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allgoodmarks · 6 years

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ALL IN

The energy inside of the Sears Centre on September 1, 2018 was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The excitement was palpable. The halls echoed with anxious chatter and the occasional bellow of "SCU!". The merchandise table line stretched halfway around the arena. The door opened at 3:00ct and most everyone was bouncing in their seats by 4. We were ready to witness history that night.

When the lights dimmed, the crowd ignited. We were on our feet, we were screaming, cheering, chanting "All In, All In, All In!". Our expectations were high. They never fell an inch, and yet, they were surpassed magnificently.

Zero Hour

The audience was thrilled to see Cody and the Young Bucks at the start of the show. The three of them only had a spare 90 seconds, but they used the time to greet their fans, make some jokes, and give out free merchandise. A surprise appearance by Road Warrior Animal on his motorcycle hyped the crowd even more.

SoCal Uncensored vs. The Briscoes

The crowd was ready. No, we were more than ready. The enthusiastic chants of "SCU!" rocked the building as Scorpio Sky stood out in his red, white, and blue spangled robe and hat, and Frankie Kazarian showed his enthusiasm in black and gold Rocky trunks. The Briscoes stalked to the ring amongst a chorus of low boos. The audience was fantastic. They had their own part to play in this show, and they performed marvelously. They might have sold additional PPV subscriptions just by their enthusiasm. SCU and the Briscoes matched the crowd's energy with a great opening performance that was hard-hitting and entertaining.

Winners: SCU

Over Budget Battle Royal

This event featured a spectacular array of talent from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We were treated to a variety of great storylines all throughout the match. From Cheeseburger to Tommy Dreamer to Ethan Page to Jimmy Jacobs to Billy and Austin Gunn, there really was something for everyone in this match. Jordynne Grace stood out among the competitors, not only as the only female participant, but for a stellar performance. Her strength and skill were on full display, and the crowd erupted when we saw her face off against the Swolverine, Brian Cage. The crowd quickly got behind Marko Stunt and cheered him on against his much larger competition. Bully Ray was great playing the spoiler for so many participants and the climax between him and Chicago's favorite, Colt Cabana, was intense. The end of the match succeeded in being both expected and unexpected, as we all knew Flip Gordon would be a part of the show in some form or another. Still, his reveal brought the crowd to its feet with a deafening roar of celebration.

Winner: Flip Gordon

All In

MJF vs. Matt Cross

All In's first official match began with great heel action from MJF and clear audience support for Matt Cross. I had never had the privilege of seeing Cross perform live before, and everyone assured me I would be in for a spectacle. They were right! Cross is an athletic marvel. Watching him and MJF play off of one another was truly a delight.

Winner: Matt Cross

Christopher Daniels vs. Stephen Amell

Jerry Lynn entered the arena to cheers and a chant of "Jer-ry! Jer-ry!" This was a highly anticipated match with a great deal of uncertainty over how Stephen Amell would perform in only his third pro-wrestling match ever. He quieted his critics immediately with an impressive display of new skills. The audience responded with awe and respect for Amell's performance, but they were also solidly behind the veteran, Daniels. The longer the match stretched, the more tired Amell seemed to become, but he executed a wonderful Coast to Coast to an explosive cheer. To the audience's shock, Amell flew through the air and through a table at ringside. Of course, Jerry Lynn interfered in the match, much to the crowd's delight. Even with a loss, Stephen Amell impressed the audience with a great showing of potential.

Winner: Christopher Daniels

Tessa Blanchard vs. Chelsea Green vs. Madison Rayne vs. Britt Baker

A highly anticipated women's match that did not fail to impress. These four powerful and skilled women gave a performance that excelled on all fronts. Every woman had a solid fan base present. Green quickly became the crowd's favorite, having fun with a unique character. Blanchard dominated with her incredible strength, Rayne impressed with her athleticism, and Baker shone bright with great skill and passion. There was no slow or dull moment in this match. The audience cheered, clapped, and chanted throughout the duration, completely enthralled with these women's incredible performances. The first "This is awesome!" of the night rang throughout the building. The end came swiftly and unexpected, but the audience was ecstatic. A match that many people consider the show stealer ended in a wonderful show of respect between these incredibly skilled athletes.

