Stanley Cup Final 2016: Sharks vs Penguins Game 2 TV Schedule, Live Stream, Odds

The Pittsburgh Penguins edged out the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Monday to take the 2016 Stanley Cup Final opener and will play host again in Game 2 Wednesday night at CONSOL Energy Center.

After Pittsburgh pounced early with two first-period goals, San Jose responded with two of its own in the second, setting the stage for Nick Bonino's Game 1 winner with 2:31 left on the clock in the final period.

Game 2 will air on NBC Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET, with live stream coverage also available online through NBC Sports.

Per OddsShark.com as of 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the Penguins were a -128 bet, while the Sharks garnered a +116 line and comprised 65 percent of wagers. The over-under was set at 5.5, with 75 percent of bets placed on the over.

Below is a closer look and preview for Game 2, framed largely with the context in mind of what transpired in Pittsburgh's victory to kick off the series.

2016 Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Preview

As Joe Osborne of OddsShark.com pointed out, 15 of the past 20 teams to win the first game of the Stanley Cup Final have gone on to claim the NHL's most coveted prize.

That obviously bodes well for the Penguins, but there is a considerable degree of pressure in Game 2 to hold down home-ice advantage. They were able to use their speed to jump on the Sharks in the first period Monday. Once San Jose made adjustments though, it was a nail-biter down the stretch.

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News observed how the visitors' tactical tweaks helped close the gap:

Although the initial loss has to sting, the Sharks can take solace in how well they competed for 60 minutes and didn't get discouraged by the first-period deficit.

The greater point of concern is San Jose being out-shot 41-26 in Game 1. For a team that prides itself on puck possession, there can't be such a big disparity if the Sharks are meant to steal Game 2 on the road.

"We had some spurts here and there," said Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer on Monday, per Purdy. "But they played their game for longer stretches than we did tonight. That's what happens. You don't deserve to win when you don't outplay the other team."

Dave Dameshek of NFL.com provided some astute analysis regarding the Sharks' sluggish start:

A lot of credit goes to Martin Jones, who did all but stand on his head to make 38 saves and keep San Jose close in the last period of Game 1, stopping 17 of 18 shots in the final 20 minutes.

The goalie battle between Jones and Matt Murray is most fascinating, considering neither have much experience but have been unfazed by the grand postseason stage.

Kenny Albert of Fox Sports noted how they'd combined for 62 regular-season wins—as many as the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings. That wild-card matchup between the pipes may well be the ultimate determinant of this Stanley Cup Final series.

It's up to San Jose to get back to its physical identity and offset the edge the Penguins have in sheer offensive firepower. The first order of business is to begin Game 2 far better than what happened Monday night.

Now that the Sharks have had time to process Pittsburgh's initial blitz, look for them to bounce back by slowing down the action and leveling the series at one apiece in a low-scoring affair.

Game 2 Score Prediction: Sharks 2, Penguins 1