PITTSBURGH – Even though Josh Archibald played only 10 regular-season games for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, the fact he played Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final will allow his name to be engraved on the Stanley Cup if the Penguins repeat as champs.
The forward didn't play in Game 5 Thursday, but the rule for having one's name etched is 41 games played or one game in the Stanley Cup Final.
"It was a huge opportunity," said the former Brainerd High School star and Minnesota Mr. Hockey finalist. "We have a great lineup from top to bottom, so for me to get in was a pretty big confidence boost for me. It was a lot of fun."
Archibald, 24, was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, but moved to Brainerd when he was 15.
"My mom's from there, so she convinced my dad to move back to Minnesota," Archibald said, laughing.
Archibald's dad is Jim Archibald, who played at the University of North Dakota and 16 games for the North Stars over three seasons before a neck injury caused doctors to tell him he should never play again.
Archibald also played one year of his three at Nebraska Omaha with current Penguins teammate Jake Guentzel, who is leading the NHL with 13 playoff goals. Guentzel was a freshman when Archibald was a junior. They played half of the 2013-14 season on the same line with Archibald scoring 29 goals.
"When Jake came in, he was a shy, quiet kid at 17, 18 years old," Archibald said. "Once he got acquainted with everybody and got used to things, he opened up. From the first game in college, we knew he'd be a special player. Look what he's done now, it's pretty spectacular."