2017 Stanley Cup Champions Film - Pittsburgh Penguins

the 2060 Stanley Cup champion table Pittsford [Music] we've been through a lot in the past two years there's been a lot of ups and downs we lost that first year in o8 you know you never knew if you're gonna get back there again it's part life part of the experience of no I just feel very fortunate behind upper and it's burn time flew by so quick specialty with you know four other guys who have been able to stay in this place for a long time doesn't really happen in professional sports to be able to stay here and know that we've accomplished something it makes it pretty special you know you go through so many things adversity in the years when you didn't win and you know what that feels like you kind of share those things together so be able to kind of share the rewards of winning together that's something that you share forever you guys are what make it so special to play here it's a special town obviously this group of guys we knew we had to get it back here so it's a kind of a whirlwind honestly like you know you win the Cup and it's an amazing experience there's so many fun things that you get to do it this will be something that will have forever we will remember this year our friends our teammates forever colors up here 7071 we're reaping the rewards right now and my hope is that this fuels us to want to do it again sully your name is not on here after a summer of Stanley Cup memories the Pittsburgh Penguins began the 2016-17 season pursuing an achievement that hasn't been accomplished in nearly two decades back-to-back championships they always talk about the Stanley Cup hangover that you're gonna have I don't think anyone was complacent the minute we won we knew we wanted to try to repeat I think it's so hard to do that it was something we wanted to do you're always gonna have teams coming to your building and want to beat you you're gonna get every team's a game Sully and the coaches did a an awesome job of just kind of regrouping out to beginning a year and kind of just started with a fresh slate you're ready here we go move your legs let's push the pace here they just have an insatiable appetite to win and no matter what challenge our coaching staff puts in front of them they just embrace the challenge it was a group of players who were held together this was a case of the 2017 team being almost identical to the 2016 team we were fortunate coming off her last Stanley Cup that we had a number of young players it made it easier for us from a cap point of view to keep the team intact before turning the page on an unforgettable season the team had one last celebration in the Steel City as the franchise's fourth championship banner rose to the ceiling of PPG paints arena the club prepared to write the next chapter to 50 years of penguins history adversity something every NHL team faces for Pittsburgh it began immediately as the team was without starting goalie Matt Murray and captain Sidney Crosby on opening night I missed a few weeks with concussion there early in the season nobody wants to be hurt but if you do have a few weeks off from playing and that's maybe something that you can look at is helping you kind of overall once he recovered Crosby resumed his position among the NHL elite you could see that Sid was he was on a mission he was hungry he was determined when he came back from that concussion the hockey he displayed at that time is so the best I've ever seen having him as a guy in our locker room and the leader of this team I think guys just kind of try and follow in his footsteps all this speculation on what's gonna happen to Sid he's run down he's tired another concussion and then he misses six games and comes back and just goes on an epic tear scoring goals [Applause] even with crosby back in the fold the grind of the NHL season began to take its toll teams played his heart everybody wants to beat the champs every team we played brought their a-game I think you're going to season like this coming off a couple win knowing that you're gonna have some wear and tear injuries they were probably quite a bit more than we would have expected it got to the point where it seemed like it was almost laughable but if we got through a game without an injury we're lost we kind of considered it a good game every time we got somebody back off the injury list it seemed like somebody else would go down fortunately we have enough depth within our organization that we were able to withstand some of the injuries and continue to find ways to win it's not easy to do you know have guys step up and play larger roles or step in from the Aged island and contribute it kind of speaks to the culture that we have in this room like the character guys that we have in the room starting from our captain all the way down we had that next man out mindset and whoever stepped in for us got the job done when you think about our dressing room and some of the stature that some of our players have it can be an intimidating locker room for a young player I think Sid and our leadership group does a great job at helping those young players move by that fairly quickly one young player in particular felt right at home upon entering the Penguins locker room that's pretty cool you believe it I remember he came down the left wing and just kind of threw a shot I think it was five hole his shiny simple and then throw a buck on that and somehow on the back than that first thing I thought it was like Jesus his first shot first of all we all know who did that to pay for the game my country flares like if Jake scores in this game let's all just sit down on the bench and not celebrate and we couldn't believe that was his first shot and he scored and I think everyone was just more shocked and excited so everyone stood up and jumped up and celebrated and then followed up with I think of his second shot second goal that's a pretty good start that's usually a good sign him playing as well as he did allows guys like Cooney and shiri and different guys to kind of find different spots in the lineup to add to our depth as a team and make us even better with injuries and a rotating cast of players head coach Mike Sullivan was tasked with keeping his team focused as a result speak for themselves he identifies the issues with the team and fixes him he's very determined that we are