Winner: Tessa Blanchard

Cody vs. Nick Aldis for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship

A great, historic match that began with the traditional walk to the ring surrounded by mentors and friends. Cody was accompanied by his family, Tommy Dreamer, Diamond Dallas Page, and even his dog, Pharaoh. As usual, Brandi Rhodes stood out with a gorgeous outfit, this one made of sheer fabric and sparkling like diamonds. The chant of "Cody! Cody! Cody!" pierced my ears and shook the arena. Nick Aldis surprised much of the audience with his entourage including Jeff Jarrett, Samuel Shaw, and Shawn Daivari. The crowd trembled with excitement. Even Earl Hebner as the referee was at a loss for words. Everyone was on their feet even before the match began. This promised to be a show-stealer and it did not disappoint.

The story of the match began early. Cody was the fan-favorite, the sentimental pick for the win. Aldis was the cold and calculated champion, ready to play spoiler to this fairy tale. The audience was shocked to see Hebner throw up the "X" to indicate injury to Cody early in the match. Everyone rose to their feet again, a concerned hush falling over the entire arena. When DDP ran to the ring, shortly followed by Daivari, the crowd perked up again, relieved that it was all part of the storyline. The sight of his own blood seemed to rejuvenate Cody and the match continued at a fast, exciting pace. Brandi took a huge bump when Aldis landed an elbow right in her back while she covered her husband with her own body. The match had several false finishes, but the pin came suddenly, and the audience leapt to its feet, as it had done so many times in this match.

The celebration began immediately, Cody and Brandi overcome with emotion, their fans shouting and screaming in elation. It was an amazing moment, seeing Cody hold the NWA Championship in the middle of the ring. Emotions ran high, tears flowed. It was a great moment for everyone, for Cody and his family and the fans watching around the world.

Winner: Cody, New NWW Worlds Heavyweight Champion

Joey Janela vs. Hangman Page in a Chicago Street Fight

No one envied Janela and Page with their task of following the incredible moment before them. Their match would have to be imaginative, exciting, and over the top. How would they, too, exceed expectations?

Penelope Ford, in a cute black and flower top, accompanied Janela that night. It did not take long for the Chicago Street Fight to explode to the outside of the ring, where Page introduced the first of many weapons in the match. The audience, still high from the previous combat, took a moment to settle in for this one, but the threat of violence from steel chairs, tables, ladders, and a literal cracker barrel from Cracker Barrel brought them back to their feet. Ford involved herself as well, displaying her incredible athleticism with Matrix-like dodge moves and a Stunner to Page. The audience erupted to see her dive off the top rope and hit him with a Cross-Body. The crowd responded with a "This is awesome!" chant. Excitement built as Janela set up two tables in the entranceway and Page Powerbombed him through them to chants of "Joey-killer". The crowd's anticipation grew with the introduction of two plastic garbage bags, one containing Page's cowboy boots. The sight of them threw Page into a panic and he Super-Kicked Ford. Page set up the climax of the match, revealing the phone he used to kill Joey Ryan, and then nearly killed Joey Janela with a Rite of Passage from the top of the ladder through a table.

Winner: Adam Page

But they weren't finished. The lights dimmed. The TV screen horrified the audience with a shot of Joey Ryan's corpse. And then he rose.

Adam Page stood, shocked, in the ring, as a parade of penises walked somberly to the stage. The audience watched in awe, some responding with a chant of "Holy dicks!". And then, in an eruption of color and cheers, Joey Ryan came. The audience responded gleefully at Adam Page's shocked expression as the man he thought was dead sauntered to the ring and then attacked him. Page's prone body was cradled and carried out in the soft arms of the phalluses, all while the audience chanted "Rest in penis". RIP.

Flip Gordon vs. Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship

The audience was thrilled to welcome back Black Machismo, decked out in "Macho Man" Randy Savage's red and yellow gear. Lanny Poffo accompanied him, while Brandi Rhodes, changed from her earlier outfit to a army-esque body suit, stood by Flip Gordon. This match promised everything: nostalgia from Poffo, prestige from Jay Lethal as the ROH Champion, comedy from Black Machismo's antics, and a taste of the future of pro-wrestling from the young Flip Gordon. Chants for both Flip and Black Machismo rang through the arena, but much of the crowd was behind the underdog, Gordon. They had already seen one new champion crowned and they were hoping to see another. Poffo invoked the spirit of his brother by sending Lethal up to the top rope to deliver 3 Hail to the Kings. Gordon played along by "hulking up" and hitting his opponent with a Big Boot. The audience loved every moment of the story being told in the ring, believing that Gordon could upset the champion, but in the end, Lethal was victorious.

