My Father was a season ticket holder for the Penguins for ten years. During which Mario came to town. Hockey will stand as my favorite memory for Spectacular Sports Immersion. Many a night at the Civic Arena we would watch Mario..... Sometimes after fan arena chants,... late in the game while losing.... Mario.... Mario..... Mario.... Then He would Do something Spectacular that we had never seen done on the ice. Thanks Mario, Thanks Dad... For those Spectacular Memories.
U youngsters who never got to see him orchestrate a game will never see another lemieux a physical specimen perfectly built for hockey go watch all u can of his highlights big fast strong an extra long reach good skater ability to hold puck till last second with pinpoint accuracy shooting from anywhere even behind the net......there will never be anyone like him
At this particular junction in time, Mario Lemieux was the most individually dominating player in NHL history. Just look at the players on both teams after he scores. They are shaking their heads, smiling. They are fans as well, taking it all in...asking one another if they saw what he just did.
Favorite game ever!! ( Not really but close), I'm from Pittsburgh and at the time was stationed in Germany ( army), watched the game in the day room of our barracks, and if I recall correctly the game was on late like Midnight or 2am,( obv time difference) and hockey wasn't a huge sport , so I alone in day room drinking beer from the vending machines cheering my head off for Mario and the boys from the penguins waking ppl up. BUT WHAT A NIGHT!
LOL...he sure didn't waste any time finding the back of the net. He was like Picasso on skates...every goal a masterpiece....he was baiting Vernon by gliding at standstill and then like Jack the Ripper he delivers the kill and buried it on the backhand utilizing that long reach. LOL. Talk about ridiculous. He was NHLs version of Michael Jordan at that very same time period...unstoppable.
I see again the eternal debate whether the goat is Gretzky or Lemieux. To me, that's not even close, Mario Lemieux is the best hockey player ever. Period.
also played with names like warren young and bob errey his first few years in the league while gretzky was playing with coffey, kurri and messier and he still put up ridiculous numbers
Back when people actually paid attention to the all-star game because it still resembled a hockey game (albeit slightly). Now it's absolutely unwatchable.
On the first goal Gretzky is hooking him coming around the net he knew what was at stake and that there was a new sheriff in town and the warning shot was fired at the 1987 Canada cup and by this time it was clearly apparent that the mantle for the best player in the world was now number 66. He stands alone as easily the best and more talented player I have ever seen play in the NHL and I've seen them all since 1976-77 and sadly by then Bobby Orr only had one leg left. To me the comparisons are by era which is Orr vs Howe and Lemieux vs Gretzky
Marv called New York Rangers games on the radio (when it didn't conflict with is NBC/TNT duties) from 1967-2004. His son, Kenny also works for the Rangers as an announcer.
prior to retirement lemieux was 2.18 pts per game.he was the only player to avg. more than 2 pts per game.after retirement,his avg dropped to 1.88(1723pts in 915 games).gretzky's avg is 1.92.so you can shut up!
That’s because he retired at age 31 after only 715 games lol. If Gretzky had retired at age 31, he would have retired with a 2.34 PPG average. After 715 games, Gretzky had a 2.40 PPG. Lemieux’s lucky he only had to play 170 games past age 31 when he came back. Otherwise his PPG would have dipped even further just like Gretzky’s did (Gretzky played around 500 games past age 31 which obviously hurt his PPG average a lot more).
ovechkin100, you are wrong in your numbers; Gretzky 1.92 pts per game. Lemieux 1.88 pts per game, and that despite back surgeries, cancer, hip surgeries, and so ON.
Paul Coffey, who skated with both greats, says Mario’s the best player he ever saw, a notch above.well, that’s good enough for me, and should settle the debate. Who are we to argue? Scotty Bowman, Mike Keenan, Chris Pronger, Eric Lindros, Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, Slava Fetisov, all the Russian players and every NHL GOALIES say the same so… I’ll go with That. Who am I to argue?
1987, his 3rd season, on a bad team, Mario Lemieux at 21 yrs/old outscored Wayne Gretzky at 26yrs/old, playing for the great Edmonton Oilers, the Stanley cup champions. A team who would win the cup again without Gretzky the next year.
