Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Tuesday 3 OcTOber 2017
A23
Three’s company; Pens eye 1st NHL three-peat in 35 years

By WILL GRAVES outscored 14-6 over the fi-
AP Sports Writer nal three games as Gretzky
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The pa- fueled a rally. The Great
rade celebrating the Pitts- One opened Game 7 with
burgh Penguins’ second a goal 52 seconds in and
straight Stanley Cup was finished off his old team
still raging on that hot af- with an empty netter.
ternoon in mid-June when THE LEGACY: Messier
Mike Sullivan decided it emerged from Gretzky’s
was time to up the ante. shadow the following year,
Sure, becoming the first sweeping the Kings in the
back-to-back Cup win- division finals before top-
ners in nearly two decades ping Boston to give the Oil-
is historic. Still, it’s just two. ers their fifth — and final —
Three straight? Well, that’s Cup in a decade.
something else entirely. THE TEAM: 1992-93 Pitts-
And the man whose arrival burgh Penguins
in December 2015 coincid- THE RESUME: Needed
ed with Pittsburgh’s ascen- Game 7 wins in the first
dance back to the top of round in both 1991 and
the NHL knew it. 1992 to advance, then
So the head coach with stormed to the first two
the innate ability to cali- In this June 14, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup while Cups in franchise history.
brate a roster stuffed with riding in the Stanley Cup victory parade in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. THE SEASON: The great-
an eclectic mix of genera- Associated Press est team of the Lemieux-
tional offensive talent, re- All three had their shots at a Pittsburgh the early favorite. man Steve Smith scored an Jaromir Jagr duo won an
lentless young legs and just three-peat. All three came The Penguins insist they’re “own goal” when his cross- NHL-record 17 straight
enough tenacity figured it up short, if winning “just” focusing on the opener ing pass bounced off goal- games from March 9-April
was time to set the bar for two straight Cups qualifies. Wednesday against St. tender Grant Fuhr and into 10 to finish with a league-
2018. “You don’t need to spend Louis. Worrying about be- the Edmonton net. Cal- best 119 points. Four dif-
“I wonder if we can repeat, a lot of time looking back coming a true “old school” gary’s Perry Berezan was ferent Penguins (Lemieux,
if we can ‘three-peat,’” and comparing and things dynasty is at the bottom of credited with the winner Kevin Stevens, Rick Toc-
Sullivan said. like that,” Crosby said. “You the list of their concerns. as the last Flames player to chet and Ron Francis)
Only he wasn’t wonder- can do that when you’re “The historical chips will fall touch the puck. scored at least 100 points,
ing. He was challenging done playing.” where they may,” defense- THE LEGACY: The loss was with Jagr at 94.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Mal- Let’s do it anyway. No man Ian Cole said. more of a hiccup than any- THE END: Breezed past New
kin, Matt Murray and the team has even reached A quick look at where they thing. A year later, the Oil- Jersey in the first round and
rest of the core that has a the Cup final three succes- fell for the last four teams ers were at it again. seemed in control against
chance to win three con- sive springs since the Island- eyeing a three-peat of _THE TEAM: 1988-89 Ed- the New York Islanders af-
secutive Cups for the first ers finished off Gretzky and their own: monton Oilers ter a 6-3 victory in Game 5.
time in the NHL since Mike the Oilers on May 16, 1983, _THE TEAM: 1985-86 Ed- THE RESUME: Won the third The Islanders won at home
Bossy led the New York Is- for their fourth champion- monton Oilers and fourth Cups of the to force a Game 7. Pitts-
landers to four straight from ship, a time when the path THE RESUME: Led by Gretzky Gretzky-Messier Era in 1987 burgh trailed by two late
1980-83. from burgeoning power and Mark Messier, went a and 1988. in the third but rallied to tie
And the message rang to dynasty was far shorter combined 30-7 during con- THE SEASON: Gretzky was it on Tocchet’s goal with
through loud and clear. than it is now. secutive Cup runs in 1984 traded to Los Angeles 1 minute left in regulation
The way Sullivan’s captain There were only 21 teams in and 1985. shortly after leading the Oil- before David Volek buried
figures it, facing that kind the league in 1983, not 31. THE SEASON: Posted NHL- ers to their fourth Cup in five a 2-on-1 5:16 into overtime
of internal pressure sure There was no salary cap, best 119 points to win years. The hangover was to pull off one of the big-
beats the opposite, even if allowing teams to stockpile Smythe Division for fifth palpable. Edmonton went gest upsets in playoff his-
Crosby isn’t quite ready to all the talent they could af- straight time behind record just 38-34-8 to finish third in tory.
start thinking about what ford. Globalization hadn’t 215 points from Gretzky. the Smythe. THE LEGACY: Lemieux nev-
doing something his boss yet reached the league. THE END: Faced rival Cal- THE END: Messier and er made it back to a Stan-
(Penguins owner Mario The Islanders’ last Cup gary in division finals. company faced Gretzky ley Cup final as a player.
Lemieux), his idol (former team featured players from Dropped Game 1 at home and the upstart Kings in Then again, things could
Red Wings center Steve three different countries. and spent the rest of the an emotionally charged be worse. Crosby has guid-
Yzerman) and the greatest Last spring’s Penguins had series trying to catch up, opening-round series. The ed the franchise to three fi-
player of them all (Wayne eight. falling 3-2 in Game 7. Ed- Oilers took a 3-1 lead in the nals during Lemieux’s own-
Gretzky) never did. Oddsmakers have made monton rookie defense- best-of-seven only to get ership. q
Usain Bolt misses out on IAAF athlete of the year shortlist

MONACO (AP) — tired after this year’s world choring Jamaica’s Almaz Ayana, Anita Wlo- cess.”
Usain Bolt, who won the championships in London. 4x100-meter relay team. darczyk, Maria Lasitskene, Half of the votes will come
IAAF world athlete of the He holds the world record The male nominees are Hellen Obiri, Sally Pearson, from the IAAF council, 25
year award six times, has of 9.58 seconds in the 100 Mutaz Essa Barshim, Pawel Sandra Perkovic, Brittney percent from the IAAF
not been included in the and 19.19 in the 200. Fajdek, Mo Farah, Sam Reese, Caster Semenya, member federations and
10-men shortlist for this Bolt’s farewell major meet Kendricks, Elijah Manangoi, Ekaterini Stefanidi and Naf- committee members, and
year’s prize. didn’t go well. Luvo Manyonga, Omar issatou Thiam. the remaining 25 percent
The only sprinter to capture After a third-place finish McLeod, Christian Taylor, The IAAF said Monday the from a public vote on so-
the 100- and 200-meter in the 100, Bolt’s last race Wayde van Niekerk and finalists will be determined cial media.
track titles at three con- ended in the anguish of an Johannes Vetter. by a The awards will be an-
secutive Olympics, Bolt re- injured hamstring while an- The women’s list includes “three-way voting pro- nounced on Nov. 24.q