Mario Lemieux vs the Sharks

[@windjunky]

Mario always scored seemingly effortlessly

[@francoisgrenier6681]

He’s like: yeah I did ok…

[@sergencharlie]

for me hockey has never been the same since he retired

[@birdiec]

@Rusty Shackleford agreed, since about 2007 the games been to modern feeling , theres something i miss about early 2000s hockey and the 80s/90s are something i only wish i saw live

[@Sam-xu3xq]

Lmao randy marsh

[@sergencharlie]

@@birdiec yeah hockey back then was great, met mario after a game once and he was absolutely awesome, in fact we were standing by the bus doors and the whole team was great, jagr kept wanting to sign my jersey and teasing me that i only wanted mario's signature on my mario jersey, great times

[@birdiec]

@@sergencharlie thats an awesome story! Jagrs one of the funniest guys in hockey and his accent just ties it all together

[@CreamFreshCream]

Jagr is still an active player. He's not retired.

[@That90sShow]

Mario Lemieux had 40 points in his first 20 games this season. At 37 years old..... But virgins think he wouldn't dominate in the current NHL... LMAO

[@MMGJ10]

Lol. Man would he be fun to watch in today's game. No two line pass..no clutching and grabbing.. a skill and speed game. I don't know if he'd get 200 points, but I don't know that he wouldn't either. He'd definitely be the most dominant player though.. without a doubt

[@chickenalaking1319]

And he'd have professional trainers to keep him in shape. I recall that he didn't get a toned physique until after his comeback, while working with Jay Caufield.

[@GarnetTillAlexandros]

Everybody who knows a damn knows very well that Lemieux would tear up today's NHL too. No question.

[@ianfravel5756]

He was SIMPLY THE BEST

[@indoraptorspyce8310]

2nd best in my opinion, only to gretzky

[@benkenobi_]

That assist by Kovalev was phenomenal

[@stevestevens243]

Prime Kovalev was incredible!

[@northman77]

I seen him... This guy was one of the very best but only 20 games a year 🤷

[@marcmoretti2502]

The most talented duo in hockey history

[@johnc7048]

I was at this game. Feel very fortunate to be able to not only see him play, but dominate. Plus, the Sharks won, so it was a good night all around.

[@Michael-fw5ef]

When Lemieux scored at will in the 1980s, it was because the goalies were bad. When Lemieux scored in this game - after cancer and approaching the end of his career - are the goalies still bad? The goalies were never bad, Lemieux was just that good.

[@TheLastSamurai813]

Michael people who blames lack of goalie talent for Gretzky’s and Lemieux’s success don’t know a thing about the nhl

[@NothingToPointOut24]

The goalies werent bad. But the lack of butterfly goalies and the smaller pads definitely made a difference in all offensive stats back then. In the 80's, teams putting up a 10 goal game wasnt uncommon. Nowadays that might happen once every 5 years.

[@tacocruiser4238]

Nabokov was a damn good goalie.

[@kozmeetorez]

Michael Thank you I’ve been trying to explain this to people for a minute now.

[@OGDonaldEngel]

Tom Cruise eh, that’s not true. Look at some of the “highlights” from their era... a lot, and I mean A LOT, of those goals would’ve been easily saved by a bantam goalie today. The players weren’t necessarily bad, but yes, the goalies were. The players were far ahead of the goaltending, at the time.

[@dhz781]

"You think someone would want to pick up Mario Lemieux here" lol!

[@MMGJ10]

He was 37 years old too, and had been through so many injuries and health issues.

[@shawnreems493]

The guy couldnt even tie his skates lol someone else had to tie them for him

[@mpuchar5003]

yeah from carrying the team on his back

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

You could see in his face right there that he was suffering.

[@nhlvan]

Honestly lemieux's play in the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons are as impressive as any of his Art Ross seasons. Just crazy at that age. When healthy, there was no better forward in the NHL than Lemieux from 2000-2004.

[@gregkayser9906]

This bs about how bad goalies were is just an insult to not only lemieux and Gretzky but to the whole league. These critics never watched a lemieux game. He was an incredible playmaker. His sense of timing was uncanny. He could put the puck on the tape from nearly the length of the rink. He could score by fakes , dangles,slap shot, backhand , deflection and banking it in, being hooked punched tripped slashed. His hands were soft. His size enabled him to move the back left and right with control. He would pick the tiniest hole to score but before missing an easy one, kinda like a pool hustler. Goalies then wanted badly to stop lemieux. It would give them a rush. Imagine today with the less interference, no center line offside, and the modern stick what he could do. Just his presence on the ice meant trouble; he didn’t need to touch the puck.

[@Sac_slappper_4rce]

Gretzky was good because goalies used the "Gumby" style. 33 revolutionized the game and 99 became extremely overrated while 66 was thriving.

[@joedirt9600]

Gretzky said it himself, he was lucky to play in an era when the goalies were not that good.

[@chickenalaking1319]

@@joedirt9600both Gretzky and Lemieux downplay their accomplishments, that's what classy professionals do.

[@joedirt9600]

@@chickenalaking1319 so they blame a weaker player, in this case the goalie on the opposing team ? You said it yourself they have more class than that.

[@8799crosby]

@@Sac_slappper_4rce when 33 came into the league this was gretzkys numbers 183-149-168-142-163-121-130 ,thats overated ,lmao not even close

[@SuperTurtlemandude1]

If you look at number 8 on the sharks it’s teemu selanne two legends in there own rights

[@kranmaster]

Kovalev should have been such a more impactful player in his career. The guy was a brilliant hockey player, but so mercurial.

[@doaftheloaf]

he was basically jagr with no drive.

[@MMGJ10]

Amazing talent but only very good results. He really should've carved out a Hall of Fame career

[@chrisg7731]

easily the most talented stickhandler and shooter in history through his prime. there are better shooters now, but he scored at will with his wrist shot back in the day. however, his drive wasnt always there. loved him all the same, though.

[@labs3768]

@DonkeyLips McGee stfu with this chel thing. Are you fuckin 12?!

[@adrianstevens165]

He would take games off

[@ninersdd21]

Miserable year for both teams that year. Mad respect for Mario. I remember my Sharks did dominate the 3rd to win easily 5-2. I really miss NHL on ESPN pre lockout.

[@rjp4716]

When was this game ?

[@hockyjocky4]

ninersdd21 Gary Thorne was the best ever and Bill Clement made a great tandem with him. Also miss those days.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Mario, has everything you want, in a hockey center

[@sottx8268]

Punctuation?

[@lilv3966]

I was not at this game that night.

[@ZzCanonBull]

Woah woah woah...I wasnt there either!!!....do you know what this means??!!??

[@rik_rule]

You never ever leave Mario open ..... he’s too good

[@bobertislam69]

1:56 the effort on this faceoff says it all

[@rvermeulen66]

He's done it before with better results

[@MMGJ10]

Right after he sets up his own breakaway. He passes the puck then hits the hole in the defense. The way he saw the game was magical. There's no one like that today

[@joenobody571]

That was randomly awesome

[@domlalonde7111]

Wow, Kovalev 6th game...

[@LucidTurtle]

Thanks algorithm 😎

[@spectacularmoments]

:51 You would just think that somebody would wanna pick up Lemieux here?? Hahahaha

[@whoismarkk]

you could tell he was in great pain but he knew Penguins needed him more than ever

[@odsonic]

.....its like a grown man vs pewee he was that good

[@BandtheHoorse]

Michal Sivek, and Kris Beech; Getting 133 games and 13 goals was totally worth it for a Hall of Famer!

[@MMGJ10]

Such a terrible trade even though money forced then to do it. They still should've got SOMETHING for Jagr! The guy still had 20 + years left in him when we traded him! Lol

[@kevinalexander6812]

We really should have gotten something for František Kučera. Let alone Jagr.

[@PhantasMc86]

Lol at Nabokov falling over after his second goal.

[@Okidus]

Would always go to these games at Cow Palace and the Tank. Pops was from PA.

[@benburghman6342]

The best

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

How about Kovalev on the first goal, though?

[@mudcat10]

Everyone looked goofy in that years ridiculous nike gear, but I still say Mario looked cool in it.

[@huudamu1884]

ON OF MY IDOLS

[@DARK24-7]

That #66 guy is pretty good!

[@natemccollum3731]

Ugh this was that season that went downhill after Tarnstrom got hurt. Was Lemieux’s last chance to get to the playoffs before Sid’s first season (that also didn’t Pan out)

[@francoisgrenier6681]

His round helmet made it stand out even more.

[@alabarjhoni9742]

the Elvis of hockey

[@Warren_Flatt]

I really have no idea how Mario put up 90+ points and led the league in scoring for most of the 2003 season...the guy could barely skate and moves like a broken John Deere tractor and here he was doing what he does best. he really is the greatest in terms of skill in the history of hockey.

[@MMGJ10]

It's amazing how well he adapted to age and injuries at this point in his career. He could still skate pretty fast when he wanted, but you're right, most of the time he just moved around efficiently.. He became great at not looking like he was doing much.. while doing a lot. Lol

[@marclaporte3710]

Kovalev was the Datsyuk of the 90s

[@hugh2hoob668]

No he wasn't haha

[@mephenstessina6081]

He's right, he wasn't

[@jared699]

In 1,316 games, Kovalev had 1,029 points (.782 PPG). Datsyuk had 918 points in 953 games (.963).

[@8799crosby]

@@jared699 datsyuk was 5 times the player

[@Excalibur2112]

Super Mario, the Shark killer/eater. 🦈

[@jared699]

49 points in 14 games versus them. Incredible.

[@chickenalaking1319]

They'll probably bring back a Vegas gold alternate for Sid's swan song.

[@robertfan332]

Mario scored on the first shot he ever took in the NHL.

[@cityofchamps66]

A Penguin continues to feed on the Sharks?

[@rjp4716]

Lemieux >> Gretzky . I've said this since like ever !

[@randallstephens5751]

U are on drugs

[@othaVada]

Gretzky has said this in two of his books.

[@rjp4716]

@@randallstephens5751 if you don't agree with my statement then you don't know shit about hockey. Gretzky definitely More Popular then Lemieux, but not better

[@rjp4716]

@@othaVada Exactly !

[@drakonianera8303]

Um,nope. Gretzky is the GOAT. Not even close.

[@nateshnowske9583]

Gary Thorne should be on NBC! The NHL would be much better!

[@jared699]

I mute the broadcasters no matter what game or sport I'm watching.

[@stephanesoucy5186]

Lemieux have a average point per game Higher then Gretzky... That Say all... Lemieux is the goat 🏆

[@jdlebreux8529]

No, It's Gretzky.... Gretzky 1,92 vs 1,88 for Lemieux

[@spectacularmoments]

Mario missed over 400 games during career due to back injury cancer ect. Thats almost 5 seasons. How many more points would he have gotten?

[@That90sShow]

Mario played in harder eras, had less talent around him and played until he was 40. If Mario retired at 38, like wayne, he would have a 1.93 ppg

[@jared699]

@@spectacularmoments He would have had a lot more points. If he averaged 1.88 PPG as @JD LeBreux said, then 400 games would translate to 752 more points.

[@jared699]

@@That90sShow After the '04 season when Lemieux was 38, he was averaging 1.88 PPG, as @JD LeBreux mentioned.

[@enwhy7810]

Lemieux had like a hundred points against SJ in his career.

[@nathanlarson310]

WOW, he placed that 2nd one. Threaded a needle in the dark on that

[@stooch66]

It’s not generational talent. It is millennial talent.

[@edwardholder5509]

Like today?

[@jcv_7690]

the dude had an ice rink in his living room lol

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Kovalev = nifty skater

[@conorwreckoner]

Beautiful game from Kovalev

[@chrisb1141]

Kovalev was unreal also

[@jared699]

He shouldn't be mentioned in the same conversation as Mario.

[@marcpell133]

That ref with no helmet and and the clutch n’ grab with no call... aww old time hockey

[@yeltsin6817]

How do you not have a guy on him at all times? Even sit beside him on their bench or in their locker

[@hugolessard4462]

That pass by kovalev o_O

[@BenDownTooLong]

When Alex wanted to be he was unstoppable. He also had a wrist shot that was clocked in the 90s- just a laser beam

[@pattaccone]

He’s the GOAT, sorry Wayne

[@MulliganCDN]

By himself? Kovalev’s push in deep and send Lemieux a one hand pass on the first. Then another play kovalev does something similar and fights through and Lemieux picks up the puck. Crappy play calling if you ask me

[@craggbartbartel1307]

Can't say enough about how great Mario was... but the D on the sharks part was absolutely shit.

[@johnrencheck2283]

Ya well ask ray bourque hof er how many times he got burned by mario

[@stevasonyee2678]

As a Sharks fan, this is embarrassing.

[@Sac_slappper_4rce]

Why is it so hard to pronounce Lemieux correctly? Lemioo, Lemew or Lemeeyu? 😆🤣😂

[@ljetk3488]

GOAT

[@silurusglanis7399]

Mario 1*👍👍👍

[@Robert-gg1er]

Much of the disrespect shown towards Lemieux was ethnic bigotry from non-French speaking Canadians.

[@lindas1st]

99 comments, how ironic....LOL ….well 100 now. :)

[@matt4455]

score lemieux

[@hockyjocky4]

Goal judges. lol.

[@jonmacist]

His very first game back was against Toronto had 9 points 4 goals and 5 assists after not playing a few years

[@rvermeulen66]

Never had 9 point game his 2000 comeback he had 1 goal 2 assists vs Toronto

[@MMGJ10]

🤔

[@jared699]

LMAO. 4 goals and 5 assists. I was at that game.

[@jonmacist]

@@jared699 exactly what I said thanks.

[@jared699]

@@jonmacist Yes. And I'm LMAO at you having said it.

[@cumcompilationv46trynottoc83]

Sharks won, Lemieux is a bum

[@bakdraft6578]

WHEN did this goof retire? Like 20 some years ago? Why are you still romanticizing? Worse than a Chicago Bear fan of 1985.....Time to let go and like someone a bit better....

[@spectacularmoments]

We are romanticizing cause you Can live another hundred years and we will never see a number 66 again believe it

[@tomgriffin7019]

Sounds like you’re the goof.

[@philobresil6152]

Most dominant player ever