Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins did the unthinkable, winning four of five games from the Detroit Red Wings to claim their third Stanley Cup in franchise history, beating the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 Friday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Determination, will and courage prevailed Pittsburgh to a 2-1 win as Max Talbot scored two goals and Marc Andre Fleury was sensational in the net, turning aside 23 of 24 shots.
Losing captain Sidney Crosby in the second period with an MCL injury, Pittsburgh overcame odds all season to become the first road team to win a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final since 1971.
Although Crosby would return to the ice in the third period for a shift, desire beat skill as the Penguins put it all on the line in Game 7.
The Penguins turnaround from being in 10th place in Mid-February to become the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions is truly a dream come true for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.
“It’s a dream come true,” Crosby said. “It’s everything you imagined and more.”
Pittsburgh followed suit of the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to win a championship the year after being the runner-up. It was a start of four Stanley Cups in the 1980’s for the Edmonton Oilers.
With the core that the Penguins have in place, it could be the beginning of an era for Pittsburgh.
NOTES
*Playoff points leader Evgeni Malkin took home the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
* Evgeni Malkin (36pts) and Sidney Crosby (31 pts) combined for 67 points in the playoffs.
*Max Talbot became the third time player to score both of his team’s goals in Game 7 of a Stanely Cup final. The other two players were Ruslan Fedotenko (2004 TB) and Trevor Linden (1994 VAN)
* Pittsburgh became the first city since Detroit in 1954 to win a Stanley Cup following a NFL Championship.
*Detroit’s Stanley Cup record in game 7’s falls to 3-3
* Game 7 hero Max Talbot (8) outscored former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Marian Hossa (6) in the playoffs.
*Dan Bylsma became the second rookie head coach hired mid-season to win the Stanley Cup.
