Left: Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. (David J. Phillip/AP Images) Right: Kobe Bryant celebrates after winning the NBA basketball finals June 14, 2009, in Orlando, Florida. (Dave Sandford via Getty Images)

Championship Weekend

The Pittsburgh Penguins are NHL champions for the third time, and the Los Angeles Lakers win another NBA title

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The seasons of two big-league sports in the U.S.-men's professional hockey and basketball-have ended with dramatic flair.

In hockey, the championship title went to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins beat the team they lost to in last year's title series. Over on the hard court, the Los Angeles Lakers won men's basketball's championship series. That team has spent several years working to reclaim the championship.

Drama on Ice

Last season, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL's (National Hockey League's) Stanley Cup Finals to win the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins and Red Wings met again in the Finals this year. But this time the Penguins weren't going to let Detroit skate away with the Stanley Cup.

In the seventh and final game of the Stanley Cup Finals last week, the Penguins shocked the Red Wings by defeating them on Detroit's home ice. The Penguins won that game, 2-1, to become the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions. It is Pittsburgh's third Stanley Cup championship and first since 1992.

After a scoreless first period, Pittsburgh center Max Talbot put the Penguins up 2-0 in the second by scoring two goals. In the third, Detroit cut Pittsburgh's lead in half on a goal by defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury protected Pittsburgh's one-goal lead, making big saves at key moments. His biggest stop came with only seconds left in the game.

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom was in position close to the goal when he found a rebound that had bounced off of Fleury. Lidstrom settled the puck down and shot. But Fleury dove to his right and used his chest to keep the puck out of the goal.

A couple of seconds after the game ended, Penguins players threw their sticks and gloves in the air in celebration.

"It's a dream come true," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "It's everything you imagined and more."

Crosby is 21 years old. He's the youngest team captain in NHL history to lead his squad to the Stanley Cup.

Crosby's teammate Evgeni Malkin was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2009 NHL playoffs. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. Malkin was the postseason scoring leader. He scored 14 goals and had 22 assists. He is the first Russian player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Kobe Bryant's Mission Accomplished

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant wanted to win a fourth NBA (National Basketball Association) championship very badly.

Coming into the 2009 season, Bryant had won three championships while playing on the team with Shaquille O'Neal. The team's last title came in 2002. Since then, the basketball world has wondered if Bryant could lead the team to a championship without Shaq's help. Shaq was traded after the 2003-2004 season. He now plays for the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers came close to another title last year. The team was within two victories of the NBA title. But the Boston Celtics outplayed the Lakers and won.

This year, Bryant and the Lakers met the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals. The series was over almost as soon as it began.

Led by Bryant, the Lakers won game five of the NBA championship series on Sunday night. The Lakers won the series, 4-1. It's the team's 15th NBA championship.

"It felt so good to have this moment," Bryant said. "For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything you've been through, it's top of the list."

Orlando got off to a quick start and led Los Angeles throughout most of the first half. But with 5:52 left in the second quarter, the Lakers took control.

A Derek Fisher three-pointer led the Lakers to a 16-0 run and a 52-40 lead. And from there, Los Angeles never looked back. The Magic came within five points of the Lakers early in the third quarter. Bryant made sure they got no closer.

Bryant led all scorers in game five with 30 points and five assists. He averaged 32.4 points a game in the Finals and scored a total of 162 points in the series.

Bryant was named the 2009 playoffs MVP.

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