Winner: Jay Lethal, still ROH World Champion

The wonderful embrace of respect between Lethal and Gordon was interrupted by Bully Ray, who ran to the ring to attack them both. He even took Lanny Poffo down, further raising the ire of the crowd. Finally, Bully was stopped by Colt Cabana, who, with Lethal and Gordon, sent him through a table with a Shield-like Power Bomb, even accompanied by an "ooo-rah!" from the audience.

Penta El Zero vs. Kenny Omega

One of the most anticipated matches of the night did not disappoint. It was brutal and powerful, bringing the audience to its feet many times. A "holy shit" chant began even before the match. This was one of those rare encounters where many people didn't much care who won. They were here to see the performances of the athletes in the ring. If this match lasted the rest of the night, not many people would have complained. Penta brought his hard-hitting, impactful style to the quick and limber Omega. One of the loudest pops of the night came from Penta's package Power Bomb on the ring apron. People had to look away from the replay. The agility of both men were on full display, with flawless and graceful counters throughout the match keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The false finishes kept the intense tempo of the match and the hearts of the audience leaping in their chests. This was no one's least-favorite match of the night.

Winner: Kenny Omega

Another complete blackout indicated that the emotional ride was not yet complete. When the lights came back up, Kenny Omega was attacked by Penta, now with a Fozzy tattoo on his left arm. The audience jumped to their feet again, knowing that the masked man before them was actually Chris Jericho. He pulled off his Penta mask and gave Omega an ominous threat- that he would see him on the Jericho Cruise. The shocked audience was ecstatic, most having no idea that Y2J was even in the building. The entire arena was left buzzing.

Marty Scurll vs. Kazuchika Okada

Part of the double/triple main event, this match was anticipated excitedly for months. Could Scurll stand with the heavyweights, especially against the agile powerhouse Okada, the longest-reigning NWGP Champion of all time? The buzz around this match palpitated for weeks and when the time finally came... the crowd was absolutely exhausted. We were 4 hours into the most emotionally draining (in a good way!) show we had attended in a long time, with no intermission, no "low card" match to sneak out of for a moment. The crowd had stayed in their seats from the first bell because we couldn't bear to miss a moment. So when Scurll and Okada sauntered down the ramp, it was to an audience that was struggling to focus, despite the excitement.

Even though the chants may have been slightly subdued than previously in the night, they were forceful. The 11,000+ people in the building were split, half chanting for Scurll, half for Okada, some, like me, chanting for both. And the performers gave everything they had. Their effort rallied the crowd's attention back to the ring. It didn't matter how tired they were, the incredible action was too good to miss. Scurll moved with intelligence. He used mind games and fake-outs to lure Okada off guard. Meanwhile, the Rainmaker plowed forward with his strength and took advantage of his size and weight. Every false finish brought the crowd to its feet again. They wondered if Scurll would somehow manage to defeat his much larger opponent and prove he belongs with the heavyweights. Unfortunately for him, Okada's power was too much to overcome. Despite the Villain's loss, the crowd applauded and cheered for him in a well-deserved show of respect.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Rey Fenix, Bandido, and Rey Mysterio vs. Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi

All In's main event delivered a great deal in a small amount of time. We knew it would be a brief affair, seeing how quickly Marty Scurll and Kazuchika Okada cleared the ring after their match. This promised to be one of the fastest-paced, high-flying matches of the night. People couldn't blink for fear of missing a single moment. The anticipated match-up between Mysterio and Ibushi drew a chant of "Holy shit" even before they began. This spectacle did not disappoint. The match broke down only after a few minutes and the athletes' pure agility and skill were on full display. They executed so many innovative maneuvers that I couldn't even begin to describe them all, except for "amazing". How we wished the match could have gone on much longer.

Winner: Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi

The Pay Per View feed cut off in mid-sentence, but the show in the Sears Centre went on. The Young Bucks and Ibushi remained in the ring and called down their friends and family. Cody, Brandi, and Kenny Omega joined them, along with Papa and Mama Buck, Mrs. Matt, and the Buck children. The ring was full of beaming, ecstatic people. They stood before the 11,000+ people in the arena and showed great humility, thanking the audience for their support and contribution. Whenever one performer thanked another, that person in turn thanked everyone else. Emotions were the highest they had been all night. The crowd was assured that none of their favorite wrestlers were going anywhere, and they responded with a resounding chant of "All In 2! All In 2!"