When Mario Lemieux first retired in 1997 ; HE BECAME THE ONLY PLAYER TO RETIRE AVERAGING OVER TWO POINTS A GAME IN the NHL. a) 2,03 points/game PPG BEST EVER in NHL HISTORY b) 0,84 goals/game GPG BEST EVER in NHL HISTORY c) 13 shorthanded goals 1989 BEST EVER in HISTORY Gretzky was great and scored the most points in his career, but he was no Mario Lemieux. Kareem Abdul Jabar outscored Michael Jordan by 6000 points in the Nba. who’s better? d) what if Mario could bend down and tie his own skates or pick up his keys if he dropped them? e) what if Mario did practice with the team during his career? He didn’t for 10 yrs f) what if Mario didn’t miss half his prime? g) what if Mario didn’t have cancer? What if Mario played the first 8 years of his career on a team WITH 7 hall of famers? Instead he broke into the NHL with the WORST team in history. Can you name 3 players on that team? Which player would pick assuming they are both available & healthy #99 or #66 with your life in the balance? 1) For a penalty shot? 2) For a 7 games series? 3) For a 7th game? 4) For an Olympic tournament? 5) For a Stanley cup playoffs run?
Yep, of course Gretzky had more goals. But he also had more assists than anyone else (including Mario) had points. Mario was the most skilled player I ever saw, but Gretzky was definitely the GOAT.
WHOS BETTER Mario Lemieux ....or Wayne Gretzky??....plzz say V....HES SOO BETTER!!!...if only he didnt get hurt or sick...or retire...CAN U IMAGINE THE POINTS HE WOULD HAVE HAD?!!!!
marv albert used to do ranger broadcasts on radio, including game 7 in the 94 finals. nbc should have had marv be apart of the hockey games now, but he's probably too busy at tnt and westwood one to do them.
he was a great goaltender indeed, but he also liked to party. There is a story of an NHL goalie showing up to start the all star game still drunk from the night before. Some believe, after alot of investigating, that it was vernon in this very game.
are you aware that in the 91 canada cup gretzkys back got fucked up and its why his numbers droped off and misses most of the 92-93 season from it? lemieux may have touched gretzkys goal number but thats it. its so earatating how people are alway"if lemieux didnt miss so much time" like other players havent. if gretzkys back didnt get injured he would have had over 1000 goals and over 3000 pts, lemeiux wouldnt have touched that.
none of them would have been broken mario coundnt crack 2000 points in 17 seasons gretz was close to cracking 3000 in 20 seasons and dont give me the injury crap wayne has 1751 points same amount of points as mario at the age of 27
It would still be a penalty though I would think. Regardless though nobody wants to hurt anyone in a petty all-star game, it's for pure fun and entertainment.
evryone says if mario played the same number of games where the fact is if he did play the same number of games his ppg would have dropped to like 1.6 instead of 1.88 father time catches up with evrybody
We're now in 2023 and I'm still cherishing Lemieux's greatness. GOAT!
By far the best player I have ever seen play
It is absolutley ridonkulous on how amazing this guy really was. Simply amazing.
My Father was a season ticket holder for the Penguins for ten years. During which Mario came to town. Hockey will stand as my favorite memory for Spectacular Sports Immersion. Many a night at the Civic Arena we would watch Mario..... Sometimes after fan arena chants,... late in the game while losing....
Mario.... Mario..... Mario....
Then He would Do something Spectacular that we had never seen done on the ice.
Thanks Mario, Thanks Dad... For those Spectacular Memories.
Truly special times with Dad and Mario for you!
Lightening in a bottle and you got to be there!
Cheers mate!
The third goal is simply pure art.
the little slide past the d-man on the third goal, and then to the backhand... unbelievable. Sublime, actually.
the best hands ever and that reach was just sick
That third goal though. Damn.
I had to re-watch it a few times just so my brain could comprehend that dangle.
G.O.A.T
U youngsters who never got to see him orchestrate a game will never see another lemieux a physical specimen perfectly built for hockey go watch all u can of his highlights big fast strong an extra long reach good skater ability to hold puck till last second with pinpoint accuracy shooting from anywhere even behind the net......there will never be anyone like him
Truly a player a level or two above most. Mario was fun to watch.
At this particular junction in time, Mario Lemieux was the most individually dominating player in NHL history. Just look at the players on both teams after he scores. They are shaking their heads, smiling. They are fans as well, taking it all in...asking one another if they saw what he just did.
