Penguins Beat Sharks in Overtime to Take 2-0 Lead in Stanley Cup Finals
The San Jose Sharks scored with 4:05 left in the third period to tie the score at 1-1 in Game2 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Penguins in Pittsburgh on June 1st, but Penguins rookie Conor Sheary scored 2:35 into overtime to win it 2-1 and give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead in the series.
Phil Kessel scored Pittsburgh’s first goal in the second period, his 10th of the post season. That big off season trade with Toronto that brought Kessel to Pittsburgh is working out very well, thank you, at least for the Penguins. Championship teams always seem to have unsung players step up and make plays, and it was Sheary’s turn this time. Sheary played in 44 games for Pittsburgh, but was up and down five times between Pittsburgh and the Penguins’ AHL minor league team at Wilkes-Barre this season.
The series resumes on June 4th in San Jose. If history is any indication, this will not end well for the Sharks. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, of the 49 teams that have trailed 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals, only five have come back to win the Cup. One of those who did so was the 2008-9 Pittsburgh Penguins, who came back to win four games to three over the Detroit Red Wings.
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It has seemed to me that the problem with the Penguins has been inconsistent goal-tending (maybe some less than Cup-worthy defenseman). Matt Murray has certainly made a huge difference as has, as mentioned, Kessel.
San Jose looks like they may gouge the hearts of their fans just a little deeper. I do hope they can get to at least 6 games. Of course, hockey has three examples of teams coming back from down 3-0. Lol: if the Leafs (Flyers/Kings) could do it, maybe the Sharks could also. Yikes!