No one can argue the success of All In. 11,263 people were in attendance that night, and many more watched the spectacle on TV. This was an experience unlike any other in recent memory. All In was a show produced by wrestlers who deeply love professional wrestling and who sincerely wanted to give their fans a new product to enjoy. Words cannot express how much the wrestling fans around the world appreciate their efforts. From the moment the idea was born, we watched for updates with bated breath, leaping on the chance to secure tickets to witness history. All In was everything we had hoped for and more. As a wrestling fan, the future is looking bright.

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junker-town · 5 years

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So, uh, can anything stop the Patriots?

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

New England’s offense and defense shined in a Week 1 win. But can its pass rush stand up under scrutiny?

On Sunday night, the Patriots did two things they’ve gotten exceedingly good at since 2001. They unveiled a new NFL championship banner at Gillette Stadium, then dismantled the Steelers on their home turf.

Week 1’s 33-3 thrashing of Pittsburgh was a statement game from the defending champs. A smothering defense held a typically explosive Steelers offense to zero touchdowns and only 5.0 yards per play. Tom Brady looked as solid as ever on the other side of the ball, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns the week before Antonio Brown is set to join the team.

It was business as usual for Brady, who improved to 6-0 at home against Pittsburgh with 21 touchdowns and zero interceptions in that span. It was also business as usual for a reloaded defense, which has now given up six total points in its last two games dating back to Super Bowl 53.

New England came into its title defense with problems at wideout, along the offensive line, and with a defensive front that lost several key playmakers. Then the team went out and thrashed the Steelers in a game that was effectively finished by halftime. But even after Sunday’s display of dominance, there’s one question that may define the NFL’s 2019 season:

Have the Patriots fixed their fatal flaws?

Based on Week 1, here are the areas the Patriots have patched up.

The passing game showed no signs of slowing down with a 42-year-old QB

It was only August when it appeared New England may have a dearth of targets for Brady on its roster. Rob Gronkowski had retired, Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely, and Julian Edelman was out for a big chunk of the preseason with a broken thumb.

Then, by the end of the first week of September, both Gordon and Edelman were back in the lineup. Another veteran All-Pro, the soon-to-debut Brown, is capable of replacing some of the third-and-long magic Gronkowski provided when his team needed him most.

But if Brown fails to pan out, it probably won’t matter. New England’s passing offense was stacked even before coming to terms with 2018’s receiving touchdowns leader.

Sunday night was proof, as Brady spread the ball to a long list of WR and RB targets to obliterate Pittsburgh’s single coverage downfield. Edelman reeled off six catches for 83 yards. Gordon showed he’s still a dynamic weapon, taking a short drag route 20 yards to the end zone for the game’s first score and later adding a 44-yard catch on a deep ball in traffic over the middle.

No one benefitted more from New England’s explosive passing attack than former Colts first-round pick Phillip Dorsett. The fifth-year receiver, acquired in 2017 in exchange for Jacoby Brissett, was left to thrive as the Steelers turned their defensive attention elsewhere, creating windows in single coverage Brady was eager to exploit.

Brady hits the man who will be either his 4th, 5th, or 6th wideout once Antonio Brown is activated for a gorgeous touchdown. 17-0, Patriots pic.twitter.com/HZgTp2NfTk

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 9, 2019

Dorsett also added a 58-yard touchdown on a play where the secondary seemed to forget he existed. If that’s happening now, imagine how overloaded opponents are going to be when Brown and Demaryius Thomas, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, are in the lineup.

And this was all made possible because Pittsburgh’s pass rush struggled to keep plays from developing in the season opener.

The blocking, even without David Andrews and Trent Brown, remained tight

Brown, Brady’s 2018 blindside protector, signed the richest deal an offensive lineman’s ever seen to take part in the Raiders’ traveling circus this offseason. Four-year starting center Andrews is on injured reserve as he battles blood clots in his lungs and will likely miss the entire season. These two major departures, paired with injuries to 2019 draft picks Yodny Cajuste and Hjalte Froholdt, sent the Patriots scrambling to add three different linemen — center Russell Bodine, guard Jermaine Eluemunor, and tackle Korey Cunningham — via trade in the waning stages of the preseason.

