They've all been sweet, but this was by far the hardest to achieve. Beating the 1st and third seeds in the first 2 rounds, 2 game 7's, all the cheapshots, and having no Letang the entire playoffs. This was an extremely stressful and long drawn out playoff run, such an emotional roller coaster, but the best team won in the end! So amazing to repeat in the cap era with everything stacked against us. Already took my day off to go to the parade!

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And thanks Domcha, Phil Kessel is 2 for 2 since coming to Pittsburgh
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Is Crosby single? No, serious. Just wondering. Asking for a friend.

 

He's my man crush

And he has a long term gf

 

well there go my retirement plans

 

But yes, congrats to the Penguins for a hard fought win! I'm betting all they want to do now is sleep for the next 3 weeks

 

When the Preds couldn't capitalize on the extended power play (with the brief 5 on 3) in the 3'rd
it was "deja-vu all over again". Same thing happened with the Sens, when it really mattered they
had a golden opportunity and they couldn't get near the net. As I watched that I knew the Pens
had the game, and the cup. If a team can't capitalize on an opportunity like that, they're done,
because the Pens won't miss when they get the chance.

Congrats Pens fans! I agree, the best team won the cup.

 

What is impressive is the Pens' no-name goalie who is now the first rookie to win TWO Cups? Hory shet.

And the Pens also did it without that apparent "name-brand" #1 d-man (Rerang was injured). But, the overall team speed and that forecheck...and the fact you have 2 of the best centers in hockey really helped.




And remember, folks: The Pens won because Deano helped them win.

And Pens are in Cap Hell.

Something.

 

Congrats to Pittsburgh!!!!

 

TeamOddsPittsburgh Penguins17/2Edmonton Oilers10/1Tampa Bay Lightning10/1Washington Capitals10/1Chicago Blackhawks12/1Anaheim Ducks15/1Dallas Stars15/1Minnesota Wild15/1Montreal Canadiens15/1Nashville Predators15/1New York Rangers15/1Toronto Maple Leafs15/1Columbus Blue Jackets22/1Los Angeles Kings22/1San Jose Sharks22/1Boston Bruins35/1Calgary Flames35/1Ottawa Senators35/1St. Louis Blues35/1Florida Panthers45/1New York Islanders45/1Philadelphia Flyers45/1Winnipeg Jets45/1Buffalo Sabres55/1Carolina Hurricanes65/1Arizona Coyotes85/1Colorado Avalanche100/1Detroit Red Wings100/1New Jersey Devils100/1Vancouver Canucks100/1Vegas Golden Knights200/1

 

So long as Sid and Malkin stay healthy, the Cup goes through Pittsburgh again next season.


And those kids can play in Pens-land.

I'm praying the Hawks can get the improvements they need to proceed farther in the playoffs. I suspect they are at a "crossroads" similar to where the Pens were after they won their 1st Cup in the Sid era a few years ago and had to go through all these changes before winning 2-straight.

Or, Hawks should just fire everyone and hire Deano to fix it.

 

It wasn't just a cross-roads, Sid and Malkin were hurt in various years while the hawks were winning their cups

 

Well, FWIW, as much as I would've wanted to see the Pens vs. Hawks tilt for the Cup, winning it all does come down to matchups and health. Hawks may have very well won because no Pens standing in their way and everyone was healthy for Chicago.

Pens may have very well won because everyone was healthy and no Hawks.



But, we all know, if it were the Kings, it'd be 8-peat. Only reason why any other team has won Cups between the LA wins was because Deano willed it. He's the Ron A of GMs.

 

After than kill by the Pens I was pretty confident the Preditors had no chance to win. You can blow those chances.

 

Yep, once they killed that 5 on 3 I had a good feeling that the cup was ours

 

Not shocked by this at all. It is crazy how few roster changes the Penguins will have to go through before next year. Most of the core offense are still undercontract for next year so it will be a vary similar team again. Not as easy as last year though when I think only 1 or 2 changed. Biggest thing will be defense but honestly they played with so many different defenders this year its is almost as if that didn't matter. Really interested to see who they retain on defense. Can't imagine they will be able to keep Daley, Shultz, and Dumoulin.

