FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

2016 STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 2 NOTES & QUOTES – SAN JOSE SHARKS VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

“This is a clank fest tonight at both ends.” – Pierre McGuire

“The posts look like utility poles tonight and so does the crossbar.” – Doc Emrick

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 1, 2016 – NBC Sports Group continued its exclusive coverage of its 11th consecutive Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 2 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final featuring the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins on NBCSN. The Penguins won Game 2 by a score of 2-1, as Conor Sheary broke a 1-1 tie with 17:25 remaining in OT.

Four-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire called Game 2 tonight from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. This marks the 10th consecutive year that Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire have combined to call the Stanley Cup Final for NBC Sports Group.

Coverage began on NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET with NHL Live. Kathryn Tappen hosted alongside analysts Jeremy Roenick, Anson Carter and Brian Boucher on-set outside of CONSOL Energy Center. Dave Briggs reported on the action inside and outside the building.

Coverage shifted inside the arena at 7:30 p.m. ET with host Liam McHugh, who was joined by analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.

Tonight’s pre-game coverage also featured interviews with former Penguins RW, two-time Stanley Cup winner and current Penguins Assistant General Manager Bill Guerin, and former Penguins RW and 1991 Stanley Cup winner Mark Recchi. In addition, Briggs and Roenick interviewed former NHL D and star of Slap Shot Dave Hanson.

NHL Live (6-8 p.m. ET)

Roenick on the Sharks: “The way they start the game tonight is crucial. You see what happened in Game 1. The Sharks were not ready to play. Their legs looked sluggish and Pittsburgh came out and absolutely blitzed San Jose.”

Carter on the Penguins: “In Game 1, the Sharks played like a team that only has two players with previous Stanley Cup Final experience. The Penguins played like a team that has seven players with Stanley Cup Final experience. They were more assertive and more confident. The Penguins got off to the start they were looking for and carried it for 60 minutes.”

Roenick on Penguins C Sidney Crosby: “His fingerprints have been all over every win that the Penguins have had, especially during the past two rounds. This guy is flying as much as I’ve ever seen him. I think he’s one of the smartest players ever to play the game.”

Roenick on Crosby: “You look at where Sidney Crosby was in the beginning of the year, and where he is now, he has probably become the best player in the world.”

Boucher on Crosby: “It really is amazing to see where Crosby was in the beginning of the season, and where he is today. It says a lot about his character and his determination.”

Milbury on Crosby’s performance in Game 1: “He’s a constant threat on the ice and was as comfortable in a big game moment as a player can be. He used all of his considerable talents and put them on full display.”

Jones on increased maturity of Crosby: “This is a player that is ready to win another Stanley Cup and is leading by example.”

Roenick on Sharks C Joe Thornton: “I think there is another level for Joe Thornton. Speed is not Thornton’s game. There is some physicality to it. I’m shocked that there was a little fatigue to his game on Monday night.”

Milbury on Thornton: “I thought he was OK, but OK after 18 years of trying to get here is not what Joe Thornton wants to deliver in Game 2.”

Roenick on Sharks D Brent Burns: “This guy is a rare breed in the NHL. He will touch both goal lines more than any other defensemen in the game tonight. Which is saying a lot, knowing that Letang does the same thing. When Brent Burns gets going, he’s tough to stop.”

Jones on Penguins G Matt Murray: “He’s the type of goaltender that finds ways to win games, and the Penguins play well in front of him.”

Milbury on Sharks G Martin Jones: “He’s a calculating goaltender. A guy who plays the odds and the angles. When he needs to be athletic, he can be.”

Roenick on the Pittsburgh Penguins “HBK” line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel: “This line is probably the main reason why the Penguins are in the Stanley Cup Final.” 

Milbury on Bonino: “He’s a good defensive player, responsible, works extraordinarily hard, is one of the best shot blockers and is not afraid of going to the net. He brings everything to the table.”

Roenick on Penguins RW Bryan Rust: “He has so much energy. When you have youthful energy, combined with the speed and courageousness that Bryan Rust has, you are going to be effective. He has come in here with the confidence that Mike Sullivan has given him, and thrown it right on the ice. Rust has been an energy guy and has been scoring big goals.”

Carter on Penguins LW Conor Sheary: “I am so surprised at how confident he is. Conor Sheary brings speed, speed and more speed. He has the ability to keep up with Sidney Crosby. A lot of young players can’t play at that same pace, but Sheary definitely does.”

Boucher on Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury: “It’s really difficult. When Fleury goes home, there is no doubt his feelings are made public. But when he comes to the rink, he’s a professional. He’s a good teammate. He’s supportive of Matt Murray. The key for Fleury is to stay engaged. He has to practice well and has to keep his mind in it. You never know when you are going to get thrown in the fire. Fleury may end up playing a key role in the Pittsburgh Penguins victory if Matt Murray falters.”

