Pittsburgh Penguins Defeat San Jose Sharks 3-1 To Claim The Stanley Cup

With the victory, the Penguins clinched the best-of-seven championship series 4-2 for the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup and first since 2009.
The Penguins celebrate after their 3-1 victory to win the Stanley Cup against the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.
The Penguins celebrate after their 3-1 victory to win the Stanley Cup against the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.
Robert Reiners via Getty Images

(Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins won the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

With the victory, the Penguins clinched the best-of-seven championship series 4-2 for the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup and first since 2009.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the San Jose Sharks in game six.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the San Jose Sharks in game six.
USA Today Sports / Reuters

For the Sharks, Sunday's loss marked the end of the team's first ever Stanley Cup Final which they reached 25 years after they were founded in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had two assists in the championship-clinching game, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After failing to clinch on home ice on Thursday, Pittsburgh returned to San Jose with a 3-2 series lead and made sure the best-of-seven championship would not go the distance with a clinical display of hockey.

San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) reacts after scoring a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) in the second period.
San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) reacts after scoring a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) in the second period.
USA Today Sports / Reuters

Kris Letang gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead near the midway mark of the second period and Patric Hornqvist sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 62 seconds to play.

Pittsburgh's Brian Dumoulin opened the scoring in the first period and Logan Couture tied the game in the second.

Penguins rookie netminder Matt Murray made 18 saves and only faced two in the third period. His 15 playoff wins by a rookie equals a Stanley Cup playoffs record.

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