2016 Stanley Cup Final: San Jose Sharks VS Pittsburgh Penguins

[browna]

Watched very little of the playoffs as usual, but Sharks seemed right there, yes thanks to Jones, but still. Comes down to that OT game 2 and a one goal difference game 1. Those could've gone either way/split and who knows. That much of a fine line.

But yeah, as far as Thornton and Marleau go, this is near the end of the useful line for them. Still good players and Marleau doesn't get the respect he should, but this was the shot.

And just as Crosby can't be measured by stats alone, neither can Kessel. The media gets uptight and really sensitive, hiding behind the"we are doing it for the fans" about guys challenging them and not cuddling up to them (or their fellow media members). Of course they have no problem calling parents of players for medical updates in Toronto. The guys voting may not be quite as dramatic about it his situation but his avoidance of media in general is not doing Kessel any favours.

So the question for next year is, who does Gio or Monahan (if Gio goes ) pass the Cup to?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Poe969

It just sucks that they didn't win it at home

All four Pens cups won on the road. And their loss was on home ice.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by browna

Comes down to that OT game 2 and a one goal difference game 1. Those could've gone either way/split and who knows. That much of a fine line.

I don't think that's fair at all. Those scores flattered the sharks, who at times were held 10 mins without a shot on net.

Pitts dominated the bulk of the game play. The clearly better team won, clearly.

[browna]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I don't think that's fair at all. Those scores flattered the sharks, who at times were held 10 mins without a shot on net.

Pitts dominated the bulk of the game play. The clearly better team won, clearly.

One goal games leave little to chance. And it's all about momentum and confidence in the playoffs and especially early in the series.

SJ get a fluker to win game 1 late or game 2 it and they're even more boosted for the next game, and sure, feeling like they've dodged one, where then then Pens feel sorry for themselves for dominating but not beating Jones/winning, and thus lose some confidence of feeling more pressure. Complexion could've changed that quick.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by browna

One goal games leave little to chance. And it's all about momentum and confidence in the playoffs and especially early in the series.

SJ get a fluker to win game 1 late or game 2 it and they're even more boosted for the next game, and sure, feeling like they've dodged one, where then then Pens feel sorry for themselves for dominating but not beating Jones/winning, and thus lose some confidence of feeling more pressure. Complexion could've changed that quick.

But it didn't, because the Pens were so much better than the Sharks that their quality scoring chances were severely limited in the entire series. We're talking shot blocks, limited chances in the slot, and long stretches with no Sharks scoring chances.

The scores were close in a couple games, the game-play was not.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Goaltending alone puts the Sharks on a higher tier than the Flames

I agree with this. But that is all the Sharks have on the Flames going forward. We'll see how different things are next season.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Crosby's all around game is not something you can measure with stats.

Is that not what advance stats is all about tho?? I have advance stays but iss that not the whole point of them?

[Canada 02]

interesting that the Pens fired their coach mid-season prior to their 2009 and 2016 cup victories

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Dion

I can't believe we're playing hockey in June. Too long a season for my liking. Besides when it comes to choosing between a game a golf or watching hockey, golf always wins.

This is one of the strangest posts I've seen from a hockey fan.

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

And neither will Pittsburgh. [make the playoffs next season]

Quoted for historical purposes.

Congrats to the Pens and their fans you deserved every bit of this Cup win. Especially Crosby he's had very serious injuries and many other challenges over the last few years. Extremely impressed with his character and drive. Best player in the game.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by zamler

This is one of the strangest posts I've seen from a hockey fan.

Quoted for historical purposes.

Congrats to the Pens and their fans you deserved every bit of this Cup win. Especially Crosby he's had very serious injuries and many other challenges over the last few years. Extremely impressed with his character and drive. Best player in the game.

This is a huge moment, there was a solid year or so there when no one was quite sure when or if Sidney Crosby would play hockey again. And even when they won last time, he sustained a knee injury and only played one shift in the 3rd period of game 7.

Tonight he got to assist on the game winning goal, and then made a huge play to block a shot leading to the insurance goal that helped ice the game. And the Conn Smythe, then a second Cup. What a night, after everything he's been through.

Very seriously--there's almost nothing left that he hasn't won.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Is that not what advance stats is all about tho?? I have advance stays but iss that not the whole point of them?

Advanced stats provoke discussion but have more holes than Jonas Hiller

[JohnnyB]

Just finished watching the game. What an amazing final! So much excitement in the game. The Pens are a very deserving team.

I'm also delighted that Crosby got the Smythe. He was unbelievable. He was just taking care of everything. So strong, smart and skilled but also incredibly determined and focused. What an outstanding player.

Also, Letang took things to another level on the winning goal. I've never been a big fan of his overall, but he was a complete player in these playoffs and he was clutch on pushing them over the hump on that winning goal.

Fantastic hockey to watch.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why would you say that? The Flames are already arguably in the same tier as the Sharks, and unlike SJ their most important players are all still quite young. I won't be the least bit surprised to see SJ out and Calgary in next year.

A team that went to the finals is in the same tier as a team that finished 26th? And people are overstating the age thing with SJ. Marleau is a support player at this point. The SJ core is:

Pavelski 31
Thornton 36
Couture 27
Burns 31
Vlasic 29
Jones 26

They're certainly not a young team. But Thornton is the only guy I would expect to decline significantly in the next season or two. And he finished fourth in the league in scoring.