Bodine lasted a week with the team before earning his release. Cunningham was inactive in Week 1. Eluemunor played only eight snaps on the line Sunday night, all of which came after Marcus Cannon left the game with an upper body injury.

This was not a problem for the Patriots.

Brady was only sacked once on 37 dropbacks and hit five times total. Isaiah Wynn, the 2018 first-round pick slated to replace Nate Solder last fall before tearing his Achilles, neutralized the Pittsburgh pass rush at left tackle, giving up only one quarterback pressure all night. Ted Karras, starting in place of Andrews, directed traffic for a New England offensive line that won the land battle all evening against a bitter rival.

It wasn’t all good. Sony Michel was bottled up for a meager 14 yards on 15 carries, which is concerning. But Rex Burkhead ran for 44 yards on eight touches, which is sort of like having your Mercedes stall out while your Honda Civic drives like a dream. That flexibility was a strength the Pats showcased throughout Week 1.

New England supplemented its limitations on the line by incorporating a bevy of non-lineman blockers to clear space outside the tackles. So while Michel struggled to find space between the hashmarks, Burkhead and James White bounced toward the sideline to move the chains with regularity.

Here, Gordon neutralizes Pro Bowl linebacker T.J. Watt to give White the space to create an early first down:

Full game isn't on GP yet, so I'm gonna break down highlights for now and come back to any that need All-22. White showed flashes as a 3rd down rusher late last season, and his hot streak continued tn. Another headache for defenses. Flash cracks Watt and Cannon blocks two guys pic.twitter.com/0dK6xKYg72

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) September 9, 2019

In the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took advantage of his line’s athleticism and his receivers’ ability to seal off running lanes to spring Burkhead for a 10-yard gain:

ANOTHER 3-WIDE I-FORMATION! This time NE with one of its bread-and-butter runs, a toss with the I/s-most play-side receiver cracking the ED and the OT pulling. Mason, Cannon, Meyers and Edelman all pick up critical blocks pic.twitter.com/2WIsImXmzX

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) September 9, 2019

(Aside: if you’re looking for excellent Patriots film breakdown, Taylor is a must-follow.)

While offensive line depth may be worrisome, it’s clear New England can address that weakness with pulling guards and off-tackle runs that allow one of the league’s better blocking WR groups to pick up the slack.

The defense proved it’s strong from the trenches to the backfield

New England’s defensive plan Sunday night was simple. Bill Belichick trusted his secondary enough to roll with the single coverage that allowed the Pats to throw an extra man into their pass rush when needed. The club currently has a wealth of cornerbacks, led by Stephon Gilmore and ranging down to former undrafted free agents J.C. Jackson and the recently extended Jonathan Jones.

ah, so that's why the Patriots extended Jonathan Jones right before the season started pic.twitter.com/mWNu661BGl

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 9, 2019

The aging safety duo of Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung helped limit the Steelers’ over-the-middle passing game, leaving tight end Vance McDonald without a reception until late in the fourth quarter.

These were all known strengths coming into the season, but the real question the Pats had to answer was whether a defensive front that lost Trey Flowers, Malcom Brown, and Adrian Clayborn could provide enough penetration up front to help a defense that was mediocre in pass-rushing situations and often awful against the rush last year.

It was only one game, but so far the answer is yes. New England held Pittsburgh’s tailbacks to 25 rushing yards on 12 carries. The Patriots stopped James Conner on third-and-1 runs on back-to-back drives in the first half. This was enough to convince Mike Tomlin to call a pass play on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line later in the game, then kick a 19-yard field goal once that failed.

So the rich seem to have gotten richer, turning three of their biggest weaknesses (run stuffing, passing targets, and offensive line departures) into strengths.

What can still go wrong for the Patriots?

Let’s run down the list.

It could be the Pats’ lack of tight end depth

The Patriots only dressed two tight ends Sunday night. Thanks to Matt LaCosse’s lingering ankle injury, Ryan Izzo was the only one who played.

The 2018 seventh-round pick didn’t have much of an impact as a receiver in his first regular season game, but demonstrated his value as a linebacker-nullifying blocker in the running game. That’s the role he’ll be counted on to fill even after Ben Watson returns to boost the passing game.

The Watson-Izzo-LaCosse trio is far from a sure thing. Watson will come back to the lineup in Week 5 after a PED suspension. He’ll also turn 39 years old this December and only had 35 catches in the Saints’ pass-happy offense in 2018. LaCosse may be due for a breakout, or he may be the guy Denver didn’t fight to retain after last year’s 24-catch performance. Other stopgap measures — Lance Kendricks, Eric Saubert, Austin Seferian-Jenkins — have already been expunged from the roster.

