The game wasn't even through the first 20 minutes when pundits like the CBC's Don Cherry started burying the San Jose Sharks on the broadcast.
In a battle between speed and strength, it appeared speed had the advantage.
The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the shot count in the first period, 15-4. They capitalized on a couple of those opportunities as well, getting goals from rookies Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary just 1:02 apart with less than eight minutes to play—which is when the proverbial forks came out.
But the rest of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final—a dramatic 3-2 Penguins victory decided in the final minutes—showed just how close this series is going to be and how one minor mistake might be the difference in every one of the next five or six.
Yes, it's likely going to be a long one.
In Game 1, the mistake that made the difference was a dropped stick. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns was left without his lumber in the dying minutes, and his Pens counterpart, blueliner Kris Letang, made him pay with a pristine pass out of the corner to a wide-open Nick Bonino in front of the net. ...
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Article written by Steve Macfarlane
Penguins’ Gritty Game 1 Win Shows How Tight Stanley Cup Final vs. Sharks Will Be
May 30th, 2016 by Steve Macfarlane Leave a reply »
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