 years.[45]

Eastern Conference semifinals

The Penguins began the Eastern Conference Semi-final against their

Madison Square Gardens after going 0–3–1 in the building during the regular season. They led 3–1 after the first period, before Jaromir Jagr tied the game. Malkin scored on the powerplay with 2:07 left in the second period to take the lead, and Malone added a goal in the third to give the Pens a 5–3 win, and a 3–0 series lead.[48] The Penguins lost their first game of the post-season in Game 4 against the Rangers. Jagr scored in the second period, Brandon Dubinsky in the third and Jagr scored again on an empty net goal in the last minute to force Game 5.[49] In Game 5, the Penguins took a 2–0 lead in the second period after goals from Malkin and Hossa before the Rangers tied in the third. The game entered overtime, the first of the playoffs for the Penguins, where Hossa scored his second goal of the game 7:10 in. With the goal, the Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.[50]

Eastern Conference Final

The Eastern Conference Final began between the Penguins and the

1995.[52] Game 3 saw the series move across the state to Philadelphia; the Penguins struck quickly with goals from Ryan Whitney and Hossa within the first eight minutes.[53] Hossa added his second goal on an empty net to seal the victory. With the win, the Penguins become the first team since the 1983 Edmonton Oilers to start the playoffs 11–1.[53] The Penguins failed to close out the Eastern Conference Finals with a sweep of the Flyers in Game 4, losing 4–2. The Flyers jumped out to a 3–0 lead in the first period. The Penguins fought back getting two goals from Jordan Staal in the third period, but Joffrey Lupul's second goal on an empty net sealed the win for the Flyers.[54] The series returned to Pittsburgh for Game 5, where the Penguins won their eighth consecutive home game by a final score of 6–0, the Prince of Wales Trophy, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.[55]

Stanley Cup Finals

downtown Pittsburgh
.

The Penguins faced the champion of Western Conference and Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup. The best-of-seven series began in Detroit on May 24, the first series the Penguins opened on the road. It was the third Stanley Cup Finals appearance for the Penguins franchise, the first since consecutive victories during the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings made their 23rd appearance, and first since 2002. The series ended on June 4 with the Red Wings winning in six games.

In game one at Detroit's

Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg, shutting out the Penguins 4–0.[56] In preparation for Game 2, Head Coach Michel Therrien revised Pittsburgh's lines; the changes included starting Gary Roberts, who did not play in Game 1.[57]

In Game 2, the Penguins were shut-out for a second time. Detroit's Brad Stuart and Tomas Holmstrom scored in the first period and Valtteri Filppula added a third goal in the third period. Pittsburgh struggled, failing to direct a shot on goal for the first 12 minutes of the game.[58] Pittsburgh shuffled their lineup again prior to Game 3, replacing defenseman Kris Letang with Darryl Sydor.[59]

Game 3 saw the Penguins score their first goal of the Final when Crosby netted a wrist shot 17:25 into the opening period. Crosby added his second goal of the game early in the second period. In the third, Adam Hall added the game-winning goal in the final period with assists from Maxime Talbot and Roberts. The Penguins held off a late charge by the Red Wings to win their first game of the Stanley Cup Finals by a score of 3–2.[60]

Entering Game 4, Sykora said the game was a must-win for the Penguins: "For us, basically, [Game 4] is a do-or-die game."[61] Despite an early goal from Marian Hossa, the Penguins were unable to hold off the Red Wings, who got goals from Nicklas Lidstrom and Jiri Hudler. The Penguins' inability to capitalize on a 5-on-3 man advantage in the 3rd period, which lasted for 1:26, sealed the third victory of the series for the Red Wings.[62]

