Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup Champions.
The celebration is underway and Pittsburgh’s 3-1 win in Game 6 was everything that’s made this group a special team.
It wasn’t the star players having four or five point nights. It was the will and determination starting with the stars and on down through all 18 skaters.
It was remarkable to watch.
This is a team from top to bottom and they won as a team through all four rounds.
Tonight it was just another day at the office for this group, blocking 33 shots and what was so fitting was the Penguins allowing two shots on goal in the third period when the Sharks entered the period trailing 2-1.
Game in game out the Penguins have put their bodies on the line in getting the 16 wins and it starts with the forwards.
Patric Hornqvist tonight with a team-high 5 blocked shots and second was Sidney Crosby with 4 blocked shots.
Yes, Mike Sullivan put an exclamation mark on the greatest coaching performance in franchise history and this was one of the best coaching performances ever in the NHL in transforming the culture of this team.
Sidney Crosby took home the Conn Smythe trophy and delivered tonight with two assists. But, he delivered most importantly with his leadership through this amazing run. The Penguins followed his lead.
Now with his second Stanley Cup, it’s going to be probably never that Crosby’s leadership gets questioned again during his career.
The Golden State Warriors go by the motto ‘Strength in Numbers’ and the Penguins are the NHL’s version of ‘Strength in Numbers’. Speed and balance was the difference vs the Sharks and the whole run.
From personnel, to coaching, to great leadership emerging, the perfect storm came together for the Penguins on many fronts over the last couple months and they are now Stanley Cup Champions.
