BONINO SCORES LATE GOAL TO LIFT PENGUINS TO GAME 1 VICTORY

Nick Bonino, a sixth-round selection (173rd overall) by San Jose in the 2007 NHL Draft, scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:33 remaining in regulation to lift the Penguins over the Sharks in Game 1 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

MONDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
PITTSBURGH 3, San Jose 2 – PIT leads 1-0

Bonino recorded his second game-winning goal of the playoffs (19 GP) after posting zero such tallies during the regular season (63 GP). In Game 6 of the Second Round vs. WSH, he became the eighth player in Penguins history to score a series-clinching goal in overtime.

Five of Bonino’s 12 career playoff goals have stood as winners (including three in overtime). He has eight such goals during the regular season (with only one in overtime).

Carl Hagelin (0-1—1) provided an assist on Bonino’s goal. The “HBK Line” of Hagelin (5-8—13), Bonino (4-12—16) and Phil Kessel (9-9—18) has combined for 18-29—47 this postseason.

NAIL-BITING TREND IN GAME 1 CONTINUES
The Penguins and Sharks contested the seventh consecutive one-goal game to open the Stanley Cup Final. The others (and their series results):

2016: SJS 2 at PIT 3 – TBD
2015: CHI 2 at TBL 1 – CHI won 4-2
2014: NYR 2 at LAK 3 (OT) – LAK won 4-1
2013: BOS 3 at CHI 4 (3OT) – CHI won 4-2
2012: LAK 2 at NJD 1 (OT) – LAK won 4-2
2011: BOS 0 at VAN 1 – BOS won 4-3
2010: PHI 5 at CHI 6 – CHI won 4-2

The winning goal has been scored in the final five minutes of regulation or later in each of the past six Game 1s of the Stanley Cup Final.

ROOKIES STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT EARLY IN GAME 1
Rookies Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary scored 62 seconds apart to spot the Penguins a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Rust, who scored for the third straight game (4-0—4), set a Penguins rookie record with his sixth goal of the postseason, surpassing the mark set by Michel Briere in 1970 (5).

DID YOU KNOW?
Since the Final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939, the team that has won Game 1 has gone on to capture the Stanley Cup 77.6% of the time (59 of 76 series) – including each of the past four years.

BURNS JOINS ELITE COMPANY
Sharks defenseman Brent Burns collected assists on both of his team’s goals, giving him 6-16—22 this postseason (19 GP). Only four defensemen have recorded more points in a single playoff year dating to 1986:
34 – Brian Leetch (1994 w/ NYR)
31 – Al MacInnis (1989 w/ CGY)
25 – Ray Bourque (1991 w/ BOS)
23 – Larry Murphy (1991 w/ PIT)
22 – Brent Burns (2016 w/ SJS)

MILESTONES AND MUSINGS

• The Penguins became the first Eastern Conference team to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final since 2006 (CAR)
• Sharks forward Patrick Marleau, who has appeared in 1,411 regular-season games (all w/ SJS), scored while making his Stanley Cup Final debut – in the city where he was drafted No. 2 overall in 1997
• Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (24 SV) earned his 12th victory of the postseason, tied for the second-most wins by a rookie netminder in one playoff year
• Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 38 saves, including 17 in the third period
• Penguins forward Chris Kunitz (0-1—1) extended his point streak to six games (3-4—7)
• The Sharks allowed 40-plus shots on goal in regulation for just the second time in 2015-16 (regular season and playoffs)
• The Penguins outshot their opponent for the 10th straight game (41-26), including an 80-43 margin over the past two contests.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
San Jose @ Pittsburgh, 8:00 p.m., PIT leads 1-0

Stanley Cup schedule HERE