going to win at all costs and that rubs off and the players it makes me that much more hungry to want to continue to find ways to help this team grow and develop and continue to win championships as the Penguins marched on through the grind of the regular season they continued to collect points and keep pace in an extremely competitive metropolitan division we're all winners every single guy in the locker room is this pissed off after a game we loose they want to come back to game after and you know play better you're not looking at someone else to play better you look at yourself [Applause] [Music] look at this place going crazy flower in February captain Sidney Crosby was on the cusp of a historic milestone [Applause] nothing comes as a surprise for us people that are around them all the time Kwan's be looking first down the point it takes more than talent to reach that milestone it takes a certain Drive a commitment to excellence [Applause] you built that friendship that's nice bill to do things and accomplish things together outside the Stanley Cups he's in that group of top three or four players of all time the things that he's overcome the adversities gone through the way he's come back after people doubted them it's truly an honor to be able to you know share the same Jersey as a player like that you need motivation and and those things I think give you more energy to give you a boost when you're able to be part of things like that it's been a lot of fun hockey to playing intense games emotional games and ones that mean a lot and that's why I'd love to play later that month Crosby and the Penguins enjoyed another memorable night the 2017 NHL stadium series tonight from downtown Pittsburgh PA the National Hockey League presents the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers to me it's what hockey is all about I think we all grew up playing on the outdoor rink underneath the Stars to be able to be a part of that event this year for the first time in my career was awesome I was so excited going into it going through it it was even better than I expected I was just like a kid oh there I don't think I've ever had more fun playing hockey obviously when you get the win it makes it that much more special as the end of the regular season approached the NHL trade deadline weighed heavily within the Penguins locker room veteran defenseman Ron haensi and Mark stripe were acquired to bolster Pittsburgh's depleted blue line but the most important move was the one that wasn't made there's so much talk and speculation about what might happen and it's tense for everybody the way that people assumed the mock haunted floor was gonna be moved at the deadline just didn't know what our team was made of I can't imagine what he was going through mentally I know just being his teammate and being a friend that's not easy was tough on mark but he's always thrived when he's in hit with challenges he did an amazing job of just staying focused and being a team guy somewhere down the stretch here and I think the locker room was help was a great mentor to me he's a very special person in my life he's one of the best most genuine people you ever gonna meet he welcomed me with open arms ever since I came to Pittsburgh you went out when I was in wilkes-barre he texted me after my first season to congratulate I mean something I still remember to this day the roster was set and Mike Sullivan needed every healthy player in his dressing room as the injuries continued to mount he juggled his lines discovering a combination that put the league on notice we put that line together down the stretch out of necessity based on the injuries that we had we had to move guys around in order to put combinations together that we thought could help this team win games on a night to night basis they seemed to have an instant chemistry [Applause] they were unbelievable they created so much offense from our team and so much energy that guys down the bench just kind of fed off that on the same page game in and game out watch they helped us win a fair amount of games in the last probably 15 20 games of the season that put us in a pretty good position for the playoffs as the Penguins looked ahead to their first-round matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets they were dealt a crushing blow star defenseman Kris Letang was sidelined for the remainder of the season despite the loss of litang the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs looking to do what they had done all season long just play the Columbus Blue Jackets entered the playoffs with the NHL's fourth best record finishing just three points behind Pittsburgh in the league's best division first of all to get out of the metropolitan division with that division format and knowing that you're gonna have to face Columbus Washington we thought that was gonna be a long series familiarity between the division rivals had not only bred contempt but an intensified disdain that had escalated with each passing season they were tough team they were a big physical team they were just trying to grind us down they tried to come out and intimidate us I feel like nature I do and you know we didn't really backed out the coaches did a good job of letting us use that to our advantage we're not really hard-hitting team we're fast skilled team so we just focus on having that make mistakes and trying to capitalize on their over us in this behind the Columbus bench stood familiarity of a different sort head coach John Tortorella worked closely with Mike Sullivan in Tampa Bay New York and Vancouver is one of my very best friends I've learned so much from him over the years when we've worked together when we coach against one another now it's bittersweet in a lot of ways we're both fierce competitors and want to win and want to beat one another [Music] Pittsburgh Pennsylvania the plan is for one team to grab light- bottom you got a hang onto it for two months and that's how you win a Stanley Cup certainly a big surprise Matt Murray took the woman for the Penguins left early he will not play tonight and marc-andre flurries gonna climb between the pipe having him step in was so big I'll never forget talking to him after warmups I just said it's funny how it works you know yeah things happen for a reason it was a little nervous you know I had a little butterflies