Joonas Donskoi (1-1—2) assisted on the tying goal midway through the third period and scored at 12:18 of overtime to help the Sharks cut their series deficit in half and win the first-ever Stanley Cup Final game in San Jose.

Donskoi became the sixth rookie to register an overtime goal in the Stanley Cup Final – and the second to do so in as many games:
SATURDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
SAN JOSE 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT) – PIT leads 2-1
Overtime Goals by Rookies, Stanley Cup Final History
Joonas Donskoi (SJS): Game 3 in 2016 vs. PIT
Conor Sheary (PIT): Game 2 in 2016 vs. SJS
Brian Skrudland (MTL): Game 2 in 1986 at CGY*
Jacques Lemaire (MTL): Game 1 in 1968 at STL
Jimmy Peters (MTL): Game 2 in 1946 vs. BOS
Alf Pike (NYR): Game 1 in 1940 vs. TOR
* Fastest overtime goal in Stanley Cup Playoffs history (0:09)

Donskoi also became the fourth rookie in Sharks history to notch an overtime goal during the postseason. The others: Andrei Zyuzin (1998), Niko Dimitrakos (2004) and Benn Ferriero (2011).

Donskoi posted his second game-winning goal of the playoffs (21 GP) after totaling one such goal during the regular season (76 GP). He also scored the series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the First Round at LAK.

Donskoi shares first among rookies with six goals this postseason and ranks second with 12 points. His six goals are one shy of the franchise record for a rookie in one playoff year, set by Logan Couture in 2011 (7).

 

STANLEY CUP FINAL REMAINS CLOSELY CONTESTED AFFAIR
The Sharks and Penguins played their third consecutive one-goal game to open the Stanley Cup Final, including their second straight that required overtime:

The Sharks and Penguins have been tied or within one goal for 95.3% of total playing time thus far during the series (185:39 of 194:53). San Jose has not led at any point in the first three games.

Overall, 13 of the last 15 games in the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal dating to the sixth and final contest in 2013.

This marked the fourth time in the past five years that multiple games in the Stanley Cup Final have required overtime (also 2012, 2013 and 2014).

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ San Jose, 8:00 p.m., PIT leads 2-1

Stanley Cup schedule

 

In other news, the Panthers unveiled a new logo and uniforms during a special event Thursday at BB&T Center.