Apr 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Apr 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period in game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
17 years since the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup trophy in 2009, but fans are still not over it. Or, if some might, NHL journalist Josh Yohe reminded the people about it recently.
It was Pittsburgh's third Stanley Cup win, and at the crucial time, team captain Sidney Crosby was struggling with an injury. Marc-Andre Fleury played a vital role in the team's win.
Yohe, in his X post on Friday, highlighted MAF's performance and also talked about Crosby's injury.
"Hard to believe it’s been 17 years since MAF stared down Lidstrom to win the Cup in Detroit. All things considered, it’s probably the greatest victory in Penguins history. Game 7, Cup Final, against that team. Sid gets hurt. Penguins win anyway. An amazing Friday night," he wrote.
Back in 2009, the Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-0 clean sweep.
But the Stanley Cup Finals had a tough start for them, as they lost the first two games to the Detroit Red Wings. But then they tied the series, winning two matchups in a row. The series was tied 3-3 after six games, and in the deciding Game 7, Fleury made two crucial saves in the final seconds to secure the Penguins' 2-1 win.
Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby was forced to watch the game from the bench after suffering a knee injury.
Since then, the Penguins won the 2016 Stanley Cup and defended the title in 2017. However, things were pretty different for them this season.
How Did The Penguins Fare During The 2025-26 Season?
In the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were impressive in the regular season. They successfully made it to the playoffs but struggled against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Conference First Round.
The Flyers won the first three games and took an early lead in the series. They were just one win away from a clean sweep against the Penguins.
But then the Penguins bounced back in Game 4 and won 4-2. They added another win in Game 5, 3-2, making the series score 3-2. But the Flyers won the next game in overtime, 1-0, to secure a spot in the conference second round.
The Penguins' season had come to an end, and they would be looking forward to the next season. Meanwhile, the Carolina and Vegas are in the Stanley Cup 2026 finals, and after five games, the Hurricanes are leading 3-2.
Who do you think will win the Stanley Cup this year? Let us know in the comments.
Written by
Ankita Yadav
Edited by
Ankita Yadav