While the Predators won Games 3 and 4 by a combined total of 9-2, the Penguins responded with a 6-0 Game 5 rout back in Pittsburgh.
We'll have to debate that one: Crosby doesn't turn 30 until 8/7/17.
The Penguins captain is the sixth player in National Hockey League history with two career Conn Smythe trophies.
They outlasted the Ducks in the Stanley Cup Conference Final. And Sidney Crosby became only the third player to win a second straight Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the National Hockey League playoffs. Ellis also ranks fourth on the Predators during the playoffs in average ice time per game (23:23).
Along the way, Crosby overcame two diagnosed concussions - including one this postseason - and helped carry a team that faced plenty of adversity with star defenceman Kris Letang out and a controversial goaltending change to Matt Murray from Marc-Andre Fleury. It is why Sullivan believed the Penguins defence looked well rested as it approached Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
After laying a thorough beating on the Preds Thursday night, they will look to win back to back Cups tonight, while Nashville will desperately try to extend the series to a 7th game in Pittsburgh, and while it's a no brainer that they've lost all 3 there in this series, anything can happen in a one game victor take all scenario. Carl Hagelin added an empty-net tally with 14 ticks left. He finished the playoffs with 27 points.
When the Cup has no more space for a new team, as will be the case this year when Pittsburgh or Nashville takes the lone available space on the trophy, a filled band comes off so it can be replaced by another. The NBA, NHL, and National Football League all have had repeat champions since. The Predators, facing elimination for the first time during the playoffs, will depend on their home-ice advantage to extend their season.
"I just wanted to get it done, to be honest", Murray said.
Saudi, Bahrain Welcome Trump's Scolding of Qatar
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was in Moscow today after talks in Germany yesterday. The State Department had said the US learned only at the last minute about the Arab nations' plan to cut ties.
Retired Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor also weighed in, likely sharing the feelings of many other fans.
NOTES: Pittsburgh's 5-0 road record with a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup is the best record in National Hockey League history in that situation.
The Pittsburgh Penguins became the first team in 19 years to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. And with the Stanley Cup on the line.
A lot of the attention was taken off the defence with the Penguins' all-world forwards. He set a rookie record with two shutouts in the Final.
The referee thought Murray had the puck but it had actually trickled just behind him and into the crease where Sissons had what should have been the opening goal. He had an apparent goal waived off in the second due to a quick whistle and was later stopped on a breakaway.
Predators coach Peter Laviolette was livid, but could not challenge Pollock's call because of the intent-to-blow rule. But the story of the game was Hornqvist's tally, which was a weird one.
More bad luck for Sissons: Late in the third period, Sisson pinged a shot off the right goal post. The game was even and uneventful until the Penguins began pressuring Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne, whose goaltending in the series has fluctuated as much as Greg Gianforte's recollection of body slams.
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