Format the following passage properly, for storytelling purposes. Keep it as written, don't change a single word, but improve grammar where necessary.

Hoping to extend their winning streak to two games and become the first team since the Islanders to make a successful defense in their home arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Quebec Nordiques in an Eastern conference showdown pitting the 2 teams that finished at the top of the Northeast division (and earned two of the top three seeds in the East at the conclusion of the 1994-95 regular season). With Detroit having already won and lost, and only a few teams remaining before I bid a temporary 'farewell' to "NHL '96," the winner of this game would be guaranteed to face lower-ranked teams from that point forward and have some assurance, however minimal, of a relatively extended 'title reign.' In fact, this matchup pits the #2 and #3 ranked teams in "NHL '96," with the third-ranked Penguins getting home ice advantage (which could prove crucial given what an offensive force Quebec was in their final season before the club was sold and relocated to Denver, Colorado in the United States). On paper it was fairly even money, as the Nordiques and Penguins would split the four games evenly, with each earning a victory in their own stadium and on their opponents' ice, and only one game being decided by more than one goal; even then, the margin of victory was merely two goals (and this game was notable as being the Nordiques' sole defeat on their home ice in the regular season; they went 19-0-4 in the remaining 23 games). Perhaps no one Nordique was more potent a weapon than captain Joe Sakic, who had been a co-captain since the 1990-91 season (and full captain since 1992) and in the 1994-95 season led the team in both assists (43) and points (62). Indeed, Sakic would get in on the action quickly against Pittsburgh, scoring the first goal of the contest to give the Nordiques a 1-0 lead. Though the Rangers would respond before the end of the first period to tie the game at 1-1, the Nordiques added three more goals over the ensuing two periods to capture a 4-1 victory and prevent the Penguins from subverting the ongoing 'one-and-done curse.' Jocelyn Thibault, who did not lead the Nordiques in wins in 1994-95 (that was Stephane Fiset, who accounted for 17 of a possible 30 victories) but did lead in goals against average with 2.34 to his credit, accounted for 73 saves of a possible 74, achieving a 98% success rate against a Penguin offense that was playing without one of their most important weapons in captain Mario Lemieux (who was on a one-year leave to get Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment, effective as of August 29, 1994). Curtis Leschyshyn, who led the Nordiques in plus/minus (+29) during the 1994-95 season (and would win a cup with the team in 1996, following their relocation to Denver), finished with a goal and an assist (for two points) while taking six shots on the goal and never seeing the box. The sole goal for Pittsburgh was scored by John Cullen, a legend of the now-defunct IHL who briefly became the namesake of that league's John Cullen Award before its demise in 2001. Cullen finished with a goal (and a point) while taking eight shots on goal and being penalized once (for two in the box). The Nordiques would follow the convincing victory over Pittsburgh with a home 'defense' against the New York Rangers. This had the potential to go well or horribly for Quebec; though the Nordiques swept the three-game series against the Rangers in the regular season, they were upset by the defending Stanley Cup champions in six games (including an 8-3 decimation in the second game to tie the series 1-1). Though the Rangers were an eight seed that did not achieve a particularly great record in the regular season, they were still playing with many of the pieces of the team that had won it all at the conclusion of the 1993-94 season (including future Hall of Famer Mark Messier). Their experience showed in perhaps the most decisive manner achievable, as the Rangers scored six goals on Quebec while not allowing a single in return from their opponents, achieving a remarkable 6-0 shutout. Every player in this game that proved most critical to their win had indeed been on that 1993-94 championship team, including Mike Richter (who led the team in wins during the 1994-95 regular season, though Glenn Healy led in goals against average with 2.36 to his credit). Richter, whose Wikipedia page currently features an iconic picture of him lifting the Stanley Cup in 1994, finished with 70 saves of 70 possible (for a 100% success rate against Quebec). Alexei Kovalev, another piece of the Rangers' championship team, led the Rangers with two goals (and two points) while taking nine shots on the goal and being penalized just twice (for four in the box). Alternate captain Adam Graves, who led the Rangers in goals (17) and plus/minus (+9) during the 1994-95 regular season (and had also won a Stanley in 1990 with the Oilers, in Messier's penultimate season in Edmonton), finished with a goal and assist (for two points) while taking nine shots on the goal and never being sent to the box. Steve Larmer, who was an alternate captain in the 1993-94 season where they won the Stanley, finished with a goal and an assist (for two points) while taking seven shots on the goal and being penalized just once (for two in the box). The Rangers would break the 'curse' by making a successful defense against the Montreal Canadiens, leading 3-0 with 14:52 left in the third period; though the Canadiens battled back and cut the deficit to one goal, the Rangers scored once more to finalize a 4-2 victory. Mike Richter was once again playing 'off the scale,' with 83 saves out of a possible 85 for a 97% success rate against the Habs' offense. Brian Leetch, who made it to the Hall in 2009 (and has been referred to by teammate Messier as the single greatest player in the history of the Rangers, playing nearly his entire career in New York before spending his last two pro seasons in Toronto and Boston), led his team with two goals (and two points) while taking 14 shots on the goal and never seeing the box. For the Habs, Brian Savage and Yves Racine, both of whom came on too late to have been a part of Montreal's 1992-93 championship team, combined their powers to score both of the Habs' goals (and a combined two points), while taking an aggregate six shots on the goal and being penalized once apiece (for a combined four minutes in the box). The Rangers next faced their equivalent from the Western conference, the Dallas Stars (who had a similar record and were also seeded eighth going into the postseason). Hoping for a second successful defense, they saw their hopes thwarted. With the game tied 1-1 after two periods, Dallas would add two goals in the third (including an empty-netter with just ten seconds left) to end the Rangers' short but sweet run as 'champs.' Darcy Wakaluk, a carryover from the Stars' days as the "North Stars" in Minnesota (and Dallas' starting goaltender in the 1994-95 playoffs), finished with 74 saves out of a possible 75 (for a 98% success rate). Dave Gagner, who led the Stars in goals (14), assists (28) and points (42) in 1994-95, finished with two goals (and two points) while taking 13 shots on the goal and being penalized twice (for four in the box). Petr Nedvěd scored the lone goal for New York (and earned a point) while taking eight shots on the goal and never going to the box. Next up for Dallas is the Washington Capitals; against their closest Western equivalent in Vancouver the Stars finished 0-0-4, tying in all 4 encounters. Another tie, even if virtual, would be stunning.