Penguins strike first, late
Bonino’s goal sinks Sharks in Game 1
Near the end of the second period Monday, San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton and Pittsburgh Penguins icon Evgeni Malkin were penalized for trading glares, slashes and a few seconds of unpleasant conversation.
Less than 40 minutes into the Stanley Cup Final, it was already clear this series would be as competitive and fiery as advertised.
Nick Bonino, playing with a banged-up knee from a shot he blocked in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, scored with 2 minutes, 33 seconds left in regulation to give the Penguins a 3-2 win.
Kris Letang set up the gamewinner with a perfect feed from behind the net.
Game 2 will be Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins were forced to kill a power play with 2:09 left in regulation when Ben Lovejoy was penalized for hooking Patrick Marleau.
This game was as tight as the score indicated.
Through the first 40 minutes, the teams combined for 53 hits, 27 by the Penguins and 26 by the Sharks.
It was a physical game. Early in the third, Marleau, not known as an overly physical player, was penalized for delivering a blow to the head of Penguins winger Bryan Rust. Bonino posted five blocks through the first two periods.
The Penguins won the first period by outshooting the Sharks 15-4 and outscoring them 2-0 on goals by Rust (12:46) and Connor Sheary (13:48).
The Sharks won the second period by outshooting the Penguins 13-8 and outscoring them 2-0 on goals by Tomas Hertl (3:02) and Marleau (18:12).
The Marleau goal was particu- larly aggravating because he scored on a wrap-around when it seemed as if the Penguins had him closed off on goalie Matt Murray’s left side. Marleau scurried behind the net, reached around the other side and jammed the puck toward the net. Murray knocked it in as he slid his leg across.
The Penguins had 41 shots on goal, giving them 30 or more in 11 consecutive games.
If this continues, San Jose goaltender Martin Jones will have to post a .935 save percentage or better to keep the Sharks in the game. He was at .926 in Game 1.