When Mario Lemieux joined the Penguins as the franchise’s savior in 1984, there wasn’t an abundance of ways to watch the team’s games outside of the Pittsburgh area. After all, this was decades before the Internet made virtually every sporting contest on Earth viewable through streaming services.

The pregame ceremony before the opening matchup of the 4 Nations Face-Off between Canada and Sweden was simply the best. A hockey legend from each of the participating countries was welcomed onto the ice at Bell Centre.

Evgeni Malkin did not necessarily have the most direct relationship with Mike Lange, at least not like other franchise pillars such as Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr or Sidney Crosby. But he is certainly aware of Lange’s seismic importance to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I went to my first Pittsburgh Penguins game when I was 7. My late mother and I had season tickets for the best part of a decade beginning in 1971. It was all I wanted to watch. It’s the team I supported as a boy.

The 4 Nations Face-Off began Wednesday night in Montreal with Canada taking on Sweden, and fans were in for a special moment. Before the game, Canadian hockey legend and Pittsburgh Penguins icon Mario Lemieux made a surprise appearance in his hometown.

Before starting a radio or television broadcast, the late Mike Lange famously told his audience, “It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh.” It was his first famous catchphrase in a Hockey Hall of Fame career full of unforgettable ones.

For decades, fans enjoyed listening to Mike Lange's famous calls during Penguins games. Today, the team, former players, as well as those who loved to listen are remembering the life of the legendary broadcaster.

The 4 Nations Face-Off began Wednesday night in Montreal with Canada taking on Sweden, and fans were in for a special moment. Before the game, Canadian hockey legend and Pittsburgh Penguins icon Mario Lemieux made a surprise appearance in his hometown.

Mario Lemieux shared a heartfelt message after the death of longtime Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange. Lange died Wednesday at the age of 76.

When Mario Lemieux joined the Penguins as the franchise’s savior in 1984, there wasn’t an abundance of ways to watch the team’s games outside of the Pittsburgh area. After all, this was decades before the Internet made virtually every sporting contest on Earth viewable through streaming services.

My favorite call wasn’t one I heard live, or even one with an iconic catchphrase. It was in 1992, before my earliest memory, against Chicago in Game 1 of the

Play-by-play voice greeted fans to broadcasts with, "It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh!" among many familiar phrases