Despite the absence of Mario Lemieux, the 1994–95 Pittsburgh Penguins started the season off strong, by winning their first seven games. They remained undefeated in their first 13 games, going 12–0–1. However, after a dominant start to the season, the Penguins had a mediocre record in their final 35 games, going 17–16–2. Jaromir Jagr won the Art Ross Trophy for most points (70), captain Ron Francis led the league in assists (48) and plus/minus (+30), and goaltender Ken Wregget led the league in wins (25). In a 7–3 Penguins' win over the Florida Panthers on February 7, Joe Mullen recorded an assist and became the first American-born NHL player to reach 1,000 points. Nine days later, Luc Robitaille scored four goals in a 5–2 Penguins win over the Hartford Whalers.
Regular season The Penguins had the highest shooting percentage in the NHL during the regular season, scoring 181 goals on just 1,400 shots (12.9%).
Final standings
Playoffs Despite finding themselves in a three-games-to-one series deficit against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, the Penguins won Game 5 at home in overtime, 6–5, via Luc Robitaille's goal at 4:30 of the first overtime period. Peter Bondra, Dale Hunter, Jaromir Jagr and Kevin Stevens each scored twice in the game. Pittsburgh went on to win Game 6 in Washington, 7–1, and then closed out the series at home with a 3–0 victory in Game 7. It was the second time in four years that the Penguins had come back to defeat the Capitals after being down three games to one. The Penguins faced the New Jersey Devils in the second round, and won the opening game, 3–2. With only 1:15 remaining in Game 2, Jaromir Jagr tied the game at 2–2. The game seemed certain to head to overtime until a breakaway-goal by Devils captain Scott Stevens with just 29 seconds remaining. Claude Lemieux added an empty-net goal and the Devils tied the series with a 4–2 win. In the final three games of the series, the Penguins managed to score only three goals and were ultimately eliminated at home in Game 5, 4–1. The Devils would go on to win their first Stanley Cup.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || Jan 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || Jan 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 || Florida Panthers || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || Jan 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || New York Rangers || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || Jan 27 || Ottawa Senators || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0–0 || 8 ||
| 5 || Jan 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Washington Capitals || 5–0–0 || 10 ||
| 6 || Feb 1 || New York Rangers || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0–0 || 12 ||
| 7 || Feb 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–0–0 || 14 ||
| 8 || Feb 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || New Jersey Devils || 7–0–1 || 15 ||
| 9 || Feb 7 || Florida Panthers || 3–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–0–1 || 17 ||
| 10 || Feb 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || New York Islanders || 9–0–1 || 19 ||
| 11 || Feb 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 10–0–1 || 21 ||
| 12 || Feb 14 || Boston Bruins || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 11–0–1 || 23 ||
| 13 || Feb 16 || Hartford Whalers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 12–0–1 || 25 ||
| 14 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Hartford Whalers || 12–1–1 || 25 ||
| 15 || Feb 19 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 12–1–2 || 26 ||
| 16 || Feb 21 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–1–2 || 28 ||
| 17 || Feb 24 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–2–2 || 28 ||
| 18 || Feb 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || New York Islanders || 13–3–2 || 28 ||
| 19 || Feb 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 14–3–2 || 30 ||
| 20 || Mar 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Buffalo Sabres || 14–4–2 || 30 ||
| 21 || Mar 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 OT || Boston Bruins || 15–4–2 || 32 ||
