What to watch for: 1991 Stanley Cup Final (Game 2)

During the next two weeks AT&T SportsNet will continue airing a series of "Pittsburgh Penguins Classic" content. The includes re-airing the Penguins' four victories against the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 Stanley Cup Final (Games 2, 4, 5, 6).
To get you set for these games we've provided a quick preview/recap of the game. Obviously, the Penguins won each game. Having watched these games in full for the "first time" myself, I listed my biggest takeaways and surprises from the retro games. Some of these observations may jog your memory, and some may come into clarity for the first time - those moments that only hindsight can really bring into focus.
To view all 1991 Stanley Cup Final rewind coverage, click here.
Enjoy!

PROGRAMMING:
6:30PM: There's a Team in the Building (documentary of the 1988-89 Penguins)
7PM: Game 2 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Final - Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
9:30PM: Inside Penguins Hockey (Mario Lemieux profile)
10PM: Inside Penguins Hockey (building block moments)
10:30PM: SportsBeat Rewind with "Badger" Bob Johnson
SETUP: The Penguins' Stanley Cup championship hopes looked bleak after falling behind 2-0 in the Wales Conference Final to the Boston Bruins. But after winning four straight games, Pittsburgh rallied to earn a berth in its first-ever Stanley Cup Final against the Minnesota North Stars. The Penguins, however, dropped Game 1, 5-4, at home. That made Game 2 a must-win for Pittsburgh to avoid a 2-0 hole heading to Minnesota.
SUMMARY: Penguins defenseman Paul Coffey played with a protective face shield after missing the previous 10 games with a broken jaw. Though he only played on the power play, his presence was a boost to the team. Pittsburgh struck twice in the first period (shorthanded and on the power play) to take a 2-0 lead. Rookie sensation Mike Modano cut it to 2-1 early in the second period. But then Mario Lemieux scored his career signature goal that broke the North Stars' spirit, and goalie Tom Barrasso stopped 39 of 40 shots as Pittsburgh evened the series at 1-1 with a 4-1 victory.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
FIRST PERIOD
\Maybe it was the Penguins' style of play back then or the size of the players, but there appeared to be much more open ice in this game than nowadays. It was a very free flowing (and sometimes chaotic game), which is shocking when compared to today's Stanley Cup Final games, which tend to be played very tight and structured.
\The early 90s goalies really liked to challenge shots. Minnesota's Jon Casey and Pittsburgh's Barrasso not only came to the top of their crease, at times on long shots they were in the lower circles or even the high slot. What a change in style over the years. Talk about aggressive play.
\Remember the two-line pass? What was the purpose of that? Glad that nonsense is gone.
\GOAL! Bob Errey gets the Penguins on the board with a shorthanded goal. Errey was killing a penalty with Mario Lemieux (yes, he killed penalties; was there anything the big guy couldn't do?). Errey carried the puck as Lemieux cut to the net. Two North Stars backed off Errey to take Lemieux, with one of them tackling him at the crease (it was really the only way to stop 66). Errey ticked his shot for the top corner.

\The Penguins didn't make things easy on themselves. Four penalties in the first period. But they killed off all four, and even scored.
\The Penguins got their first power play of the game late in the first period. There was a huge ovation from the crowd as Paul Coffey stepped onto the ice for the first time in 10 games. He wore a shield to protect his broken jaw. The shark fins and "Jaws" theme were out in full force.
\GOAL! Stevens! The Penguins' power play strikes with 50 seconds left in the frame. Lemieux and Stevens were both at the posts. An airborne puck was falling near Lemieux, who somehow swatted it out of the air and across the crease to Stevens for a pass. From there, all Stevens had to do was kick the puck to his stick and tap it in. There are only a small handful of players that could make that pass play. Lemieux is one of them.
SECOND PERIOD
\The Penguins continue to hurt themselves. They took a too many men penalty at the end of the first period, so they opened the second frame shorthanded.
\Goal. Modano. The North Stars make it a 2-1 game just 55 seconds into the second period with a power-play goal. Modano's pass attempt went off of Lemieux's long stick and toward the goal. Barrasso was moving to his right on the pass, but had to kick back his leg to make a save. Unfortunately, the rebound went back to Modano, who was able to finish the play with Barrasso trapped out of position.
\Another thing I'm noticing from this old game is that players are very willing to gain the blue line and then just tee up a slap shot. You don't see it as much nowadays, but in this game it was a common maneuver.\Barrasso was phenomenal in this game. He came up HUGE on a Stu Gavin shorthanded breakaway to maintain the Penguins lead. It was perhaps the turning point of the game.
\GOAL! LEMIEUX! Obviously, this goal has been written about many times before, and by many better scribes than myself. It has become the most recognizable (and probably the most popular) goal scored by Lemieux in his career. What strikes me now is watching Lemieux celebrate with the fist pump. He looked so energized and excited. It's like he could taste the Cup title, and he knew that goal was the series-changing tally.
Video: Lemieux beats two defensemen and Casey
\GOAL! Stevens again! Just 88 seconds after Lemieux's goal, Stevens jams in a rebound at the front of the net to give Pittsburgh a 4-1 lead. Larry Murphy put the puck on the net. Joey Mullen, with the linebacker neck guard, and Stevens were fighting at the crease to get that goal.
THIRD PERIOD
\It appeared that Errey had his second goal of the game; however, the net was off its moorings. But it was a beautiful setup from a young 19-year-old Jaromir Jagr. The Czech made a perfect pass under the prone body of Casey to Errey for an easy tap-in. But it would not count.
\The third period seemed very chaotic. Teammates running into each other. No structure. No organization. Absolute boxing matches taking places at the crease. The game just went off the rails.
\Speaking of off the rails, Gordie Roberts took a ton of penalties with 2:26 remaining (holding, spearing, game misconduct). Paul Stanton was already in the box, so it was a glorious opportunity for Minnesota's power play to make this a game.
\The Penguins PK got the job done, again. Despite taking nine penalties, the unit only surrendered one man-advantage goal. And swatted away would could have been a dangerous situation.
\Minnesota's mentality in the final minute: shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Barrasso's mentality in the final minute: save, save, save, save, save.
*Love hearing the fans loudly chant down the final 5 seconds of the game. The eruption was palpable as the game ended and the Penguins evened the series at 1-1.