Pittsburgh Penguins win 2016 Stanley Cup

Sidney Crosby named playoff MVP

Sidney Crosby with the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2016 in San Jose, Calif. (Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins are the 2016 Stanley Cup champions after defeating the San Jose Sharks, 3-1, Sunday night to capture the final series in six games.

This is Pittsburgh's fist Stanley Cup championship since 2009, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. The Penguins now have four such championships.

Recommended Videos



It is Penguins captain Sidney Crosby's second Stanley Cup. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.

View: Game 6 Boxscore

Crosby accepted the Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. He skated with it in the traditional fashion, gave it a kiss and handed it off to teammate Trevor Daly, who was knocked out of the playoffs due to an injury.

It was a special moment for Penguins forward Phil Kessel, too, who was acquired by Pittsburgh in the offseason. Kessel had spent dismal years with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he routinely led the team in scoring but consistently faced scrutiny as the team floundered. His scoring talent helped the Penguins down the stretch in the playoffs.