Shortly after earning the Conn Smythe Trophy for Playoff MVP, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career, exactly seven years since his last championship in 2009.
He then passed the Cup off to defenseman Trevor Daley - who was sidelined with a broken ankle suffered during the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Patrick Roy, Ron Hextall, Cam Ward, and now, Matt Murray.
After winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender is into the record books with his 15th victory of the spring, tying the NHL rookie record for wins in a single playoff year.
Yeah, stellar company for a kid who turned 22 on May 25.
| Goalie | Age | Year | SV% | GAA | Starts | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy* | 20 | 1986 | .923 | 1.92 | 20 | 15-5 |
| Hextall | 22 | 1987 | .908 | 2.77 | 26 | 15-11 |
| Ward* | 21 | 2006 | .920 | 2.14 | 23 | 15-8 |
| Murray* | 21 | 2016 | .923 | 2.08 | 21 | 15-6 |
* Won Stanley Cup
Murray made only 13 starts during the regular season, though he certainly proved himself, posting a .930 save percentage and finishing with a 9-2-1 record.
The Thunder Bay, Ontario native was thrust into action in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers after third-string Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff started Games 1 and 2 in place of a concussed Marc-Andre Fleury.
A head injury of his own kept Murray from dressing in Games 1 and 2, but once he got into the crease, he owned it. Murray won his three starts against the Rangers, with the Penguins advancing in five games. He stopped 85 of the 89 shots the Blueshirts threw at him, showing remarkable poise in what was a pressure-packed situation.
Murray kept the net in the second round, even though Fleury was deemed healthy before Game 3 against the Washington Capitals. Not having played for so long, the Penguins were weary of tossing Fleury into action, and Murray rewarded their faith in him, posting a .926 save percentage in Pittsburgh's six-game series win over the high-flying Caps. Murray went 2-1 in overtime games in the series, again showing serious mettle for a young goalie on the game's brightest stage.
The third round was Murray's worst. He struggled in three of Pittsburgh's first four games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, eventually being pulled in favor of Fleury in Game 4. Fleury got the start in Game 5 of a 2-2 series, but the Penguins lost 4-3 in overtime, with Fleury stopping only 21 of 25 shots.
With their season and Cup dreams on the line, the Penguins went back to Murray in a must-win Game 6. He stopped 28 of 30 shots on the road as Pittsburgh forced a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh. The Penguins, of course, won Game 7, and Murray stopped a combined 44 of 47 shots in the elimination games - the biggest contests of his career.
Murray was a rock in the Stanley Cup Final against the San Jose Sharks, allowing more than two goals in a game only twice.
It was undoubtedly a spring to remember. The best spring of Matt Murray's life.
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The Kid has his Conn Smythe.
A distinction that eluded the Pittsburgh Penguins captain in his first title-winning campaign in 2009, Sidney Crosby was named the most valuable player of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs for his multifaceted performance, and in leading his franchise to a fourth championship.
Crosby finished in a tie for sixth in postseason scoring with the six goals and 13 assists, trailing teammate Phil Kessel, but his impact went well beyond what's most easily accessible. He was a force in three zones, commanding possession against the opposition's best. He dominated on the dot, saved his best for the biggest moments, and, most importantly, set a championship standard for his teammates.
He scored the overtime winner in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, preventing the Penguins from going down 0-2, and claimed two other game-winners. But the lasting moment of his postseason performance will be his play call before an offensive zone draw in overtime in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, a spontaneous design that resulted in a Conor Sheary winner.
Crosby totaled eight points versus the New York Rangers, two points in Round 2 versus the Washington Capitals, then three goals and five points versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, before recording four assists on the San Jose Sharks, including two in Game 6 Sunday.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday, clinching their fourth title in franchise history and second in the Sidney Crosby era.
More to come.
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The San Jose Sharks drew even with the Pittsburgh Penguins with a goal midway through the second period, but the 1-1 deadlock didn't last long.
Less than 80 seconds later, Sidney Crosby fed Kris Letang from behind the net, and the defenseman made no mistake - scoring his third of the playoffs to restore his team's one-goal lead.
The 29-year-old blue-liner now has points in five of six Stanley Cup Final games.
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Oh. pic.twitter.com/oP22VtAvCd
— Rogers NHL GCL (@RogersNHLGCL) June 13, 2016
Chris Kunitz had a four-by-six of empty webbing to fire at to put the Pittsburgh Penguins up two on the San Jose Sharks in an elimination contest with the Stanley Cup at stake ... and passed.
Watch as Kunitz blindly dishes back to Evgeni Malkin on a 2-on-1 opportunity, neglecting to notice Sharks netminder Martin Jones caught in a rare moment well out of position.
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Win or lose, Martin Jones has a case for the Conn Smythe.
This time with the right one, the San Jose Sharks emergent starter used a big toe to deny Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino in a second consecutive start Sunday night in Game 6.
Jones has been nothing short of incredible since the Penguins pushed the Sharks to the brink, a fact to which Bonino can most certainly attest.
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That's playoff point number 30 for @Logancouture. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/JFhDXeRzuI
— #StanleyCup Final (@NHL) June 13, 2016
Logan Couture's outstanding postseason continues.
The San Jose Sharks center scored off a lovely toe drag in the second period of Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, recording his 10th goal and playoff-high 30th point in his 24th game.
Couture has also been especially effective with the season on the line.
Logan Couture now has 13 points in elimination games this spring.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 13, 2016
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Remembering Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe. #9RIPhttps://t.co/PUx3Q740yQ
— #TurnUpTheTank (@SanJoseSharks) June 13, 2016
Prior to the second period of Game 6 in San Jose, the crowd at SAP Arena all stood up as a video tribute was shown to honor "Mr. Hockey" - Gordie Howe - who passed away at the age of 88 on Friday.
Watch: Hockey Night's Gordie Howe tribute set to The Tragically Hip
Both teams are sporting decals on their helmets featuring Howe's No. 9. The Sharks also honored the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando before the game.
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