PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens make the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. What do you remember about the last time the Pens didn't compete for the Stanley Cup?
Here are some facts from the last time the Pens missed the playoffs in the 2005-06 season:
· Mario Lemieux was captain (7 goals and 15 assists in 26 games)
· Ed Olczyk started as head coach (8-17-6) and replaced by Michel Therrien (14-29-8)
· 18-year-old Sidney Crosby was the leading scorer (39 goals, 63 assists)
· Mark Recchi was the 3rd leading scorer (57 points) & John LeClair was 4th (51)
· Colby Armstrong was by far the best plus/minus player at a plus 15. Andy Hilbert was next at a plus 8, Ziggy Palffy, a plus 5.
· Recchi was a -28, LeClair -24, Ryan Malone -22
· Future Pens Stanley Cup winners Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik, Maxime Talbot, Rob Scuderi & Marc-Andre Fleury were on the roster
· Orpik first in penalty minutes and Crosby was third
· Pens lost their first 9 games of the season, finished 22-46-14 (58 points) and gave up more goals than any team that year (316)
· Pens had winning records against two division teams-Islanders (4-0) & Washington (3-1)
The Pens would go from 58 points and 22 wins, 5th in the division to 47-24-11, 105 points and 2nd in the Atlantic. Two-years later hoisting the Cup in Detroit.
