Darius Kasparaitis Owns Mario Lemieux

The NY Islanders' "shift disturber" from Lithuania, the irrepressible Darius Kasparaitis, takes a cheap shot from Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Mario Lemieux and responds with several of his own in this clip from Game 6 of the Patrick Division Finals on May 12, 1993 at Nassau Coliseum. I was at this game, and I remember thinking, "Darius, nooo! what are you doing?" but in hindsight it's a great moment, David taking on Goliath. Everyone compared Lemieux to Jean Beliveau back then, but I doubt Beliveau indulged in cheap shots and embellishment like Lemieux did on occasion. Gotta love how the color commentator, Eddie "18" Westfall, is just barely containing his laughter throughout. The Pens would score on the ensuing powerplay, but lose the game (and ultimately the series in seven).

• Category

  Sports

[KevinKolbGOAT]

Talk about getting your 2-minute's worth

[12OclockLow]

Kasparitis was a HUGE part of that series victory, in my opinion.

[maxime richard]

Mario lemieux is still the best player hockey as ever seen....

[VeronaJay]

These were great hits by Kasparaitis, he had some great ones and was a big bonus to the Isles, unfortunately he also had some seriously dirty plays. The league bears a great responsibility in encouraging and supporting mayhem for ratings and then wiping their hands of these players once the public starts to turn up the heat.

[sandranian]

Go Isles. Beat the Pens. I would love a repeat, but alas...NYI isn't the same team.

[pcvetic]

It was a joke that Hunter supposedly didn't Know Turgeon scored. I would think screaming fans and a loud alarm would have clued him in

[DEZERTlR]

Молорик Дариус!!! вот так нужно играть защитнику!

А то никто Лемье не трогал, он и штамповал голы!

[Adam Moreira]

Kasparaitis and Rich Pilon on that defense pairing---talk abut Bruise Brothers.

[ironmaidenjunky]

So much hate for great players. Your all just mad pitt has talent clear on to the 4th line. And as far as crosby or lemiex being "pussies" if u havent noticed great players like these are always double teamed, cheap shoted, and targeted as a "marked man". Just cause their main priority is to stay healthy and out of trouble to stay on the ice doesnt make them "pussies".

[SJSHARKSFAN6]

Right on. Don't get me wrong, Lemieux was a great player, and scored great goals, but he was a little bitch. And as you said, Crosby has followed in those footsteps.

[michalthelion]

it's true that first Mario checked him from behind and referee didn't blow anything... so referee let Mario carry the consequences for a while... life is once like that...