The first edition of the highly anticipated Stanley Cup Final between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins didn't disappoint. A slow start and poor luck down the stretch doomed the Sharks in a 3-2 loss in Game 1.
2016 Stanley Cup Final: Penguins score late goal to pull out a thrilling Game 1 win over the Sharks
Nick Bonino’s game-winner came with two minutes left in the third period.
Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 series lead with the win. Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray stopped 24 shots in his first Stanley Cup Final game.
The hero of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final opened the scoring in the Stanley Cup Final. Penguins rookie Bryan Rust passed to teammate Justin Schultz off the rush, whose shot was quickly stopped by Sharks goalie Martin Jones. But Rust was immediately there to pot the rebound for his sixth goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead.
The Penguins' other rookie, Conor Sheary, scored just a minute later thanks to a sensational play by Sidney Crosby.
The first period was ultimately a disaster for the Sharks, who got outshot 15-4 and were dominated in possession. But whatever adjustments coach Peter DeBoer made in intermission worked, because San Jose came out much stronger than their opponents in the second frame.
After an iffy first 20 minutes, Sharks defenseman Brent Burns got involved in both of San Jose's goals in the second. With San Jose on the power play, Burns and Joonas Donskoi worked the puck down low to Tomas Hertl, who beat Murray with a shot at the net. San Jose kept pressing, and an equalizer seemed imminent.
Much better. (Shot attempts at even strength.) pic.twitter.com/QSJGqyiAQf
— Fear The Fin (@fearthefin) May 31, 2016
It came with under two minutes left in the period when Patrick Marleau executed a perfect wraparound attempt to beat Murray and tie the game at 2-2.
Look at this. This is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/f9Rrj4Gt6g
— Mancomb Seepgood (@Pat_Iversen) May 31, 2016
Both teams played a rather even third period until bad luck struck the Sharks. With 2:33 left, Burns lost his stick in front of the net, and Kris Letang found Nick Bonino in front for the game-winning goal. Pittsburgh spent the rest of regulation on a successful penalty kill, securing a Game 1 win.
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