Penguins Win the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, Beating Detroit 2-1

Before the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, it seemed as if everything was lined up against them. The Detroit Red Wings have been a phenomenal home team not just this year but in all of their recent history. In Game 7s during the Stanley Cup, the home team has a stranglehold over the record books. The home team won all previous six games of this series leading into the decisive seventh game.

All of this without even mentioning that Sidney Crosby was injured in the second period and hardly played again. Oh, and the Penguins fired their coach as their team was struck in 10th place more than midway through the season. All of this and the Penguins were able to prevail to win the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship.

Superstar Evgeni Malkin took home the MVP award for the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, as the leading point scorer in the series and in the entire postseason. He also played excellent defense, particularly as the series wound down. But it was the captain Sidney Crosby- and the youngest captain in NHL history to do so - that hoisted the Stanley Cup above his shoulders, injured leg and all.

But in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals it was neither Malkin nor Crosby that was the hero. It was unheralded weapon Maxime Talbot that scored both of Pittsburgh's goals, providing the firepower for the 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. (Of course some of us predicted the Penguins to win the Cup, citing Talbot's work as a key factor).

Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury also deserves credit, making more than a handful of spectacular saves to keep the Penguins hopes alive. He rebounded from a devastating Game 5 loss in Detroit in which he was pulled after the second period, and the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals in which he gave up both easy and hard luck goals as the Red Wings took home the championship.

With literally a second left in the third period, Fleury blocked a shot and then shifted to the open side of the net and sprawled out to make a final save, securing the win as the buzzer sounded.

After an up and down season and postseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins win the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. It was the first Stanley Cup Championship for the Penguins since Mario Lemieux led the team to back to back titles in the early 90s with the help of Jaromir Jagr. Now it's Lemieux in the luxury suites, calling the shots - not to mention serving as 24/7 watchdog of Crosby, who lives in his house as the Penguins win the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals.

For a team spearheaded by a young cast including Crosby, Malkin, Fleury and Jordan Staal, the sky is the limit and future Stanley Cup Championships are nearly undoubtedly in store.