Code, I have to agree... and that is taking into account all of the NHL royalty.
Simply amazing.
greatest player ever
hatrick goal is one for the ages. poetry in motion
Favorite game ever!! ( Not really but close), I'm from Pittsburgh and at the time was stationed in Germany ( army), watched the game in the day room of our barracks, and if I recall correctly the game was on late like Midnight or 2am,( obv time difference) and hockey wasn't a huge sport , so I alone in day room drinking beer from the vending machines cheering my head off for Mario and the boys from the penguins waking ppl up. BUT WHAT A NIGHT!
I wish the league would release some of these classic games in HD quality. This is Super Mario with flower power!!
ESPN has the 1988 All-Star game...One of the greatest games of all time..Wish I could see it in high def
As of 2024, this is the last time Pittsburgh has hosted the NHL All Star Game. I think PPG Paints Arena should host one soon.
Just one reason why i'ved played since i was 6 with the number 66. Amazing player, definitely better than Gretzky
LOL...he sure didn't waste any time finding the back of the net. He was like Picasso on skates...every goal a masterpiece....he was baiting Vernon by gliding at standstill and then like Jack the Ripper he delivers the kill and buried it on the backhand utilizing that long reach. LOL. Talk about ridiculous. He was NHLs version of Michael Jordan at that very same time period...unstoppable.
That Pittsburgh crowd was rocking it!!!!
This is the kind of did u see that moment almost every night from this freak of hockey nature and we in pens land got to enjoy him!
Lemieux toe dragging in the slot-- the goalie is helpless, nothing he can do to stop him. A privelege to watch him play. The PENS franchise.
I see again the eternal debate whether the goat is Gretzky or Lemieux.
To me, that's not even close, Mario Lemieux is the best hockey player ever. Period.
The Igloo was louder here than Consol has ever been. Miss the old barn.
ZatchPatch you’ve never been to a playoff game. Crosby’s hat trick against the flyers in 2018s playoffs you couldn’t even think it was so loud
That 3rd goal wasn't even fair I mean holy fuck.
also played with names like warren young and bob errey his first few years in the league while gretzky was playing with coffey, kurri and messier and he still put up ridiculous numbers
mario had 1751 points in his career gretz 1700 points in 9 years
@@kidpoker9408 Gretzky never got over 50 goals in his last 10 seasons......
@@kidpoker9408 yeah in the easier era to score in NHL history
@@jaymorris9952 ok take away half of waynes points only leaves him 200 points behind mario
@@jaymorris9952 as i recall mario also played in the 80's so your point is mute
Bak when all star games were must see.
That 3rd goal is absolutely disgusting holy shit
Vernon was a solid goaltender, won a pair of Stanley Cups and one Conn Smythe, but Mario always seemed to have his number.
These NHL players today should watch these old all star games. The heart and compete levels don’t even compare
Back when the all star game actually meant something the all star game today is a joke parody
Back when people actually paid attention to the all-star game because it still resembled a hockey game (albeit slightly). Now it's absolutely unwatchable.
1988 All-Star game
this is my era of hockey
3:23 Just amazing
unfair. Just magic
66 is the best that ever will be.
It's hard to believe this was almost 30... Years .. Ago.. damn
What u wanna bet he could come out and still be better than most guys on the ice!
GOAT
As a Mike Vernon fan I cried as a kids after watching this back in 1990.
I remember crying when I saw Mike Vernon letting in all those goals. I was a huge Vernon fan back in the day.. hehe
Mario was DOMINANCE PERSONIFIED!
great Mario!
I think Lemieux could still score 25 goals a season
On the first goal Gretzky is hooking him coming around the net he knew what was at stake and that there was a new sheriff in town and the warning shot was fired at the 1987 Canada cup and by this time it was clearly apparent that the mantle for the best player in the world was now number 66. He stands alone as easily the best and more talented player I have ever seen play in the NHL and I've seen them all since 1976-77 and sadly by then Bobby Orr only had one leg left. To me the comparisons are by era which is Orr vs Howe and Lemieux vs Gretzky
I've got an autographed ticket stub from this game signed by Mario. He's the best player since Bobby Orr.
