Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) is presented the Stanley Cup by commissioner Gary Bettman after Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the San Jose Sharks and the Penguins in San Jose, Calif.,.
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Now, in June, the Penguins lifted their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history with a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks and their captain Sidney Crosby lead the way, winning the Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP.
There was an electric atmosphere before the final home game of the season in San Jose with fans starting their “Let’s Go Sharks!” chants well before the opening puck drop and an elaborate pregame light and video show firing up the fans.
Murray stopped 18 shots for the Penguins, facing just a pair in the final period.
With Martin Jones standing on his head – again – the Sharks were able to hang around for entirety of tonight’s contest despite – again – being out-shot and out-possessed.
Crosby accepted the Cup itself from National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman, who was booed lustily for congratulating the Penguins at the commencement of the award ceremony, and skated in a triumphal arc back toward his teammates.
Just as soon as the Sharks gained the equalizer, the Penguins forged back ahead to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The Sharks, who had too few periods to call their own in this series, managed only to stand out in the second, and even in that one they managed only to tie the game through Logan Couture and then lose said tie 79 seconds later through Kris Letang.
The fact that the Cup clincher came on the road did not boring the party as Penguins players charged off the bench and mobbed rookie goalie Matt Murray while throwing their gloves and sticks into the air in a wild and boyish celebration. Still, that pales in comparison to last season’s first-round meeting between Montreal and the Ottawa Senators, which averaged 3.2 million viewers per game.
Malkin missed a golden opportunity to put Pittsburgh up 3-1 on the Sharks on a give-and-go with Chris Kunitz with five minutes left in the second period.
San Jose certainly came a long way from the team we say in November. His 15 playoff wins by a rookie equals a Stanley Cup playoffs record.
“They were incredible the whole playoffs”, said Lemieux. In the final minutes of the period, Kessel shot just wide beyond Jones’ right pad. “They force you into quicker decisions”. Penalties-Zubrus, SJ (tripping), 7:50. He was spectacular again in game 6.
Sullivan’s story in Pittsburgh reads much like Bylsma seven years ago.
“I think it also sets a standard for our team when your captain and your top player brings a work ethic to the rink every day like he does”, added Sullivan.
But Crosby’s captaincy proved invaluable away from the scoresheet as he willed an imperfect Penguins team to the title. Pittsburgh was extraordinarily dominant with a lead, and the only game in which they never had the lead, Game 5, was one in which they were the better counterpunchers.
Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford was lucky enough to break in with the Detroit Red Wings as a 21-year-old rookie when Gordie Howe, who died at age 88 Friday, was there as a 42-year-old.
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“The end is like hitting a wall”, coach Pete DeBoer said.