I am really curious to see what Kunitz will do after winning his league leading 4th cup among active players. Will he retire after two in a row, four total, and 15 years in the league as well as having a gold medal? Or will he come back to Pittsburgh on a cap friendly salary to stay with Pittsburgh cause I can't image him wanting to go anywhere else to play at his age with his family and kids already rooted in Pittsburgh for so long. I surely can't see the Pens wanting to pay him what they paid him this year for his numbers either.

 

I can safely say that the oilers won't win the cup in 2018. They might make it into the 3rd round. Whether they succeed in that 3rd round is to be seen. But they won't succeed in the 4th round.

 

I have a lot of love for malkin and Crosby. I just wish Crosby wouldn't try growing that gross looking beard

 

Clearly, you have not seen the beard Captain Serious and Pat Kane tried to grow.

 

damnnnn Nashville goes hard. from the night before obviously.

 

It was nothing but a big party for them, they were there for the party, not for hockey

 

I'd be surprised if they could name more than 2 players on the Preds.

 

"That guy married to Carrie Underwood!!"

 

I really don't like that aspect of pro sports. 95% of the people just jumped on the band wagon and couldn't give two shits about the outcome. Sucks for the real fans.

 

At least you come from a hockey town.

The Hawks mercurial rise sure gave way to some interesting bandwagoners. Still remember those who could not pronounce Toews name.

 

You don't have to be lonely @domchaonly.com...

 

Isn't Chicago a true hockey city? I mean, the Hawks are one of the original 6 teams, aren't they?

We have plenty of band wagoneers here too. I put up with 11 years of straight horrendous shit before finally seeing a good year. I'm willing to bet 30% of the city here just jumped on the band wagon when they were getting close to the playoffs.

 

The short answer is yes and yes.

 

Not really...having lived there a number of years, the Hawks will always be #4/5 after the Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and ChiSox...ESPECIALLY if we are considering all things equal (i.e. if the other pro teams are competitive -- HAHAHAHA, yes, okay, which is never).

The Oilers may have their bandwagoners with the recent playoff success but last I checked, they were still selling out game after game despite stinking it up for 10+ seasons. Chicago only started to sell out AFTER the renaissance. There was a time when I could get some ice-level seats for nothing. Heck, Patrick Sharp went around for awhile offering free seats to Chicago peeps.

 

And yet 4 foot tall Bettman still insists on pushing hockey in dead zones in the US (like Arizona).

Im surprised Chicago doesn't have more die hard fans. But hey, I remember after the oilers last cup in like 91, they totally tanked after giving up Gretzky. The rink was empty for a few years. Only a few years, though. Starting from like 1996, onwards, it's been a busy place. Some years better than others, but yeah, like you said, many die hard fans. I think a bad season in the last 17 years, in terms of crowd, would be 80% full.

Bettman pisses me off, though. Why not give Quebec City a team again? That place would be shit packed every game. Better to keep hoping the Florida Panthers, coyotes, etc will hopefully get 50% full for an entire season. I know. A pipe dream.

 

Oddly enough, while I was in LA 2 months ago, or even here in town, or on my recent trip through the mountains... I saw quite a few Chicago Hawks fans. I saw their hats, jerseys, whatever, all over the place. I was shocked, because this was after they were eliminated from the playoffs too.

 

Because they are popular again due to winning 3 Cups.

And well, the jersey is probably the best looking in the NHL. Gotta admit it.

 

Looks like Fleury will be a Golden Knight?

Fleury waives NMC, will be exposed to Vegas barring trade - Article - TSN

 

I wish Seabrook would waive his NMC. But he will not.

 

This was expected, the word was he was already talking to former teammates about living in Vegas. Definitely will miss him, we wouldn't have won the cup this year without him

 

I wonder if the Pens will follow suit with the Warriors and bypass visiting the Orange Dolt in DC.

 

Nah, they'll go

 

It will be weird with him not being with the Pens and I feel a little bit bad for him almost. I know he would have preferred to stay but its business and Murray seems to be that once in a long time find for a goalie.

 

Yeah, it is very sad, he was our first draft pick of the "core" of our star players, he's been with the team for so long, it definitely will be weird to not see him out there any more

 

Taking off work tomorrow to go to the parade!

 

Habs acquire Drouin from the Bolts: Canadiens acquire Drouin from Lightning for Sergachev - Article - TSN