The first two Stanley Cup Finals games in the history of the San Jose Sharks went down to the wire, but neither had fallen their way. In Game One, the Pittsburgh Penguins got up 2-0 in the first period, then the Sharks tied it up in the second before allowing a game-winning goal in the final two minutes. In Game Two the Penguins won in overtime. After two one-goal games, Game Three was no exception as the Sharks won 3-2 in overtime, with Joonas Donskoi scoring the winner to get the Sharks back in the series.
Penguins Score First Again
Much like the first two games, the Penguins dominated the first period. Their speed was simply too much for the Sharks early on, and they once again scored first as Ben Lovejoy scored his first goal of the series just 5:29 into the game. However, it took less than four minutes for Justin Braun to tie it up. He scored his second goal in as many games, assisted by Joe Thornton and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The screens in front of the net obstructed Matt Murray's vision and he didn't even see the puck before it went into the net. The Sharks got in 20 hits in the first period, but the Penguins dominated scoring chances once again.
But the Sharks Respond
In the second, true to form the Sharks woke up. They started getting the better scoring chances, including a golden opportunity to break the tie. Kris Letang pinched up and Logan Couture played the puck off the left boards and had a two on one with Joe Thornton and Couture's shot went off the far post. Another came later on a slick between the legs pass by Melker Karlsson who got the puck to Brent Burns in the crease, but Murray made a great save and kept the game tied. Despite the Sharks playing better most of the period, it was the Penguins who got the late goal—from Patric Hornqvist. Lovejoy shot one in from the point and it bounced off Olli Maatta and then Hornqvist past Martin Jones to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
The Sharks looked like they had gotten the break they needed early in the third when Nick Bonino got called for a double-minor penalty for high-sticking on Thornton, which drew blood. Just as the penalty had expired, the Sharks got their break as Joel Ward scored his seventh playoff goal, assisted by Donskoi and Thornton.
Donskoi Nets Winner
This game went to overtime, and both teams went all out. It was end-to- end hockey before Donskoi ended it with a seemingly impossible shot. He went around the net and was met by two defenders, so he just threw it at the net. It went between the two defenders and went off Murray's shoulder and into the back of the net. Murray played too low and he left the top open and Donskoi took advantage to give the Sharks their first ever Stanley Cup Finals victory.
Once again the Penguins outshot the Sharks, this time 42-26. Jones in many ways stole this game for the Sharks with his 40 saves. But the renewed emphasis on hitting showed for San Jose, as they had 47 hits to just 17 for Pittsburgh. The Sharks will look to even the series on Monday night in San Jose in Game Four.