The 2000–01Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 34th in the National Hockey League. The team played 82 games under new head coach Ivan Hlinka, who replaced Herb Brooks, who stepped down to remain a scout with the team. The Penguins' .585 points percentage meant that they were the only NHL team from the 1990–91 season to this one that had a points percentage above .500 every season.
Herb Brooks resigned as head coach at the end of the previous season, but remained with the team as a scout. Ivan Hlinka succeeded Brooks as head coach. Former Penguin Joe Mullen became an assistant coach along with his former teammate Randy Hillier.
Regular season
The Penguins opened the regular season by splitting a two-game series against the Nashville Predators in Japan.
On December 9, 2000, it was announced by owner Mario Lemieux that he intended to come back as a player. Lemieux returned to the ice on December 27, 2000. Prior to the game, his number 66 banner was lowered from the rafters of the Mellon Arena with son Austin watching. Lemieux scored a goal and set up two others (including one on his first shift) in the Penguins' 5–0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to Lemieux's return, the Penguins were 15–14–6–1. After his comeback, the Penguins went 27–14–3–2 for a regular season record of 42–28–9–3 and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Division for a playoff spot. The Penguins were shut out only once all year, on October 28 against the New Jersey Devils. Only New Jersey scored more goals than Pittsburgh during the regular season. Jaromir Jagr had a stellar year, leading the team in goals (52), assists (69) and points (121). Alexei Kovalev had a career year, finishing with 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points. Martin Straka finished second on the team in assists (68) and had 27 goals for 95 points, while Robert Lang had 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points. In just 43 games, Lemieux had 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points.
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions:AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot
Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
The Penguins opened the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. It was their sixth meeting in the playoffs. The Penguins were shut out in Game 1, 1–0. Lemieux scored a goal and had an assist in Game 2, which was won by the Penguins, 2–1. Newcomer Johan Hedberg shut out the Capitals in Game 3. The Capitals won Game 4 in overtime, 4–3. However, game-winning goals by Lemieux and Martin Straka in Game 5 and 6 won the series for the Penguins, 4–2.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Penguins played the Buffalo Sabres in the conference semi-finals. The Penguins won Game 1 by the score of 3–0 and Game 2 by the score of 3–1. The Sabres won the next three games, pushing the Penguins to elimination. However, overtime-winning goals by Straka and Darius Kasparaitis in Game 6 and 7 won the series for the Penguins. Game 7 was Dominik Hasek's last game as a Sabre; he would sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the off-season.
Eastern Conference Finals
The Penguins and the New Jersey Devils split the first two games of the series before the Devils took games three, four, and five to eliminate the Penguins.
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Awards and records
Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 1500 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–3 win over Ottawa on December 30.
Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 900 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–1 win over the New York Islanders on February 25.
Kevin Stevens set the franchise record for penalty minutes (1023). He broke the previous high of 980 set by Troy Loney in 1993.
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions from June 11, 2000, the day after the deciding game of the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 9, 2001, the day of the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals.[24]
The Pittsburgh Penguins' fourth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a June 24, 2000 trade that sent a 2000 fourth-round pick and a 2000 fifth-round pick to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
a The Montreal Canadiens' fourth-round pick (from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a June 24, 2000 trade that sent a 2000 fourth-round pick to the Canadiens in exchange for a 2000 fifth-round pick and this pick.
b The Montreal Canadiens' fifth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a June 24, 2000 trade that sent a 2000 fourth-round pick to the Canadiens in exchange for a 2000 fourth-round pick and this pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' fifth-round pick went to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as the result of a March 14, 2000 trade that sent Dan Trebil to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
c The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim's ninth-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a January 29, 2000 trade that sent Kip Miller to the Mighty Ducks in exchange for this pick.
^Jagr was voted to the starting lineup, earning more votes than any other player, but he did not play and was replaced by Sergei Samsonov of the Boston Bruins.[10][11]
^In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[40]
^"Offense, heritage are Hall highlights". Tampa Bay Times. November 14, 2000. Retrieved April 23, 2023. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Penguins wing Alexei Kovalev won. He had four goals and four assists in three wins.
^"Brooks Orpik Leads Penguins' 2000 Draft Class". Pittsburgh Penguins. June 25, 2000. Archived from the original on June 27, 2001. Retrieved May 4, 2023. The Penguins made a trade at the start of the draft's second day on Sunday, dealing their fourth round pick (114th overall) to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Montreal's fourth-round (124th) and fifth-round (146th) picks.
^"TRANSACTIONS". Hartford Courant. October 11, 2000. Retrieved May 22, 2023. NORFOLK ADMIRALS–Sent D J.P. Tessier, D Jeff Helperl and LW Colin Pepperall to Jackson of the ECHL.
^"Sports transactions". Deseret News. August 4, 2000. Retrieved May 4, 2023. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS—Signed F Josef Beranek.
^"TRANSACTIONS". Hartford Courant. August 11, 2000. Retrieved May 4, 2023. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS–Named Randy Hillier assistant coach. Re-signed F Dennis Bonvie to a one-year contract.