The Penguins exploded for five goals in 4 minutes, 27 seconds in Sunday's 7-3 win over Tampa Bay at PPG Paints Arena.
In NHL history, the same team has scored five goals faster just 24 times.
On Nov. 22, 1972, the Penguins did it quickest. They own the NHL record. Five goals in 2 minutes, 7 seconds. It happened at the Civic Arena.
I was there.
It was glorious. The Penguins beat St. Louis, 10-4. The Blues were the Penguins' biggest rival then.
The first goal of that record-setting sequence occurred at 12:00 of the third period. The last was at 14:07. A 5-4 lead became a 10-4 rout.
Guess who scored the first of those five rapid-fire goals?
Bryan Hextall, the father of current Penguins GM Ron.
The old Igloo was rapturous. It was a big deal to beat St. Louis then, let alone bury the Blues under an avalanche of goals.
The goal-scorers in 1972 were Hextall, Jean Pronovost, Al McDonough, Ken Schinkel and Ron Schock. Heroes all.
My favorite player, Greg Polis, assisted on the first two of those five goals. He'd earlier netted a goal. Got in a fight, too. GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK!