1979 Playoffs: Ferguson wins it for the Pens in OT

The Penguins headed into the third period of the decisive third game of their 1979 Preliminary Round series against the Buffalo Sabres trailing 3-2. The hometown Sabres threw everything they had at Pens goalie Denis Herron in the third, piling up a whopping 18 shots, but couldn't get anything behind the Pittsburgh goalie. The only rubber that hit any twine during the frame was at the other end, when George Ferguson knocked in a Jacques Cossette rebound at the 4:17 mark to tie things up.

But Ferguson's heroics hardly ended there.

The puck had barely dropped on the first overtime period when Fergy corraled it near center ice. "I noticed the left side of the rink was open," he told the Pittsburgh Press in this report, "so I just took off and when I thought I could score I just let it fly."

The puck flew right into the back of the net, giving the Penguins their first playoff series win in four years and only the third in franchise history. You can view a video of Ferguson's winner here.

It should be noted that Ferguson would not have had a chance to be the hero if it weren't for the impressive display by rookie defenseman Jim Hamilton, who scored two goals. Drafted by the Pens in 1977, Hamilton would spend his career shuttling between the big club and the minors, totalling 95 NHL games and 32 points. He played in six playoff games, too, but a finer moment than this one in an NHL rink he never had.

Ferguson would play three more full seasons with the Pens, never scoring less than 21 goals, before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars early in the 1982-83 season.

Aside: 10 Greatest Games video

Let's be clear: the 10 games chosen for the DVD package, Pittsburgh Penguins Greatest Games, are NOT the best in franchise history. Perhaps they're the best of the games that were captured with presentable audio and video, but not of the whole franchise.

I got to thinking recently about what games should truly be on there if the techincal end of things was not a factor. Here are a few:

- Pens defeat Oakland in Game Four of 1970 playoff series on Michele Briere's OT goal, giving Pittsburgh its first-ever playoff series win
- George Ferguson scores series-clinching OT goal vs. Buffalo in 1979 playoffs
- Pens OT victory over Montreal in April 1993 to set new NHL record for longest winning streak
- Game 4 of 1982 preliminary round vs. Islanders in which surprising Pens force defending Stanley Cup champs to the brink of elimination
- 12-0 win vs. Washington in 1976, Pens' biggest margin of victory
- Penguins first win

Any others?

1979: George Ferguson wins it in OT

What a thriller that was last night, with the Penguins beating the Caps with an overtime marker by Kris Letang. Add it to the list of great Penguin overtime moments.

One of the best came 30 years ago last month, in the third and deciding game of the Pens' preliminary round series against the Sabres. The hero that night was George Ferguson, who came streaking down the left side of the ice in the Buffalo's old "Aud" and beat Bob Sauve early in the first OT frame.

Buffalo, only four years removed from a Finals appearance and still sporting a wealth of speed and talent, were favoured to take out the Pens with relative ease. But a combination of grit and spectacular goaltending from Dennis Herron enabled Pittsburgh to move on and send the Sabres golfing.

This Associated Press story from April 15, 1979 tells all about it.

And if you want to see the goal, check out these 13 seconds of pure Pittsburgh Penguin glory!