In Game 5 of the series, Pittsburgh faced elimination in Detroit, where they had not yet won in the series. Down 3–2 with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, Talbot scored for the Penguins, who had removed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to gain an extra skater. The goal tied the game at three, forcing it into sudden-death overtime. In the third overtime period, Sykora scored at the 109:57 mark of the game to give the Penguins the victory and force Game 6. Sykora's goal was assisted by Malkin, who had struggled in the series, and Gonchar, who was returning for his first shift in 50 minutes due to an injury. In the fifth-longest Stanley Cup game in history, goaltender Fleury stopped 55 shots, with 24 in overtime.[63] Ryan Malone played in Game 6, despite being hit in the face with the puck in Game 5. Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that the team "seemed almost in awe of the way Malone reacted to a significant facial injury the way most people would a paper cut."[64]

In Game 6, Pittsburgh got goals from Malkin, his first in the Finals, and Hossa. Entering the final minute and trailing by one, Pittsburgh pulled Fleury for the second time that game, hoping to score with circumstances similar to Hossa's earlier goal. A tipped shot which passed in between Chris Osgood and the goal line as time expired did not enter the net, giving Detroit the victory. Pittsburgh's final defeat of the season was by a score of 3–2.[65][66]

Playoff log

2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarter-finals vs No. 7 Ottawa: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)
Date Visitor Score Home OT Pittsburgh goals
1 April 9 Ottawa 0–4 Pittsburgh Roberts (2), Sykora, Malkin Fleury 17,132 1–0
2 April 11 Ottawa 3–5 Pittsburgh Gonchar, Sykora (2), Malone (2) Donovan, Stillman, Bass Fleury 17,132 2–0
3 April 14 Pittsburgh 4–1 Ottawa
Talbot, Crosby, Staal, Hossa
Foligno Fleury 19,961 3–0
4 April 16 Pittsburgh 3–1 Ottawa Malkin, Ruutu, Crosby Stillman Fleury 19,954 4–0
Eastern Conference Semi-finals vs No. 5 NY Rangers: 4–1 (Home: 3–0 ; Road: 1–1)
Date Visitor Score Home OT Pittsburgh goals
1 April 25 NY Rangers 4–5 Pittsburgh Ruutu, Dupuis, Hossa, Sykora, Malkin Straka, Avery, Drury, Gomez Fleury 17,132 1–0
2 April 27 NY Rangers 0–2 Pittsburgh Staal, Hall Fleury 17,132 2–0
3 April 29 Pittsburgh 5–3 NY Rangers Hossa, Laraque, Malkin (2), Malone Straka, Callahan, Jagr Fleury 18,200 3–0
4 May 1 Pittsburgh 0–3 NY Rangers Jagr (2), Dubinsky Fleury 18,200 3–1
5 May 4 NY Rangers 2–3 Pittsburgh 1 Hossa (2), Malkin Korpikoski, Dawes Fleury 17,132 4–1
Eastern Conference Finals vs No. 6 Philadelphia Flyers: 4–1 (Home: 3–0 ; Road: 1–1)
Date Visitor Score Home OT Pittsburgh goals
1 May 9 Philadelphia 2–4 Pittsburgh Sykora, Crosby, Malkin (2) Richards (2) Fleury 17,132 1–0
2 May 11 Philadelphia 2–4 Pittsburgh Crosby, Hossa, Talbot, Staal Carter, Richards Fleury 17,132 2–0
3 May 13 Pittsburgh 4–1 Philadelphia Whitney, Hossa (2), Malone Umberger Fleury 19,965 3–0
4 May 15 Pittsburgh 2–4 Philadelphia Staal (2) Lupul (2), Briere, Carter Fleury 19,965 3–1
5 May 18 Philadelphia 0–6 Pittsburgh Malone (2), Malkin, Hossa, Staal, Dupuis Fleury 17,132 4–1
Stanley Cup Finals vs No. 1 Detroit Red Wings: 2–4 (Home: 1–2 ; Road: 1–2)
Date Visitor Score Home OT Pittsburgh goals
1 May 24 Pittsburgh 0–4 Detroit
Cleary, Zetterberg
Fleury 20,066 0–1
2 May 26 Pittsburgh 0–3 Detroit Stuart, Holmstrom, Filppula Fleury 20,066 0–2
3 May 28 Detroit 2–3 Pittsburgh Crosby (2), Hall Franzen, Samuelsson Fleury 17,132 1–2
4 May 31 Detroit 2–1 Pittsburgh Hossa Lidstrom, Hudler Fleury 17,132 1–3
5 June 2 Pittsburgh 4–3 Detroit 3 Hossa, Hall, Talbot, Sykora Helm, Datsyuk, Rafalsiki Fleury 20,066 2–3
6 June 4 Detroit 3–2 Pittsburgh Malkin, Hossa Rafalski, Filppula, Zetterberg Fleury 17,132 2–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player in italics scored winning goal.

