Penguins perfectly poised to shoot for three-peat

PITTSBURGH - The NHL's salary cap was something Mario Lemieux, the owner, passionately supported during the 2004-05 lockout season.

But Mario Lemieux, the superstar player, would have fought it to the bitter end.

"We couldn't compete with the (New York) Rangers and LA and Chicago and Detroit," the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Famer-turned-chairman said after the Penguins won their second straight Stanley Cup by blanking the Nashville Predators 2-0 in Game 6 of the final last Sunday.