* This was set to be a battle between two of the hottest teams in the NHL. Coming into the game the Pens were 10-2 in their last 12 games, while the Sharks were 13-2-2 in their past 17.
The Pens made the early noise on an incredible individual-effort goal by Kris Letang. But it was all Sharks for the remaining 50 minutes of the contest. They made some spectacular plays and showed why many view them as the best team in the West.
* You won't see many goals sweeter than Letang's opening bell tally. The defenseman carried the puck through the neutral zone and split the Sharks forwards. He then skated wide around All-Star blueliner Erik Karlsson before lifting a backhander from an impossible angle into the far top corner.
* The Pens, as they are wont to do, tinkered with their line combinations to find a spark. They reunited Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. The new configurations had Riley Sheahan with Malkin and Kessel. While the third line consisted of Tanner Pearson, Derick Brassard and Dominik Simon.
* Congratulations to San Jose's Joe Thornton, who skated in his 1,000th game for the Sharks. To add to the celebration he added a goal in the second period. The old man (39 years) can still play.
* Thomas Hertl had himself a game. He posted a hat trick, but he made an incredible play for his first goal. He fought off a check from Malkin, cut to the net. Avoided Jack Johnson's stick check, and went top corner. It was a goal scorer's goal.