Milbury on Sharks D Marc-Edouard Vlasic: “He’s one of those guys that coaches love to have. They send him out, shift after shift and trust that he’s going to make the right move.”

Game 2 (8 p.m. ET)

Pre-Game

Olczyk on the Sharks: “They let the Penguins dictate the terms in Game 1. I would expect a desperate team, being the visitor here in Pittsburgh.”

First Period

Emrick: “Several chances in this period. Some have rung off the iron. No score.”

Olczyk on the Sharks having too many men on the ice with seconds left to play in the period: “Too many men on the ice for San Jose here. They had too many men on the ice. Wow. One too many and the San Jose Sharks dodge a bullet there. They should be short handed to start the second period.”

Emrick on the call by Olczyk: “Not reviewable. It was Eddie Olczyk who spotted a too many men on the ice penalty in a Stanley Cup Final between Detroit and Pittsburgh seven years ago.”

First Intermission

Milbury on the Sharks: “They knew that Pittsburgh was going to continue to pressure them and maintain a high pace on the ice, so they simplified. They knocked the puck safely out of the zone. Sometimes it was a little careless up the middle, I didn’t like that, but it was consistent. They forced Pittsburgh into a different type of hockey game.”

Jones on the Penguins: “All Pittsburgh to me in that first period. San Jose has a long way to go, to get back in the game.”

Second Period

Olczyk on Penguins D Ben Lovejoy: “He has been so consistent in these playoffs for Mike Sullivan and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s sending out strong vibes to the rest of the teams in the league, with him being an unrestricted free-agent. Timing is everything and he has played extremely well.”

Olczyk on the Penguins goal by Kessel: “You just knew when Roman Polak gave the puck to Phil Kessel that something bad was going to happen. Bonino was looking to go back door to Kessel…And Kessel has a wide open net. Just great patience.”

McGuire on the goal by Kessel: “What a creative play by Bonino to find Kessel.”

McGuire on Hagelin, Bonino and Kessel: “HBK bringing it.”

Emrick: “The posts look like utility poles and so does the crossbar.”

Second Intermission

Milbury on the Penguins speed: “It’s relentless. It goes from one line to the next. It’s getting to be summer time and we all hate mosquitos. I think the San Jose Sharks feel about the Penguins the same way we all feel about mosquitos.”

Jones on Martin Jones: “His focus never seems to be off. This is an outstanding goaltender who continues to get better. He has had to be great in this series. He has been the Sharks best player by far. Jones has not been rattled by the speed and the quickness of the Penguins. Pittsburgh keeps jamming pucks at the net, but Jones keeps his eye on the prize.”

Third Period

McGuire: “This is a clank fest tonight at both ends.”

Emrick: “8:21 to go. Third period of play. Lots of action. Several goal posts. Only one shot has gone in.”

McGuire on goal by Justin Braun: “What a response by the San Jose Sharks. That whole sequence happened because Pittsburgh iced the puck and were not able to change players.”

Emrick: “It may cross some of your minds, as it has mine and probably the rest of our broadcast crew. Justin Braun with a funeral service to attend tomorrow. His father-in-law, a hockey player as well, Tom Lysiak.

First OT Intermission

Jones on the Penguins: “The goalpost is the star of the game. Pittsburgh had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead in this game. They had three of them go right off the post and one off the crossbar. They had chances galore.

Milbury on the Sharks: “Pittsburgh took their foot off the gas pedal a little bit, and that was all San Jose needed.”

OT

Olczyk: “Faceoff wins. Sidney Crosby going into overtime had won 71 percent of the face-offs. He wins the faceoff. Letang to Sheary. No chance for Martin Jones. Heads up play by Letang, and Conor Sheary wins it in OT.”

Emrick: “He turns 24 years old a week from today. What a life so far for Sheary.”

Post-Game

Milbury on the Penguins: “Pittsburgh was the better team for the vast majority of the night. They got in trouble in the third period when they eased back a little on their pressure. Lesson to be learned there by both teams. If you’re Pittsburgh, just keep skating as San Jose is having trouble keeping pace. If you’re San Jose, keep chipping, get in there and engage them.”

Jones on Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan: “Mike Sullivan’s fingerprints were all over this game. Somehow they came back in overtime, after San Jose crept back in this game and started to take it over. The Penguins were focused and ready to go. When the team was tired, Sullivan used his time out at the most appropriate time. Crosby wins the draw, Letang calmly gets the puck to Sheary, and bingo-bango this game is over.”

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–