Pittsburgh Penguins raise Stanley Cup banner (Video)

Watch the Pittsburgh Penguins raise their Stanley Cup banner before their first game of the 2016-17 season. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won four Stanley Cups but perhaps none of them were as unexpected as last season. The Penguins had a terrible start to the season and had to fire their head coach in December. However, after hiring Mike Sullivan, they cruised into the playoffs and won their fourth Stanley Cup. Naturally, they played the Washington Capitals, who they eliminated, in their first game of the 2016-17 season. And they made sure to raise the banner even though the Capitals enjoyed the ceremony from the locker room.

"Banner: RAISED. #StanleyCup https://t.co/P8dVtKrSy9— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October 14, 2016"

Sidney Crosby, despite having a concussion, came out in uniform to carry the Stanley Cup out to the Pittsburgh crowd. While Crosby did not play, he got an incredible ovation from Penguins fans. The Penguins have also won the Stanley Cup in 1991, 1992, and 2009. Owner Mario Lemieux has now won four Stanley Cups with the Penguins. He has won two as a player (1991 and 1992) and two as an owner (2009, 2016). Crosby won his second Stanley Cup.

The Penguins won the Stanley Cup behind their fast, innovative offense. Pittsburgh made a dramatic switch to being a speed team after hiring Sullivan. It was a switch which benefitted the Penguins, most notably Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang. Of course, they would not have won without some help from their HBK line which consists of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel. That line carried the Penguins to an Eastern Conference Semifinals win over the Capitals in six games.

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Despite winning the Stanley Cup, the Penguins will have a difficult time repeating. Many teams have countered what they have done to their offense over the past 10 months.