Handshakes.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup. Game 6 of the 7-game series took place on Sunday night. The intense game had fans on the edges of their seats with a score of 0-0 through most of the third period. The Penguins were able to get it done, however, on Nashville ice, scoring two points in the third to end the game — and the series — in regulation.
“Hornqvist’s goal with 1:35 left in regulation was the difference, as goalie Matt Murray made 27 saves in an outstanding effort, outdueling Pekka Rinne (29 saves). Carl Hagelin added an empty netter for the 2-0 win. On the game-winner, Hornqvist managed to bounce the puck off of Rinne’s arm and into the net, swinging his stick to connect with it in mid-air. It was his fifth goal of the playoffs,” Yahoo! News reported.
After some celebrating on the ice, both teams lined up for the handshake line. It is something that has become a tradition over the years and many people have very much looked forward to the special moments had between rival teams. Perhaps Bruins forward Brad Marchand said it best:
“As much as you hate them when you’re playing against them, at the end of the day we’re all out there trying to do a job and play the game we love. To show each other that respect at the end and realize that everything that’s happened is just because we both want to win—it’s definitely a great tradition,” he said in 2013, according to Bleacher Report.
P.K. Subban led his team across the ice following the series’ incredible finish. This surprised some fans, many of whom believed that team captain, Sidney Crosby, should have been the first one in line.
A real captain would lead their team to the handshake line.
Many guys shook hands, while some opted to pat each other on the back. Those who have become friends offered hugs along with their congratulatory words.
After the handshake line, Crosby was awarded MVP for the second year in a row. The team was then presented with the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. Players took turns carrying the trophy around the ice, holding it up in the air and kissing it.
The Penguins are the first team to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997-98.
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