Remember when the Pens were unwatchable in the early start of the season? It was like watching ice melt and was oh so, painful to watch. Many of us were calling for Mike Johnston's job from the get go.
Remember how G Marc-Andre Fleury was the eary favorite for team MVP? Flower kept us afloat while the rest of the team floundered. Yes, MAF, we do remember and we appreciate all that you did. If you hadn't kept us alive early in the season, the season may have been lost.
Remember how D Kris Letang and C Sidney Crosby looked like their careers were done? Many gave Tanger and Sid up for dead. They weren't looking good and neither were the Pens.
Remember that embarrassing loss to the Devils? Remember how C Evgeni Malkin called out the team and took them on his back for a few weeks? Wasn't that cool?
Remember the offseason trades GM Jim Rutherford made? He traded for Fs Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino. They weren't impressive early, but boy did they come on at the end.
Remember how many of us thought GMJM was out of touch and too old for his GM gig? Many suggested that he wasn't the man for the job.
Remember when Rutherford finally cut ties with Johnston and put Mike Sullivan behind the bench? When Sully started out 0-4 we figured the more things change, the more they stayed the same.
Remember when F Pascal Dupuis was forced to hang up his skates due to the blood clot issue? It was a sad day for the Pens organization and all of Black-N-Gold Nation.
But then, something started to happen. Change was in the air....
Remember that New Year's Eve game in Detroit? The Pens were down like 3-0 and came storming back to win it.
Remember when Tanger and Sid started playing like they should? Tanger should have been a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Sid was now part of the MVP conversation.
Remember when Philly came to town and had us down 2-0? The Pens were becoming a resilient group. That was not a word that was heard during the Johnston era.
Remember the health issues that D Olli Maatta and Tanger had to overcome the past few seasons and how hard they fought to get back?
Remember when previous regimes always seemed hesitant to bring up younger players and give them a shot to play with the big boys? Suddenly, D Brian Dumolin, Fs Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust and G Matt Murray, to name a few, were making names for themselves.
Remember how Mrs. Black-N-Gold was down on Rutherford when he traded for D Ben Lovejoy last year? The Reverend enjoyed a resurgence this season.
Remember when Rutherford pulled off the steal of the century and traded D Rob Scuderi to the Blackhawks for D Trevor Daley? How about the deal that sent F David Perron to Anaheim for D Carl Hagelin? Speed kills. And don't forget that Rutherford rescued D Justin Schultz from hockey hell (Edmonton) and showed he can play hockey.
Remember when Geno went down in Columbus and Sully put Hags, Bones and Kessel together?
Remember when the Flower went down vs Nashville and the rookie, Murray went on a big run?
Remember when the Pens were on the outside looking in and were in danger of missing the playoffs?
Remember the game in Brooklyn on a Saturday afternoon in early April? I think Murray pitched a shutout, didn't he?
Remember the game in DC in early April? The one were Sid scored the game-winner in OT?
Remember when Murray was injured in Philly in the last game of the season?
Remember when 3rd string G Jeff Zatkoff started Game 1 against the Rangers and won his first-ever playoff start?
Remember when Murray did the exact same thing versus the Rangers when he returned from injury?
Remember how the Pens exorcised the ghosts of playoffs-past and knocked out the Rangers?
Remember when the Pens beat the President's Trophy-winning Capitals?
Remember when the Pens punched their ticket to the Finals with a Game 7 win over Tampa Bay to win the Eastern Conference?
Remember when we thought we'd win Game 5 at home against San Jose for the Pens 1st Stanley Cup winner in front of the home crowd?
Remember the Pens shellacking the Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 to win it in San Jose?
Remember Sid hoisting the Cup and accepting the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP?
Of course, you do. You remember every last moment of it. It was an unforgettable season.
Thank you, Pittsburgh Penguins and congratulations on a stuPENSdous season.
Let's Go Pens!!!!
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