Penguins did some growing up on the way to the Cup

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I'll be the first to admit it when I'm wrong.

The NHL indeed saved the best for last.

The series had everything you could possibly ask for in a playoff championship in any sport, including an underdog winner. While the Penguins always had the talent to defeat the mighty Red Wings, there was nothing but doubt surrounding their ability to pull off the series, especially after they got dominated in back-to-back 3-1 losses to start the series, then were trounced, 5-0 in Game 5.

There even had to be doubt when Sidney Crosby was unable to play most of Game 7 with an injury. But still, the Penguins showed that youthful resiliency that was the reason they made to the post season in the first place. Let's not forget that this was a team that was not assured a playoff spot with three quarters of the season done.

While the spotlight will go to the kids - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury, this championship would not have been possible without the timely leadership of some of the veterans.

Maxime Talbot's two goals propelled the Pens to victory in Game 7, but let's not forget his other two-goal performance in a must-win Game 3 for Pittsburgh. And let us not forget the defensive heroics of Rob Scuderi, without which there would not have been a seventh game.

The knock on the Penguins going into the series was that it was Sid the Kid and Malkin and who else? Against a more complete team like Detriot, how did they stand a chance? With just Crosby and Malkin, they didn't. But the role players did the little things and they won the way you're supposed to win championships - as a team.