Sweet repeat for Crosby’s Penguins
Pittsburgh captain named MVP after vanquishing Preds
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Sidney Crosby is bringing the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh for a second consecutive year.
Patric Hornqvist broke a scoreless tie with 95 seconds left in regulation time and Matt Murray made 27 saves for his second straight shutout as the Pens became the first team in nearly two decades to repeat as NHL champion with a 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Sunday’s Game 6 of the final.
Pittsburgh won its fifth title to tie the Wayne Gretzky-era Edmonton Oilers for sixth on the all-time list. The Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and ’98 were the last champion to defend the crown.
“We knew it was going to be tough all year, but we just tried to keep with it,” said Crosby, who also won his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.
“We had a lot of injuries, but we just kept finding ways. That was really what we did all season, all playoffs. It’s great to be able to do it.”
The 29-year-old Canadian, widely regarded as the best player on the planet, finished with 27 points (eight goals and 19 assists) in the postseason, including setting up three goals in last Thursday’s 6-0 rout that put the Penguins on the brink of another title.
“It goes by pretty quick, I’ll tell you that,” Crosby said. “It’s pretty special. We found out just how tough it is to repeat, but it’s a great feeling.”
Crosby took Lord Stanley’s mug from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman before handing it off to 35-year-old defenseman Ron Hainsey, who was playing in the first final of his 15-year career.
With under two minutes left and sudden-death overtime looming, Hornqvist, who was traded to Pittsburgh by the Predators in 2014, banked in a shot off Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne’s left elbow, silencing the raucous crowd.
Nashville challenged for goalie interference, but the goal was upheld. With Rinne pulled for an extra attacker, Carl Hagelin triggered a wild celebration on the Penguins bench with an empty-netter with 13.6 seconds left.
“Obviously, it’s going to be the biggest goal I’m ever going to score,” Hornqvist said. “That’s always going to stand really close to my heart.”
Nashville lost for just the first time in regulation on home ice this postseason — thanks largely to some hard luck.
Colton Sissons had a goal erased by a quick whistle 67 seconds into the second period, and the Predators were stymied on four powerplay opportunities — including 32 seconds with a two-man advantage in the third.
“It stings,” said defenseman PK Subban, brought over in a trade with Montreal last summer. “I think the biggest thing we’ve got to take from this is to remember the feeling. That’s what’s going to drive us. We’re going to be back here again next year.”
The Penguins will cap their 50th season in the NHL by having their names engraved on the oldest trophy in professional sports.
It is the third championship for Crosby and a handful of teammates from the 2009 title team, surpassing the two won by Penguins legend and current team owner Mario Lemieux in the 1990s.
It’s also the second championship in 18 months for coach Mike Sullivan, who has yet to lose a playoff series since taking over after Mike Johnston was fired.
“It’s been an amazing year from the start, trying to repeat,” Lemieux said.
“A lot of guys played injured and showed a lot of character. Of course, with Sid being the best player in the world, he was our leader and picked up the team when we needed it.”
Murray became the first goalie to win two championships as a rookie after being a late call-up a year ago and not playing enough games to get that tag removed.
The 23-year-old Canadian blanked Nashville for 126:52, setting a rookie record with two shutouts in the final.