Pittsburgh Penguins

Thousands gather at Consol, Market Square big screens to cheer on Pens

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The area in front of the big screen outside Consol Energy Center filled to capacity early Thursday evening, so the Pittsburgh Penguins and city of Pittsburgh announced a second screen would be set up in Market Square to accommodate the sea of fans.

Thousands of fans lined up along Washington Place in Uptown hours before Game 5 Thursday. Officials said an estimated 10,000 people filled the space outside Consol to take in the game.

Just before 6:30 p.m., construction of a second screen began in Market Square, which quickly filled up with fans.

Penguins fans were spread out all across the city. Many bars on Pittsburgh’s South Side, including Carson City Saloon, expected a full house.

“I'm sure they win it tonight. All of Pittsburgh hopes that’s the case,” Pens fan Brittany Sismour said.

Among the tens of thousands of Pens fans watching the game on TV is Evan Strain, who said he wouldn’t even allow his high school graduation to get in the way of seeing his favorite team potentially win the Stanley Cup.

"Getting my diploma and coming home and watching Sid (Crosby) and (Evgeni) Malkin and everyone raise the Cup would just be pretty cool. It would stick with me for a really long time,” Strain said.

Unfortunately for Pens fans, the team lost 4-2 in Game 5.

Game 6 takes the Penguins and Sharks back to California. The puck drops Sunday on Channel 11 at 8 p.m.

Cox Media Group

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