The Stanley Cup Final kicked off last night with the Penguins speeding out to an early lead before the game evened out. Bonino sealed the win late, as the Pens secured the 1-0 series lead.

Bryan Rust’s post-season star continued to rise as the grinding forward scored another goal:

The game-winner was a crushing goal on a seeing-eye pass through an obstacle course that included former Pens defensemen Paul Martin.

Obstacle 1: Paul Martin

Obstacle 2: Hockey stick on the ice

Obstacle 3: Martin Jones

Result: BONINO GOAL! pic.twitter.com/LRWOPSzKhb — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 31, 2016

This was a game that could easily have gone to overtime. The Sharks were close throughout the match. We’re in for an excellent series here.

Before the game chart, the usual on how to read the graph.

A couple of notes on reading the charts:

the Corsi differential is based on 5v5 play and is score-adjusted, as per war-on-ice.

players at the top (with bars extending to the right) posted positive differentials (good)

players at the bottom (and to the left) posted negative differentials (bad)

the colour of each bar represents the player’s time on ice (see legend at the bottom)

each players individual Corsi For attempts are included in parentheses a player with a strong C +/- but a (0) for iCF didn’t directly contribute to his strong showing. a player with a weak C +/- but a strong iCF score (i.e. greater than 5) may have been hindered by linemates. Maybe.

like any reasonable person, I don’t believe that Corsi is everything. But it’s a very important part of the everything.

Now, on to the game chart…

Justin Schultz led all in this one.

That’s right. Justin Schultz.

Hertl, Thornton, and Pavelski all found homes near the top end of the game chart and Dumoulin, Bonino, and Hagelin were best for the Pens. Crosby and Kunitz were their usual plus-selves.

Brent Burns was Burnsian, launching 10 iCF at 5v5. Despite this, Burns was just barely positive, a nod to the high-event play in which he is typically involved. Kessel and Bonino each managed 7 iCF for the Pens.

At the negative end of the chart, Tierney continues to break the hearts of Shark fans and certain data viz enthusiasts. He finished with the worst Corsi differential in the game. Maatta was close behind and Ward, Karlsson, and Braun struggled in this game as well.

Good start for the Penguins.

Penguins lead series 1-0.

Read more…

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