The 2000–01 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 34th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team played 82 games under new head coach Ivan Hlinka, who replaced Herb Brooks, who stepped down to remain a scout with the team. The Penguins' .585 points percentage meant that they were the only NHL team from the 1990–91 season to this one that had a points percentage above .500 every season.
The last remaining active member of the 2000–01 Pittsburgh Penguins was right wing Jaromir Jagr, who played his final NHL game in the 2017–18 season, although he did not play in the NHL during the 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2010–11 seasons. His career is still going on as a member of the Czech Extraliga's Rytiri Kladno.
Offseason Herb Brooks resigned as head coach at the end of the previous season, but remained with the team as a scout. Ivan Hlinka succeeded Brooks as head coach. Former Penguin Joe Mullen became an assistant coach along with his former teammate Randy Hillier.
Regular season The Penguins opened the regular season by splitting a two-game series against the Nashville Predators in Japan.
On December 9, 2000, it was announced by owner Mario Lemieux that he intended to come back as a player. Lemieux returned to the ice on December 27, 2000, making Lemieux the first ever owner-player in NHL history. Prior to the game, his number 66 banner was lowered from the rafters of the Mellon Arena with son Austin watching. Lemieux scored a goal and set up two others (including one on his first shift) in the Penguins' 5–0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to Lemieux's return, the Penguins were 15–14–6–1. After his comeback, the Penguins went 27–14–3–2 for a regular season record of 42–28–9–3 and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Division for a playoff spot. Lemieux however did not take back the capaticy when he returned, which Jaromir Jagr held onto for the entire season. The Penguins were shut out only once all year, which was on October 28th against the New Jersey Devils, the team that scored more goals than Pittsburgh during the regular season. Jagr had a stellar year, leading the team in goals (52), assists (69) and points (121). Alexei Kovalev had a career year, finishing with 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points. Martin Straka finished second on the team in assists (68) and had 27 goals for 95 points, while Robert Lang had 32 goals and 48 assists for 80 points. In the 43 games he played in after he returned, roughly half the season, Lemieux managed 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points.
Final standings
Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals The Penguins opened the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. It was their sixth meeting in the playoffs. The Penguins were shut out in Game 1, 1–0. Lemieux scored a goal and had an assist in Game 2, which was won by the Penguins, 2–1. Newcomer Johan Hedberg shut out the Capitals in Game 3. The Capitals won Game 4 in overtime, 4–3. However, game-winning goals by Lemieux and Martin Straka in Game 5 and 6 won the series for the Penguins, 4–2.
Eastern Conference Semifinals The Penguins played the Buffalo Sabres in the conference semi-finals. The Penguins won Game 1 by the score of 3–0 and Game 2 by the score of 3–1. The Sabres won the next three games, pushing the Penguins to elimination. However, overtime-winning goals by Straka and Darius Kasparaitis in Game 6 and 7 won the series for the Penguins. Game 7 was Dominik Hasek's last game as a Sabre; he would sign with the Detroit Red Wings in the off-season.
Eastern Conference Finals The Penguins and the New Jersey Devils split the first two games of the series before the Devils took games three, four, and five to eliminate the Penguins.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || 7 || Nashville Predators || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1–0–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Nashville Predators || 1–1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || 13 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1–0–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || 14 || New York Rangers || 6–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1–0–0 || 6 ||
| 5 || 18 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2–0–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2–1–0 || 7 ||
| 7 || 21 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2–1–0 || 9 ||
| 8 || 25 || Ottawa Senators || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3–1–0 || 9 ||
| 9 || 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || New York Rangers || 5–3–1–0 || 11 ||
| 10 || 28 || New Jersey Devils || 9–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4–1–0 || 11 ||
| 11 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || San Jose Sharks || 5–5–1–0 || 11 ||
| 12 || 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–5–1–0 || 13 ||
| 13 || 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Calgary Flames || 6–5–2–0 || 14 ||
| 14 || 8 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5–2–0 || 16 ||
| 15 || 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New Jersey Devils || 8–5–2–0 || 18 ||
| 16 || 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 9–5–2–0 || 20 ||
| 17 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 OT || Colorado Avalanche || 9–5–2–1 || 21 ||
| 18 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || St. Louis Blues || 9–6–2–1 || 21 ||
| 19 || 18 || Atlanta Thrashers || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 10–6–2–1 || 23 ||
| 20 || 22 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 10–7–2–1 || 23 ||
| 21 || 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || Philadelphia Flyers || 11–7–2–1 || 25 ||
| 22 || 25 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 11–7–3–1 || 26 ||
| 23 || 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Boston Bruins || 11–8–3–1 || 26 ||
| 24 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Buffalo Sabres || 12–8–3–1 || 28 ||
| 25 || 2 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 12–9–3–1 || 28 ||
| 26 || 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Ottawa Senators || 13–9–3–1 || 30 ||
| 27 || 6 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 13–10–3–1 || 30 ||
| 28 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 13–11–3–1 || 30 ||
| 29 || 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 14–11–3–1 || 32 ||