You can't compare an offensive defensive player to a pure offensive player..Orr will stand alone on what he did
Marv called New York Rangers games on the radio (when it didn't conflict with is NBC/TNT duties) from 1967-2004. His son, Kenny also works for the Rangers as an announcer.
@ 3:20 - This moment from when I was 10 years old will forever be etched in my mind :)
66 > 99
Lemieux is god
Was at this game what I night it was.
And his back was killing him...
damn, he was good.
what a player
prior to retirement lemieux was 2.18 pts per game.he was the only player to avg. more than 2 pts per game.after retirement,his avg dropped to 1.88(1723pts in 915 games).gretzky's avg is 1.92.so you can shut up!
That’s because he retired at age 31 after only 715 games lol. If Gretzky had retired at age 31, he would have retired with a 2.34 PPG average. After 715 games, Gretzky had a 2.40 PPG. Lemieux’s lucky he only had to play 170 games past age 31 when he came back. Otherwise his PPG would have dipped even further just like Gretzky’s did (Gretzky played around 500 games past age 31 which obviously hurt his PPG average a lot more).
Back when they played real hockey. Now it's all about winning, and playing the system.
It's always been about winning haha what the hell are you talking about?
Woow back then when real Legends played in the Allstar Game.wooow
Mario with Jagrrr..two best!! :-)
Le meilleur duo ever
Mario byl taky borec !!!
I miss The Prince Of Wales Conference. Sounded so royale.
thank you jeff marek
Mike Vernon was Mario's side chick, he could always score with him.
Always between the legs on him lol
First - Lemieux's rookie season(1985) at Calgary.(see my vids)
Second - 1988 at St. Louis. He had 5 or 6 points, include OT winner.
First was the 1988 All-Star game..Monster D,O and goaltenders.. Overtime..Game owned by Lemieux
Doc Emerick with a full head of hair. Lol
ovechkin100, you are wrong in your numbers;
Gretzky 1.92 pts per game.
Lemieux 1.88 pts per game, and that despite back surgeries, cancer, hip surgeries, and so ON.
99 2.5 ppg as an oiler end of discussion
Paul Coffey, who skated with both greats, says Mario’s the best player he ever saw, a notch above.well, that’s good enough for me, and should settle the debate. Who are we to argue?
Scotty Bowman, Mike Keenan, Chris Pronger, Eric Lindros, Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, Slava Fetisov, all the Russian players and every NHL GOALIES say the same so… I’ll go with That. Who am I to argue?
1987, his 3rd season, on a bad team, Mario Lemieux at 21 yrs/old outscored Wayne Gretzky at 26yrs/old, playing for the great Edmonton Oilers, the Stanley cup champions. A team who would win the cup again without Gretzky the next year.
When Mario Lemieux first retired in 1997 ;
HE BECAME THE ONLY PLAYER TO RETIRE AVERAGING OVER TWO POINTS A GAME IN the NHL.
a) 2,03 points/game PPG BEST EVER in NHL HISTORY
b) 0,84 goals/game GPG BEST EVER in NHL HISTORY
c) 13 shorthanded goals 1989 BEST EVER in HISTORY
Gretzky was great and scored the most points in his career, but he was no Mario Lemieux.
Kareem Abdul Jabar outscored Michael Jordan by 6000 points in the Nba. who’s better?
d) what if Mario could bend down and tie his own skates or pick up his keys if he dropped them?
e) what if Mario did practice with the team during his career? He didn’t for 10 yrs
f) what if Mario didn’t miss half his prime?
g) what if Mario didn’t have cancer?
What if Mario played the first 8 years of his career on a team WITH 7 hall of famers?
Instead he broke into the NHL with the WORST team in history. Can you name 3 players on that team?
Which player would pick assuming they are both available & healthy #99 or #66 with your life in the balance?
1) For a penalty shot?
2) For a 7 games series?
3) For a 7th game?
4) For an Olympic tournament?
5) For a Stanley cup playoffs run?
I dont kno why pple say Gretzky was better. He played 4 more yrs than Mario w/o health problems. Of course he'd have more goals.
because gretz avg like 20 goals in his last 10 years of his career gretz in his prime was the goat
Yep, of course Gretzky had more goals. But he also had more assists than anyone else (including Mario) had points. Mario was the most skilled player I ever saw, but Gretzky was definitely the GOAT.
