Stanley Cup: Call of Bonino winner goes viral
Notes and quotes from the Stanley Cup final:
Hotshot ring: The call on Nick Bonino’s Game 1 winning goal — by Harnarayan Singh, the play-by-play voice for Hockey Night In Canada Punjabi — was such a hit that it was played by the Penguins when they reviewed the game in their video room. “It’s amusing,” said Bonino. “They do a good job with their broadcasts. It’s just pretty funny the way they say it and everybody gets a laugh out of it.” Bonino suggested it should become a ringtone: “I told my family they should get it. Then they know I’m calling.” Block it out, boys: The ability and courage to block shots is an emerging theme in the Stanley Cup final. “I’m a firm believer . . . that when there is an opportunity to block a shot at this time of the year, you have to do it no
matter who you are. I think guys in this room understand that,” said Penguins defenceman Ben Lovejoy, adding he’s not intimidated by Brent Burns hard shot. “Not one bit. You are actively rooting for it to hit you because that means it didn’t go in the net.”
Power of patience: Part of the reason for the Penguins’ success is coach Mike Sullivan’s ability to handle young players. “Being patient with players, it’s hard sometimes,” said Sullivan. “We want players to be at their best. We see an upside to certain players. We want it to happen overnight. It usually doesn’t happen that way. . . . If you give them time and you give them opportunity and you put them in the right environment, I think these guys can blossom into real good players.”
Saving grace: The Penguins peppered San Jose goalie Martin Jones with 41 shots in the opener, the most he’d faced in regulation in the playoffs. San Jose had surrendered 27.1 shots on average through the playoffs. “The shot counter here is a little (inflated),” said backup James Reim- er. “But as a goalie, you just prepare for anything. I know sometimes when you get more shots, you feel more into it. At the same time, you’re giving up more chances and that sucks.”