Wales Conference Finals & Kevin Stevens’ guarantee

Kevin Stevens reads the newspaper accounts of the Penguins victory over the Bruins during practice, May 11, 1991 (Post-Gazette photo)

Kevin Stevens hold the Prince of Wales trophy high as he skates towards the Penguins dressing room. May 11, 1991. (Photo by Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette)

Kevin Stevens and Bruins Chris Nilan greet each other warmly at center ice during the traditional handshake after Penguins 5-3 win, May 11, 1991. (Photo by Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette).

Kevin Stevens struggles for position in front of the Bruins net with Bruins Bobs Sweeney in the 1st period, May 11, 1991. (Photo by Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette)

There’s a precedent for this particular Penguins’ predicament – being down two games to none to Boston in the conference finals, that is – and there’s a precedent for prying their way out of it.

In May, 1991, the Penguins returned to Pittsburgh down 2-0 to the Bruins in the Wales Conference finals after getting blown out in Game 1, and absorbing a stinging overtime loss in Game 2.

Dave Molinari, then of The Pittsburgh Press, wrote:

“It was a numbing defeat for the Penguins, who outplayed and outshot the Bruins but were outscored for the second consecutive time. But the loss seemed to strengthen their resolve.”

“We’re confident we can beat this team,” left winger Kevin Stevens said. “And we will beat this team … We’ll beat this team. I’ll say it right now, we’ll beat them.”

Stevens kept his word.

The Brockton, Mass., native was a monster in the series, torturing his hometown team with six goals and four assists. Stevens opened the scoring in game 3, a 4-1 Penguins victory, and Pittsburgh went on to win four straight to take the series, clinching their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.