Tim Benz: Celebrating a memorable day in Penguins history — for multiple reasons

May 21 is certainly a day with some historically good vibes for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Tuesday marks the 15-year anniversary of Evgeni Malkin’s hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Final.

The third goal was Malkin’s famous blind backhander that beat goalie Cam Ward.

On that memorable play, Malkin won a draw to himself against future teammate Matt Cullen. He then galloped away from defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, going behind the net before masterfully flicking the puck by Ward.

That was Pittsburgh’s sixth goal of the game. Tyler Kennedy would add an empty-netter to give the Pens a 7-4 win after claiming Game 1 by a final of 3-2. Malkin had a goal and an assist in that one as well.

Geno tortured the Canes to the tune of six goals and three assists en route to a Penguins four-game sweep. They’d then go on to beat the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final, with Malkin claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy after a 36-point playoff performance.

Tuesday is also the 32nd anniversary of Kevin Stevens’ four-goal performance against the Boston Bruins in the 1992 Wales Conference Final.

Bryan Trottier got the other goal, as the Penguins ended up winning 5-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. They’d go on to sweep the Bruins to win the conference and eventually sweep the Chicago Blackhawks to claim their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux wound up with three assists apiece on the night. Watch some of those highlights, their passing to Stevens was filthy.

May 21 holds some other pretty good memories for the Pens. In 2017, they trounced the Ottawa Senators, 7-0, to take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final, a series they’d eventually win in seven games.

Matt Murray pitched a shutout. Seven different Penguins scored the seven goals.

It’s also the day the club evened the 1991 Stanley Cup Final against the Minnesota North Stars by virtue of a 5-3 victory at the Met Center. Stevens, Lemieux and Joe Mullen had two points apiece.

The Penguins would go on to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup four days later.

Hey, it’s been six years since the Penguins won a playoff series, and two years since they’ve even qualified. So why not look back at the good ol’ days when NHL playoff hockey was actually a common occurrence around here?

I’m getting the impression it may not be that for a while. Enjoy the memories.