WHOS BETTER Mario Lemieux ....or Wayne Gretzky??....plzz say V....HES SOO BETTER!!!...if only he didnt get hurt or sick...or retire...CAN U IMAGINE THE POINTS HE WOULD HAVE HAD?!!!!
marv albert used to do ranger broadcasts on radio, including game 7 in the 94 finals. nbc should have had marv be apart of the hockey games now, but he's probably too busy at tnt and westwood one to do them.
Former Avs And Wings Goaltender
The two goalies who would Duke it out on March 26, 1997 start this All-star game!!! hahahaha
What a toe drag at 4:00
Mike Emerik looks like a puppet from that puppet show, Thunderbirds Are Go!
No argument from me.
Look at the hair Emmerick has!
he was a great goaltender indeed, but he also liked to party. There is a story of an NHL goalie showing up to start the all star game still drunk from the night before. Some believe, after alot of investigating, that it was vernon in this very game.
It was Belfour I believe
it just looks too easy...
Willllson back
Lemieux looks bored, like wasn't even trying that hard. If he played 20 years like Gretzky, would have been interested in seeing the record book.
Indeed. If Lemieux wouldn't have had such an injury filled carrer (and fighting cancer) alot of Gretzky's records would probably have been broken :)
are you aware that in the 91 canada cup gretzkys back got fucked up and its why his numbers droped off and misses most of the 92-93 season from it? lemieux may have touched gretzkys goal number but thats it. its so earatating how people are alway"if lemieux didnt miss so much time" like other players havent. if gretzkys back didnt get injured he would have had over 1000 goals and over 3000 pts, lemeiux wouldnt
have touched that.
Jen Zim 👂 atating?
name me one record??? and your basis and how mario would have broken that one record
none of them would have been broken mario coundnt crack 2000 points in 17 seasons gretz was close to cracking 3000 in 20 seasons and dont give me the injury crap wayne has 1751 points same amount of points as mario at the age of 27
The third goal...if you turned you back like that in a regular game, you'd be on your face with a bruise across your back.
Why not? Yes its the All Atar game but how many times do you see a player score 4 goals in an All Star game either? Not too often...
Marv Albert doing hockey? That is a bit odd. But yeah, classic Mario during his very best years '88-'94.
It would still be a penalty though I would think.
Regardless though nobody wants to hurt anyone in a petty all-star game, it's for pure fun and entertainment.
Fun fact. If it wasn't for Mario, Yami would have never played in the NHL and accumulated the second most points in history.
liver04,
You said that Lemieux Won His Third All-Star MVP in this game.
When did he win his first two MVP's and how did he do in those games?
I watched this game 2 wks ago on ESPN classics, it's amazing how small the goalies equipment looks compared to today
He was to good for the NHL he be in the next one
Jealousy is an ugly trait....You stink of it!
Plus this was in fromt of his home crowd....When does that happen? NEVER!
What kinda car did he win? I know he drove a white Ferrari Testarossa back then.
Incidentally, Le-mieux, in French literally means "the best".
3:30 Holy fuck.
I have the lemuix 1990 all star jersey
Edit:not trying to flex just want to say!🏒
Sorry everybody didn’t mean to look overly superior among all stars
Thats my mom & dad at @2:40!!
Yeah so what who cares? This is the All Star game, Lemieux would never do that in a regular season game anyways which is why he is the greatest EVER!
Actually, he's done that in regular season AND playoff games too lol. 5 goals - all 5 different ways (record) ... and 8 points in 1 playoff game ;-)
Les Miou
It's opinion not fact , if it was fact then he would have done it.
evryone says if mario played the same number of games where the fact is if he did play the same number of games his ppg would have dropped to like 1.6 instead of 1.88 father time catches up with evrybody
idiot
Yes, if he played at age of 40, but he missed most of the games when he was at his prime, between 24-30, so probably his PPG had been higher.
gretzkys pts per game, 1.8
marios pts per game, 1.6
now shut up!
wow we dont shut up lemieux is better jalousie and arrogance
@@michelseguin3661 and so is ovechkin.
lemieux is the best pis ferme ta criss de yeule épais tu me semble avoir des problemes tu devrais consulter un professionnel de la santé@@ovechkin100
Gretzky the best!