from no end up playing in a while and was I think not a fun - such a good team player to fit in with Murray and those guys put the duties and of course we needed both of the win this Cup the series is under and that's a good glove save by flooring soft by maretskiy hurry already a great pace to this hockey game those the mall candy passes over the [Applause] [Music] back over now to Kessel holds [Applause] Florrie turned away 31 shots leading the Penguins to a game one victory great job flower awesome stop [Applause] Fleury continued to shine in game 2 as the captain and his line mates elevated their game to the next level [Applause] the line for Dubinski Atkins in the second shot say by flurry the shot flurry makes the save holy smokes chances both ways some of the saves he was making and some of those games we were getting no play no chance he just found a way to hold us in there and let us regroup a little bit who would have ever thought that mark under a flurry jumps in and he looks like the flurry we saw in 2009 that made one huge save after another [Applause] two games tonight lead of the series to the locker room kind of like a moment for him to go okay I got my net back and I don't want to give it back right now Pittsburgh headed to Columbus with an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series a win in Game three would all but put the series out of reach for the Blue Jackets run away and the jackets take that buck driving for the pin was into misty left side shot on the Blue Jackets stormed out of the gate to take a commanding three-to-one lead but good teams find a way to hang in you know we've been but we don't we never broke by the end of the second period the Penguins had reestablished their game the stage was set for a dramatic finish and for the Penguins most pleasant surprise to step into the national spotlight to me it wasn't a surprise because I had watched him play all year he's got hockey sense we all talk about that he's got great natural ability he's tough as nails he's got the courage of a lion and he can score jake Kensal second goal of the night put Pittsburgh ahead but Columbus answered back forcing overtime in sudden death the NHL's hottest line continued to dominate they had been one of the more dominant lines in the National Hockey League throughout the final couple weeks of the regular season they were called Sid and the kids by some people with gentle and cheery alongside Crosby [Applause] next goal wins [Applause] Fleury fans we don't want to go into it place it to the nearside Jake was firing all cylinders there you know everything he touched was born than that doing mine and I'm doing he's doing it everyone kept the clock watchin so you just trying to find that area now he's pretty good at anticipating and going to the right places [Applause] to see that go in and I think some of you dream about because you just started a go on the Soundlink up lay eyes on overtime cancel completes the hat-trick and that was the put away you knew the series was over right there that was a five game series on paper but it felt like you went six or seven especially with how physical was how demanding it was for the Penguins Columbus won Game four but the victory only prolonged the inevitable as the defending Stanley Cup champions eliminated the Blue Jackets in five games confirming a second-round tilt that the entire hockey world had been waiting for for the second consecutive season the Penguins and Washington Capitals renewed a playoff rivalry that has been dominated by Pittsburgh in each of the Penguins for Stanley Cup victories the path has run through the nation's capital well that was the series I think everyone expected was going to happen those two are gonna have to face each other from one to get to the Stanley Cup final they were the team that came into this year having won the Presidents Trophy having one home ice this was the year that Washington was supposed to win the Stanley Cup Brian McClellan their general manager came out and said when he traded for Kevin jatin Kirk this is the team that has to do it so the pressure was there they're the team that's kind of the favorite going into the whole deal they want to make up for what happened the prior year whoever won that series was probably to go a long way let's get excited about this opportunity we got to go on to earn trust our instincts and let's trust each other we'll get the job done Get Set interrupted by round 2 game 1 depends on the caps it all begins here tonight [Applause] yes but me again shooting telephony smart my dad brought me mix it took out they fit fur everyone's involved right away the big stars are on the board it's great theater anytime sit and oh we get together [Applause] [Applause] here's a bonito walking down the alley hey buddy I'll be told me like already fuel and game one goes to the Pittsburgh Penguins Philly I know we're going to get better we're only going to get better it's Game one we reset we go after the next one stolen home advantage the Capitals promised a different story tonight hurry their bark Andre flurry at the moment looks on fire which could be trouble for Washington the Capitals had the puck a lot and they shot the puck a lot and marc-andre flurry just stole the show the cattles just running them over they can't find a way to score though Dondre Fleury has stopped Hey turn away [Applause] flora was unbelievable earlier they were coming pretty hard at us and we just found a way to hang in there and found a way to win [Applause] phil kessel pepsi by Hopi and the penguin taken to the one lead [Applause] and the penguin have set Elvis right out of this building as the series shifted to Pittsburgh the Penguins suffered a pair of significant losses one on the scoreboard scores in the Capitals have won an overtime and one in the dressing room sits hurt oh boy sit down Oh Mikey this is rotten it's just kind of weird play going to the nut I think I kind of got tripped up and colliding with niskin in there a little bit the last thing I wanted here in the playoffs is you know concussion that's the obvious one any update on Syd status has been diagnosed with a concussion and he will be out for tomorrow's game and we will evaluate him day to day from there [Applause] mark on burglary wearing that flashy mask of his that has a number of names on the back the other