2000–01 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 2000-2001 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 34th in the National Hockey League. The team played 82 games for new coach Ivan Hlinka, who replaced Herb Brooks, who stepped down to remain a scout with the team.
==Offseason==
Herb Brooks resigned as coach at the end of the previous season, but remained with the team as a scout. Ivan Hlinka succeeded Brooks as head coach. Former Penguin Joe Mullen became an assistant coach along with his former teammate Randy Hillier.
==Regular season==
The Penguins opened the regular season by splitting a two-game series against the Nashville Predators in Japan.
On December 9, 2000, it was announced by owner Mario Lemieux that he intended to come back as a player. Lemieux returned to the ice on December 27, 2000. Prior to the game, his #66 banner was lowered from the rafters of the Mellon Arena with son Austin watching. Lemieux scored a goal and set up two others (including one on his first shift), and the Penguins won, 5-0 over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to Lemieux's return, the Penguins were 15-14-6-1. After his comeback, the Penguins went 27-14-3-2 for a regular season record of 42-28-9-3 and a third place finish in the Atlantic Division for a playoff spot. The Penguins were shut out only once all year (October 28 vs. the New Jersey Devils). Only New Jersey scored more goals than Pittsburgh during the regular season. Jaromir Jagr had a stellar year, leading the team in goals (52), assists (69) and points (121); Alexei Kovalev had the best season in his career, finishing with 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points; Martin Straka finished second on the team in assists (68) and had 27 goals for 95 points; Robert Lang had 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points; and in just 43 games, Lemieux had 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points. 
===Final standings===
===Game log===
No.	R	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	L	October 7, 2000 	1–3 	Nashville Predators (2000–01) 	0–1–0–0
2 	W	October 8, 2000 	3–1 	@ Nashville Predators (2000–01) 	1–1–0–0
3 	W	October 13, 2000 	3–2 	Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) 	2–1–0–0
4 	W	October 14, 2000 	8–6 	New York Rangers (2000–01) 	3–1–0–0
5 	L	October 18, 2000 	2–3 	Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) 	3–2–0–0
6 	T	October 19, 2000 	3–3 OT	@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) 	3–2–1–0
7 	W	October 21, 2000 	5–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01) 	4–2–1–0
8 	L	October 25, 2000 	2–3 	Ottawa Senators (2000–01) 	4–3–1–0
9 	W	October 27, 2000 	4–1 	@ New York Rangers (2000–01) 	5–3–1–0
10 	L	October 28, 2000 	0–9 	New Jersey Devils (2000–01) 	5–4–1–0
11 	L	November 1, 2000 	2–3 	@ San Jose Sharks (2000–01) 	5–5–1–0
12 	W	November 3, 2000 	4–2 	@ Vancouver Canucks (2000–01) 	6–5–1–0
13 	T	November 4, 2000 	1–1 OT	@ Calgary Flames (2000–01) 	6–5–2–0
14 	W	November 8, 2000 	5–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) 	7–5–2–0
15 	W	November 10, 2000	4–2 	@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01) 	8–5–2–0
16 	W	November 11, 2000	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers (2000–01) 	9–5–2–0
17 	L	November 13, 2000	2–3 OT	@ Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) 	9–5–2–1
18 	L	November 16, 2000	3–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (2000–01) 	9–6–2–1
19 	W	November 18, 2000	3–1 	Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) 	10–6–2–1
20 	L	November 22, 2000	1–3 	Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) 	10–7–2–1
21 	W	November 24, 2000	1–0 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) 	11–7–2–1
22 	T	November 25, 2000	2–2 OT	Los Angeles Kings (2000–01) 	11–7–3–1
23 	L	November 28, 2000	1–3 	@ Boston Bruins (2000–01) 	11–8–3–1
24 	W	December 1, 2000 	6–4 	@ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) 	12–8–3–1
25 	L	December 2, 2000 	2–3 	Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) 	12–9–3–1
26 	W	December 5, 2000 	4–2 	@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01) 	13–9–3–1
27 	L	December 6, 2000 	2–3 	Boston Bruins (2000–01) 	13–10–3–1
28 	L	December 9, 2000 	1–5 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) 	13–11–3–1
29 	W	December 10, 2000	4–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (2000–01) 	14–11–3–1
30 	L	December 13, 2000	4–7 	Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) 	14–12–3–1
31 	L	December 15, 2000	1–4 	Florida Panthers (2000–01) 	14–13–3–1
