5 Keys: San Jose Sharks, Game 3

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins play Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports). The Sharks trail the best-of-7 series 2-0.

Here are 5 keys for the Sharks in Game 3:

1. PLAY FROM AHEAD

The Sharks have yet to play with a lead in the Cup Final. They fell behind 2-0 in the first period of Game 1 and had to work hard just to pull even by the end of the second before losing 3-2 on Nick Bonino’s goal with 2:33 remaining in the third. In a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2, San Jose was able to make it through the first period tied 0-0, but fell behind on Phil Kessel’s goal 8:20 into the second and again had to chase the game until Justin Braun tied it with 4:05 left in regulation.

Scoring an early goal would feed the energy of a crowd excited for the first Cup Final game in San Jose, but any kind of lead would help the Sharks settle into their puck possession game and put some pressure on the Penguins for a change.

The Sharks are 10-3 when scoring first in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 7-1 at home.

“Especially at home, to get that first goal has been big for us,” Sharks defenseman Paul Martin said. “We seem to find our game then and get some momentum. Then, everyone starts playing the way we encourage and want to play, as opposed to just kind of letting the time go by.”

2. PLAY FAST

Against the Penguins’ speed and pressure, moving the puck quickly out of the defensive zone and up ice is essential. The Sharks haven’t done that well enough and the Penguins have repeatedly forced them into poor passes and turnovers that led to counterattack scoring chances.

The Sharks did a better job in the …

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