Penguins sink Sharks, nail 4th Stanley crown crown

SAN JOSE, California – Sidney Crosby let out a scream as he lifted the Stanley Cup above his head, a wide smile spread across his face.

The seven years of adversity since he last held the trophy were firmly in his past. The concussions that nearly derailed his career. The early playoff exits. The rough start to this season that led to a coach being fired.

Crosby and the Penguins are once again champions.

A kid no more and surrounded with new talent, Crosby set up Kris Letang’s go-ahead goal midway through the second period and Pittsburgh won the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history by beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 on Sunday night. Owner Mario Lemieux thrust his hands into the air in triumph high up in an arena suite and later hugged his superstar on the ice.

This title had been a long time coming.

“I was just thinking about how hard it was to get to this point, just trying to enjoy every second of it,” Crosby said. “It’s not easy to get here. Having won seven years ago at a young age, you probably take it for granted a little bit. You don’t think you do at the time, but it’s not easy to get to this point.”