Stanley Cup Final 2017: Predators offense stifled again as Penguins become back-to-back champions

The Stanley Cup Final has come to an end, my friends. The home team finally buckled for the first time in this series, and the Penguins emerged as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions after a 2-0 victory.

It feels almost surprising that the Stanley Cup was awarded on Sunday evening in Nashville. Game 6 had a Predators’ win stamped all over it, from the way the narratives were drawn up to the fight the team had shown all postseason. Instead, a tight back-and-forth game was decided on a last-minute goal by Patric Hornqvist — and a pretty controversial no-goal call in the second period.

The Penguins deservedly won the Stanley Cup, but it’s hard not to see the shadow of Colton Sissons’ goal that wasn’t. Matt Murray held the Predators scoreless through the last 123 minutes of the series, and the only time he was beaten in Game 6 was on a call blown dead because the referees lost sight of the puck.

In an eerie parallel to P.K. Subban’s Game 1 no goal, the call halted a Predators’ 1-0 lead. And yet, Nashville got its chances to convert and did not. The Predators had four power play chances, and a key 32 second 5-on-3 in the third period, but were held off the board.

Say what you will about Nashville’s explosiveness, but the Predators sorely missed Ryan Johansen’s scoring touch.

So, the Penguins cement their legacy as one of the NHL’s best. Back-to-back championships are no joke, folks. Deserved in every sense of the word.

Penguins 2, Predators 0

Patric Hornqvist’s first playoff goal in seven games was his biggest

The Penguins offense wasn’t as dominant this year compared to last, and injury to Hornqvist in the middle of the postseason did them no favors. Hornqvist’s last goal was a month ago on May 10, but his game winner on Sunday will live forever in Penguins’ history.

Sidney Crosby was the Penguins’ — deserved — Conn Smythe winner

Crosby didn’t need another win to cement his legacy as one of the best, but his postseason was one to talk about. The Penguins captain had 27 points in 24 postseason games, all the while potentially dealing with the aftereffects of his concussion from the Washington series. Though Crosby did not have a point in the Game 6 win, his impact was felt every moment he was on the ice.

You have to feel bad for Colton Sissons

It’s hard to step into Johansen’s shoes, but Sissons certainly tried. And luck was not on his side in Game 6. He hit multiple posts, was the unfortunate recipient of the no-goal call in the second, and was robbed by Murray.

Sometimes that’s how the breaks go, unfortunately.

It’s the no-goal call on Sissons, no doubt.

Sidney Crosby. An all-time great.