By Brian Coe
Is there a team historically better than the Penguins when it comes to dealing with high pressure situations in the playoffs?
Doubtful.
Wednesday night’s Game Seven will be the 10th time the Penguins have gone the distance in a playoff series. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton holds a 7-2 mark in the first nine decisive games.
Here’s a quick look back at the full list of series finishers as you get ready to see the Pens and Bruins face off one more time on Wednesday.
2001 DIVISION SEMIFINAL vs. SYRACUSE (6-2 WIN, April 18): The Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and never looked back en route to a win in the best-of-five series. Milan Kraft recorded two goals and picked up an assist for the Penguins, while Michal Rozsival, Trent Cull, Toby Petersen and Eric Meloche also chipped in with goals. Rich Parent turned aside 21 shots in the win.
2004 DIVISION SEMIFINAL at BRIDGEPORT (3-2 OT WIN, April 25): Konstantin Koltsov’s goal at 11:44 of overtime capped the series comeback for the Penguins. Koltsov and Tom Kostopoulos gave the Pens a 2-1 lead after two periods before Rob Collins tied the game early in the third period. Koltsov then took a Matt Hussey feed and beat net minder Dieter Kocahn for the win. The Penguins actually trailed the best-of-seven series, 3-1, before posting wins in Game Five (2-1 in Wilkes-Barre) and Game Six (5-0 in Bridgeport) to force Game Seven.
2004 CONFERENCE FINAL at HARTFORD (2-1 OT WIN, May 29): Another Game Seven on the road, another OT win. Matt Murley slid a shot low past Jason LaBarbera at 13:21 of the extra frame to send the Penguins to their second Calder Cup Final appearance.
2006 DIVISION SEMIFINAL vs. BRIDGEPORT (5-4 WIN, April 29): Five different Penguins tallied goals as the Pens defeated the Sound Tigers in the best-of-seven series. Jonathan Filewich got the eventual game-winner with an empty netter at 18:52 of the third to put the Pens up 5-3, but Rob Collins scored with 45 seconds left in regulation to make it a 5-4 game. Ryan Whitney, Dan Carcillo, Erik Christensen and Ryan Stone also scored for the Penguins.
2008 CONFERENCE FINAL vs. PORTLAND (3-2 WIN, May 24): Tim Brent’s goal with 31 seconds left in the third gave the Penguins another series comeback, and sent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to its third Calder Cup Finals appearance. Brent dangled around former Penguins net minder Jean-Sebastien Aubin for his 11th goal of the playoffs to beat his former club. The Penguins got to Game Seven after Connor James tallied 20 seconds into overtime the previous night to give WBS a 4-3 win (the Pens trailed that game 3-0 at one point, thanks to a pair of goals by Andrew Ebbett).
2009 EAST DIVISION FINAL at HERSHEY (3-0 LOSS, May 12): Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves en route to a 3-0 win in Game Seven at the Gian Center. Wilkes-Barre led the series, 3-2, before Neuvirth posted back-to-back 3-0 wins on home ice to eliminate the Pens from the postseason.
2012 CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL vs. HERSHEY (2-1 WIN, April 28): The Pens captured the best-of-five series thanks to goals from Cal O’Reilly and Zach Stone, which came just seven seconds spar later in the second period. Brad Thiessen made 18 saves for the win.
2012 CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL at ST. JOHN’S (3-2 LOSS, May 12): After posting a 3-2 double OT win in Game five, the Pens traveled to Newfoundland and downed the IceCaps, 4-2, in Game Six to force the decisive tilt. The Pens got goals fry Ryan Craig and Colin McDonald, but Aaron Gagnon’s two tallies gave the home team the trip to the Conference Final.
2013 CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL at PROVIDENCE (5-0 WIN, May 22): The Pens capped perhaps the biggest comeback in AHL history with a decisive victory in Providence. After trailing the series, 3-0, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fought back with 3-1, 4-0 and 2-1 OT wins to force Game Seven. That momentum carried over as Chad Kolarik, Warren Peters, Adam Payerl, Zach Sill and Trevor Smith scored to send the Pens to the Conference Final. Brad Thiessen made 34 saves, helping the Penguins to become the first team in league history to win a Game Seven on the road after trailing a series 3-0.
Now, 364 days after that historic win, the Pens will look to send the Bruins home for a second straight season. Tickets for Wednesday night’s Game Seven are on sale now at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, or by calling the Penguins at 570-208-7367. Kids 14 and under get into the game FREE with a paid adult ticket.
It’s time to #DigDeep again! Let’s Go PENS!
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