Penguins “Open” Sharks, Nick Bonino’s Late Goal Wins It And Gets The Local News On Without Delay

Nick Bonino, who scored the quarterfinal series clinching goal in overtime at home vs the top ranked Washington Capitals in game 6 of that series, scored in the last 3 minutes to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins (9-3, in home finals games) to a (3-2) win vs the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup Finals opener last night in Pittsburgh.

Bonino took a centering pass from Kris Letang and not only scored, but did so with the clock approaching 11pm Eastern Time and enabled NBC to get to its local news around the country, something, which as with horse racing, they prefer to the NHL.

This denied “draw” bettors and of course Sharks bettors, in this the franchise’s first finals game. Alas, it may even have denied (a) certain Sharks and draw bettor, whose “draws”/underwear is the brand, Shark.

Brands are sports these days, but despite that harsh reality, there is good in the two finals teams, each of whom struggled early in the season.

For now, the Penguins are the story grabbing a (1-0) series lead as again Bryan Rust “opened” (he insured the must game 6 “semis” win At Tampa Bay vs the Lightning, had the 2 Pens’ goals in their 7th game win in that series and “opened” last night so maybe it is the Bryan Rust show) while Conor Sheary made it (2-0) just a minute and thirty eight seconds later.

However the Sharks down (2-0) headed into the second period tied the game on goals by Tomas Hertl and 18 year veteran, Patrick Marleau.

Matt Murray won vs Martin Jones in goal. The team winning the opening game of the Cup finals has won 8 of the last 10 series. Pittsburgh is (2-1) in home Cup finals openers, rallying to win vs the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992 after losing such a game vs the Minnesota North Stars in 1991.

In that 1992 game, they trailed (4-1) at one point, but rallied to win the game on a goal by great player and current team executive/owner? Mario Lemieux with 12 seconds to play in “reg.”

That loss proved to be disheartening to “Chi” as Pitt won the series in 4 straight. The Penguins also were clearly a better team. In this series the gap between the teams is minimal, the Sharks did not lead last night, but did waste a comeback that tied the game after trailing (2-0).

Nick Bonino pictured above with his lovely wife Lauren is obviously “lucky in love” and has been say opportunistic, scoring big goals for the Penguins in these ‘offs.