Category Archives: Hockey News

DeBoer: ‘We’ll hold off on the funeral’

Don't write a eulogy for the 2015-16 San Jose Sharks quite yet.

That was the message espoused by head coach Pete DeBoer following a Game 2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, despite the fact his team faces a 2-0 Stanley Cup Final hole that only five of 49 teams have been able to climb out of in NHL history.

"Game 1 was decided in the last two minutes. Tonight is an overtime game. I think we'll hold off on the funeral," DeBoer said at the postgame press conference.

"We have a lot of hockey left to play."

DeBoer credited Martin Jones for his outstanding play in net through the first two games of the series, and challenged his skaters to create more offense, particularly at even strength.

"You know what, I thought we were better tonight than in Game 1. Got to find a way to score some five-on-five goals. We only got one in each game. It's close to the best hockey out there ... There's not a lot of room out there. We've got to find a way to battle through and create a little bit more space."

The Sharks are now set to host Games 3 and 4, and DeBoer hopes the friendly environs of the home rink will help tilt things their way.

"This was a game that went back and forth. They're at home. They carried the play for parts. We carried it for parts. We've got to go back home now and get back in the series."

The last team to come back to win the Cup after losing the first two games of the Final was the Boston Bruins in 2011, who also dropped consecutive one-goal decisions on the road, including in overtime in Game 2.

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Mark Cuban can profit from Warriors, Sharks bringing titles to Bay Area

As unlikely as it may seem with the San Jose Sharks down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup finals, should the Sharks and Golden State Warriors both claim championships this month, an unlikely source stands to profit.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban holds the trademark for the "City of Champions" moniker that cities often use on memorabilia following successful periods of multiple titles across various sports.

History isn't on Cuban's side, however, as markets that have had teams in both the NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals in the same year - the Warriors and Sharks, representing the Bay Area of California, are the ninth such example - have yet to pull off the double.

Citing an online record from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, ESPN reports that Cuban intends to use the "City of Champions" phrase on products like T-shirts, hats, and pajamas, and that the trademark was transferred to the Shark Tank billionaire after originally being registered by an insurance agent in 2010.

"'If the Mavs don't win, at least there is always a chance for a win in there somewhere for me," Cuban told ESPN.com.

The "City of Champions" designation has been famously tied to Cuban's hometown of Pittsburgh during the mid-to-late-1970s, when the Steelers, Pirates, and University of Pittsburgh football team each enjoyed a period of success.

In addition, Edmonton was billed the "City of Champions" after its inspiring response to a devastating tornado in 1987, which was part of a decade that saw the Gretzky-led Oilers put together an NHL dynasty.

The most recent example of cross-sport success was seen in Boston, where the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins combined for nine championships between 2002-2015.

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Watch: Punjabi broadcast nails soccer-style call of Sheary’s OT winner

It's no "Bonino, Bonino, Bonino, Bonino!" but it'll do just fine.

Hockey Night in Canada's Punjabi broadcast team nailed another winner Wednesday night, when Conor Sheary scored to give the Pittsburgh Penguins an overtime victory.

It's a call that would make Andres Cantor proud.

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Letang credits Crosby for set play: ‘We executed exactly what he wanted’

It was a moment - a conversation - illustrative of the entire postseason run for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Moments into overtime in Game 2, the Penguins captain - who doesn't lead the team in scoring, but at the same time remains very much responsible for its success - barked out the orders, then promptly set the plan in motion with a clean offensive zone faceoff win.

Related: Sheary scores on set play, sends Penguins to 2-0 series lead

"Before the goal, Sid positioned us and told us what to do," Kris Letang said postgame, via NHL.com's Dave Stubbs.

"We executed what he wanted."

What Crosby demanded was that Letang passed up a one timer to find Conor Sheary slipping beneath coverage, who followed the instructions to the letter, of course, firing a shot that would bring Pittsburgh to within two wins of the Stanley Cup.

Crosby admitted postgame that he orchestrated the set piece, but followed it up with this predicable qualifier, via Sportsnet's Chris Johnston:

"I call 25 faceoff (plays) a night so I got 24 wrong."

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Couture: Crosby cheats on faceoffs, officials give special treatment

Logan Couture wasn't in the mood to admire Sidney Crosby's faceoff technique after Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night.

The San Jose Sharks forward called out the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, who cleanly won the draw that led to teammate Conor Sheary's overtime winner.

Related: Watch - Sheary scores on set play, sends Penguins to 2-0 series lead

“He times them and (the referees) don’t kick him out for some reason, probably because of who he is," Couture told reporters, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.

Crosby won 71 percent of his faceoffs in Game 2, and 56 percent in Game 1.

He led the league with 472 offensive-zone draws won during the regular season, and entered Wednesday leading all playoff skaters in the same category.

The Penguins take a 2-0 series lead to San Jose for Game 3 on Saturday.

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Watch: Sheary scores on set play, sends Penguins to 2-0 series lead

The Pittsburgh Penguins own a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final thanks to a wonderfully crafted, and apparently spontaneous set play off an offensive zone draw a little more than two-and-a-half minutes into overtime.

Watch as Sidney Crosby pulls the puck back to Kris Letang, to then float a pass into a soft area between defenders for Conor Sheary, who pulled the puck from his skates to fire beyond Martin Jones' tardy glove hand to end Game 2.

Sheary's fourth of the postseason, and second of the series, is his first career game-winner, and has the Penguins within two wins of the Stanley Cup.

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Antonio Brown admires fellow Pittsburgh star, Crosby, at ice level

Real recognizing real ... from ice level.

On the glass for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, Steelers superstar wideout Antonio Brown showed love for another elite Pittsburgh-area athlete - and occasional workout partner - in Sidney Crosby.

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Watch: HBK line keeps clicking with Game 2 opener

The HBK line is at it again.

Carl Hagelin stole the puck from Brenden Dillon and fed it to Nick Bonino, whose attempt was chipped in by Phil Kessel for the opening goal Wednesday in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

It was Kessel's 10th goal of the playoffs, and his line produced its 50th point in 20 postseason contests.

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