32 	T	December 16, 2000	4–4 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) 	14–13–4–1
33 	T	December 20, 2000	2–2 OT	@ Florida Panthers (2000–01) 	14–13–5–1
34 	T	December 21, 2000	1–1 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) 	14–13–6–1
35 	L	December 23, 2000	2–8 	Dallas Stars (2000–01) 	14–14–6–1
36 	W	December 26, 2000	5–3 	@ Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) 	15–14–6–1
37 	W	December 27, 2000	5–0 	Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01) 	16–14–6–1
38 	W	December 30, 2000	5–3 	Ottawa Senators (2000–01) 	17–14–6–1
39 	W	January 3, 2001 	3–2 	Washington Capitals (2000–01) 	18–14–6–1
40 	L	January 5, 2001 	3–4 	Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) 	18–15–6–1
41 	W	January 8, 2001 	5–3 	@ Washington Capitals (2000–01) 	19–15–6–1
42 	L	January 9, 2001 	2–5 	@ Boston Bruins (2000–01) 	19–16–6–1
43 	W	January 12, 2001 	4–3 	New York Islanders (2000–01) 	20–16–6–1
44 	L	January 13, 2001 	5–6 	@ New York Islanders (2000–01) 	20–17–6–1
45 	W	January 15, 2001 	3–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01)	21–17–6–1
46 	L	January 17, 2001 	4–5 	@ Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01) 	21–18–6–1
47 	L	January 19, 2001 	5–6 OT	@ Dallas Stars (2000–01) 	21–18–6–2
48 	W	January 21, 2001 	4–0 	@ Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01) 	22–18–6–2
49 	W	January 24, 2001 	3–1 	Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) 	23–18–6–2
50 	W	January 27, 2001 	5–1 	Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) 	24–18–6–2
51 	W	January 30, 2001 	6–3 	@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) 	25–18–6–2
52 	L	January 31, 2001 	1–5 	Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) 	25–19–6–2
53 	W	February 7, 2001 	9–4 	Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) 	26–19–6–2
54 	W	February 10, 2001	5–4 OT	New Jersey Devils (2000–01) 	27–19–6–2
55 	L	February 11, 2001	2–4 	@ Minnesota Wild (2000–01) 	27–20–6–2
56 	W	February 14, 2001	2–1 	Minnesota Wild (2000–01) 	28–20–6–2
57 	T	February 16, 2001	4–4 OT	@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01) 	28–20–7–2
58 	W	February 17, 2001	3–2 OT	@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01)	29–20–7–2
59 	L	February 19, 2001	1–5 	Colorado Avalanche (2000–01) 	29–21–7–2
60 	W	February 21, 2001	3–2 OT	Florida Panthers (2000–01) 	30–21–7–2
61 	W	February 23, 2001	6–4 	New York Rangers (2000–01) 	31–21–7–2
62 	W	February 25, 2001	6–1 	New York Islanders (2000–01) 	32–21–7–2
63 	L	February 28, 2001	2–4 	@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01) 	32–22–7–2
64 	W	March 2, 2001 	7–5 	@ New York Rangers (2000–01) 	33–22–7–2
65 	L	March 3, 2001 	3–4 	@ Washington Capitals (2000–01) 	33–23–7–2
66 	L	March 7, 2001 	3–4 	Washington Capitals (2000–01) 	33–24–7–2
67 	W	March 8, 2001 	5–3 	@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01) 	34–24–7–2
68 	W	March 10, 2001 	6–3 	Calgary Flames (2000–01) 	35–24–7–2
69 	T	March 12, 2001 	3–3 OT	@ New York Rangers (2000–01) 	35–24–8–2
70 	L	March 14, 2001 	1–3 	New York Islanders (2000–01) 	35–25–8–2
71 	W	March 16, 2001 	6–3 	@ Florida Panthers (2000–01) 	36–25–8–2
72 	L	March 17, 2001 	1–5 	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) 	36–26–8–2
73 	T	March 20, 2001 	2–2 OT	Boston Bruins (2000–01) 	36–26–9–2
74 	L	March 23, 2001 	3–5 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) 	36–27–9–2
75 	W	March 25, 2001 	4–2 	@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01) 	37–27–9–2
76 	W	March 27, 2001 	4–1 	Buffalo Sabres (2000–01) 	38–27–9–2
77 	W	March 29, 2001 	5–2 	Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01) 	39–27–9–2
78 	W	March 31, 2001 	5–3 	St. Louis Blues (2000–01) 	40–27–9–2
79 	L	April 2, 2001 	1–4 	@ New York Islanders (2000–01) 	40–28–9–2
80 	W	April 4, 2001 	4–2 	Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01) 	41–28–9–2
81 	L	April 7, 2001 	3–4 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01) 	41–28–9–3
82 	W	April 8, 2001 	6–4 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01) 	42–28–9–3
==Playoffs==
===Eastern Conference Quarter-finals===
The Penguins opened the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. It was their sixth meeting in the playoffs. The Penguins were shut out in game one, 1-0. Lemieux scored a goal and an assist in game two, won 2-1 by the Penguins. Newcomer Johan Hedberg shut out the Capitals in game three. The Capitals won game four in overtime, 4-3. However, game winning goals by Lemieux and Martin Straka in games five and six won the series for the Penguins, 4 games to 2.
