A Look Back at the Penguins' Performance on April 23rd in NHL History

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 57th season has come to a close, and unfortunately, the team will be watching the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs from the sidelines for the third consecutive year. While their recent playoff drought is disheartening, the Penguins’ storied history speaks volumes — 37 playoff appearances and five championships.

In this new series, we’ll take a closer look at how the Penguins performed on specific dates throughout the years, leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Let’s start with April 23rd, a date that has had its fair share of memorable moments for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins on April 23rd: A Historical Snapshot

Over the years, the Penguins have accumulated a 6-6 record in 12 games on this date. Here’s a rundown of their performances on April 23rd through the years:

• 1970: Win vs. St. Louis Blues (3-2)

• 1989: Loss vs. Philadelphia Flyers (4-1)

• 1991: Win vs. Washington Capitals (3-1)

• 1992: Win vs. Washington Capitals (6-4)

• 1994: Loss vs. Washington Capitals (4-1)

• 1997: Win vs. Philadelphia Flyers (4-1)

• 1998: Loss vs. Montreal Canadiens (3-2 OT)

• 2001: Win vs. Washington Capitals (4-3)

• 2009: Loss vs. Philadelphia Flyers (3-0)

• 2014: Loss vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3 OT)

• 2016: Win vs. New York Rangers (6-3)

Notable Penguins Performances on April 23rd:

• April 23, 1991: Mark Recchi made a huge impact in a 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Recchi scored a game-tying goal in the first period and then assisted on both goals in the third, playing a pivotal role in the Penguins’ victory.

• April 23, 1992: In a 6-4 win over the Capitals, franchise icon Mario Lemieux put on a historic performance, tallying six points with three goals and three assists. This game remains one of Lemieux’s unforgettable playoff performances.

• April 23, 1997: Ian Moran had his only career multi-point playoff game, recording a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Flyers.

• April 23, 2016: In just his fourth career playoff game, Bryan Rust recorded his first two-goal playoff game, adding an assist to make it three points in a 6-3 victory over the Rangers.

Bryan Rust’s First 30-Goal Season: A Milestone for the Penguins

While the Penguins didn’t make the playoffs this year, one bright spot was Bryan Rust’s career milestone. On Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, Rust scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season, marking his first-ever 30-goal campaign. He became the 39th player in franchise history to score 30 goals in a season while wearing a Penguins sweater.

Rust’s achievement is a testament to his growth and dedication as a player, and it’s one of the few bright spots in what has been a challenging season for Pittsburgh.

As we look ahead, there are plenty of exciting Penguins moments in the past to reflect on, especially as the team works toward bouncing back in the next season. Keep an eye out for future editions of this series as we revisit more iconic performances from the Penguins' rich history.