day it included Matt niskin but now Matt's not kept it dude paid up so he is off the list yeah he crossed off Matt niskin his name on the helmet that shows you how competitive he is I don't know if it meant anything really but it's just standing up for my teammates and all a bit that's flour right there that that says it all there's just a piece of tape you know I got to take it off after and there's no hard feeling well when a player like Sid goes down that's a tough blow for any team but this group has such great leadership in a lot of ways it galvanized the group because they wanted a rally around it [Applause] bowling it's the next man up mentality I think we heard him the most when we were able to win without SID Demetrio announcer vote for Kuznetsov should be stars I'm sorry they'd shoot at score from the left side they have died this game now at Zoo [Applause] ever time yeah baby that's got him up in his tricks what a hockey game [Applause] but three games to one [Applause] only a win away from eliminating Washington for a second straight season the Penguins welcome back their captain for Game five we were hopeful that he was going to be able to rebound quickly and fortunately for us he was able to overcome that injury in a timely fashion that gave us an opportunity to get him back in the line but Crosby's presence alone was not enough to intimidate the determined cabins they're a great hockey team there's always a resiliency there's a response ability with great hockey teams they're not just gonna roll over because we have three wins and say okay here's a fourth we'll pack up our stuff and go home game sex has forced a game seven with a 5-2 to victory we didn't expect a five-game series against them we know how good they're and how hard they play against us when the series was all tied up we just kind of had to hit the reset button just put everything in the past and kind of just learn from it and just look towards the future here it is right in front of us a game seven [Applause] it was gonna be a tough game Game seven anything can happen I just felt like going in there we were pretty calm we knew we just had to go out there and win a game on the road [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the bid was out of Crosby the capsule walks in see the different shops go ahead run that fraud rusty comes through and scores a big goal flower at an unbelievable game sorry he made some real big saves in that game it was his time to lead the team I think flurry got us through those first two rounds if you didn't play at the level he did who knows where we would be right now Patrick artquest off a turnover and it's two nothing for the stakes are the highest we seem to rise up and play our best hockey the excitement of jumping over the boards knowing that we've just beaten probably the best team in the league and waiting in the wings up there in Canada the Ottawa Senators we're halfway there now we're halfway there on the other side of the mountain now we go to our next challenge it's a hell of a job great job ever yeah [Applause] once we beat Washington I think everyone just had to put it put it behind them and then he said refocus thought was that cinderella story at the time when we played them we went in with a positive mindset where we're gonna take over the series with home-ice advantage let's make sure we're ready to compete right from the drop of the puck okay we have to be ready to compete all right let's get it done here come on we're going with the flower only schultzy rusty can see Crosby sit back and enjoy game number one they were a unique challenge because of their defensive system making sure that we had to have some patience to our game well the shot stopped by Anderson the rebound Anderson can't get to it Wilson with a chance tonight Greg Anderson comes up big they were gonna have numbers back all the time you know lull us into making mistakes with the puck and beat us with a counter-attack game the Thark will clear it all the way back in and into it as Brian Doolin leading it there from Bobby Ryan out it's a scar Shawn who's been red-hot in the playoffs keeps it going Ottawa off and running Ottawa suffocating defense stymied Pittsburgh's offense from most of game one but the Pens finally broke through in the waning moments of the third [Applause] in overtime a turnover along the wall was all the opportunistic senators needed Terry Cobbs [Applause] situation you know going into overtime we can go either way and you know unfortunately were able to get the next one but we did some good things and you know we'll try to draw on expertise [Music] trailing in a series for the first time during the playoffs marc-andre flurry held strong as the Penguins offense attempted to solve Craig Anderson and Anderson comes up big two real big boys were really hitting their stride we knew that they're working to be a whole lot of goals in this series at all stop by Anderson give up play by flurry frustration mounted for the pens forwards especially phil kessel we want him to be engaged and emotional that's when he's playing out his best he's got a lot more competitive fire in him than I think people gave him credit for castle with a shot blocked the rebound [Applause] it was good to see it I mean we all loved it and we kind of get a kick out of it because we know I'm so well but you know he came up big for us there Kessel's goal was all pittsburgh needed to even the series back at home ottawa peppered marc-andre flurry Hoffman scores their Smith's good hustle [Applause] side of things just slow down this Ottawa's steamroller that's just pile driving the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of marc-andre flurry after four senators goals in the first coach Sullivan had seen enough and made a change in men want to be ready if my name was called and and if not then be ready to support my teammate now healthy Matt Murray settled the Pens but couldn't salvage game three in Game four he made his first start of the playoffs it's probably been the most difficult coaching decision I've ever had to make you know it's a unique circumstance because most teams don't have two bona fide number one Stanley cup-winning goaltenders this feels like a newly combining night Pittsburgh the penguins go back to 23 year old memories momentum changer or desperation well must has a calm