Mourning Braun Gives Sharks Boost, For Moment

PITTSBURGH — There were shadows under Justin Braun’s eyes, deep smudges of tawny brown. There was no telling where they had come from, from the physical torment of 80 regular-season games and 20 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, from the disappointment and frustration of going down 2-0 in the Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins, from the personal loss that stung him and his family in the morning before Game 1.

It likely was all three. It had been a difficult week, a wrenching week, and Braun seemed tired, drained as midnight neared Wednesday, with the prospect of a flight Thursday not to San Jose with his teammates, where the Sharks will begin preparations for what they hope is a series-salvaging Game 3, but to Atlanta.

Braun will be flying to Atlanta to join his wife, Jessie Lysiak Braun, and his family for the funeral of his father-in-law, Tom Lysiak, who died Monday of leukemia. He was 63. Lysiak played 13 seasons for the Atlanta Flames and Chicago Blackhawks after being selected with the second pick in the 1973 NHL Draft.

The defenseman’s family had supported his need to remain in Pittsburgh for these three days, while his team faced the Penguins in the biggest games he might ever play. They understood. But it was not easy. Not in the least.

“It’s been tough,” Braun said after Pittsburgh won 2-1 at 2:35 of overtime in Game 2 at Consol Energy Center to take that 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final. “You want to be with your family at this time. They’re very understanding. They’ve been supportive of me staying here for these couple …

continue reading in source sharks.nhl.com