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Penguins Parade 2017: Twitter Reaction, Photos, Videos and More
June 14, 2017
The Pittsburgh Penguins got to celebrate their second consecutive Stanley Cup title with an enthusiastic crowd that lined the city streets for a championship celebration Wednesday.
The Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, capturing the title with a 2-0 victory in Game 6 on Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.
You would never know this has become old hat in Pittsburgh—which has seen the Penguins win three championships since 2009—based on the number of people packing the streets and even cramming into a parking garage to get a look at the team.
The Penguins even captured video of one fan unable to contain her emotions because of all the cheering she was doing:
The good news is Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sidney Crosby was able to give everyone, including those fans atop the parking garage, a good look at the Stanley Cup. WPXI's Chase Williams captured the moment:
There was also plenty of excitement by the players. The NHL shared a GIF of Phil Kessel, who has never known anything but winning in his two years with the Penguins, giving back to the fans:
Ian Cole and Carl Hagelin were doing their best impression of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski during a trip around the streets of Pittsburgh:
Breakout star Jake Guentzel, who had 21 points in 25 playoff games, got to take part in his first Stanley Cup celebration and was even rewarded with a gift from a fan, via Mike Necciai of the Hockey Writers:
Fan Carlylyn Vetere captured Phil Kessel signing one fan's baby:
Not everyone was partaking in the consumption of alcohol to celebrate, as Matt Gajtka of DK Pittsburgh Sports noted:
In the midst of the celebration, Penguins goalie Matt Murray was able to discuss one of the more sentimental moments of the Stanley Cup Final involving Marc-Andre Fleury, via WPXI:
The moment came during the Penguins' postgame celebration when Fleury found Murray and handed him the Stanley Cup in a symbolic passing of the torch.
Fleury may have played his final game for the Penguins after being drafted first overall by the franchise in 2003. He agreed to waive his no-movement clause that will make him eligible for the expansion draft June 21 when the Vegas Golden Knights build their roster, per Jimmy Murphy of Murphy's Hockey Law.
If it was the end of Fleury's time as a member of the Penguins, the fans gave him a nice ovation on the way out, via KDKA CBS Pittsburgh:
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Wednesday's parade drew an estimated crowd of 650,000 fans, up from 400,000 one year ago.
The Penguins figure to be a force in the NHL next season. Crosby, Kessel, Murray, Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin are just some of the key players still under contract. Kris Letang, who didn't play in the postseason, will be back after having neck surgery in April.
Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup title this year made it the first franchise to repeat as champion since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings. Another one next season would make the Penguins the NHL's first three-peat champion since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980-83.