demeanor to his game and when you play teams like Ottawa where they're just trying to crash the net and bang rebound goals in his rebound control is extremely well he does the ability to swallow pucks and deny that second opportunity that might present itself you kind of just got to turn the page and I thought the guys did a good job of just realizing whoever's in that is just gonna give us just a good of a chance to win so let's just focus on our hockey game and then the slumbering Pittsburgh offense woke up moving back up with moderates at 3:00 on Tuesday at the line the more you played them the more you just had to understand the way they played it's just a different way of playing there's a horse and you know that if you score two or three goals that he's not gonna let any more than two on any given night [Applause] Harrelson shot pin that one turn to the corner it's gonna go to Fitchburg [Applause] you know some points you felt like you had the puck all the time but you weren't getting a lot done and I think just kind of going through that and making sure that you stayed patient took a few games but we eventually got a little more comfortable playing that way here's rushed back for modest [Applause] daily of Jacques Cousteau and I believe Sidney Crosby knocks this buck and redirects it past Craig Anderson report but we're supposed to do don't reinvent and the Penguins keep the pressure on again to the slot it's rowdy same Anderson another Drake Eddie they need a timeout and they might need a goalie change this is role reversal from game number three in Ottawa okay this is a template for how we want to play going forward kind of be able to feel that and see that it was definitely beneficial so playoffs you don't want to give them any momentum you don't want to give them anything to build on you know keep them down while you have them down but Ottawa did not go quietly Craig Anderson responded in gold off the kneeling Anderson another shot is stopped big time stop again from Craig Anderson and the pesky senators forced Game seven tourists dropped it across shots [Music] let's dictate the pace out there let's have some swagger let's embrace this thing let's have fun with it let's take it home come on boys game sevens are different animals to do a guy it's gonna go home a lot of pressure each penguins goal was met with a response from the Senators and the teams were deadlocked at the end of regulation here's Carlsen feeding through its tone he's gone there's a lot of tension in the building the fans are getting nervous it's gonna take overtime in game 7 and overtime we had a ton of chances and still hadn't scored he's the one that kicks the puck out of harm's way entering double-overtime the anxiety that any bounce of the puck could decide the fate of the series was palpable we know what's at stake there and we're just right a breath away from getting where we want to be all of the great plays all of the hit posts all of the brilliant net poppers none of it means the thing only the next one now it's sherry that one came off Stalberg its salts working at back-end eat fresh from the bench its Crosby Crosby on Kunitz at shutters [Applause] [Music] [Applause] but as soon as I turned up Cooney was standing there mill the ice and their guys kind of clapped a little maybe too far towards the net he was ready to shoot it so I just tried to lay it for him puck came up with fluttering off my stick but I think you'll take that luck and double overtime anytime you can put a puck on that [Applause] [Music] shine your shoes maybe the Penguins are gonna go dancing with Lord Stanley once again I think we deserve to win that game it just took a lot longer than we wanted it to don't win at home double overtime pretty tense pretty tense moments there but it's just great to see him get that one you know it's obviously a team sport and we all do our part at some point it was just my time to to help our team when it came [Applause] [Music] [Music] pittsburg met an unlikely foe in the final the Nashville Predators who entered the postseason as the tournament's lowest seed Nashville swept the Central Division champions in the second round they upended the rival st. Louis Blues in six games [Music] and advance to the first conference final in franchise history where they dispatched the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks trying to walkthrough bounces down yard probe get to the cross [Applause] bulton says it's and the Nashville Predators are Western Conference champions unlike the Predators the Penguins entered the final with experience having reached the championship series four times in the past decade in a league that hasn't had a repeat champion in nearly two decades the Penguins were confident entering the Stanley Cup final after we won that Eastern Conference final my wife was like all how crazy is it that you're back here again I'm like well it's not really that crazy like it was a lot of hard work and we had all the confidence in the world that we could get back and put ourselves in a situation like that I think last year we were energetic a lot of us it was our first time there we were excited we were taking it all in and I think this year we were just businesslike we were ready to go [Applause] at Nashville Predators here we go sit she knew they were gonna come on hard and mean things we just want to get out work by those guys out at that time ants just it's more will not skill outstanding star for the national predators they've really dictated the terms it had the territorial play we didn't bring our best in the first 10 minutes they were able to get that cool he feels off but it's blocked and taken on by Forsberg back to Subban beginning Nashville strikes first as the predator celebrated the Penguins coaching staff questioned the validity of the goal we felt as though it was offside [Music] I just asked him if it matters if he s controller yeah that's a real possession control right so but they got to determine that that's what they're going that for yeah does he have control of this puck before that right skate leaves the ice does it enter the zone it was certainly close enough for sure to make the challenge and ultimately the referees agreed with what we saw after video review it was determined that the play was offside therefore thank you download nothing and it gets overturned