In a series that's produced three one-goal games, the Pittsburgh Penguins came up short for the first time Saturday, falling 3-2 in overtime to the San Jose Sharks.
Despite the narrow margins of victory, Pittsburgh was the convincingly the better team on home ice, and out-shot San Jose 42-26 on the road in the Game 3 loss.
Regardless, it's the final score that matters, and the Sharks have life with an opportunity to even the Final on Monday night.
Here are three ways Pittsburgh can get back in the win column.
Big guns get going
Everyone is still waiting for Evgeni Malkin to show up to the Stanley Cup Final.
The former Conn Smythe winner has yet to register a point, only appearing on the scoresheet via eight shots on goal and two penalty minutes.
Head coach Mike Sullivan wants Malkin to find the level he's capable of playing at to open up Pittsburgh's attack. Malkin was slated against the Sharks' third defensive pairing in Game 3, a matchup he would typically win. Instead, he was a non-factor, taking the pressure off San Jose's entire defense.
On top of Malkin, Sidney Crosby had his quietest performance of the Final after being shadowed by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. With only two assists thus far, the captain will surely be looked upon to create some offense.
Force Sharks to rely on depth
Pittsburgh has done a tremendous job neutralizing San Jose's top line. With Joe Pavelski yet to score, and Joe Thornton scoring his first two points of the series in Game 3, the Penguins have to be comfortable with how they've played the dynamic duo so far.
Justin Braun, Joel Ward, and Joonas Donskoi were the goalscorers on Saturday, and although Ward and Donskoi were dangerous all game long, the Sharks cannot win the series on the backs of role players. San Jose's star power got them here, and will be needed to win the series.
Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin have been terrific atop Pittsburgh's defense, and can take much of the responsibility for thwarting the Sharks' offense.
Murray bounces back
Matt Murray made some key saves in Game 3, but he likely wants another chance at the goals he allowed.
The 22-year-old couldn't track a long point shot from Braun, and allowed Ward's blueline missile to deflect off his pad and into the top corner.
Murray won't dwell on the miscues, though, as he's carried his team this far and has faced 39 less shots than counterpart Martin Jones through three games .
Murray hasn't lost consecutive games this postseason.
