The San Jose Sharks were even closer this time. They didn't fall behind 2-0. They didn't give up a late goal (It was San Jose that got that in the second contest). The Pittsburgh Penguins scored only two goals. The game was tied after sixty minutes. The Pens only got 30 SOG in nearly 63 minutes of action.
But at the end of the day, it's the Sharks heading home down 2-0. They've lost both games by a single goal despite being tied with less than three minutes to go in each contest in Pittsburgh. That's one way to look at it.
However, there's the other way. Based on everything I've seen, San Jose is being outplayed. Their goalie has been their best player in the first two games and is 0-2 despite a .930 S% (66 of 71 SOG turned aside). Martin Jones has been like Indiana Jones.
No one is really sticking out like a sore thumb for Pittsburgh, statistically. Even their goalie, Matt Murray (Whose S% is only slightly better, for all his heroics, than Jones. .938). Sid Crosby, I admit, is getting the better of Joe Thornton. I wonder if that incident last night is indicative of both teams' mindset. In case you missed it, Sid was holding Joe along the boards. Joe smacked his helmet off. Then a cross check for good measure. No penalty was called on the play (On three were called the entire game, which was fairly clean). The fact that Crosby didn't react speaks volumes of his maturity. He's used to getting this. He'll gladly exchange it for the win.
So, what do the Sharks do? They actually out-shot the Penguins in the third period, 9-6, and even in overtime, 2-1. However, the final tally was still 30-22 for Pittsburgh. That might be the first thing they need to change. More shots at Matt Murray. More bodies to the net.
I think the big problem had been the San Jose starts to the game. I watched the first period, which ended 0-0 despite Pittsburgh having a 11-6 advantage in shots on goal. Of those 11, about six or seven were good scoring opportunities. San Jose had done well to get out of the first period scoreless.
But that wasn't enough there. It will also not be enough at home.
I'm a big believer in the first goal being important. Sometimes, it even ends up being the more important goal of the game (Think back to the Conference Finals game six, what if that first goal by the Lightning had counted?) The Pens have the first goal (The first two, actually in game one. Don't kid yourselves to believe the Sharks are coming back from down 2-0 in game three. Not happening) in the first two games. And have, of course, two wins. San Jose is playing at home in game three, with today (June 2nd) being an off-day. A chance, says the panel at TSN, to regroup.
Can the Sharks slow the Pens down? That, too, is something they must figure out. Pittsburgh is, through two games, skating rings around San Jose. Having to rely on Jones isn't the way. Martin was screened on the overtime winner by Conor Sheary, so you can't even blame him there. The team in front isn't getting it done. Jones might be able to steal a game or two, especially at home. But if the Sharks continue to come out flat, that's all they'll win: A game or two!
References
"If You're Not Cheating, Your Not Trying." TSN. The Sports Network, 02 June 2016. Web. 02 June 2016.<http://www.tsn.ca/video/nhl/if-you-re-not-cheating-you-re-not-trying~882885>.
Roarke P. "San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins - June 1st, 2016." NHL.com. National Hockey League, 02 June 2016. Web. 02 June 2016. <https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sjs-vs-pit/2016/06/01/2015030412#game=2015030412,game_state=final>.
But at the end of the day, it's the Sharks heading home down 2-0. They've lost both games by a single goal despite being tied with less than three minutes to go in each contest in Pittsburgh. That's one way to look at it.
However, there's the other way. Based on everything I've seen, San Jose is being outplayed. Their goalie has been their best player in the first two games and is 0-2 despite a .930 S% (66 of 71 SOG turned aside). Martin Jones has been like Indiana Jones.
No one is really sticking out like a sore thumb for Pittsburgh, statistically. Even their goalie, Matt Murray (Whose S% is only slightly better, for all his heroics, than Jones. .938). Sid Crosby, I admit, is getting the better of Joe Thornton. I wonder if that incident last night is indicative of both teams' mindset. In case you missed it, Sid was holding Joe along the boards. Joe smacked his helmet off. Then a cross check for good measure. No penalty was called on the play (On three were called the entire game, which was fairly clean). The fact that Crosby didn't react speaks volumes of his maturity. He's used to getting this. He'll gladly exchange it for the win.
So, what do the Sharks do? They actually out-shot the Penguins in the third period, 9-6, and even in overtime, 2-1. However, the final tally was still 30-22 for Pittsburgh. That might be the first thing they need to change. More shots at Matt Murray. More bodies to the net.
I think the big problem had been the San Jose starts to the game. I watched the first period, which ended 0-0 despite Pittsburgh having a 11-6 advantage in shots on goal. Of those 11, about six or seven were good scoring opportunities. San Jose had done well to get out of the first period scoreless.
But that wasn't enough there. It will also not be enough at home.
I'm a big believer in the first goal being important. Sometimes, it even ends up being the more important goal of the game (Think back to the Conference Finals game six, what if that first goal by the Lightning had counted?) The Pens have the first goal (The first two, actually in game one. Don't kid yourselves to believe the Sharks are coming back from down 2-0 in game three. Not happening) in the first two games. And have, of course, two wins. San Jose is playing at home in game three, with today (June 2nd) being an off-day. A chance, says the panel at TSN, to regroup.
Can the Sharks slow the Pens down? That, too, is something they must figure out. Pittsburgh is, through two games, skating rings around San Jose. Having to rely on Jones isn't the way. Martin was screened on the overtime winner by Conor Sheary, so you can't even blame him there. The team in front isn't getting it done. Jones might be able to steal a game or two, especially at home. But if the Sharks continue to come out flat, that's all they'll win: A game or two!
References
"If You're Not Cheating, Your Not Trying." TSN. The Sports Network, 02 June 2016. Web. 02 June 2016.<http://www.tsn.ca/video/nhl/if-you-re-not-cheating-you-re-not-trying~882885>.
Roarke P. "San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins - June 1st, 2016." NHL.com. National Hockey League, 02 June 2016. Web. 02 June 2016. <https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sjs-vs-pit/2016/06/01/2015030412#game=2015030412,game_state=final>.
Sports Reference LLC. "2016 Stanley Cup Final: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks | Hockey-Referenece.com." Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. Web. 02 June 2016. http://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2016-pittsburgh-penguins-vs-san-jose-sharks-stanley-cup-final.html.
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