and just like that it was back to 0-0 that's momentum from that the momentum intensified for Pittsburgh after a pair of undisciplined Nashville penalties provided the Penguins with a two-man advantage [Applause] right back outside of the next an incredible pass by Chris Curtis we need the maps go breathing let's go Benigno one hands in front and the Penguins put up a three-spot a lack of discipline costs the Predators and that's it for one the Predators stabilized their attack and made the most of their opportunities Alessandra apparent power play goals cut the lead to one and center Frederick Boudreau even the score and the Penguins are real-life give that lead up and you just you know you can't give this game up because it would be a huge momentum swing and a big boost to their team they stormed back we didn't get a shot while Nashville scored three unanswered goals the defending champs were held without a shot for an unbelievable 37 minutes it has been all Nashville I think we got a little comfortable with our lead we took the foot off the gas a little bit we had some good zone time and good offensive but we just weren't able to get the puck to the net head you know they're defending her throughout that whole game and I think for us we just wanted to stay with it when the Penguins finally did get a shot on Renee they made it count [Music] perfectly plays from Jake I kind of just came on the is now it's coming through the middle of speed like Kylie gave her a little touch pass to me and coming down the side just trying to use a demon as a screen and being heading somehow Fiorina go fine I'll take it now Renee comes to the bench for an extra tax net empty veneno able to step free lop one along I think that that first game was just about big plays at big times and not necessarily you know our best overall game but we got it done when we needed to there's a lot of games we sold over the course of the playoffs in during their season and that one was probably I think we all know that that we want a game but we weren't at our best and it's gonna take a lot more it's gonna take a lot more for us to win for to win the Stanley Cup so we know that we've got to be much more competitive if we're gonna get the result we're looking for here and so everybody's got to take a hard look in the mirror and say how are we gonna respond the right way here and then we'll go back out if a game - all right good job this is Pittsburgh scene of game number two this crowd will be electrified tonight [Applause] go [Applause] big hit from behind there like Game one that came outside and players shoot from everywhere I remember and go into net real hard and not a couple collisions in the crease there were a hungry team and you can tell [Music] the Penguins effort to thwart Nashville's relentless pressure came at a cost shot is blocked by Benito he's shaken up on the play limping around walked a shot from Subban got off to tried to block another one he luckily didn't shoot happen again they blew the whistle and I tried to get off and it just kind of gave out with Benigno in the locker room the Penguins defense finally broke down Albert tries to get by right around in front [Applause] nothing Nashville with Nashville carrying the play Pittsburgh needed a response [Applause] and that will do it for the first period you have noticed something when that concerns Nick veneno came on he tried it he looked at Mike Sullivan a trick talk and he said I'm good to go got the skate back on after the X ray knew was broken but figured gotta try it play dress that game the adrenaline helped with one man stepping up to play through pain the man between the pipes defended valiantly as he held off a fierce predators attack shoots one and a great save there made o nice mark that's one of those huge momentum things I think he's obviously feeling this game and he's at the top of it and he did a good job of really making those big saves in a save made by Murray this guy's on it tonight I thought defensively who played really well in Game two we got a lot of blocked shots a lot of big defensive plays and a shot is grabbed and held by Murray and that very I mean is is ugly but goaltender it's the confidence the group complain for enough my not you have those buoys in the net and that will do it for to Matt Murray locks it down in the second just stay with it all we got to do is elevate our intensity here we got to get our noses over pop let's be the hungry of team let's be more competitive alright let's push each other to be the most competitive group up there alright let's get it done pittsburgh wasted no time changing the momentum to begin the third I think that with a couple of those goals that big guys realize that they're gonna you don't be able to score in this series [Applause] the top guys knowing that they're gonna be able to score was a huge boost for all of us we get walking in a two-on-one with castle mark and a shot [Applause] it was nice we were kind of getting back to penguins hockey I think for us it kind of just shows that when they're had a little bit we got to just keep pushing I think we got timely goals when we had to get them and that's what you have to win when it was all said and done three Bulls passed by Peck arena in three minutes and 18 seconds sending the fred's net binder to the bench and sealing Game two for the home team two games to none with an exclamation point on the night that third period it might have been our best of the series so far we haven't accomplished anything yet right it's just one more win we got to reset the mindset go right back at it all right great job mozz Hugh stays all of it [Applause] [Music] Bertha's playoffs we watch the other games and you can see that that building was pretty electric and they had a special thing going on in Nashville they did [Music] you know everyone was talking about that throughout the playoffs at Nashville's rink was loud as for the first time in history welcome to a Stanley Cup final game from Music City USA you know even in warmups you usually no one really understands and they had everyone in there cheering and it was it was crazy [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] pittsburg quickly quieted the Predators faithful with another goal from their rookie star by Jane cancel the Penguins tally first cancel again backed by the friendly confines