2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins | |
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Eastern Conference champions
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Atlantic Division champions
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Division | 1st Atlantic |
Conference | 2nd Eastern |
2007–08 record | 47–27–8 |
Home record | 26–10–5 |
Road record | 21–17–3 |
Goals for | 247 |
Goals against | 216 |
Team information | |
General Manager | Ray Shero |
Coach | Michel Therrien |
Captain | Sidney Crosby |
Alternate captains |
Sergei Gonchar Evgeni Malkin Ryan Malone Gary Roberts |
Arena | Mellon Arena |
Average attendance | 17,089 (100.7%) |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Evgeni Malkin (47) |
Assists | Evgeni Malkin (59) |
Points | Evgeni Malkin (106) |
Penalties in minutes | Georges Laraque (139) |
Plus/minus | Sidney Crosby (+18) |
Wins | Marc-Andre Fleury (19) |
Goals against average | Marc-Andre Fleury (2.33) |
The 2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Their regular season began on October 5, 2007, against the Carolina Hurricanes and concluded on April 6, 2008, against the rival Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins looked to improve upon their progress in the 2006–07 season after being eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Ottawa Senators. During the season, the Penguins wore gold patches with "250" on them, honoring the city of Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary in 2008.
Evgeni Malkin scored 106 points in the regular season, helping to offset the gap left while Sidney Crosby was injured. Goaltender Ty Conklin replaced Marc-Andre Fleury, who was also injured, to win 18 games. The team surpassed their record for total attendance, selling out all 41 home games for the first time in franchise history. The Penguins also participated in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which set the NHL single-game attendance record.
During the regular season, the Penguins finished second in the Eastern Conference, behind the Montreal Canadiens. With a 12–2 record in the playoffs, the team eliminated the Senators, the New York Rangers and the Flyers, on their way to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the franchise's first in 16 years. The team was defeated in the Stanley Cup Final by the Detroit Red Wings in six games.
The Penguins' offseason activities began in May 2007, with the team naming Sidney Crosby its captain. At just 19 years old, Crosby became the youngest captain in NHL history. Crosby was named the first Penguins captain since the retirement of Mario Lemieux in January 2006; Crosby, Mark Recchi, Sergei Gonchar and John LeClair served as alternate captains after Lemieux's retirement. Veteran Gary Roberts was named as an alternate captain for the new season, joining Recchi and Gonchar. The Penguins also extended head coach Michel Therrien's contract through the 2008–09 season.