It was the Penguins’ second Stanley Cup under Crosby’s captaincy. “I think guys just welcomed the opportunity, welcomed the challenge, tried to get back on track”. A slow start riddled with doubt, anxiety and a coaching change quickly faded as Crosby surged with a brilliant second half that saw him score more points than anyone after January 1.
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Crosby picked up the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP, and he now has two Stanley Cups to go along with his two Olympic gold medals. Who could forget Chris Kunitz’s diving poke check on Joel Ward’s breakaway – more than makes up for his gaf in the offensive zone, let’s face it – or even Crosby’s blocked shot that he turned into an empty net assist on Patric Hornqvist’s icer. It was a full display of the talents which have made Crosby a force from the day he entered the league in 2005.
Rust scored both goals in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Questioned at times for his lack of work ethic and leadership, Kessel was eventually shipped to the Penguins for centre Nick Spaling, forward Kasperi Kapanen, defenceman Scott Harrington, plus first- and third-round picks from 2016.
Carlson was a huge presence on the Caps blue line, producing at a point-per-game level through two rounds of play.
The Cole Harbour, N.S., native was joined on the ice by scratches and one other regular, fourth-liner Eric Fehr. Sullivan’s intention upon his promotion was to play to the strengths of the team’s best players.
“I get really nervous up there (in the stands) but it’s been a good ride”. I think that’s been working for me.
Regardless, the trade is a win for the Penguins in light of the championship it helped produce.
“It’s not an easy win in this league”, Malkin said.
The Sharks bounced back nicely after going down which is tough to do in a do-or-die game.
The play transpired as scripted. It was goal number three for Letang and the 12th and sixth assists from Crosby and Conor Sheary respectively. San Jose has not been blown out in a game, but its most reliable attackers such as C Logan Couture, C Joe Thornton and RW Joe Pavelski are all goal-less against the Penguins. It came at the end of a dominant shift from one of the best defensemen in the game, who also benefitted from a great feed from Sidney Crosby.
The 2015-2016 Pittsburgh Penguins did not have the start they wanted, but they ended their season with the trophy that everyone dreams of winning. Most importantly, their two superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had tremendous seasons.
The 28-year-old Kessel is the same player he’s always been, only with better teammates on a grander stage. “He sees the game like a handful of people”. I thought we just slowly got better and better.
“He can adapt and change his game to different things”. In another one-on-one chat on the ice after the Cup was won with The Trentonian, Pittsburgh hockey legend and team co-owner Mario Lemieux praised his rookie netminder for an incredible performance. “But only one team can win”. Matt Murray made 18 saves to give Pittsburgh a championship exactly seven years after beating the Detroit Red Wings to win the Cup.
Crosby’s seven-year road back here was rocky. On December 12th, head coach Mike Johnston was sacked. The concussions that almost derailed his career.
And now a second Stanley Cup.
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“I probably won’t believe this is real until at least, I don’t know, who knows, but I’m just enjoying the moment right now like I was trying to do all playoffs long”, he said.
