Sharks: Big-timers, surprises or pluggers?

3:15 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins dominated for 40 of the 60 minutes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, there’s no doubt the San Jose Sharks will respond with a better effort. Veteran defenseman Brent Burns admitted after the 3-2 loss in Game 1 that the team was feeling a bit overwhelmed actually playing in the championship round. That anxiety should subside as the series progresses.

Regardless, both teams reached this point because of the outstanding efforts from each and every player on the roster. We categorized each player into one of three groups: Big-timers (players expected to perform well and are), playoff surprises (players who have raised their games) and essential pluggers (players who don’t get a lot of attention but are key to their team’s success). Below are the Sharks. The Penguins can be found here.

Joes Thornton and Pavelski (far left) have been living up to high expectations. Dave Sandford/NHLI/Getty ImagesBig-timers

Joe Thornton, C/W: It’s about time “Jumbo” reached the finals. His motivation is at an all-time high and his teammates are feeding off that energy.

Joe Pavelski, RW/C: The captain is proving why he wears the “C.” His offensive production has been off the charts — he leads the playoffs in goals — and there’s seemingly no limit to what he can accomplish if he keeps playing the way he has in the postseason.

Logan Couture, C: He’s become the perfect second-line center for the Sharks. His point production — he leads the playoffs in scoring — has been essential and he’s produced at key moments.

Patrick Marleau, LW: While most of the attention is on his teammates, he’s quietly producing. He’s also …

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