He was 6'4-5" tall, it would have been weird at first to give him a bodyguard like Diaper Baby Waynette Gretzky. Mario also did himself no favors, there were a lot that took conditioning seriously even back then, Mario didn't give a single **** about working out, he was about smoking his cigs and getting by on talent.
Mario, if he took working out as seriously as say, Rod Brind'Amour, would have been a ****ing monster.
The game that gave the Pens the #1 pick in the 84 draft.
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score — April 1, 1984 | Hockey-Reference.com
If LaFontaine and Sutter don't score for the Isles, the Devils get Mario and who knows where this franchise goes from there.
If not for Martin Jones I would think Game 5 against the Sharks would get some consideration in this discussion. This city was ready to throw a serious rager.
Also worth mentioning imo - Game 5 vs Philly in 2008 - eliminating the Flyers for the first time in the playoffs was huge step forward (psychologically) for the franchise and fan base.
But if I had to pick one, I can't go against Game 1 1992. Jagr's insane goal, Lemieux's late goal, Lange's call on Lemieux's goal, arena shaking. My god.
That's actually a pretty cool take. I like that. And man... maybe it was a good thing we lost. I honestly think the party in Pittsburgh would have been bigger than any party every before. I cannot BELIEVE how many people were there.
That's why @ColePens is probably right saying it's a good thing they lost that one. You would've had people outside the arena partying (18k inside+ who knows how many outside), people in market square. All of whom probably would've converged on the south side, which already would have been a complete shitshow. The North Shore was probably packed as well.I drove 4 hours to Pittsburgh to do the watch party. Problem was the main viewing area was already filled by the time we arrived a couple hours prior. So we were in Market Square and that place was packed to the gills
That's actually a pretty cool take. I like that. And man... maybe it was a good thing we lost. I honestly think the party in Pittsburgh would have been bigger than any party every before. I cannot BELIEVE how many people were there.
I'll mention 2 that haven't made the list here (both post season)
1996 Petr Nedved Tripple OT goal vs Caps
2001- Darius Kasparaitis game 7 vs Hasek
I guess they shouldn't make biggest games but I love that you pulled these two. Have such fond memories of both of those games.
My memory is fuzzy but I believe we played NJ in the first round as huge under dogs (I dont know if it was the same year as the Kasper ot goal) but in game 1 Straka had an OT goal stunning NJ. I might be off with my facts
Straka had that beaut against Washington in the first round in OT in that same year (2001) -- maybe that one? Clowned Gonchar in the process? Think that was the KLS year, too. Dominant.
The year I was talking about (I had to look it up) was 99 playoffs. NJ was the 1st seed and we were the 8th and we upset them and advanced to round 2. Lost to the leafs in the next round
Ahhh, yeah. I think that was the playoffs where Jagr was literally using like a tire tube to keep his groin together.