A third-period goal from San Jose forward Joel Ward brought Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final to an extra frame, as the Sharks looked for their first win of the series. That was the stage set for Sharks rookie Joonas Donskoi, who has been fantastic throughout the postseason.
Donskoi powered around Evgeni Malkin below the goal line with just under eight minutes left in the game. It allowed him step out in front of Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray and bury the game-winner.
Fellow rookie Melker Karlsson deserves some credit on the marker as well. He pushed a forecheck by himself in the zone as his teammates grabbed a change, slowing down the Pittsburgh break out despite losing a stick and a glove in the process.
Watch the game-winning goal below, bringing the series to a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead.
The goal is Donskoi’s sixth of the postseason, coming within one of Logan Couture’s franchise record for a rookie of seven, set in 2011. It is also the game-winning goal in the first Stanley Cup Final contest ever played in San Jose.
Burns on Donskoi: "You score an overtime winner in the Stanley Cup final. Pretty bad ass."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 5, 2016
