How Many Stanley Cups Did Lemieux Win?
“Winning means you are willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” And those who give more get more!
When we talk about the great hockey players of all time, an essential thing to consider is how many Stanley Cups are to their names. Mario Lemieux is one of the greatest players the hockey world has seen. He is among the top five hockey players. You can get the idea that Mario Lemieux is the player to score in all the possible circumstances that can arise in a hockey game.
Even Wayne Gretzky, the Great One, considers him a better scorer than himself. But again, the most outstanding hockey achievement is the Stanley Cup. So, how many Stanley Cups has Lemieux won?
Mario Lemieux has won 5 Stanley Cups, two Cups as a player and three as an owner of the team. He has won all five of them with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As a player, he won them in 1991 and 1992 and as the owner in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
Table of Contents
Mario Lemieux: Stanley Cups as a Player
Stanley Cup # 1 – Pittsburgh Penguins 1990-91
In the 1990-91 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup against the Minnesota North Stars 4-2. The Pittsburgh Penguins won six games against them. Lemieux missed the third game in the series because of a back injury. He gained 12 points in the other five games despite missing a game.
He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the series. Let us look at the stats.
| # | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Goals | Assists | Points | Shots |
| 1 | May 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4-5 | Minnesota North Stars | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | May 17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4-1 | Minnesota North Stars | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | May 19 | Minnesota North Stars | 3-1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Did | Not | Play | |
| 4 | May 21 | Minnesota North Stars | 3-5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | May 23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6-4 | Minnesota North Stars | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | May 25 | Minnesota North Stars | 0-8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 |
Let me share with you one of the most memorable and prettiest goals Lemieux scored in the final of the 1991 Stanley cup.
Stanley Cup # 2 – Pittsburgh Penguins 1991-92
After winning their first Cup in 1991, the Penguins and Lemieux won their second Stanley Cup again in 1992 for the second year. This time, they won against the Chicago Blackhawks, sweeping them out and winning all four games. The Pittsburgh Penguins had won the series 4-0.
Mario Lemieux maintained his excellent playing record and won the Conn Smythe trophy this year. He is the second player to bag this award of winning the Trophy in consecutive years. Let’s check the stats.
| # | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Goals | Assists | Points | Shots |
| 1 | May 26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5-4 | Chicago Blackhawks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | May 28 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3-1 | Chicago Blackhawks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | May 30 | Chicago Blackhawks | 0-1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | June 1 | Chicago Blackhawks | 5-6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 7 | 22 |
Mario Lemieux: Stanley Cups as An Owner
Mario Lemieux has kept the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise alive and working, saving them twice as a player and an owner. As a player, he helped the team be strong and played a crucial role in winning the two Stanley Cups. He brought glory and fame to the team.
After the initial glory, the Penguins faced a downfall and began to crumble in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Being a small-market franchise, it became difficult for them to compete against the more prominent wealthier franchises such as Detroit, Colorado, and the New York Rangers.
They even had to trade many star players like Jaromir Jagr because of a lack of funds. Ultimately, the franchise announced its bankruptcy in November 1998. At this point, Lemieux rolled his offer to buy the franchise.
Under his leadership and changing times, the Pittsburgh Penguins fought their difficult time and paved their way to being a better team again. They won three more Stanley Cups.
Stanley Cup # 3 – Pittsburgh Penguins 2009
The 2009 Cup was Lemieux’s first Cup as the team’s owner. The team won against the Detroit Red Wings, the same team they had lost against the previous year. The series was tight, but the Penguins managed to capture the victory. Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player.
Stanley Cup # 4 – Pittsburgh Penguins 2016
After 2009, luck favored the Pittsburgh Penguins again in 2016. They were face to face with the San Jose Sharks, who had reached the finals for the first time in their 25 years. Despite the Sharks’ tremendous efforts, the Penguins won the Cup 4-2. Sidney Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the year’s most valuable player.
Stanley Cup # 5 – Pittsburgh Penguins 2017
In 1991 and 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins won another consecutive Stanley Cup in 2016 after 2017. And like the last year, the team competing against them this year was competing in the finals for the first time.
The Penguins won the Cup against the Nashville Predators. The series went much like the last year. Sidney Crosby again won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player, becoming the third after Lemieux to win the trophy in a row.
Frequently Asked Question
Is Lemeiux a better player than Wayne Gretzky?
Super Mario and Great Gretzky are arguably the two best players in the NHL world. However, Gretzky is known as the ‘Greatest One’ in NHL history. He is second to none. He has every high and low award in his bucket and top-notch records that are difficult to break. Compared to him, Mario also has the best points per game and played nearly 1000 games, but still, he is regarded as one of the best players, not as a great one.
Did Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky face each other?
Both top-notch hockey players had faced each other many times in head-to-head matches. They clashed against one another for about 27 (27 games). It’s wish of everyone at that time to see them play against each other like lions.
Mario Lemieux or Sidney Crosby, who is better?
Both are good names in the NHL. Mario is the formerly great, and Crosby is the current star. However, people give the edge to Mario, and why not – He is the best.
Further, Mario has more points than Crosby at the same phase of their career at the age of 27. Even above 30, Mario has more points, but there comes a turning point when Mario retires and has no more points, while Sidney still has many years to cross Mario’s points table. But Mario still has his hand over Sidney.
Conclusion
And in short, this is the story of the five Stanley Cups of the Penguins and Lemieux. Mario Lemieux is regarded as the top best player in the NHL world. He is second to the other great, Wayne Gretzky. He holds the best points record and every prestigious award in the hockey world and marked his in the hockey hall of fame. Sidney Crosby is just behind him in following his legacy.
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