CONFIDENT IN A RESPONSE
Sharks have handled adversity well
If speed kills, the Pittsburgh Penguins want to continue to use theirs to try to harpoon the San Jose Sharks.
Ahead 1-0 in the Stanley Cup Final after a dramatic 3-2 victory Monday night over the Sharks, the Penguins had an optional skate Tuesday at their practice facility in nearby Cranberry Township, and ideally, during Game 2 tonight at the Consol Energy Center, they’d like to pick up where they left off in Game 1.
While the Penguins got off to a terrific start by outscoring the Sharks 2-0 and outshooting them 15-4 in the first period, it took a third-period winner from Nick Bonino with 2:33 remaining to secure the victory.
The Penguins don’t want to make big changes, but they know they can be better for 60 minutes than they were in Game 1.
“I think our team has a real clear understanding of how we need to play in order to give ourselves the best chance to win,” said Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan. “We’re trying to play to our strengths, just like other teams that we play against try to do ….
“I think our players have a clear understanding at this point. I think there’s been enough evidence provided through their play that when we play the game a certain way, and speed is a critical element of it, that we’re a pretty good hockey team.”
San Jose isn’t the first team to be a victim of the way the Penguins have used their speed in these playoffs — the Sharks are just latest. Had it not been for a strong effort by goaltender Martin Jones, who made 38 stops, the result most certainly could have been worse, especially in the first period.
“We realize how dangerous we can be when we play our game the right way,” Pittsburgh forward Eric Fehr said. “You know San Jose is going to have a push. They’ve got a good team and they’re going to get good chances.
“We’ve just got to try not to give them those opportunities. We’ve got to make them earn it. If they earn it, then you’ve got to tip your cap sometimes, but we’ve just got to make sure we’re a little bit more careful and don’t hand the puck over.”
The Sharks are hopeful the way they started had a lot to do with jitters and they can shake those off with a better effort in Game 2 before the series heads back to the HP Pavillion in San Jose on Saturday. San Jose has shown some resilience in these playoffs and has a 5-1 record following losses.
“It’s a veteran group,” said Sharks’ defenceman Brent Burns. “The coaches do a good job of going over what we messed up and putting it into perspective. It’s one game and we’ve just got to get the next one. We realize that and we’ll be ready to go.”
They’ll have to be a lot more ready than they were in the first, but many of the Sharks put that down to pre-game jitters.
“The first period was tough,” Burns added. “The first time being in this experience. I don’t know about other guys, but for me, I spent three or four days thinking about it and you’re trying not to let it distract you.
“But that’s a long time to think about that experience and getting the chance to do it. You spend a lot of energy thinking about it, and I think the legs felt it in the first period, that’s for sure. You just get used to it. Now you’re in it, so it’s a little easier.”
Still, the task will be a lot tougher if the Sharks don’t find an answer to the areas the Penguins dominated in the first game. It’s easy to shake off one loss, especially when it’s only by a goal, but there’s no such thing as a moral victory in the playoffs, so San Jose needs results right now.
“We’re just looking forward to trying to redeem ourselves,” Sharks’ forward Joel Ward said. “We’ve been here before. There’s been a lot of games over the course of the playoffs, so we’re pretty familiar with the territory that we’re in.
“We’re just excited to get back and play again.”
The Penguins aren’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s nice to get that first win in the series, but certainly there’s a lot of work to be done and I think our players are well aware of it,” Sullivan said.
The Penguins are only three wins away from their first Cup since 2009. However, the Sharks still have a lot to say in whether that happens.
Whenthe game we a play certain way, and speed is a critical element of it ... we’re a pretty good hockey team.