Party on Fifth Ave.

[Captain Canada]

Rakell scores hat-trick, Gibson pitches shut out. Pens advance to Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3 | Game 5 - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

0 vs. 3



1ST PERIOD
NO SCORING

2ND PERIOD
7:05 - Rickard Rakell (4) Assisted by: Owen Pickering & Boone Jenner

3RD PERIOD
7:29 - Rickard Rakell (5) Assisted by: None [SH]
10:05 - Rickard Rakell (6) Assisted by: Boone Jenner & Philip Tomasino [PP]

---

Goaltending Matchup
vs.

Boston Bruins: Jeremy Swayman - 27 saves on 30 shots | Pittsburgh Penguins: John Gibson - 22 saves on 22 shots

Series Matchup: Boston 1 - 4 Pittsburgh

[Caesar]

You going another season after this one?

[Captain Canada]

You going another season after this one?

Haven't decided yet. It's been a long grind. Might depend on if we win the Cup or not. I'm due for a championship

[Agent]

On to the next one

[James]

TIME TO GET THE CUP!

[redsox907]

where the cup at yo

[djp73]

#7months

[Captain Canada]

where the cup at yo

#7months

Wanted to finish my season with SMU before playing the Cup Finals.

[djp73]

[Captain Canada]

[/center][/Table]

Stanley Cup Finals Preview - Edmonton Oilers vs Pittsburgh Penguins For years, the NHL world wondered if it would ever see Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid - two of the greatest talents of their respective generations - meet on hockey’s biggest stage. In 2025, it’s finally happening. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers collide in a dream Stanley Cup Final loaded with legacy, star power, and the sense that the sport itself is entering a defining moment. The Penguins arrive in the Finals, powered by one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Pittsburgh is averaging an eye-popping 3.87 goals per game through the playoffs, overwhelming teams with depth scoring, constant pressure, and a rejuvenated core. Crosby remains the emotional and tactical engine - his two-way brilliance still unmatched - while a rotating cast of wingers has stepped up at key moments to keep defenses off balance. But not all is perfect. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill has been a clear vulnerability, struggling to contain structured attacks and allowing momentum-swinging goals at inopportune moments. Against an Edmonton team featuring McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and an elite power-play structure, the Penguins cannot afford extended time defending shorthanded. The X-factor, however, may be the man in net. Since arriving at the trade deadline, John Gibson has been everything Pittsburgh hoped for - steady, athletic, and unflappable. His .919 save percentage has stabilized the defensive zone and allowed the Penguins to play their high-tempo game without fear of breakdowns. Gibson’s ability to withstand Edmonton’s speed will be tested unlike anything he’s faced so far. The Oilers enter the Final with an opportunity that’s been building for years: their chance to end a long, painful Stanley Cup drought and deliver Edmonton its first championship since the days of the dynasty. For Connor McDavid, this is more than just a series - it’s the moment that could fully cement his superstardom with the one accolade critics have held above him. The support around him is finally matching the moment. Edmonton’s defense has tightened, their stars have stayed healthy, and the team’s structure—so often a past weakness—has sharpened over the course of the playoffs. Perhaps the biggest story is in net. Stuart Skinner, facing arguably the most pressure of his young career, has elevated himself into a genuine playoff force. His .923 save percentage ranks among the best of the postseason, and he has delivered clutch stops in high-leverage moments. Against the highest-scoring attack he’s faced yet, Skinner will need to be just as sharp. Edmonton’s deadly power play may decide this matchup. If the Oilers can exploit Pittsburgh’s weak penalty kill, the pendulum could swing quickly in their favor. The Legacy Series This Final isn’t just a battle for a championship - it’s a battle for historical space. For Crosby, a fourth Stanley Cup would further tighten his claim in the GOAT conversation, placing him in the company of only a handful of legends who've dominated the sport across two decades. For McDavid, a first championship would be the capstone his critics say he needs - and perhaps the start of a new era with him at the center. Generational talent vs. generational talent. Old guard vs. new. A franchise chasing one more chapter vs. a franchise desperate to write a new one. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final isn’t just a series. It’s the hockey world finally getting the matchup it’s always wanted. Prediction The Penguins have rolled through the Eastern Conference with relative ease, but they won't have captain Sidney Crosby available for Game 1. The Oilers have to take advantage of a weakened Penguins squad. Trevor Zegras needs to continue his red-hot play , as he is only behind McDavid in the scoring leaders race. The Oilers battled it out for six games with the Winnipeg Jets, swept the Seattle Kraken, and then slipped past the Cinderella story Nashville Predators (who had taken down the Dallas Stars and the league-leading Colorado Avalanche). If Gibson continues to play out of his mind and backstop the Penguins, we can see this series being a five-game series win for the Penguins. Tale of the Tape Trevor Zegras - Evgeni Malkin [A] - Brock Boeser Rickard Rakell - Boone Jenner - Bryan Rust [A] Emil Bemstrom - Rutger McGroarty - Philip Tomasino Ville Koivunen - Blake Lizotte - Sam Poulin Ivan Provorov - Erik Karlsson Owen Pickering - Kris Letang [A] Matt Grzelcyk - Jack St. Ivany John Gibson ------------ Leon Draisaitl [A] - Connor McDavid [C] - Zach Hyman Evander Kane - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins [A] - Viktor Arvidsson Jeff Skinner - Adam Henrique - Kasperi Kapanen Mattias Janmark - Trent Frederic - Corey Perry Darnell Nurse - Evan Bouchard Jake Walman - Brett Kulak Travis Dermott - Troy Stecher Stuart Skinner Injury Report D Mattias Ekholm (Lower Body) - Out | F Trent Frederic (Upper Body) - Questionable F Sidney Crosby (Upper Body) - Doubtful