Most importantly for the Penguins, it amounted to a 2-0 lead over the San Jose Sharks with the series heading west.
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The Penguins look to put a stranglehold on the series with a 3-0 lead, while the Sharks hope to notch their first Stanley Cup Final win in franchise history when they face-off for Game 3 in San Jose on Saturday night.
“It’s surreal”, said Sheary, the fifth rookie to score an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final and first since Brian Skrudland did so for Montreal in 1986.
Could it be a matter of something the Pittsburgh Penguins are doing right or something the Sharks aren’t doing?
“Sid and some of our older guys, when they spend time with these guys, they’ve really taken the young players under their wing”, Sullivan said. “I think the amount of pucks they knocked down compared to teams we’ve played in the past is pretty unbelievable and we’ve just got to make harder plays, stronger plays, and get around that”. The Sharks only had one power play Wednesday – which spanned the last part of the second period and the first part of the third – and couldn’t leverage it into anything. In Game 2 he has won 71 percent of it, while in Game 1 he has taken 51 percent of the faceoffs.
First, Crosby told defenseman Kris Letang, a right-handed shooter, to switch over to the left side. He was simply following Crosby’s orders when he found an open area and waited for the pass. “Fortunately, I’ll be able to spend some time with them”. There the Penguins won over the Sharks once again with a score of 2-1.
He was a game-time decision for game two on June 1, but he ended up playing.
Kessel may not get to the playoffs often, but when he does, he is something special.
The San Jose Sharks have come a long way from their original home at the Cow Palace with its undersized ice rink and lingering aroma from its use for rodeos and other livestock events.
After the Penguins couldn’t change a tiring line because they iced the puck in their own zone, Braun – after pinching on the play – got free at the top of the right circle and wristed a shot off the post and by a screened Murray for his first goal of the playoffs.
Sheary had time to draw back his stick and shoot while teammate Patric Hornqvist blocked the view of Sharks’ goalie Martin Jones.
Sidney Crosby is two wins away from his second Stanley Cup, but the Sharks are crying foul over his tactics in the face-off dot. Now, these Penguins – not even in playoff contention at Christmas – are in position for a finals sweep, too, though winning twice in San Jose will be a considerable task.
“They just don’t stop coming”, Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said.
“We believe we’ve got another level and we’re going to have to find it here”, Pavelski said.
Kessel had three shots during an engaged start and five attempts on goal on the night.
Braun’s father-in-law, Tom Lysiak, a former NHL All-Star, died of leukemia at the age of 63.
San Jose will nearly certainly take it to another level when it gets back on home ice, but winning four of the next five games promises to be a tall order.
For the second consecutive night, Pittsburgh was the better team, but the margin of victory was small and hinged on the overtime victor, scored by rookie Conor Sheary, his second of the series. “The confidence in this group, we played well all night”, said Penguins’ winger Carl Hagelin.
Second Period-1, Pittsburgh, Kessel 10 (Bonino, Hagelin) 8:20. We’ve got to go back home now and get back in the series. We’re going to take it over for some periods. With the Penguins up 2-0 in the series, our algorithm gives them an 82.88% chance to win the Stanley Cup.
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Sheary’s quick shot off a set faceoff play whipped the puck over the glove of goalie Martin Jones for the forward’s first career playoff overtime goal, first career winning goal in the regular season or playoffs, and fourth career playoff goal. Patrick Marleau was moved to the third line to play with Chris Tierney and Melker Karlsson. He replaced F Danius Zubrus. Nieto had been sidelined since May 9 with an upper body injury. However, the Sharks have to make major improvements for that to happen, or else the Penguins will be the team waltzing around the ice with the Stanley Cup after four or five games. He was Carolina’s GM in 2006.
