Penguins after years in the wilderness win another Stanley Cup

Seven years ago, to the day, the Pittsburgh Penguins thought they'd started a dynasty. That's not the way itpanned out bad luck and bad decisions Steve Carlton Jersey got in the way but today, whatever this is, they'll take it. Pittsburgh, after 2,555 days, three coaches, two general managers and a playoff run that seemed impo sible at Christmas, has its second Stanley Cup of the Sidney Crosby Era. MORE: The Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Sundayin Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang and Patric Hornqvistscored Pittsburgh's goals, and rookie goalie Matt Murray who started the season in the AHL and was a backup in March made 18 saves. Logan Couture, who led the playoffs in points, scored San Jose's goal.Martin Jones, who deserved Conn Smythe lex Reyes Jersey consideration no matter the result, stopped 25 of Pittsburgh's shots, including a point-blank one-timer by Phil Ke sel with le s than six minutes remaining that kept his team in the game. The way the game unfolded was the final in miniature: Pittsburgh controlled the run of play, eventually got a lead courtesy of a phenomenal individual effort by Letang Chris Beck Jersey and hung on for dear life; San Jose had a chance to tie the game with Paul Goldschmidt Jersey a third-period power play. It wasn't settled until Hornqvist's empty netter off a blocked shot byCrosby. MORE: The Penguins held series leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before sealing the deal. After they lost Game 5 at home, Consol Energy Center, it was easy to fall back on all those failed attempts inthe past seven years. In 2010, Jaroslav Halak. In Harrison Bader Jersey 2011, Crosby's concu sion. In 2012, a meltdown against the Flyers. In 2013 and 2014, power outages against the Bruins and Rangers. In 2015, a first-round lo s to New York. That doesn't matter now, though. Whatever state they find themselves in it can't be a dynasty, becauseChicago has won three Cups in the interim, and the Kings have won two it doesn't matter.