===Eastern Conference Semi-finals===
The Penguins played the Buffalo Sabres in the conference semi-finals. The Penguins won game one by the score of 3-0 and game two by the score of 3-1. The Sabres won the next three games, pushing the Penguins to elimination. However, overtime winning goals by Straka and Darius Kasparaitis in games six and seven won the series for the Penguins. Game seven was Dominik Hasek's last game as a Sabre; he would sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the offseason.
===Eastern Conference Finals===
The Penguins and the New Jersey Devils split the first two games of the series before the Devils took games three, four, and five to eliminate the Penguins.
==Player stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
 	Regular season	 	Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"	
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"	
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"	
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"	Player	GP 	G	A 	Pts	PIM	 	GP 	G	A	Pts	PIM
 	81 	52 	69 	121 	42 	 	16	2 	10 	12 	18 	 	 	 	
 	79 	44 	51 	95 	96 	 	18	5 	5 	10 	16 	 	 	 	
 	82 	27 	68 	95 	38 	 	18	5 	8 	13 	8 	 	 	 	
 	82 	32 	48 	80 	28 	 	16	4 	4 	8 	4 	 	 	 	
 	43 	35 	41 	76 	18 	 	18	6 	11 	17 	4 	 	 	 	
 	78 	15 	28 	43 	48 	 	18	2 	5 	7 	8 	 	 	 	
 	55 	10 	22 	32 	73 	 	17	3 	3 	6 	20 	 	 	 	
 	70 	9 	14 	23 	43 	 	13	0 	2 	2 	2 	 	 	 	
 	58 	4 	18 	22 	22 	 	16	0 	0 	0 	8 	 	 	 	
 	73 	3 	19 	22 	131 	 	18	1 	3 	4 	2 	 	 	 	
 	50 	3 	17 	20 	34 	 	18	2 	2 	4 	14 	 	 	 	
 	66 	5 	14 	19 	6 	 	18	3 	3 	6 	6 	 	 	 	
 	77 	3 	16 	19 	111 	 	17	1 	1 	2 	26 	 	 	 	
 	43 	8 	9 	17 	57 	 	17	1 	0 	1 	12 	 	 	 	
 	36 	4 	11 	15 	28 	 	18	3 	7 	10 	16 	 	 	 	
 	42 	7 	7 	14 	8 	 	8 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	 	 	
 	33 	3 	8 	11 	6 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	51 	2 	7 	9 	12 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	12 	2 	6 	8 	4 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	40 	3 	4 	7 	28 	 	18	0 	1 	1 	4 	 	 	 	
 	48 	2 	4 	6 	43 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	 	 	
 	30 	1 	4 	5 	26 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	36 	1 	4 	5 	165 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	16 	 	 	 	
 	38 	1 	4 	5 	26 	 	12	0 	1 	1 	2 	 	 	 	
 	58 	1 	3 	4 	147 	 	18	0 	1 	1 	22 	 	 	 	
 	29 	1 	2 	3 	79 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	18 	0 	2 	2 	21 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	21 	1 	1 	2 	18 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	36 	0 	1 	1 	4 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	 	 	
 	54 	1 	1 	2 	119 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	7 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
 	9 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	18	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	 	 	
 	35 	0 	0 	0 	8 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	- 	 	 	 	
Total	 	281	501 	782 	1573	 	 	38 	67 	105	212	 	 	 	
==Awards and records==
===Milestones===
Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones	Regular season milestones
Player 	Milestone 	Reached 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Roman Simicek 	First NHL goal 	October 14, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jaromir Jagr 	400th career goal 	November 13, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Darius Kasparaitis 	100th career point 	November 25, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Toby Petersen 	First NHL goal 	December 10, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jan Hrdina 	100th career point 	December 16, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jaromir Jagr 	1000th career point 	December 30, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mario Lemieux 	1500th career point 	December 30, 2000 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jaromir Jagr 	600th career assist 	January 15, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Kevin Stevens 	700th career assist 	January 19, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Martin Straka 	400th career assist 	January 27, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Robert Lang 	100th career goal 	January 30, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Billy Tibbetts 	First NHL goal 	February 16, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Alexei Kovalev 	200th career goal 	February 19, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Johan Hedberg 	First NHL win 	March 16, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Making their NHL debuts in 2000-2001 were the following: Roman Simicek, Toby Petersen, Billy Tibbetts, Greg Crozier, and Johan Hedberg.
Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones 	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones	Playoff milestones
Player 	Milestone 	Reached 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Johan Hedberg 	First playoff win 	April 14, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jaromir Jagr 	100th playoff assist	April 26, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Martin Straka 	50th playoff point 	May 15, 2001 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Awards===
Player 	Award
Bob Boughner 	Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award
Jaromir Jagr 	Leading Point Scorer AwardFirst team NHL All-StarArt Ross Trophy
Alexei Kovalev	A.T. Caggiano Booster Club AwardBaz Bastien Memorial "Good Guy" Award
Mario Lemieux 	Most Valuable Player AwardSecond team NHL All-Star
Ian Moran 	Pittsburgh Penguins Masterton Nominee
Martin Straka 	Player's Player Award
Broadcaster Mike Lange was also awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2001, thus securing his induction into the broadcaster's wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Kovalev, and Mario Lemieux were all selected to participate in the 2001 NHL All-Star Game. Lemieux captained the North American All-Stars and scored two points. Kovalev was a reserve for the World All-Stars and also scored two points. Jagr was voted as a starter for the World All-Stars, but could not play due to an injury.
==Transactions==
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 2000-2001 season:
;Trades
November 14, 2000	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Trebil 	To New York Islanders 9th round pick in 2001; Islanders selected Roman Kuhtinov
December 28, 2000	To Pittsburgh Penguins Marc Bergevin 	To St. Louis Blues Dan Trebil
January 13, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Steve McKenna 	To Minnesota Wild Roman Simicek
January 14, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Kevin Stevens 	To Philadelphia Flyers John Slaney
January 14, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins 3rd round pick in 2001 (previously acquired by Atlanta from San Jose, later traded to Columbus; Columbus selected Aaron Johnson)	To Atlanta Thrashers Jiri Slegr
January 14, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Krzysztof Oliwa 	To Columbus Blue Jackets 3rd round pick in 2001 (previously acquired by Atlanta from San Jose; Columbus selected Aaron Johnson)
February 1, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Wayne Primeau 	To Tampa Bay Lightning Matthew Barnaby
March 12, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bobby DollasJohan Hedberg 	To San Jose Sharks Jeff Norton
March 13, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Frantisek Kucera 	To Columbus Blue Jackets 6th round pick in 2001; Columbus selected Scott Horvath
March 13, 2001 	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dan LaCouture 	To Edmonton Oilers Sven Butenschon
;Free agents signed with Pittsburgh
Player	Former team 	Date of signing
 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	September 24, 2000
 	San Jose Sharks 	November 14, 2000
 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	September 20, 2000
 	Philadelphia Flyers 	October 10, 2000
;Signed with new team
Player	New team 	Date of signing
 	Louisville Panthers (AHL)	November 15, 2000
 	Boston Bruins 	October 3, 2000
 	New York Islanders 	July 31, 2000
==Personnel==
Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster	Pittsburgh Penguins 2001 Final Roster
Goaltenders
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Defensemen
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Wingers
*
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Centers
*
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Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff	Pittsburgh Penguins 2000–01 staff
 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	Executive operations
* Ownership - Mario Lemieux
* * Chief Executive Officer - Mario Lemieux
*Chairman - Mario Lemieux
*President - Mario Lemieux
*Executive Vice President/General Manager - Craig Patrick	  	 	
Hockey operations
*Assistant General Manager - Ed Johnston
*Head coach - Ivan Hlinka
*Assistant coaches - Joe Mullen, Randy Hillier	 	
==Draft picks==
The Penguins selected the following players at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary:
Round	# 	Player 	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 	18 	Brooks Orpik 	D 	 	Boston College (Hockey East)
2 	52 	Shane Endicott 	C 	 	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
3 	84 	Peter Hamerlik 	G 	 	HK 36 Skalica (Slovakia)
4 	124	Michel Ouellet 	RW 	 	Rimouski (QMJHL)
5 	146	David Koci 	D 	 	Sparta Praha Jr. (Czech Republic)
6 	185	Patrick Foley 	LW 	 	University of New Hampshire (Hockey East)
7 	216	Jim Abbott 	LW 	 	University of New Hampshire (Hockey East)
8 	248	Steven Crampton	RW 	 	Moose Jaw (WHL)
9 	273	Roman Simicek 	C 	 	HPK (SM-liiga)
==Farm teams==
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL finished second in the Mid-Atlantic Division with a record of 36-33-9-2 record. They defeated the Syracuse Crunch, Philadelphia Phantoms and Hershey Bears to win the Robert W. Clarke Trophy as Western Conference playoff champions. They lost to the Saint John Flames in six games in the Calder Cup Finals. John Slaney won the Eddie Shore Award as defenseman of the year.
The ECHL's Wheeling Nailers finished last overall with a record of 24-40-8.
==See also==
*2000–01 NHL season
==References==
* 
==External links==
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
Category:2000 in hockey
Category:2001 in hockey