Seven years to the day after their last championship, the Pittsburgh Penguins succeeded in bringing the Stanley Cup back to the Steel City. After a series clinching victory Sunday night in San Jose, the team and its fans began celebrating Pittsburgh’s fourth National Hockey League title.

When Patric Hornqvist racked up an empty-net goal to put the Pens up 3-1 with about a minute left in the game, the Monroe Hotel’s lounge exploded with applause and cheers. The wait was over. And while many said it would have been even better to see the team seize the Cup on home ice, nobody was complaining about the victory.

“It’s simple,” said Tom Rivers. “We’re Pittsburgh proud. Blue collar, hardworking; it’s simple. We love our tradition of winning.”

Lifelong Pens fan Robert Barnes said the victory was another notch in the city’s long history of athletic excellence.

“It’s everything. It means a lot to Pittsburgh that one of our teams pulled through,” Barnes said. “We are the city of champions, and we proved it once again.”

Chris Rockenstein said the championship was a testament to the team’s dedication and the city’s tradition of excellence. Rockenstein said he loves the Pens because of their character, not just their winning ways.

“I think it’s fantastic; it’s great for the city. It just makes everyone proud,” he said. “They (the athletes) do a lot of extra effort that we never see. God bless them.”

After a cautious first period that saw the Penguins take a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Brian Dumoulin, the second frame was frenetic, with each team launching a dozen or more shots toward the net, keeping Pittsburgh fans on the edge of their seats for the entire 20 minutes. A blown two-on-one chance late in the period left fans shaking their heads, but still confident.

“I expected them to be here, in the championship, the whole (year), said Colleen Papst, who was taking in the night’s action at the Monroe Hotel on Sunday. “It’s our time.”

Inside the Monroe’s lounge bartender Geno Malloy dealt with a crowd of dozens of people, the smallest he’s seen this championship series, he said. Small, but faithful. Malloy has been a Pens fan all his life, and counts himself among the fans who never doubted the Penguins’ destiny this season.

“We got Crosby; we got Geno and the HBK line; and with (coach Mike) Sullivan taking over — no doubt. There’s never been any doubt,” Malloy said before hurrying off to fill a drink order.

“I don’t want it to go to game seven though, I can tell you that,” he added on his way back.

The up-and-down second period briefly left Pens fans clutching their heads, with a San Jose goal by Logan Couture with about 6:30 left to play in the period. They didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity to cheer. Little more than a minute later Kris Letang took a pass from Sidney Crosby and flicked it past San Jose goalie Martin Jones, to the delight of the crowd.

“I think the Pens are outplaying them, but it’s still too close,” said Jeanean Malloy.

Malloy and her co-worker, Liz Monaco, are both Evgeni Malkin fans and longtime members of the Penguin faithful. They both said they were considering attending the Stanley Cup parade in Pittsburgh, but weren’t sure if their work schedules would accommodate the trip. Either way, they said, seeing their team rally to victory on Sunday was prize enough.

“We just want to see them win, you know?” Monaco said. When they do, we’re going to celebrate with a huge high-five; maybe a scream too.”

With the second done and the Pens up 2-1, fans were feeling confident in Butler. Jordan Gibson and Megan McCleary both said coach Sullivan and rookie goaltender Matt Murray, who set an NHL record with his 15th win on Sunday, were their reason for being confident.

“The team has faith in him (Sullivan). You can tell that they know what he says is going to be the answer,” Gibson said.

How might they celebrate a Pens win on Sunday? McCleary wasn’t sure they would do anything outlandish.

“I dunno — I have to work tomorrow,” she said.

Gibson said he wouldn’t be holding back after suffering through the franchise’s low periods.

“I might cry; I’ve said that from the beginning. I’ve been watching since the dark ages, and as a guy that’s been a fan forever, it’s a big deal,” he said.

For Gail Paserba, game six’s closing act was “one more period for history,” she said. Paserba has been a Pens fan since the late 1980s, she said, and raised her children as Pens fans too. Her son, Josh, played high school hockey in Butler in the 1990s, and her love of the team has never wavered. Paserba even got a replica Stanley Cup signed by Penguins legend Mario Lemieux. It’s an artifact you can be sure will play a role in her championship celebration — though those plans might have to wait a few days before the party gets under way.

With the Pens’ victory securely locked away, Paserba said she could go home and go to bed.

But, next Saturday night? “We’re partying at my house.”