By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: The Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray can’t stop the OT game three winning goal of the San Jose Sharks Joonas Donskoi on Saturday night

SAN JOSE–Tomas Hertl Out: While San Jose Sharks fans have waited their whole lifetimes for a home game in the Stanley Cup Final, they would normally have hoped for it to come under different circumstances. The Sharks take the ice Saturday trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-0 in the series and now face the proposition of having to find a replacement for the most productive player of late on their top line.

After missing Friday’s practice for undisclosed reasons, Tomas Hertl has officially been ruled out for game three Saturday night with a lower body injury. It is likely that Danius Zubrus will return to the Sharks lineup with either Zubrus or Melker Karlsson skating on the left wing of the top line alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. Hertl has 11 points (6 g, 5a) in 20 postseason contests and was the most effective player for the Sharks in games one and two.

Aside from the top and fourth lines changing, coach Peter DeBoer expects to ice the same second and third lines that starting game 2. Joel Ward jumped from the third line wing initially to the second line while Patrick Marleau moved from second line wing to third line center in the final period. Ward took the faceoff against Sidney Crosby that ultimately led to Connor Sheary’s overtime goal in game two.

Couture Cries Foul on Crosby: One aspect to watch will be how the officials monitor Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on faceoffs. Sharks forward Logan Couture was vocal after the game two loss about how Crosby receives star treatment at the faceoff dot. Will the officials take a closer look now that eyes will be watching more closely?

Turn Up the Tank: To celebrate the first ever Stanley Cup game at the Shark Tank, the Sharks will once again give out t-shirts to all fans in attendance. The teal shirts feature a play on the cult movie “Sharknado” with the Sharks logo at the base of a whirling dervish of Sharks. Fans will also receive the interactive light bracelets that will synch up to create a light show before and during the game. There will doubtlessly be other theatrics on display for this historic meeting.

Braun Back with Team: After taking a leave of absence from the team, defenseman Justin Braun was back with the team on the ice for practice. Braun’s father-in-law, former NHLer Tom Lysiak, passed away on the eve of the Stanley Cup. Braun was attending his funeral in Atlanta Thursday following game two Wednesday night. Braun scored the Sharks lone goal in the contest.