Stanley Cup Final Schedule 2016: Sharks vs. Penguins Game 2 TV Info, Predictions

A late goal in Game 1 lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 1-0 series lead in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, but the San Jose Sharks will have a chance to even things up in Game 2 Wednesday.

The Sharks held their own but were largely outplayed in the first Stanley Cup Final contest in franchise history, as the Pens out-shot them by a 41-26 margin. With more talent and depth up front than perhaps any team in the NHL, however, San Jose has the tools needed to rectify that in Game 2.

Ahead of what figures to be a pivotal Game 2, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch the tilt, along with predictions for how the vital contest will play out.

Game 2 Viewing Info

Where: Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh

When: Wednesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Stanley Cup Final Schedule

Game	Date	Time (ET)	Away Team	Home Team	Watch
2	Wednesday, June 1	8 p.m.	San Jose Sharks	Pittsburgh Penguins	NBCSN
3	Saturday, June 4	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh Penguins	San Jose Sharks	NBC
4	Monday, June 6	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh Penguins	San Jose Sharks	NBC
5*	Thursday, June 9	8 p.m.	San Jose Sharks	Pittsburgh Penguins	NBC
6*	Sunday, June 12	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh Penguins	San Jose Sharks	NBC
7*	Wednesday, June 15	8 p.m.	San Jose Sharks	Pittsburgh Penguins	NBC

Game 2 Breakdown

Sharks Player to Watch: Logan Couture

If the Stanley Cup Final were to end right now, San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture would likely win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He leads all scorers with 25 points in 18 games, and he has been the lifeblood of a relentless Sharks attack.

Couture notched an assist in San Jose's Game 1 loss, and before that contest, he was on a playoff scoring pace that few others have ever reached, as seen in this graphic courtesy of StatsCentre:

Big-name veterans such as Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau often receive much of the attention for the Sharks' success, but Couture and Joe Pavelski have largely carried the scoring load.

Pavelski leads the team with 13 goals, and he realizes how important Couture's playmaking ability and all-around performance have been throughout the postseason, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti:

"

He does a lot of things well. He likes to defend. He likes to block shots. He likes those types of situations and he's got all the skills and instincts to be a dominant player. He's shown that. He's one of those players that if you get a chance to play with him, you want him on your line. He's been a big boost for this year and to get him back healthy and playing well has added a lot to our team.

"

Couture has made those around him better during the playoffs, with linemates Marleau and Joonas Donskoi being the biggest beneficiaries.

He is also capable of taking a game over individually, and the Sharks may need him to do precisely that in order to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole in the series.

Couture has been especially dominant in important games this postseason with multipoint efforts in each of San Jose's series-clinching wins.

Game 2 won't fall under that umbrella, but it is a game that the Sharks can ill afford to lose, and that means it's reasonable to expect Couture to impose his will from the opening faceoff.

Penguins Player to Watch: Nick Bonino

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel are among the NHL's biggest stars, but forward Nick Bonino has been just as integral to the Pens' playoff success as they have.

Bonino enters Game 2 tied with Crosby for second on the team in scoring with 16 points, and his decisive goal in Game 1 is the reason why Pittsburgh currently has control of the series.

The 28-year-old veteran scored with less than three minutes remaining in Game 1 to put the Penguins on top 3-2 for good, and that type of timely scoring in the postseason has become commonplace for the Connecticut native, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

Bonino leads the team with 12 assists as part of a line with Kessel and Carl Hagelin, and his ability to provide scoring on a line that doesn't include Crosby or Malkin is perhaps the biggest reason for Pittsburgh's run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Head coach Mike Sullivan is also impressed with the manner in which Bonino has handled high-pressure situations and provided a soothing presence on the ice despite the pressure of the playoffs, per NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin:

"

He's a real calm, cool, and collected guy. I don't think his heart rate gets too high. He just goes about his job. I think he's great with his linemates. He's great with the young players. He's a reassuring presence both in the locker room and on the bench. You could see it in his play, his calm demeanor. He's the same way with his personality. I think that helps our group.

"

Secondary scoring is often what sets championship teams apart from the rest of the field, and Bonino has surpassed his regular-season production of just 29 points during the playoffs.

Bonino has helped get Kessel going after a somewhat subpar regular season for him as well, and he has taken a great deal of pressure off the likes of Crosby and Malkin.

If Bonino can get on the scoresheet with regularity again in Game 2, then the scales will likely be tipped in Pittsburgh's favor.

Prediction

The Sharks have been excellent throughout the postseason, and while reaching the Stanley Cup Final hasn't been a cakewalk, they haven't faced a ton of adversity.

San Jose's 1-0 deficit to the Pens marks the first time it has trailed in a series so far in these playoffs, but having lost consecutive games just once during the postseason, it has excelled at bouncing back from less than stellar showings.

Doing so against the Pens will be a huge challenge, though, as they have carried the play with great regularity, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

The Sharks likely had no business being a few minutes away from forcing overtime in Game 1, but goalie Martin Jones was excellent, as he turned away 38 of 41 shots.

Matt Murray has been strong overall for the Penguins as well, but they waffled between him and Marc-Andre Fleury during the Eastern Conference Finals, so goaltending may be the one area San Jose can take advantage of.

The Sharks fell behind early in Game 1, and although they showed a lot of mettle by battling back, their slow start contributed heavily to their defeat.

If they can generate offense with their top two lines, and score on and rattle Murray early in Game 2, then they will have a far better chance to even the series.

San Jose is a veteran-laden team that has answered the bell every step of the way during the playoffs thus far, and it will do so once again in Game 2 by starting quickly and finishing with a victory to make the series 1-1.

Game 2 prediction: Sharks 4, Penguins 2

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