SAN JOSE (AP) – Penguins are Stanley Cup Champions defeating the Sharks 3-1 in Game 6. The Pens win the series 4-2.
7:46 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup champions.
Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang and Patric Hornqvist scored and Matt Murray made 18 saves as the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 Sunday night in Game 6 to win the fourth Cup in franchise history.
The Penguins last won it in 2009, exactly seven years ago. Letang, captain Sidney Crosby, forward Chris Kunitz and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were part of the last championship, too.
Pittsburgh won this Cup 4-2 despite a stellar performance from Sharks goaltender Martin Jones, who stopped 24 shots. Logan Couture scored his 10th goal of the playoffs and became the fourth player in the past 20 years to reach 30 points in the postseason. But he didn’t have enough help to stop Pittsburgh, which got a blocked shot from Crosby to set up the empty-net goal from Hornqvist with 1:02 left. San Jose finished with just two shots in the third period.
7:43:
Penguins go up 3-1 with 1:02 remaining
7:25 p.m.
The Sharks failed to score on a third-period power play, missing one of their best chances to tie the score in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
San Jose didn’t even get a shot on the power play with the Penguins’ Conor Sheary in the penalty box for hooking Justin Braun. The Sharks are 1 for 11 on the power play in the series.
6:55 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought some of their best and answered when the San Jose Sharks responded in kind. Now they’re 20 minutes away from the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins lead 2-1 at the second intermission thanks in large part to goaltender Matt Murray, who has stopped 16 of the 17 shots he has faced. The Sharks are in the game because of Martin Jones, who has 18 saves on 20 shots.
The Penguins are trying to win the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history on the seventh anniversary of their last championship.
San Jose is trying to become the seventh team in 33 chances to force a Game 7 when down 3-1 in the final. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942 went on to win the series.
6:52 p.m.
End of the 2nd period 2-1 Penguins.
Just when Logan Couture and the Sharks had everything rolling and the score tied, Kris Letang answered for the Penguins.
After Couture scored to tie it at 1 in a back-and-forth second period, Letang beat Martin Jones 1:19 later to restore Pittsburgh’s lead. Letang took a pass from captain Sidney Crosby and fit the puck between Jones and the post at the 7:46 mark
Couture’s goal came at 6:27 After defenseman Brent Burns gloved down a clearing attempt just outside the blue line, he got the puck to Couture, who went five-hole on Matt Murray for his second goal of the series.
The Sharks showed the desperation of a team facing elimination in the second period with nine shots to the Penguins’ four. It was the opposite in the first period.
6:31 p.m.
Pens come right back to take the lead 2-1 on a Kris Letang goal.
6:30 p.m.
Sharks tie it up on a Logan Couture goal 1-1.
6 p.m.
A dominant first period by the Pittsburgh Penguins has them up 1-0 on the San Jose Sharks and 40 minutes from the Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh outshot San Jose 9-4 in the first period, including Brian Dumoulin’s power-play goal that opened the scoring at the 8:16 mark. It came with Sharks forward Dainius Zubrus in the penalty box for tripping Dumoulin.
The Penguins could’ve had a second or third goal if not for San Jose goalie Martin Jones and a near miss by Phil Kessel. In the final minutes of the period, Kessel shot just wide beyond Jones’ right pad.
Kessel is a favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He leads the Penguins with 22 points in 23 games.
5:58 p.m.
End of the 1st period 1-0 Pens.
5:35 p.m.
Brian Dumoulin drew the penalty that gave the Penguins their first power play of Game 6. Then he scored the power-play goal that gave them the lead.
Sharks forward Dainius Zubrus tripped the Pittsburgh defenseman 7:50 into the first period. Then Dumoulin beat Martin Jones 26 seconds into the power play to make it 1-0 Penguins.
The penalty and goal came a few shifts after Penguins goaltender Matt Murray stopped Matt Nieto on a 2-on-1 rush. Murray, who allowed two quick goals in Game 5, looked more poised early in Game 6.
After the goal, San Jose’s Melker Karlsson crashed awkwardly into the boards and suffered an apparent leg injury. He went down the tunnel to the locker room.
5:35 p.m.
Pens up 1-0 Brian Dumoulin power play goal.
5:20 p.m.
The puck has been dropped for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins are trying to win their fourth Cup in franchise history.
San Jose’s Joe Thornton won the opening faceoff against Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby. Then Crosby slashed Thornton and the two got into it in the first few seconds.
Before the game started, public address announcer Danny Miller offered condolences to the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando on behalf of the Sharks, Penguins and the NHL. Fans at SAP Center observed a moment of silence.
A tribute to Gordie Howe, who died Friday at age 88, was expected to occur before the second period.
4:45 p.m. PDT
Martin Jones and Matt Murray have led the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins onto the ice at SAP Center for pregame warm-ups for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
Murray is one victory away from tying Patrick Roy, Ron Hextall and Cam Ward for the most victories by one goaltender in a single postseason. Murray has 14 of Pittsburgh’s 15 victories so far, after Jeff Zatkoff started the playoffs.
