Bruins-Penguins rivalry renewed

Before the Penguins and Bruins square off in the Eastern Conference Finals later this week, let's take a look back at the off-and-on rivalry between these two teams that has developed over the last two decades or so.

1991 Wales Conference Finals

The Bruins and Penguins first found themselves pitted against each other in the conference finals (then the Wales Conference finals) was back in 1991. The Bruins -- led by Ray Bourque, Cam Neely and head coach Mike Milbury -- pushed Mario Lemieux, a youngster named Jaromir Jagr and the rest of the Pens to six games, but dropped the series to the eventual Cup winners. And to add injury to insult . . .

Samuelsson's cheap shot on Neely

. . . the 1991 conference finals served as the scene of the crime that many believe ended Neely's career prematurely. An ugly knee-on-knee hit from Ulf Samuelsson dropped Neely, and the B's star power forward was never really the same. He retired in 1996, after 13 years in the NHL.

1992 Wales Conference Finals

The Bruins and Penguins met again in the conference finals in 1992. Unfortunately for the Bruins, another year together meant the Penguins were just that much stronger. An offensive juggernaut, they were led by Lemieux (34 points in the playoffs), Jagr (24 points), Ron Francis (27) and Kevin Stevens (28). They walloped the Bruins, scoring 19 goals in a four-game sweep, and went on to win their second straight Cup.

Cooke's cheap shot on Savard

The rivalry between Boston and PIttsburgh was just about dormant for twenty years until Matt Cooke threw a blind-side elbow at Marc Savard's head in 2010. Savard was cleared to play in the postseason, but concussion symptoms flared up again for the playmaking center in January of 2011 after taking a hit to the head. He has not officially retired, but he has not played since.

Iginla chooses Penguins over Bruins

This rivalry kicked up a notch right around the trade deadline. Both teams wanted longtime Flames scoring machine Jarome Iginla -- but he only wanted one of them. The Bruins thought they had a deal worked out to nab the All-Star forward, and though Iginla had a no-trade clause that would have allowed for a trade to the Bruins, he asked to be dealt to Pittsburgh to play with his buddy Sidney Crosby. The Boston trade was axed and the Bruins were left high and dry, going after their second option instead: Jaromir Jagr.