CROSBY CAPTURES SECOND CONSECUTIVE CONN SMYTHE
Captain Sidney Crosby, who led the Stanley Cup Final with 1-6—7 and ranked second during the entirety of the postseason with 8-19—27 (24 GP), won his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to “the most valuable player to his team in the playoffs.” The winner was selected in a vote by a panel of the Professional Hockey Writers Association

* Crosby became the sixth multiple winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy since it was first handed out in 1965 and the third to win it in consecutive seasons, joining Philadelphia’s Bernie Parent (1974 and 1975) and Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux (1991 and 1992).

* Crosby’s past 365 days include a pair of Stanley Cups and Conn Smythe Trophies as well as a World Cup of Hockey championship and MVP. He also captured the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy during the 2016-17 regular season with a League-best 44 goals, and is a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award – which will be handed out during the 2017 NHL Awards presented by T-Mobile on Wednesday, June 21.

* Crosby joins Chicago’s Jonathan Toews (2010, 2013 and 2015) as the only active players to captain their teams to three Stanley Cups.

MURRAY WRITES STANLEY CUP HISTORY . . .
Matt Murray made 27 saves to record his second straight shutout and win his second Stanley Cup in as many NHL seasons.

* No other goaltender in League history has won the Stanley Cup-clinching game in each of his first two seasons. In fact, only one other netminder – the Islanders’ Roland Melanson – captured the trophy in each of his first two NHL campaigns. Melanson did so in his first three seasons (1981, 1982 and 1983), but primarily served as the backup to teammate Billy Smith.

* Via Elias, Murray became the fourth goaltender in NHL history to post consecutive shutouts to win the Stanley Cup – and the first to do so for a team other than the Red Wings. Detroit achieved the feat in 1937 (Earl Robertson vs. NYR), 1943 (Johnny Mowers vs. BOS) and 1952 (Terry Sawchuk vs. MTL).

* Murray stopped 64 straight shots to close the Stanley Cup Final, yielding his last goal at 13:08 of the second period in Game 4 – a span of 146:26 of time on ice.

Matt Murray, Career Playoff Statistics
2016 (21 GP): 15-6, 2.08 GAA, .923 SV%, 1 SO
2017 (11 GP): 7-3, 1.70 GAA, .937 SV%, 3 SO
Total (32 GP): 22-9, 1.95 GAA, .928 SV%, 4 SO

. . . KUNITZ ADDS FOURTH STANLEY CUP
Forward Chris Kunitz – who shared first place with six assists during the Final – won his fourth Stanley Cup, the most among active players (following his victories with Anaheim in 2007 and Pittsburgh in 2009 and 2016). Kunitz became the first player to achieve the feat since 2008, when Detroit’s Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty all earned their fourth.

* Kunitz is one of five Penguins players who have won each of the last three Stanley Cups with the team (2009, 2016 and 2017). The others: Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin.

* Forward Matt Cullen also captured his third Stanley Cup, adding to his victories with Carolina in 2006 and Pittsburgh in 2016.

Active Players w/ 3+ Stanley Cups
Sidney Crosby (2009, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)
Matt Cullen (2006 w/ CAR, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)
Marc-Andre Fleury (2009, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)
Niklas Hjalmarsson (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Marian Hossa (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Patrick Kane (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Duncan Keith (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Chris Kunitz (2007 w/ ANA, 2009, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)^
Kris Letang (2009, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)
Evgeni Malkin (2009, 2016 and 2017 w/ PIT)
Brent Seabrook (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Patrick Sharp (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Jonathan Toews (2010, 2013 and 2015 w/ CHI)
Justin Williams (2006 w/ CAR, 2012 and 2014 w/ LAK)
^ Only active player with four Stanley Cups

SULLIVAN SETS BAR FOR U.S.-BORN HEAD COACHES
Marshfield, Mass., native Mike Sullivan – who also guided Pittsburgh to the championship in 2016 – became the first U.S.-born head coach in the NHL’s 100-year history to win multiple Stanley Cups.

Only six other U.S.-born head coaches have won the Stanley Cup, including Nashville’s Peter Laviolette (2006 w/ CAR). This marked the first Stanley Cup Final with opposing U.S.-born head coaches.

LOOSE PUCKS
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (27 SV) finished the playoffs with a 9-2 record, 1.40 goals-against average and .951 save percentage on home ice . . . Penguins forward Jake Guentzel totaled 13-8—21 (25 GP), tied for the most points by a rookie in one playoff year . . . ICYMI: The Flyers signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a multi-year extension . . . The Blue Jackets signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year extension . . . Country music superstar Luke Bryan opened Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final with a special performance from the rooftop of Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge.

PENGUINS’ WIN LOCKS FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER
Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup win finalized the order of selection for the opening round of the 2017 NHL Draft, which will be held Friday, June 23, at United Center in Chicago:

1. New Jersey Devils
2. Philadelphia Flyers
3. Dallas Stars
4. Colorado Avalanche
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Vegas Golden Knights
7. Arizona Coyotes
8. Buffalo Sabres
9. Detroit Red Wings
10. Florida Panthers
11. Los Angeles Kings
12. Carolina Hurricanes
13. Winnipeg Jets
14. Tampa Bay Lightning
15. New York Islanders
16. Calgary Flames
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
18. Boston Bruins
19. San Jose Sharks
20. St. Louis Blues
21. New York Rangers
22. Edmonton Oilers
23. Arizona Coyotes (from MIN)
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
25. Montreal Canadiens
26. Chicago Blackhawks
27. St. Louis Blues (from WSH)
28. Ottawa Senators
29. Dallas Stars (from ANA)
30. Nashville Predators
31. Pittsburgh Penguins