Slippery Penguins claim Stanley Cup

The Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed their fourth Stanley Cup, taking out the NHL's ultimate prize with a 3-1 game six victory over the San Jose Sharks.

The Penguins clinched the best-of-seven championship series 4-2 for the franchise's first title since 2009.

For the Sharks, Sunday's loss marked the end of the team's first ever Stanley Cup Final, which they reached 25 years after they were founded in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who had two assists in the championship-clinching game, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After failing to clinch the title on home ice on Thursday, Pittsburgh returned to San Jose with a 3-2 series lead and made sure the championship did not go to a decider with a clinical display of hockey.

Kris Letang gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead near the midway mark of the second period and Patric Hornqvist sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 62 seconds to play.

Pittsburgh's Brian Dumoulin opened the scoring in the first period and Logan Couture tied the game in the second.

Penguins rookie netminder Matt Murray made 18 saves and only faced two in the third period. His 15 playoff wins by a rookie equals a Stanley Cup playoffs record.