Sharks’ Ward Comes Up Big Again

SAN JOSE – Technically, it was not a power-play goal. But it was possibly the biggest goal of the San Jose Sharks’ season to that point.

Before Joonas Donskoi could be the overtime hero in a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at SAP Center on Saturday, the Sharks had to overcome yet another deficit.

The situation appeared discouraging; the Sharks trailed 2-1 and the final seconds of a four-minute high sticking double minor against Penguins center Nick Bonino were ticking away. But just as Bonino was about to exit the penalty box, Joel Ward blasted a 41-foot slap shot past goaltender Matt Murray to tie game with 11:12 remaining in regulation.

Just like that, the Sharks had life.

“Huge goal,” Sharks center Joe Thornton said.

Thornton played a significant role in making it happen, beginning with the penalty itself. Bonino’s stick blade clipped Thornton under his right eye, opening a small cut and resulting in the four-minute power play 4:48 into the third period.

At that point, it would have been understandable if the Sharks were frustrated. They were playing their best game of the series and were trailing yet again. After defenseman Justin Braun scored 9:34 into the first period to answer Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy’s goal 5:29 into the game, the Sharks made a big push in the second period to get the go-ahead goal and their first lead of the series, but were thwarted repeatedly by Murray.

Patric Hornqvist scored on a deflection with 52.3 seconds remaining in the second period and the Penguins had another lead. The Sharks knew the four-minute man-advantage was a pivotal moment. Their power play has been lethal throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, clicking at 27.7 percent entering Game 3, but they …

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