Sharks’ Brent Burns left helpless on game-winning goal

Sharks’ Brent Burns left helpless on game-winning goal PITTSBURGH — Brent Burns, like the rest of the Sharks, had some wild swings in his game Monday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In the second period, Burns had two assists to give him 22 postseason points, the most by a defenseman since Brian Leetch had 34 with the Rangers in 1994. [...] in the third period, with the game tied, three minutes left left and the Penguins mounting a sustained attack in the Sharks’ zone, Burns lost his stick in front of the crease and had to help along the boards without it. Kris Letang neatly slipped the puck around Burns to Nick Bonino, right in front of the net, and Bonino put in the go-ahead goal, with Burns’ stick sliding in front of goalie Martin Jones just as the puck went in the net. In the Sharks’ first Stanley Cup Finals game, Burns saw plenty to like — if you could throw out the all-Penguins, all-the-time first period. The power play scored on one of its two chances, and the penalty kill held the Penguins scoreless five times. Jones was excellent in goal, making several spectacular saves among the 23 shots he denied. Throughout this postseason, San Jose has been its best right after a loss, and Burns, asked what type of response his team would have, said, “Good one, pretty simple.”