This won’t be too drastic a problem as long as whomever hits the starting lineup can block and add a safety valve presence as a receiver. If Brown can return to form in the lineup, Thomas and Dorsett currently stand to be fourth and fifth (though not in that order) in the team’s pecking order for targets. That means a below-average tight end rotation won’t be a problem as long as the guys they do have can block.

But the bigger concern is a lack of dominant pass rusher

The Patriots pressured Pittsburgh into rough situations by leaving their defensive backs on an island and bringing an extra pass rusher to overload the Steelers’ line. While this didn’t lead to many sacks Sunday night, it still kept Ben Roethlisberger from getting comfortable in the pocket in a poor performance.

That can work against a wideout corps that features JuJu Smith-Schuster, a drop-heavy Donte Moncrief, and a handful of unproven targets. It will be harder to pull off against the Chiefs’ three-headed monster of Tyreek Hill (once healthy), Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelce or the Texans’ potent passing attack, two teams they’ll play during the regular season and potentially again in the playoffs. If New England needs to focus more on padding its defensive backfield, it will have to create pressure with a four-man front instead of the five- and six-man units that hassled Roethlisberger.

This could be an issue. Michael Bennett remains a versatile force on the defensive line, but the Steelers’ blockers were able to keep him off the box score Sunday night. Shilique Calhoun, who turned an impressive preseason into some solid plays early and played more snaps than anyone else in the front seven, has 0.5 career sacks. Other names like John Simon, Deatrich Wise Jr., and rookie Chase Winovich are dependable supporting cast members, though none is a proven down-to-down pass-rushing threat.

The Patriots relied on their defensive backs to provide the coverage that allowed their defensive line more time to get upfield, but there will be games where that’s not a viable option. Giving a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson extra time to find targets downfield or the room to break contain and run upfield is a recipe for disaster — and it may be the most likely way an opponent exploits New England in 2019.

The defending champs don’t have many weaknesses. Even their big-ticket problems — Gronkowski’s retirement, Andrews’ blood clots — seem to have successful solutions. That doesn’t mean they’re invulnerable. New England was able to keep the Steelers out of the end zone, but there’s evidence to believe a more complete offense can carve out space against what looks like the league’s top secondary.

Will that be enough to derail a franchise that planted its flag atop the way-too-early power rankings by thrashing a familiar AFC foe? It’s too soon to tell — but at least coaches across the league have an idea of how they can topple Belichick and Brady in 2019.

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wavenetinfo · 7 years

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After the Penguins had finally conquered Bridgestone Arena, after the raucous Predators fans had thrown a final catfish and vacated the premises and allowed a few hundred Pittsburgh Penguins supporters to roar, after the TV cameras had turned off and the floodgates had opened to friends and family, Phil Kessel exchanged huge hugs and grateful pounds of relief with his friends. Mark Streit cradled his baby in his arms for gleeful photo opportunities with whomever passed by. Exhausted Penguins conducted versions of what was surely the same celebratory interview in a bevy of languages.

And there, in the middle of it all, was Sidney Crosby.

Even after the glamour of the initial Cup hoist was over, the Penguins captain again held the trophy up for minutes on end as he slowly sauntered around and then through a throng of teammates, coaches and onlooking media. You would forgive Crosby for feeling like it was his own, given that his Penguins became the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings, and he became the first player to lead the NHL in regular-season goals then hoist the Cup since Wayne Gretzky in 1986-1987 — Crosby’s birth year. While Crosby’s first title was a victory of revenge and redemption over those same Red Wings, and the second was a return to the summit after physical adversity, this was a triumph of sheer will. Pittsburgh survived its way to this championship.

It took a win in Game 6 to keep the Penguins from tying an NHL record for the longest postseason in league history, but in their 25th game of these playoffs, the Penguins delivered an unlikely victory. Beating the Predators in Nashville, where the home team had gone 9-1 before Sunday’s must-win Game 6? Winning a defensive struggle? It’s weird to think of a team with the silky skills of Crosby, Kessel and Evgeni Malkin gritting their way to a championship, but once the shooting luck they rode to stay alive early in this series wore off, Pittsburgh turned in what was mostly an impressive defensive display, a stretch of simply hanging on.

