Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins: five-time Stanley Cup champions and a founding member of the 1967 NHL expansion.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has played its home games at PPG Paints Arena since 2010, and has previously played at the Civic Arena, which was better known by its nickname 'the Igloo'. The Penguins are affiliated with two minor league teams – the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Founded during the 1967 expansion, the Penguins have qualified for six Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Stanley Cup five times – in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017.
- Key Era
- Late 2000s - Early 2010s
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Penguins were founded during the 1967 NHL expansion. Their first season was 1967–68. The team's nickname was chosen from a contest; 700 of 26,000 entries picked 'Penguins', inspired by the team playing in the 'Igloo' (the Civic Arena). The first captain was Ab McDonald. The team's first playoff berth came in 1970, led by rookie Michel Briere. Tragedy struck in 1970 when Briere suffered a car crash and later died; his number 21 was retired in 2001. The Penguins have won five Stanley Cups (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017).
In Their Own Story
The air inside the arena was thick with anticipation, the kind that only comes when two historic foes collide. The ice crackled under the skates as the Senators lined up for face-off against the Penguins, the crowd roaring in a deafening mix of hope and aggression. A hard check along the boards sent players sprawling, sparks flying from sticks colliding with the ice. In that chaotic moment, the history of decades of playoff battles seemed to converge, each shift a reminder of why this rivalry mattered so deeply to fans on both sides.
Reader's Guide
The Penguins play at PPG Paints Arena. Their minor league affiliates are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Notable former players include Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin, all of whom won the Hart Memorial Trophy while with the franchise. The team's first general manager was Jack Riley, and the first head coach was George Sullivan.
Did You Know?
- The Penguins' first captain was Ab McDonald.
- The team's nickname was chosen from a contest; 700 of 26,000 entries picked 'Penguins'.
- Michel Briere, a rookie in 1969–70, led the Penguins to their first playoff berth but died after a car crash.
- The Penguins are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the most Stanley Cup championships among non-Original Six teams.
- The Penguins became the first back-to-back champions in the salary cap era with wins in 2016 and 2017.
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