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[69]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Marc-Andre Fleury 35 33 1857:26 19 10 2 72 2.33 909 0.921 4 0 1 0
Ty Conklin 33 30 1865:33 18 8 5 78 2.51 1013 0.923 2 0 1 4
Dany Sabourin 24 19 1241:31 10 9 1 57 2.75 596 0.904 2 0 0 2
Total 82 4964:30 47 27 8 207 2.50 2518 0.918 8 0 2 6
Playoffs[70]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Marc-Andre Fleury 20 20 1251:10 14 6 -- 41 1.97 610 0.933 3 0 0 2
Total 20 1251:10 14 6 0 41 1.97 610 0.933 3 0 0 2

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

Tyler Kennedy, Jonathan Filewich, Chris Minard and Alex Goligoski played in their first NHL games. Kennedy, Minard and Connor James scored their first goals, while Goligoski, Ryan Stone and Ty Conklin recorded first points. Evgeni Malkin recorded his first hat trick on January 3.

In addition, Evgeni Malkin, Maxime Talbot and Ryan Malone scored their first playoff goals. Rob Scuderi, Tyler Kennedy and Kris Letang recorded their first playoff points. Marc-Andre Fleury recorded his first playoff shutout.

Awards

Evgeni Malkin was added to the All-Star Game on January 22 as a replacement following an injury to Sidney Crosby.[71] In the game, Malkin recorded two assists.[72] On April 29, the NHL announced that Malkin, along with Alexander Ovechkin and Jarome Iginla, was named as a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player most valuable to his team. With 106 points, Malkin was the Penguins' leader in scoring. He finished second in the NHL only to Ovechkin. At one point in the season, Malkin recorded a 15-game point streak, the longest by a Russian player in the NHL.[11] In June, he was announced as the NHL's top center and honored on the First All-Star Team alongside Ovechkin and Iginla, defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Dion Phaneuf and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.[73]

The Penguins benefited from the success of several players who were called up from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Forward Tyler Kennedy was first recalled on October 27.[74] Defenseman Kris Letang was recalled on November 13 and immediately contributed to the Penguins shootout, scoring on all of his first five attempts, including during the Winter Classic on January 1. Of his five shots, three won the game for the Penguins.[75] Kennedy and Letang were selected to compete in the YoungStars competition for rookies during the All-Star break.[76]

Player Award
Sidney Crosby 2007
All-Star starting forward[79]
Sergei Gonchar
All-Star defenceman[80]
Tyler Kennedy
Kris Letang
NHL YoungStars[76]
Evgeni Malkin
All-Star forward[71]
First Team All-Star[73]
Hart Memorial Trophy finalist[11]

On April 2, following the final home game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced its award winners for the season. Awards were given by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, the Penguins Booster Club, as well as voted amongst the team.[81]

Player Award Notes
Ryan Whitney Baz Bastien Memorial Award Awarded by the Writers Association for cooperation throughout the season.
Ty Conklin Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee Nominated by the Writers Association for league-wide recognition.
Evgeni Malkin A. T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Cup Awarded to the player with the most "three stars" recognitions.
Georges Laraque Edward J. DeBartolo Award Awarded for time and effort towards community and charity projects.
Kris Letang
Rookie of the Year Award
Ryan Malone Player's Player Award Voted by the team for leadership and teamwork.
Evgeni Malkin
Most Valuable Player

Transactions

Free agents

The free agency period began on July 1. The Penguins saw forward Michel Ouellet and goaltender Jocelyn Thibault leave as free agents to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, respectively. To fill openings in the Penguins roster, the team signed goaltender Dany Sabourin, defenseman Darryl Sydor and forwards Petr Sykora[82] and Adam Hall. The organization also signed forwards Nathan Smith, Chris Minard[83] and Jeff Taffe,[84] as well as goaltender Ty Conklin[85] for their AHL minor league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Player Former team Contract terms
Dany Sabourin Vancouver Canucks 2 years, $1.025 million
Darryl Sydor Dallas Stars 2 years, $5 million
Petr Sykora Edmonton Oilers 2 years, $5 million
Nathan Smith Vancouver Canucks 1 year, $500,000
Jeff Taffe Phoenix Coyotes 2 years, $1 million
Ty Conklin Buffalo Sabres 1 year, $500,000
Adam Hall Minnesota Wild 1 year, $500,000
Player New team
Michel Ouellet Tampa Bay Lightning
Matt Carkner Ottawa Senators
Wade Brookbank Carolina Hurricanes
Nolan Schaefer Minnesota Wild
Jocelyn Thibault Buffalo Sabres

Trades

Marian Hossa was acquired by the Penguins minutes before the trade deadline.

On December 5, following talk of the team's future with Mark Recchi, the team placed the veteran right wing on waivers. After clearing without being claimed, Recchi was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL the next day.[86] The following day, before playing a game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Recchi was placed on re-entry waivers, where he could again be claimed by another team. On Saturday, December 8, Recchi was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers, with whom he joined the following Tuesday. The Penguins and the Thrashers would split the remaining cost of his US$1.75 million contract.[87]

On February 26, just minutes before the

2009 NHL Entry Draft, respectively.[89]

January 31, 2008 To Carolina Hurricanes

Joe Jensen

To Pittsburgh Penguins

David Gove

February 26, 2008 To Toronto Maple Leafs

2008 2nd round pick
2009 5th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Hal Gill

February 26, 2008 To Atlanta Thrashers

Colby Armstrong
Erik Christensen
Angelo Esposito
2008 1st round pick (Daultan Leveille)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Pascal Dupuis
Marian Hossa

Draft picks

The

2007 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 22 and 23 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. With the 20th overall pick, the Penguins selected Angelo Esposito of the Quebec Remparts in the first round. The Penguins selected eight players (five forwards and three defensemen) in six of the seven rounds.[90] All of the players remained with their junior league teams in Canada.[91]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 20 Angelo Esposito Center  Canada
QMJHL
)
2 51 Keven Veilleux Center  Canada Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
3 78[a] Robert Bortuzzo
Defenceman
 Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
3 80[b] Casey Pierro-Zabotel Center  Canada Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
4 111 Luca Caputi Left Wing  Canada Mississauga IceDogs (OHL)
4 118[c] Alex Grant Defenceman  Canada Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
5 141 Jake Muzzin Defenceman  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
6 171 Dustin Jeffrey Center  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Draft notes[92]
  • a The Atlanta Thrashers' third-round pick (from the New York Rangers) went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a February 27, 2007 trade that sent Chris Thorburn to the Thrashers in exchange for this pick.
  • b The Minnesota Wild's third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a February 27, 2007 trade that sent Dominic Moore to the Wild in exchange for this pick.[93]
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a July 19, 2006 trade that sent Libor Pivko and the rights to Dominic Moore to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.[94]
  • c The Detroit Red Wings' fourth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a March 9, 2006 trade that sent Cory Cross to the Red Wings in exchange for this pick.[95]
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins' seventh-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a February 27, 2007 trade that sent Nolan Schaefer to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.[96]

Farm teams

The

Calder Cup Playoffs, the "Baby Penguins" advanced through the Eastern Conference bracket with a record of 12–5. In the Calder Cup Final, they lost to the Chicago Wolves (ATL), four games to two.[97]

In the ECHL, the Wheeling Nailers, a joint affiliate with the Philadelphia Flyers, finished last in the Northern Division, with a final record of 22–43–3–4.

See also

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External links