In 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup Finals and were soundly beaten by the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. It was clear which club was stronger.
In fact, it seemed so obvious that Penguin’s All-Star Marian Hossa turned down a huge 5-year contract offer from Pittsburgh at the end of the season in order to take a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Hossa, a four-time NHL All-Star, believed he could just swoop into Detroit for a year and pick up a Stanley Cup in 2009.
For a while it looked like Marian had made the right decision. The Penguins season looked lost by mid-season and team management was forced to bring in a new coach. Almost instantly, things changed. In fact, Pittsburgh played better than any other team during the final stretch of the season with the team recovering enough to secure home ice for the first round of the 2009 playoffs. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the boys battled rival Philadelphia before securing a 4-2 series win in the first round.
In the next round, the Penguins faced Alex Ovechkin and the #2 seed Washington Capitals. The Pens quickly went down 2-0, before securing an OT win in game 3. The series went a full 7 games with Pittsburgh delivering a devastating 6-2 defeat to the Caps on their home ice. The team was getting stronger.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Pittsburgh dominated the Carolina Thrashers and quickly won the series 4-0. They were ready for another shot at the Stanley Cup. As fate would have it, they were going to have to face Detroit and Marian Hossa if they were to win it. Moreover, Detroit had home ice advantage and the memory of 2008′s domination.
The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals turned out to be a classic, going 7 games, with the home team winning the first 6. The Penguins, of course, broke that trend in winning game 7 in Detroit and taking the Stanley Cup from the Redwings.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, as a team and an organization showed the heart and dedication it takes to be a
Sidney Crosby raises the Stanley Cup and celebrates with thousands of Penguins fans. Photo property of The Pittsburgh Penguins
Champion. Knocked down hard by Detroit last year, abandoned by Hossa, and lost through the first part of 2009′s regular season, they persevered through the hard times and came out stronger.
There is a lesson here for all of us. Stay focused, committed, and keep working hard no matter what the results and what others say or do. As Vince Lombardi said, “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”
If you follow that advice, then you will have the heart of a champion and an opportunity to raise that trophy and taste the sweetness of victory.
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Detroit Red Wings, Evgeni Malkin, heart of a champion, Marian Hossa, NHL Playoffs, perseverence, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sydney Crosby