| 22 || Mar 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 15–5–2 || 32 ||
| 23 || Mar 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 15–6–2 || 32 ||
| 24 || Mar 9 || New York Islanders || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 16–6–2 || 34 ||
| 25 || Mar 11 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 17–6–2 || 36 ||
| 26 || Mar 13 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–6–2 || 38 ||
| 27 || Mar 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–8 || Montreal Canadiens || 18–7–2 || 38 ||
| 28 || Mar 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 18–8–2 || 38 ||
| 29 || Mar 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Ottawa Senators || 19–8–2 || 40 ||
| 30 || Mar 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Buffalo Sabres || 20–8–2 || 42 ||
| 31 || Mar 24 || New Jersey Devils || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–8–2 || 44 ||
| 32 || Mar 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–2 || Florida Panthers || 21–9–2 || 44 ||
| 33 || Mar 28 || New York Islanders || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 22–9–2 || 46 ||
| 34 || Apr 1 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–9–2 || 48 ||
| 35 || Apr 5 || Hartford Whalers || 8–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–10–2 || 48 ||
| 36 || Apr 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 23–11–2 || 48 ||
| 37 || Apr 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Ottawa Senators || 24–11–2 || 50 ||
| 38 || Apr 11 || Washington Capitals || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 25–11–2 || 52 ||
| 39 || Apr 15 || Ottawa Senators || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–11–2 || 54 ||
| 40 || Apr 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || 26–12–2 || 54 ||
| 41 || Apr 18 || New York Rangers || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 27–12–2 || 56 ||
| 42 || Apr 22 || Washington Capitals || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 27–13–2 || 56 ||
| 43 || Apr 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Hartford Whalers || 28–13–2 || 58 ||
| 44 || Apr 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || New Jersey Devils || 28–13–3 || 59 ||
| 45 || Apr 28 || Boston Bruins || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–13–3 || 61 ||
| 46 || Apr 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Boston Bruins || 29–14–3 || 61 ||
| 47 || May 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–7 || Washington Capitals || 29–15–3 || 61 ||
| 48 || May 3 || Florida Panthers || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–16–3 || 61 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || May 6 || Washington Capitals || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 ||
| 2 || May 8 || Washington Capitals || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Washington Capitals || 1–2 ||
| 4 || May 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || Washington Capitals || 1–3 ||
| 5 || May 14 || Washington Capitals || 6–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 ||
| 6 || May 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–1 || Washington Capitals || 3–3 ||
| 7 || May 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–0 || Washington Capitals || 4–3 ||
| 1 || May 20 || New Jersey Devils || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 22 || New Jersey Devils || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 ||
| 3 || May 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || New Jersey Devils || 1–2 ||
| 4 || May 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 OT || New Jersey Devils || 1–3 ||
| 5 || May 28 || New Jersey Devils || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 ||
Legend:
Suspensions Player Length Date Luc Robitaille 2 games February 2, 1995
Injuries Player Injury Date Mario Lemieux 1–year leave for Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment August 29, 1994 Wayne McBean Wrist surgery (Out indefinitely) October 1, 1994 Tom Barrasso Wrist surgery (Out indefinitely) January 20, 1995 Greg Andrusak Separated shoulder () March 15, 1995 Tom Barrasso Sore wrist () May 3, 1995 Drake Berehowsky Knee surgery (Out indefinitely) July 1, 1995