“The way we were able to get better with every series, that was a big thing for us,” Crosby told ESPN.

Their biggest improvement over this trek came on defense once Matt Murray returned to the lineup from injury. Murray, who ran a .937 save percentage after taking over for Marc-Andre Fleury in the Ottawa series, became the first goalie to roll off consecutive shutouts in the Stanley Cup Final since Chris Osgood (against the Penguins) in 2008.

Murray snuffed out repeated Preds chances from point-blank range, climaxing with a brilliant stop on a Colton Sissons breakaway in the second period. As much as Murray has been an afterthought at times — and there were certainly Penguins fans calling for Marc-Andre Fleury as recently as Game 5 — who has a better r?sum? as a big-game goalie this early in his career? Murray turned 23 last month and has two meaningful roles in Cup victories to his name.

If he’s the Grant Fuhr to this team, well, that’s a compliment.

The Penguins didn’t make it easy for Murray or themselves. They committed each of the four penalties the referees called without generating one on Nashville, including a pair of naive plays in their own zone, which set up a five-on-three in the third period. Pittsburgh centermen lost 70 percent of faceoffs through the first two periods, including a 4-for-22 stretch from none other than Crosby and Malkin.

Their defensemen unsurprisingly struggled to transition the puck out of their own zone, including a rash of mistakes from the Penguins rearguard during the first two shifts of the second period. One of those missteps required intervention from a third party, as a premature whistle wiped away what should have been the game’s first goal from Sissons.

It’s fair to wonder whether the Penguins should have needed a disallowed goal to stay within a goal of the Cup for the first 58 minutes of the contest. The Predators basically spent most of this game down to one useful defensive pairing, and while the duo of Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban were massive in stifling Malkin’s line, Nashville hung on for dear life the rest of the way. Their third duo of Matt Irwin and Yannick Weber were basically left to rot on the bench after a horrific Game 5, while Roman Josi and the clearly injured Ryan Ellis couldn’t keep up against Crosby, as Ellis finished with a CF% (Corsi percentage) of 38.9 in 21 minutes of five-on-five play.

With their superstars held off the scoreboard, it took notable efforts from the veterans lurking deeper in Pittsburgh’s forward corps to come away with a victory. Matt Cullen, possibly playing his last NHL game, had a CF% of 60.9 in five-on-five play. The 40-year-old was on the ice for 11 scoring chances in just over 14 minutes of even-strength work. The Cup-winning goal — the physical manifestation of the old clich? about how important it is to just put the puck on (or near) the net — came on a well-timed rebound from Patric Hornqvist. Hornqvist, a former Predators draftee and 30-goal scorer with Nashville, survived the inquest of a coaches’ challenge to etch his name in history with one of the prettiest ugly goals he’ll ever score.

It would be cruel to deny Hornqvist’s old team its role in what was a compelling finals. The Predators rebounded beautifully from their brutal 6-0 loss in Pittsburgh in Game 5, with Pekka Rinne returning to form and stopping Pittsburgh’s first 27 shots on goal. Nobody expected the Predators to make it out of the first round of the playoffs (with a stunning sweep of Chicago that exactly nobody predicted), let alone outplay the Penguins for large chunks of these finals. It will be a long summer of wondering what might have happened if a couple of calls had swung their way, if an official had just managed to catch a glimpse of a puck slipping through Murray’s pads before blowing his whistle. It would have been impossible to begrudge the Predators a Game 7 in Pittsburgh.

And yet, the Penguins did the sorts of things that were supposedly absent during their six-year stretch between titles. They kept themselves alive by winning a pair of Game 7s after losing three consecutive Game 7s in those lean years. They chipped in with a cohesive defensive performance and weren’t dependent upon the hot stretches of their stars. They got great goaltending when they needed it. It might sound like a new story for such a star-laden team — until you remember that the Pens have clinched their Stanley Cups in the Crosby Era by winning 2-1, 3-1 and 2-0.

The Penguins and Crosby have been survivors all along.

Soon after the game, Crosby was asked by ESPN about the possibility of a three-peat. “I can’t imagine how difficult that is, knowing how difficult it was to get to this point,” he said.

You got the feeling as Crosby skated around with the Cup in his hands that, for this night, the future Hall of Famer was happy to celebrate just being the last team alive.

12 June 2017 | 5:41 pm

Source : ABC News

>>>Click Here To View Original Press Release>>>

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