Penguins’ emotional moments boost film

the beginning, when it told the story of Pascal Dupuis’ retirement due to health issues.

“The biggest thing for me was the Pascal Dupuis [part],” said Amanda Forsyth, 32, of Monroeville. “I think that probably was everything for Pittsburgh fans. That was the big one for all of us.”

Neel said the production crew identified Dupuis’ important role on the team pretty early in the process. Even though he only played in 18 games this season, teammates credit his presence off the ice and in the locker room as a major factor during the playoff run.

“That’s why we opened the DVD with his story, because there wasn’t a dry eye when you asked those guys about what his story and what it meant to win for him,” Neel said. “Because he was there and was a big part of it.”

As the film moves into the playoff portion, there were plenty more traditional highlights. Neel said the crew tried to not follow a cookiecutter pattern moving from one game to the next, but highlighted particular players or moments that stood out during the team’s run.

Goaltender Matt Murray, for instance, played a major role, and the film focused on moments such as the end of Game 6 against the Washingotn Capitals, when the Penguins were called for three delay-of--game penalties in three minutes before winning in overtime.

The big moments, though, drew the biggest cheers from the crowd, such as the Game 7 Eastern Conference final win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and, of course, when the Penguins celebrated winning the Stanley Cup in San Jose, Calif.

“I pushed [coach Mike Sullivan] on what it meant to him, because he’s played and coached in this league for 20 years, and this is his first trip to the final and his first Cup,” Neel said. “He would not budge from what he said. He said the most important thing was standing with the coaching staff and watching the players lift the Cup.”

Neel admitted that, even though he knew the amount of work ahead, he still took some joy in watching his childhood team lift the Cup. He recalled going to Penguins games in the early 1990s with his dad, and his parents still own season tickets.

“We would come to the games and watch Mario [Lemieux] play, and Mario was my hero growing up,” he said. “It’s extra special.”