PENGUINS EDGE SHARKS FOR FOURTH STANLEY CUP

The Sharks tied the game midway through the second period, but Kris Letang scored1:19 later to power the Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup – exactly seven years to the day when they last captured the trophy in 2009.

SUNDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
Pittsburgh 3, SAN JOSE 1 – PIT wins 4-2

The Penguins became the ninth team in NHL history to capture four or more Stanley Cups (also 1991, 1992 and 2009):

Stanley Cup Standings, All-Time

• 24 – Montreal Canadiens^
• 14 – Toronto Maple Leafs^
• 11 – Detroit Red Wings
• 6 – Boston Bruins
• 6 – Chicago Blackhawks
• 5 – Edmonton Oilers
• 4 – New York Islanders
• 4 – New York Rangers
• 4 – Pittsburgh Penguins
  ^ Both the Canadiens and Maple Leafs won one Stanley Cup prior to the formation of the NHL in 1917-18

The Penguins also became the second team to win four Stanley Cups since 1991, when they first captured the trophy. The other, also with four Stanley Cup victories: the Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008).

The Penguins improved to 4-0 with the chance to clinch the Stanley Cup on the road. They won three of their four visits to SAP Center this season (including the regular season) after going winless in their 12 prior trips dating to Jan. 15, 1999 (0-9-3).

The Penguins became the sixth team in the past nine years to win the Stanley Cup on the road – and the first to do so since the 2013 Blackhawks.

Letang factored on all four of Pittsburgh’s game-winning goals during the series, picking up assists on the three prior such tallies. He became the fourth player in NHL history to factor on all four of his team’s game-winning goals during the Stanley Cup Final, joining Milt Schmidt (w/ BOS in 1941), Jean Beliveau (w/ MTL in 1965) andWayne Gretzky (w/ EDM in 1987).

Letang became the third straight defenseman to score the Stanley Cup-clinching goal – Duncan Keith did so for the Blackhawks in 2015, Alec Martinez did so for the Kings (in 2OT) in 2014.

CROSBY WINS CONN SMYTHE TROPHY
Sidney Crosby, who registered two assists in Game 6 and finished the postseason with 6-13—19, won the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to “the most valuable player to his team in the playoffs.” The winner was selected in a vote by a panel of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Crosby became the 10th player in NHL history – and third Penguin – to win both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy:

Winners of Both Hart Memorial and Conn Smythe Trophies, NHL History

• Jean Beliveau
• Sidney Crosby
• Wayne Gretzky
• Guy Lafleur
• Mario Lemieux
• Evgeni Malkin
• Mark Messier
• Bobby Orr
• Joe Sakic
• Bryan Trottier

Active NHL Players with Three Stanley Cups

• Niklas Hjalmarsson (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Marian Hossa (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Patrick Kane (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Duncan Keith (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Chris Kunitz (2007 w/ ANA, 2009 w/ PIT, 2016 w/ PIT)
• Brent Seabrook (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Patrick Sharp (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Jonathan Toews (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
• Justin Williams (2006 w/ CAR, 2012 w/ LAK and 2014 w/ LAK)

Four other members of the Penguins were part of the team’s 2009 championship:Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin.

Teammate Matt Cullen also captured his second Stanley Cup, adding to his victory with the Hurricanes in 2006.

RAZOR-THIN MARGIN CONTINUES IN STANLEY CUP FINAL
The Penguins and Sharks were tied or within one goal for 89% of total playing time during the Stanley Cup Final (333:54 of 374:53), continuing a recent trend in the championship series:

• In 2015, the Blackhawks and Lightning were tied or within one goal for 99% of total playing time.
• In 2014, the Kings and Rangers were tied or within one goal for 85% of total playing time.
• In 2013, the Blackhawks and Bruins were tied or within one goal for 87% of total playing time.