This was a huge game for San Jose Sharks, maybe the biggest in team history as it was the first Stanley Cup Finals game played in San Jose ever. Given that the Sharks found themselves in a 0-2 hole, of which only 5 of 49 teams have climbed out of in the best of seven era, meaning the pressure was all on San Jose.
On the part of their opponent the Pittsburgh Penguins appeared to be going for the throat tonight. It seemed like, at least for the first ten minutes, that Pittsburgh thought they could end the series tonight as they out-shot the Sharks by a mark of 14 to 6 and San Jose only had 3 shots in the first 17 minutes. Ben Lovejoy scored the first goal from about the blue Line for Pittsburgh on a blast of a shot that the usually sharp Martin Jones misplayed. Then with 9:34 remaining in the first, Justin Braun scored over Murray’s, shoulder and many of their shots were up high, meaning that the Sharks may have read my previous article for help, to tie it at 1.
Jones after a poor play on the Lovejoy goal early in the period rebounded nicely stopped a breakaway attempt by Pittsburgh winger and noted goalscorer Phil Kessel after a turnover by Sharks defensemen Paul Martin. Side Note: One of the best parts of the game was in the pregame ceremony and the Bob Costas report after the first period memorializing Muhammad Ali the legendary boxer who died yesterday at 74.
The second period was entirely different for the Sharks who played in charge as opposed to on the heels of their skates. Early in the second period Brett Burns had an awesome attempt in front of the net that Matt Murray, somehow managed to snuff out, after which the teams had a small scrum. Murray then made another highlight reel save about thirty seconds later on a breakaway try by the Sharks. The Sharks also struck the post with a shot and went wide with about twelve minutes left in the 2nd.. Then on their first power play of the night the Sharks were once again denied by a great play by Murray and the Penguins generated a shorthanded shot on goal which showed the Penguins despite being outshot 9 to 6 were not backing away either. In fact despite being outshot and out hit by the Sharks, it was the Penguins who scored the lone goal of the second with a deflection in the final minute started by a shot by Ben Lovejoy. Joonas Donskoi of the Sharks barely missed an equalizer in the last second of the period.
In the final stanza the Sharks were served a monster opportunity in the form of a four minute power play after Nick Bonino high-sticked Joe Thornton and drew blood at the 15:10 minute mark for a double minor. The Pittsburgh Penguins penalty kill faced a barrage of chances, although not necessarily shots, that they admirably held off for 3 minutes and fifty-nine seconds…almost good enough to kill but not enough as Joel Ward fired a shot that went five hole, the area between the goaltender’s legs, and into the back of the net for a tie game. The teams continued to battle it out with neither team gaining a clear advantage or a truly great scoring chance in that time until with about ten seconds left in regulation Kris Letang fired a shot that Jones barely kept out of the net. For the second consecutive game, we as fans got overtime.
By the time the extra period started my pulse was rocketing along and I hadn’t the slightest hint who would come out on top. Just one minute into overtime, Matt Murray was tested again and again the potential Conn Smythe winner came up with save after dazzling save. At this point the game turned into a “who can make the better heart-stopping save” contest between the goaltenders with Jones making a great one at the 14:00 minute mark and Murray making several immediately following that and Evgeni Malkin whiffing on a chance to win it for the Penguins with about 12 minutes left in the first overtime. Finally at the 7:42 minute mark Joonas Donskoi delivered the Game winning Goal for the first Stanley Cup Finals victory in Sharks history. The series is now wide open and assuming the Sharks can win again in Game 4 which is in San Jose on Monday June 6th at 8:00 pm. Jones stopped 40 shots overall in the game continuing his trend of solid goaltending. Meanwhile Matt Murray turned away 23 of 26 shots and the Sharks blocked 22 shots while Pittsburgh blocked a whopping 38 and San Jose hit the Penguins 47 times compared to 17 hits by Pittsburgh. Now if you’ll excuse me I am going to go breathe into a paper bag to calm down.
Featured Image via Wikipedia
