June 1 has been a hectic day throughout the course of National Hockey League history. It has seen champions crowned, eras end, legendary arenas built, and coaching changes to go along with the games on the ice. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to enjoy all the top moments this date has had to offer.
Championship Memories in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their second straight championship on June 1, 1992, by beating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-5 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. The win was the Penguins’ 11th straight of the postseason, tying a record the Blackhawks had set heading into the series with Pittsburgh.
The Penguins held three separate one-goal leads in the first period thanks to goals by Jaromir Jagr, Kevin Stevens, and Mario Lemieux, but all three of those goals were answered by Dirk Graham’s first-period hat trick. Rick Tocchet and Jeremey Roenick added goals in the second period. Larry Murphy and Ron Francis gave the Penguins a two-goal lead early in the third period. Roenick scored again with just under nine minutes left to play, but the Blackhawks could not score the equalizer.
Lemieux, who added two assists to go along with his goal, wins this second straight Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player of the postseason. He had 16 goals and 34 points in 15 games during the championship run.
The Penguins also beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 on June 1, 2016, in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Phil Kessel opened the scoring in the second period before Justin Braun forced overtime in the late stages of regulation. Just 2:35 into overtime, Conor Sheary scored from the left circle to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead in the series. He became the first rookie since Brian Skrudland in 1986 to score an overtime goal in the Final.
More Misery for the Blackhawks
Losing the 1992 Stanley Cup Final was not the only heartbreak the Blackhawks suffered on this date. On June 1, 1995, they lost 2-1 in overtime at the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of…
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