the Preds offense finally came alive in the second period the shot [Applause] here's control [Applause] it's Jetfire efforts of the newest car [Applause] [Music] that's a team that that seems to raise their level at home you know they feed up to that energy and they're tough to play against and you got a goalie that plays really well at home [Applause] time saves remember that sequence well we knew that crowds gonna be nuts and we knew they'd play good D at home they don't get off watch him it's one of those nights where we didn't really bring it and that's what they wanted after testing his leg and game for warmups Nick Benigno was scratched for the second night in a row it's not fun walk to them go out and you're not there so doors without Benina Pittsburgh returned to a hostile in fire we have a bubbling cauldron here after three games and this is game 4 [Applause] [Music] we had to adapt to their building a little bit their cloud was into it we had to play a little bit more simple we had to play a little bit harder [Applause] they were hungry team Sidney Crosby tied the score with an incredible individual effort for crosstie but his goal was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect evening for pecorino and the Fred whoops [Applause] we lost that game and we stepped it up a little bit we want some battles and we just seemed hungry [Music] [Applause] once you lose that one you know it's the best-of-three series going forward to to so we felt you know we're not gonna lose three in a row Pittsburgh a city defined by hardwork and resiliency qualities reflected by their hockey team no matter how dire the circumstance the unflappable Penguins respond it's just felt like every time we had a tough game we lost just find a way to answer back good gang I think we have to have a relentless mindset okay let's just stay with it shift after shift that's the mindset next shift attitude okay and it's all about attitude let's get it done here come on I think our confidence was shaken a little bit after those two games in Nashville and I think we all came into that game with sort of a game seven mindset knew that we had to play better and give ourselves a chance to win leading by example the captain took an aggressive approach to start the game and said just came out first chef just established the level of player that we were going to play at coming out like that just kind of put you in song even just the effort he puts in every battle Crosby's initial efforts brought a power-play opportunity for the Penguins a power play which had struggled since Game one to school the pp was struggling there a little bit and but we knew that they're gonna score eventually the series not great on the power play game for thought we had a few good power plays we didn't score different pace from the Penguins here to start Game five [Applause] bingo game is ready to roll finding a way to score the first goal in Game five for for Schulte but I think it really set our team off [Applause] Pittsburgh was rejuvenated rediscovering any confidence they had lost in Nashville here at home the Penguins would not be intimidated players are down behind that's what you call doubt giving him the business he's the heartbeat of this team when him and gene are going were tough to defend [Applause] and the period comes to a close this one not over things will cool down in the intermission searching for answers and a change in momentum the Predators pulled Peck arena you see him sit on the bench I think you kind of feel like you know the other team on their heels undeterred the Penguins continue their offensive assault Crosby motors to the front the opportunity for sherry [Applause] hmm Mota across Castle machete combination by the penguin harlot ahead comes haensi and then Kessel and then mall cannon AG's he's the guy that starts to play and finishes the play and that'll do it for two even with a six gold cushion Matt Murray remained focused turning aside every shot he faced this is thrown across a net and a tremendous stop by Murray it's nice to get to shut up but at the end of the day the shuttle itself doesn't matter it's just about getting the win we raised our level to a different level and we played our best game again when we felt like our backs were against the wall we needed that one six nothing total domination predators got a regroup and get ready for a game Sunday night at Smashville for Coach Sullivan keeping a team on the precipice of history focus on attention to detail was paramount the guys going to play today the Longhorn is energy it up he brings a ton of energy let's push the pace here now [Music] we got to go into this game with the mindset that we're gonna win okay we're not going there to see what happens we're gonna go there to win just stay in the moment that's the most important thing and I think we got to go into this guy's with the mindset that we're gonna dictate the terms if we bring the same game that we just brought it doesn't matter what they do it doesn't matter the efforts there and the execution is there for his teammates winning a Stanley Cup for veteran defenseman Ron haensi had become a rallying point haensi was appearing in his first playoffs after nearly 16 professional seasons in Ronnie's case a guy who's been through a lot played a long time and for him to be in this position we'd love to be able to get it for him and I'm sure he's excited for the opportunity so it's not just another game I think we all understand that but you've got to approach it the same way you usually do and give ourselves a chance to get it done even with the cup in the building the Penguins locker room was business as usual you know it's quiet locker room guys were looking forward to the challenge I think we saw it as a great opportunity to win the series that's the great thing about this team and all the experience they have so I think you know that was kind of a calming thing for for younger guys who haven't been through before no one that everyone have won championships before 87 what do you say bit same way on when the cup is in the house your finish line is right there you know and you get a different level of hunger tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins with a chance to clinch this series and once again rain a Stanley Cup champions right from the puck drop both teams elevated