| 30 || 13 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–12–3–1 || 32 ||
| 31 || 15 || Florida Panthers || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–13–3–1 || 32 ||
| 32 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 14–13–4–1 || 33 ||
| 33 || 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Florida Panthers || 14–13–5–1 || 34 ||
| 34 || 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 14–13–6–1 || 35 ||
| 35 || 23 || Dallas Stars || 8–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 14–14–6–1 || 35 ||
| 36 || 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Buffalo Sabres || 15–14–6–1 || 37 ||
| 37 || 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 16–14–6–1 || 39 ||
| 38 || 30 || Ottawa Senators || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 17–14–6–1 || 41 ||
| 39 || 3 || Washington Capitals || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–14–6–1 || 43 ||
| 40 || 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 18–15–6–1 || 43 ||
| 41 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Washington Capitals || 19–15–6–1 || 45 ||
| 42 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Boston Bruins || 19–16–6–1 || 45 ||
| 43 || 12 || New York Islanders || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 20–16–6–1 || 47 ||
| 44 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 || New York Islanders || 20–17–6–1 || 47 ||
| 45 || 15 || Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || 2–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 21–17–6–1 || 49 ||
| 46 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Phoenix Coyotes || 21–18–6–1 || 49 ||
| 47 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 OT || Dallas Stars || 21–18–6–2 || 50 ||
| 48 || 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || Chicago Blackhawks || 22–18–6–2 || 52 ||
| 49 || 24 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 23–18–6–2 || 54 ||
| 50 || 27 || Atlanta Thrashers || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 24–18–6–2 || 56 ||
| 51 || 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Atlanta Thrashers || 25–18–6–2 || 58 ||
| 52 || 31 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 25–19–6–2 || 58 ||
| 53 || 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 26–19–6–2 || 60 ||
| 54 || 10 || New Jersey Devils || 4–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 27–19–6–2 || 62 ||
| 55 || 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Minnesota Wild || 27–20–6–2 || 62 ||
| 56 || 14 || Minnesota Wild || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 28–20–6–2 || 64 ||
| 57 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || New Jersey Devils || 28–20–7–2 || 65 ||
| 58 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || Columbus Blue Jackets || 29–20–7–2 || 67 ||
| 59 || 19 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 29–21–7–2 || 67 ||
| 60 || 21 || Florida Panthers || 2–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || 30–21–7–2 || 69 ||
| 61 || 23 || New York Rangers || 4–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 31–21–7–2 || 71 ||
| 62 || 25 || New York Islanders || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 32–21–7–2 || 73 ||
| 63 || 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Montreal Canadiens || 32–22–7–2 || 73 ||
| 64 || 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5 || New York Rangers || 33–22–7–2 || 75 ||
| 65 || 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Washington Capitals || 33–23–7–2 || 75 ||
| 66 || 7 || Washington Capitals || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 33–24–7–2 || 75 ||
| 67 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Atlanta Thrashers || 34–24–7–2 || 77 ||
| 68 || 10 || Calgary Flames || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 35–24–7–2 || 79 ||
| 69 || 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Rangers || 35–24–8–2 || 80 ||
| 70 || 14 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 35–25–8–2 || 80 ||
| 71 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Florida Panthers || 36–25–8–2 || 82 ||
| 72 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 36–26–8–2 || 82 ||
| 73 || 20 || Boston Bruins || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 36–26–9–2 || 83 ||
| 74 || 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Carolina Hurricanes || 36–27–9–2 || 83 ||
| 75 || 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New Jersey Devils || 37–27–9–2 || 85 ||
| 76 || 27 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 38–27–9–2 || 87 ||
| 77 || 29 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 39–27–9–2 || 89 ||
| 78 || 31 || St. Louis Blues || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 40–27–9–2 || 91 ||
| 79 || 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || New York Islanders || 40–28–9–2 || 91 ||
| 80 || 4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 41–28–9–2 || 93 ||
| 81 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || 41–28–9–3 || 94 ||
| 82 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Carolina Hurricanes || 42–28–9–3 || 96 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 12, 2001 || 0–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Capitals lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 14, 2001 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 16, 2001 || 3–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Penguins lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 18, 2001 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 21, 2001 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Penguins lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || April 23, 2001 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Penguins win 4–2 ||
| 1 || April 26, 2001 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Penguins lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 28, 2001 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Penguins lead 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 30, 2001 || 1–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Penguins lead 2–1 ||
| 4 || May 2, 2001 || 2–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || May 5, 2001 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Sabres lead 3–2 ||
| 6 || May 8, 2001 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || May 10, 2001 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Penguins win 4–3 ||
| 1 || May 12, 2001 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Devils lead 1–0 ||