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Stanley Cup Finals: Game 3/4 Do’s and Dont’s

By Kyle Weninger

May 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks fans wave rally towels against the St. Louis Blues in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks fans wave rally towels against the St. Louis Blues in game six of the Western Conference Finals of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stanley Cup Finals: Game Three/Four Do’s and Don’t as the Series Heads back to San Jose

After the Pittsburgh Penguins won game 2 in overtime to give them the 2-0 series lead, the Stanley Cup finals make its first ever stop in San Jose.

The Sharks, lead by veterans such as Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, mixed with stars in their primes like Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns, have very little experience in the Stanley Cup finals.

The Penguins, however, have a group full of stars who have a mix of former Cup winners and first time playoff rookies.  With that, several headlines follow from game 2 that will continue into the next two games in San Jose.

Each team is expected to make the next two games as interesting as the first two were. Sharks can cut the series lead in half, Penguins can set up the sweep. To do that, they both have to follow these keys to the game that will lead them to success.

Penguins

Do’s

Speed.

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The speed of the Penguins is what has brought them to the finals, and put them in this position. From the stars Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang to the depth of Bonino, Sheary, Rust and Hagelin, the Pens have a speed lineup that not even the best have been able to stop.

Offensively and defensively, they cause turnovers and win almost every battle. If they do this again against the Sharks, another win will come easy.

Defensive Skill.

So far through the series, the Penguins defense has been shutdown. They need to keep the pressure up, and continue to win the battles. With only 25 and 22 shots given up through the first two games, it’s been clear the Sharks are having trouble with the depth of the Penguins blue line.

Dont’s.

Be pressured by Sharks crowd.

Considering this is the first Stanley Cup game to ever be played in San Jose, it’s almost certain that Sharks fans will be very loud. Penguins can not be scared of the crowd and the pressure that they put. Since they’ve survived New York, Washington and Tampa Bay, I can’t see this being a problem.

Avoid going to corners.

San Jose is known for having size, so most teams are intimated and avoid any physical contact and hard battles. The Penguins need to keep going hard, if they get scared of the Sharks, San Jose will take it and run. Especially with the home crowd watching and expecting their normal physical game.

Related Story: 5 Bold Predictions for the Stanley Cup Finals

Sharks

Do’s:

Be Physical.

Jun 4, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) plays the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the first period of game three of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) plays the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the first period of game three of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The Penguins have been able to skate around untouched so far by the Sharks. If this continues, a sweep may very well be in place.

To get back into the series guys such as Burns and Pavelski have to play big, and the rest of the team needs to play aggressive.

This includes getting into corners, in front of the Penguins net and even open ice.

Get pucks on Murray.

In 2 games, the Sharks only had a grand total of 47 shots. The penguins had 41 in game 1. Murray has barely been tested this series, and without shots, you can’t get goals.

Sharks need to help out Martin Jones by scoring on the young Matt Murray, which won’t happen at the pace they are playing at and with averaging 7 shots a period.

Next: Cup Finals: Previewing Game Three/Four

Dont’s.

Worry about game 1 and 2.

Worrying about their recent performance is the last thing the Sharks should do. Go out in game 3 in front of their home fans, and start over. Play the game that got you this far, but still understand the pressure that’s on them.

If I could say one thing to the Sharks roster, it would be to reset your minds, go out there and have some fun on the biggest stage of hockey in your lifetime. Play the game shift by shift, and play as a team.

Expect a very exciting next few games as the NHL season wraps up, as the Penguins and Sharks go head to head hoping to taste Stanley Cup victory.

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