For two days, every weather forecast called for thunderstorms over those who showed up Downtown to celebrate the Penguins' fifth Stanley Cup.
The forecasts were wrong. It was sunny, it was hot, it was humid and the streets overflowed with humanity -- the Pittsburgh Police estimated attendance at 650,000 -- instead of raindrops. I covered 8,000-plus steps, drank more than two liters of water strapped to my back, and took more than 2,000 photos in the 2 1/2 hours of the parade.
Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz slammed beers along Grant Street. Fans in Cup-themed outfits chanted 'Let's go Pens!' on Commonwealth Place. Evgeni Malkin applauded a group stationed under a Boulevard of the Allies pedestrian bridge who cheered 'One-oh-one!' as he strolled by.
I've overstuffed this commemorative edition with 21 of my favorite frames from the parade. Start with Malkin's walk above, and journey through the parade until you reach Phil Bourque ready to party by the river:
Iceburgh gets the party moving with a dance on Grant Street. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Chad Ruhwedel shows the crowd respect as he rolls through the route. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Ron Hainsey isn't in Raleigh anymore, now undefeated in Stanley Cup playoff series. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Carl Hagelin and Ian Cole FaceTime their way through the start of the parade. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz start the party early. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Marc-Andre Fleury rides swiftly through the first leg of the parade. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Kris Letang walks in his third Stanley Cup parade. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Sidney Crosby hoists the Cup at the corner of Grant Street and Forbes Avenue. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Sidney Crosby leaves the ride behind to give young fans a closer look at the Cup. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Chris Kunitz shares the Cup with the reaching hands of all-aged fans. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Confetti rains down outside PPG Place. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Sidney Crosby holds the Cup as the confetti continues to fall. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Sidney Crosby rides with the Cup past the old Kaufmann's garage along the Boulevard. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Kris Letang stops for selfies and autographs and such. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Sidney Crosby's vehicle makes the final turn off of the Boulevard and toward the celebration. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Crosby rolls along Commonwealth Place. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Crosby points out the crowd waiting at Point State Park. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Mike Lange looks out at his fifth Stanley Cup celebration crowd. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
Marc-Andre Fleury grabs the Cup as he's called upon. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
"What do you say we take this thing out on the river and party all summer?" - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS