Pittsburgh 2, Nashville 0 – PIT wins 4-2
HORNQVIST’S LATE GOAL LIFTS PENGUINS TO SECOND STRAIGHT CUP
Patric Hornqvist, who was selected by the Predators with the final pick (230th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft and played his first six seasons in Nashville, scored with 1:35 remaining in regulation to break a scoreless tie and lift the Penguins to their second straight Stanley Cup.
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX6u_CMCnIs” type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]
The Penguins won their fifth Stanley Cup (also 1991, 1992, 2009 and 2016) – tied for the most by any non-Original Six team (w/ EDM). All of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup victories have come on the road – all since 1991, the most in the NHL in that span.
Stanley Cup Standings, NHL History
24 – Montreal Canadiens*
13 – Toronto Maple Leafs
11 – Detroit Red Wings
6 – Boston Bruins
6 – Chicago Blackhawks
5 – Edmonton Oilers
5 – Pittsburgh Penguins
*The Canadiens won one Stanley Cup prior to the formation of the NHL in 1917-18
The Penguins, who defeated the Sharks in six games in last year’s Final, became the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. Prior to Detroit, the last NHL club to repeat was Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992.
The Penguins improved to 5-1 with the chance to clinch the Stanley Cup, including a perfect 5-0 record on the road. Elias says that no other NHL, NBA or MLB team is undefeated with at least five championship-clinching opportunities as visitors. In the Second Round at WSH, the Penguins improved to 6-0 in Game 7s on the road – also the best such record among all major pro sports franchises.
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tENiCpaIk9A” type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]
At 18:25, Hornqvist became the third player to score a Stanley Cup-clinching goal in the final two minutes of regulation (all on the road). The others: Boston’s Bill Carson in 1929 (18:02 of Game 2 at NYR) and Chicago’s Dave Bolland in 2013 (19:01 of Game 6 at BOS). Hornqvist, who was acquired from the Predators in a draft-day trade on June 27, 2014, totaled 106-110—216 in 363 regular-season games with Nashville from 2008-14. He ranks sixth in franchise history in goals and 15th in points.
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (27 SV) finished the playoffs with a 9-2 record, 1.40 goals-against average and .951 save percentage on home ice . . . Penguins forward Jake Guentzel totaled 13-8—21 (25 GP), tied for the most points by a rookie in one playoff year . . . ICYMI: The Flyers signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a multi-year extension . . . The Blue Jackets signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year extension.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
National Hockey League Press Release. Information provided from the NHL that describes various news releases that describe current events in the league.