Playoff beards are a storied NHL tradition dating back to the 1980s. As sports superstitions go, this one has some genuine symbolism behind it: Players don’t shave their beards until they have either been eliminated from the playoffs or win the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins have been growing their facial hair since the playoffs began and, thanks to Chris Kuntiz’s heroics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, they will continue to do so until they either win their third championship in a decade or go down trying.
As much fun as it has been to watch the Penguins chase historic greatness, it has been equally entertaining to see which players can produce the best playoff beards.