Tuesday night, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins continued their decade (plus a year) of excellence as they clinched a playoff spot after beating the Sabres.
The playoff berth is the 11th straight for the Penguins, which is quite crazy when you think about it.
Over that span, they've won two Cups, been to the Final three times and have had four coaches at the helm (Therrien, Bylsma, Johnston, Sullivan).
The 2005-06 season was the last time the Penguins missed the playoffs, and the hockey world was quite different than it is now.
Here are seven fun facts about what the NHL was like the last time Pittsburgh wasn't in the postseason.
1. Sid The Kid
The Penguins' franchise-altering moment happened on July 30th in Ottawa when Pittsburgh selected Sidney Crosby.
Although the Pens didn't make the playoffs in Crosby's rookie season, he displayed why he'll go down as one of the greatest players of all-time with 102 points in his rookie season.
Sid followed it up with a career-high 120 points the next season to lead the Penguins to the playoffs, the first of their 11-straight appearances.
2. Detroit Dominance
While the Red Wings playoff streak will end this season, it was alive and well the last time the Penguins missed the playoffs.
Detroit's playoff appearance in the 2005-06 season was the team's 15th straight, but Pittsburgh (11 straight) will have the longest current streak once the season is over.
3. Connor The Kid
The last time Pittsburgh missed the postseason, Connor McDavid was 9-years-old. Crazy, right?
4. Last Oiler Appearance
Not only was the 2005-06 season the last time the Penguins missed the playoffs, but it was also the last time the Oilers made it to the postseason.
The Oilers lost to the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final in seven games.
5. The Thornton Trade
During the 2005-06 season, the Boston Bruins shocked the hockey world by trading Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for Wayne Primeau, Brad Stuart and Marco Sturm.
Ironically enough, Boston's the team that's most recently won a Cup between the two as the Sharks are still trying to win their first.
6. 100-Point Scorers Galore
During the 2005-06 season, seven players finished with 100 points or more.
Since said season, seven or more players reaching the 100-point mark has only happened once, the 2006-07 season, otherwise known as the start of the Penguins' playoff streak.
7. Staal Over Toews
Ahead of the 2006-07 season the Penguins had the second pick in the draft.
Pittsburgh took Jordan Staal and the streak of 11-straight playoff appearances began.
Staal helped the Penguins win a Stanley Cup the 2008-09 season, but one can only imagine how many more Cups Pittsburgh would have if they had drafted Jonathan Toews rather than passing on him.
