Tom Barrasso

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Barrasso's tenure in Pittsburgh began on November 12, 1988, when General Manager Tony Esposito (before his firing) traded for him alongside a third-round pick, sending Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon to Buffalo. He immediately stepped up as the primary starter for the 1989 playoff run, going 7–4 before losing in the Division Finals. The following season was marred by injuries, but he returned strong in 1990–91, recording his first shutout as a Penguin on December 28 against Detroit with 27 saves. In the 1991 Stanley Cup Final against the Minnesota North Stars, Barrasso started all 24 playoff games, going 12–7 and recording a pivotal Game 6 shutout with 39 saves to secure Pittsburgh's first-ever championship. He followed this in 1991–92 by starting every single one of his team's 21 playoff games, posting a 16–5 record and setting a league record with eleven straight playoff wins. In the Finals against Chicago, he faced Ed Belfour; after Game 3 where he stopped all 27 shots for a 1–0 victory, Pittsburgh swept the series to win their second consecutive Cup.

In Their Own Story

The 1993 season saw Barrasso lead the entire NHL in wins with a 43–14–5 record over 63 games. During this run, he tied Tiny Thompson's NHL record by winning fourteen straight games from March 9 to April 9, 1993. However, the quest for a third consecutive Cup ended abruptly in Game 7 of the second round against the New York Islanders. David Volek scored an overtime goal that slipped past Barrasso, eliminating Pittsburgh. The emotional toll continued into the 1993–94 season; after his wrist began causing problems during the first-round loss to the Islanders, where he allowed 17 goals in six games, off-ice turmoil followed. After a party altercation involving defenseman Peter Taglianetti and strength coach John Welday resulted in an injury to a man, Barrasso was charged with making terrorist threats against him. Offended by how the Pittsburgh media covered the incident, Barrasso rarely spoke to reporters again. This silence persisted through his remaining years, characterized by wrist surgery in 1994–95 and a shoulder injury that limited him to five games the next season, though he did become the first American goaltender to record 300 NHL wins on October 19, 1997.

Reader's Guide

Barrasso's time with the Penguins was defined by both historic peaks and significant personal struggles. He arrived in November 1988 and served as the starter through the 1995–96 season, which saw a 29–16–2 record before a second-round playoff exit. Despite these setbacks, he achieved the milestone of 300 wins in 1997. In the 1999–2000 season, his final with the team, injuries and a four-game suspension for slashing Yanic Perreault (resulting in a broken left forearm) limited him to just 25 games. His departure was marked by a strained relationship with the media, leading to a season where he declined speaking with reporters entirely. After being traded to Ottawa in March 2000, his number 35 jersey went unworn for eight years until Ty Conklin wore it in 2008. It was later worn again by Tristan Jarry from 2017 until Jarry's trade to the Edmonton Oilers in December 2025.

Did You Know?

• Barrasso tied Tiny Thompson's NHL record by winning fourteen consecutive games from March 9 to April 9, 1993.
• In the 1992 Stanley Cup Final Game 3, Barrasso stopped all 27 shots for a 1–0 victory over Chicago.
• Barrasso became the first American goaltender to record 300 NHL wins on October 19, 1997, against the Florida Panthers.
• During the 1994 playoffs, Barrasso was charged with making terrorist threats following an altercation at a party involving teammate Peter Taglianetti.
• Barrasso shared the record for eleven straight playoff wins with Ed Belfour after sweeping the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992.