Fans Catch Stanley Cup Final Fever, Ready To Watch Pens Take On Sharks
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The fans are out in full force. People from near and far, big and small.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is here and everyone is ready.
"We have three but we're going for four," New Jersey resident Mike Fogarty said.
Fogarty and his girlfriend made the five-hour trek from New Jersey to watch the Pens play at CONSOL Energy Center.
Johanna Fiallo's outfit says it all. She paired black and yellow leggings with Penguins' socks and yellow tennis shoes.
"I was looking for leggings. I found these leggings, so I paired them up with the socks," Fiallo, Fogarty's girlfriend, said.
"I'm a diehard fan from Jersey. I'm glad she joined the picture with me," Fogarty said of his girlfriend. "If she was a Sharks fan, I would not have brought her. We'd have to come separate."
KDKA did find some Sharks fans hanging around CONSOL Energy Center ahead of Game 1. Mark Chiavetta and his buddies flew in on Sunday.
"I think the Sharks are gonna take it. We got a great group of guys," Chiavetta said.
That was a sentiment echoed by a former Penguin who is now behind enemy lines.
"So fortunate to be here with a great team; and obviously, playing a good team," said Sharks defenseman Paul Martin. "So, whoever is writing this script for me is enjoying it. And I'm going to have to get through it somehow. I'm looking forward to it though; it should be a good and fun challenge."
Heather Sondrini bought a Stanley Cup Final jersey at the Pens Gear store inside the arena. She made sure she got the Stanley Cup Final patch put on it.
"I've been a huge [Jaromir] Jagr fan ever since he came to the league, then it developed on to [Evgeni] Geno Malkin, and they're my boys," Sondrini, a New Hampshire resident, said.
Her prediction: "I'm thinking 6-5 Penguins. Overtime."
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The Penguins spent the weekend preparing on the ice and in front of the bright lights and TV cameras. Coach Mike Sullivan says he's relying on team speed and his deep team to win.
"I think both Sid and Geno have really bought into the team concept that we've tried to implement. Fortunately, for us, we have a group of players and a team that's deep, and so we have the ability to use our whole bench," said Sullivan. "And with the type of game that we're trying to play, a speed game, it takes a lot of energy to play the style of play that we're trying to play. So, our ability to use the bench, I think helps all of us, Sid and Geno included, to play the type of game that we need to play in order to create a competitive advantage."
There are still some tickets floating around, if you don't mind paying. We found some on Stub Hub, ranging anywhere from $200 to more than $1,000.
But, it won't cost you a dime to watch the game on the big screen. It'll be up during all of the home games, so you might want to go, especially if Fogarty is right on his prediction.
"I say take it in five. Tonight, 5-3 us," Fogarty said.