Player statistics Skaters
+ Regular season Player 48 32 38 70 23 37 44 11 48 59 30 18 47 21 23 44 1 42 46 23 19 42 10 37 48 13 25 38 12 18 46 13 24 37 66 45 16 21 37 15 6 27 15 12 27 0 51 44 13 13 26 4 22 44 1 15 16 11 113 ‡ 31 4 12 16 0 16 33 5 10 15 3 46 48 3 11 14 66 40 2 9 11 34 † 13 0 9 9 7 6 41 1 6 7 8 54 21 1 4 5 2 25 14 2 2 4 0 2 7 0 4 4 6 ‡ 25 0 4 4 2 36 39 2 1 3 63 40 0 2 2 7 114 36 2 0 2 0 82 † 13 0 2 2 23 13 0 1 1 1 12 4 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 2 † 4 0 0 0 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total 181 316 497 — 1,010
+ Playoffs Player 12 6 13 19 3 4 12 2 13 15 3 0 12 10 5 15 3 6 12 7 4 11 5 26 12 4 7 11 21 12 3 3 6 16 12 1 4 5 8 12 2 1 3 12 12 0 3 3 4 10 1 1 2 12 9 0 2 2 8 12 0 2 2 0 14 7 0 2 2 2 8 11 0 2 2 8 11 0 1 1 32 4 1 0 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 6 5 0 0 0 4 5 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 18 8 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 Total 37 63 100 — 223
Goaltenders + Regular Season Player 38 2208:28 25 9 2 118 3.21 1219 0.903 0 0 0 14 10 496:38 3 6 0 27 3.26 255 0.894 0 0 0 2 1 60:00 1 0 0 3 3.00 27 0.889 0 0 0 0 2 125:00 0 1 1 8 3.84 75 0.893 0 0 0 0 Total 2890:06 29 16 3 156 3.24 1576 0.901 0 0 0 16 + Playoffs Player 11 660:35 5 6 33 3.00 349 0.905 1 0 0 7 2 80:00 0 1 8 6.00 41 0.805 0 0 0 2 Total 740:35 5 7 41 3.32 390 0.895 1 0 0 9 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Awards and records
Awards Type Award/honor Recipient Ref League(annual) Art Ross Trophy Jaromir Jagr Frank J. Selke Trophy Ron Francis Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Ron Francis Lester Patrick Trophy Joe Mullen NHL First All-Star team Jaromir Jagr (Right Wing) NHL Second All-Star team Larry Murphy (Defense) NHL Plus-Minus Award Ron Francis Team A. T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Award Jaromir Jagr Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award Larry Murphy Bob Johnson Memorial Badger Bob Award Ron Francis Joe Mullen Leading Scorer Award Jaromir Jagr Michel Briere Memorial Rookie of the Year Trophy No winner Most Valuable Player Award Jaromir Jagr Players' Player Award Ron Francis The Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award Ron Francis Bryan Trottier
Milestones Milestone Player Date Ref 1,000th point Joe Mullen February 7, 1995 400th goal Luc Robitaille February 19, 1995 First game Philippe DeRouville April 10, 1995 Rusty Fitzgerald April 15, 1995 Richard Park May 3, 1995 Ian Moran May 10, 1995 1,000th game played Ron Francis April 16, 1995
Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season:
Trades
July 29, 1994 To Los Angeles Kings
Rick Tocchet1995 2nd round pick To Pittsburgh Penguins
Luc Robitaille February 16, 1995 To Tampa Bay Lightning
future considerations To Pittsburgh Penguins
Wendell Young April 7, 1995 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Grant Jennings To Pittsburgh Penguins
Drake Berehowsky April 7, 1995 To Winnipeg Jets
Greg Brown To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash April 7, 1995 To Ottawa Senators
Martin Straka To Pittsburgh Penguins
Norm MaciverTroy Murray
Free agents Player Acquired from Lost to Date Jeff Christian New Jersey Devils August 2, 1994 Mike Ramsey Buffalo Sabres August 3, 1994 John Cullen Toronto Maple Leafs August 3, 1994 Len Barrie Florida Panthers August 15, 1994
Signings Player Date Joe Dziedzic August 10, 1994 Brian Farrell September 20, 1994 Ryan Savoia April 7, 1995
Other
Name Date Details Allen Pedersen September 20, 1994 Released Doug Brown January 18, 1995 Lost in waiver draft (to Detroit Red Wings) Chris Joseph January 18, 1995 Claimed in waiver draft (from Tampa Bay Lightning) Francois Leroux January 18, 1995 Claimed in waiver draft (from Ottawa Senators) Mike Hudson January 18, 1995 Claimed in waiver draft (from New York Rangers) Wayne McBean January 18, 1995 Claimed in waiver draft (from Winnipeg Jets) Micah Aivazoff January 18, 1995 Claimed in waiver draft (from Detroit Red Wings) Micah Aivazoff January 18, 1995 Lost in waiver draft (to Edmonton Oilers)
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1994 NHL entry draft.