Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins for capturing the Stanley Cup!!
What an unbelievable series and finale. The Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 Friday night, and win the series 4 games to 3.
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain to ever lead an NHL team to a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player during the playoffs, leading all players with 36 points.
Marian Hossa's season didn't end as he evisioned it would when he signed with the Detroit Red Wings some 11 months ago. Let's face it, Friday night Hossa was taken out behind the shed by irony and karma and well... you can figure it out. Ridiculous as it may sound, that's just what I predicted would happen last summer (click here if you don't trust in Bosh).
If you really think about it, there's no reason why we shouldn't be watching both of these clubs face off in the finals again next year. The Red Wings lost the Stanley Cup by one game. Hossa should sit tight, either commit to the club for the long term or sign another 1 year deal. The Red Wings aren't going anywhere. However, neither are the Penguins.
Let's talk serious now folks. The playoff beards, and the Chuck Norris Trophy winner. He's out there... and he wears a Pittsburgh jersey. Sorry folks, no Cup win, no Norris Trophy... grab a razor and a kleenex. I have a few front runners in mind, but I'd like to hear from the bearded faithful before I bestow this honor on our next Yeti wearing skates. Sound off!
Congrats again to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city of Pittsburgh and all you die-hard fans!
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
Wow - I still almost can't believe it and it's been two days. Crazy. Been personally waiting sixteen years for this and I can't imagine it happening in any more dramatic fashion (although where were the overtime games this series???). I think all the pressure was on Detroit in game 7 and for whatever reason (have to give some credit to Fleury) the Wings just were not the Wings in that last game. I remember at one point in the third thinking "Wow, that's the first time I've noticed Datsyuk all game." And that had to be a sign that things were going the way of the Penguin...
I agree with your assessment Bosh that Detroit's not going anywhere. Pittsburgh has a lot of free agents to deal with, but if their core remains and they don't suffer a huge Stanley Cup hangover, then they should be right back in the mix in 2010. But only time will tell. If anything, this series just further proves how incredibly difficult it is to repeat as champs in the NHL. And also how incredibly boring the NBA is in comparison.
Anyway, on to the Chuck Norris. I think Pascal Dupuis maybe had the thickest beard but my favorite was actually Jordan Staal's. I don't even know if that counts as a beard per se - it was more of an Amish thing. But it looked cool and had some surprising fullness to it.
Posted by: Stache | June 14, 2009 10:53 PM
No love for Lemieux's beard?
Right now it's hard to predict what will happen, but we should have a pretty good idea after the rosters settle in following July 1. It's hard to bet against the Wings and Pens right now. The Wings will probably come back younger... no more Draper, Chelios, Holstrom... and may lose Samuelsson in favor of Hossa. Guerin would be smart to re-up with the Pens.
Posted by: Cap | June 15, 2009 02:14 PM
What a great series by both teams. 9 million viewers for game 7 was a big step for the NHL. The Pens parade gathered more people than the Steelers parade did back in February. Both signs that the NHL is slowly coming back.
As far as the Chuck Norris award goes, can anyone argue Max Talbot? He led both teams in goals in the finals (albeit only 4), scored both goals in game 7, and looked like he's been living underneath one of Pittsburgh's bridges for the past couple months.
Posted by: BeardedOne | June 17, 2009 04:50 PM