their play to the next level we got the sense early on it was going to be low scoring both goalies were locked in they were making great saves at both ends of the rink both teams were competing extremely hard there was no room out there [Applause] we approach that game knowing that we wanted to not let this opportunity slip away once you can dictate the way the series is being played you usually have the upper hand you're usually getting the balances early in the second period momentum appeared to shift towards the home team [Applause] that's the human element of the game when you're over the course of an 82-game schedule plus the playoffs teams end up on both sides of those we've ended up on both sides of it Nashville has as well the referee is instructed that when he loses sight of the puck to blow the whistle you're back at 0-0 you don't really ask questions why or how come you just go out there and understand that you know you have another chance you have to step up and take that momentum away from the crowd [Applause] it definitely helps you as a team you kind of see it as a positive as a good sign for the rest of the game and you get confidence from with the score knotted at zero every play was crucial [Applause] every little thing is so important every little wall play every little battle every little play at the blue line they're amplified that much more when the game is zero zero you know the consequence of every play and consequence that could be there if you do or don't make the right play you can see our every single guy on our team was buying and making the right play we all knew he's gotta stay with it is it's just felt like we're gonna get it done [Applause] let's just stay the course we had some pretty good chances we know it's going to be a close game let's stay with it here we talked about it early on the lock room that we just had to keep it close if we could keep this into a 0-0 tie going to the third I think everyone would took that does the cup go back to Pittsburgh with the Penguins or with NHL security the longer dragged out I think we were confident that we were able to stick with it and hopefully that in a day be on the right side of things they had a lot of chances you could tell that they were kind of getting frustrated by not being able to score and there's gonna get one put it in the back of the net with under two minutes to play any player at any moment could be the hero for Pittsburgh it was a player that spent his first six seasons with the Nashville Predators [Applause] it's kind of a cool feeling to have your back turned to the plate let's see the expressions and zubrin's from our bench scoring the goal knowing that we had just scored one when when he scored that goal that late in the period after having gone through all the penalty kills that we had to go through to keep the game at 0-0 it was a huge lift for our bench everybody was celebrating that horn he was just sitting on the bench look whiter than a ghost I was like the okay buddy he's like you got to put somebody else on like I got my emotions at you I can't go out there you know [Applause] let's go boys let's finish it I was the most exciting things that we only had to protect that lead for a minute and a half we're gonna jump these guys finishing finish I had a good feeling all game I was thinking I was gonna get one in that last shift that jumped on the ice I was hoping for a good bounce [Applause] skated as hard as I could then when I was in the kree's I just slop that in [Applause] and you can tell your paw you can tell your boss I'm going to set your backdoor guitar there we go 2017 [Music] congratulations the Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby it's you are the Stanley [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Ron haensi over 900 games without ever making the playoffs and in his first playoff your piece won the Stanley Cup probably keep that in the back front mind if we did get around the winning and thought it'd be really nice to be able to give it to him so you know not bad he basically been in one-one playoff run and he's one for one so he made a count you sort of flashback on your whole career and everybody that helped you along the way it comes into your mind and you can't describe it man [Music] [Applause] [Music] feels better you know when you when you come to build you know I tried to make myself remember all those first two rounds and it was it was a bad feeling yeah that was know one of the best moments of my hockey career you know he didn't have to hand it to me Elmer if he still I was probably supposed to get it one of the dead last guys to get it and that means you know it means everything to me that was a really special moment for me just a really cool thing for him to do [Music] wanted to be out there wanted to lift it with the guys it makes this a little bit more bearable for sure you finally get up all of that thing I mean especially a lot of hardware just wouldn't be at that [Music] [Applause] it's an amazing day here in city of Pittsburgh what a 50th anniversary season this has been the parade really exemplifies what it means to the city and winning and you have you know fans who are 70 or fans who are you know four or five and six we're pretty special for being players to play in this town [Applause] thank you [Applause] [Music] you know everybody talked about Nashville through those finals but they've got nothing on Pittsburgh I'll tell you that now fans believe that you know Pittsburgh is such a unique sports town it's a major league sports town and I don't know that I've been in a city that has a fan base as enthusiastic and energetic as this group of fans here in Pittsburgh we thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for all the support that we get all throughout the course of this year this team's been through a lot and you guys have been there every step of the way and I wonder if we could repeat or three-peat should I say thank you very much

Channel: Pittsburgh Penguins

Views: 848,368

Keywords: pittsburgh penguins, pens, stanley cup, champion, champs, nashville, predators, sidney crosby, sid the kid, evgeni malkin, geno, kris letang, matt murray, marc-andre fleury, brian dumoulin, bryan rust, conor sheary, matt cullen, jake guentzel

Id: wPVkrMbmNaM

Length: 70min 35sec (4235 seconds)

Published: Tue Oct 01 2019