The Pittsburgh Penguins now lead the Stanley Cup Finals 2-0, leaving the San Jose Sharks in a sticky situation after the Penguins won 2-1 in overtime.

First period intensity

Right out of the gate, the game was full of thrills. Both teams were extremely assertive on offense, but the Penguins managed to dominate possession and move the puck efficiently. Meanwhile, the Sharks seemed to be lost on defensive pressure. Sidney Crosby and the wings were aggressive throughout the first period as they were able to get 11 shots on goal to the Sharks' six. Martin Jones and the rest of the defense, however, managed to create a few stops. Likewise, Matt Murray continued to show how capable he is at defending the goal for Pittsburgh. Jones had a quality first period for the Sharks, but the Penguins overcame the defensive pressure in the second period.

Crosby on the attack in the first period. Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America
Crosby on the attack in the first period. Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

Second period lead

The second period was just as rapid-fire as the first. Again, the Penguins dominated possession and shooting, but the Sharks were much more active on defense. The Sharks' defensive line forced 12 shots from the Penguins' offense, and Phil Kessel ultimately scored the first goal of the game which brought him to his tenth goal of the postseason. The Penguins received a penalty in the closing minutes of the second period resulting in a power play for the Sharks. Though the Penguins were outmanned, the Sharks were unable to close out the second period with a game-tieing goal and Pittsburgh had a reassuring 1-0 lead heading into the third period.

Sharks take the third period by storm

In the opening of the third, it appeared like the San Jose Sharks were taking desperation shots in order to try and close the gap. The Penguins were playing aggressive defense as well, while the Sharks were being very protective of the puck in order to score properly. It took a few minutes, but the Sharks wound up playing with much more aggression. They had more shots on goal (9) than the Penguins (6), which reflects just how many possessions they were able to secure. Jones continued to deflect shots in order to create more play-time for the Sharks.

Martin Jones had his eyes peeled on every shot. Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America
Martin Jones had his eyes peeled on every shot. Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

Justin Braun came in as the unsung hero for the Sharks, scoring their first goal in the last four minutes of the game, as Matt Murray lost sight of the puck. Braun was able to knock the puck in by deflecting it off the post. The goal forced overtime.

Overtime heroics

Once overtime started, things became heated. Conor Sheary wound up being the one to save the Penguins from a loss, as he was able to slap in a shot following a brief faceoff. This goal will surely boost his morale for the remainder of the Finals, and the Penguins will want to look to him for some scoring if the time comes. The Penguins won the game 2-1 and now have a solid cushion in the series.

Conor Sheary made the shot of the game in overtime. Credit: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America
Conor Sheary made the shot of the game in overtime. Credit: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America

In the end, Matt Murray had 21 saves and Martin Jones had 28 saves. Murray, has the potential to be a defensive icon for the Penguins in the next few games, so expect more saves coming his way. Game 3 will take place in San Jose on Saturday, June 4, 8 p.m.ET.