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CRANBERRY TWP. – Conor Sheary found himself on the biggest stage of his career on Tuesday when he scored the overtime game-winner to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

But it’s a stage, and a scene, that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fans have seen before.

Long before Sheary became a playoff hero in the NHL, he was lighting the lamp for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the postseason. In his first pro experience in 2014, Sheary tallied six goals and 11 points in 15 playoff games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The following postseason he increased the total to 12 points in eight playoff games.

But nothing Sheary did before compares to where he finds himself now.

“It’s been a pretty surreal and a whirlwind of a year for me,” Sheary said Tuesday. “When you’re young and watching all these superstars on TV, you always want to get here. But you never envision it, especially an undrafted guy like me. It’s hard to imagine.”

But it’s easy to understand.

During his two seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Sheary’s development progressed at a rapid pace. As a rookie in 2014-15 he scored 20 goals and 45 points in 58 games. In 2015-16 Sheary produced a point-per-game pace and it was evident his NHL break was coming soon.

That happened in mid-December when Mike Sullivan was named Pittsburgh’s head coach, and he brought Sheary up soon after.

“I thought I was playing pretty well when I was down in Wilkes-Barre. When Sullivan got called up here a week later I got my call-up and a chance,” Sheary said. “I felt like I had an opportunity.”

And it was an opportunity any young player would envy as Sullivan put Sheary on Sidney Crosby’s line – a spot that he has grown into during the postseason. Of Sheary’s four playoff goals with Pittsburgh, Crosby has assisted on three of them.

So what’s it like to go from undrafted free agent to Crosby’s go-to linemate?

“It was a little surreal the first time it happened, but you kind of get used to it at this point,” Sheary said. “You have to focus on where he is on the ice and know he can get you the puck at almost any time.”

One of the keys to Sheary’s current NHL success was his start of the season playing under Sullivan with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That brief stint – from the start of the season until Sullivan took over in Pittsburgh on Dec. 12, gave Sheary and several of his teammates the chance to make an impression that would catapult them to the NHL.

With an 18-5 start at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it was clear that Sullivan’s coaching style worked and the players who made it happen deserved a chance.

“He trusted us and we also trusted him,” Sheary said of Sullivan. “He implements a good system. He implemented that early in Wilkes-Barre. It took a little longer up here because of the coaching change, but once guys bought into that identity and his system it really worked out for us.”

Sullivan said that trust that his players had in him at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was a two-way street, and Sheary is proof to other players that the odds, no matter how steep, can be overcome.

“Conor Sheary was never drafted and here he is in the NHL. He’s a great example of if you stick to it, believe in yourself and bring the work ethic and attitude to the rink every day you’ll give yourself a chance to be successful,” Sullivan said.

In Sheary’s case, he also brought a bit of added motivation after being overlooked in the NHL draft, despite posting decent numbers in college.

“Everyone plays with a chip on their shoulder,” Sheary said. “Being overlooked a few times makes it easier for me to have that chip on my shoulder. Now it’s about trying to keep playing my game and improving.”

And getting his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins playoff hero Conor Sheary (43) controls the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning’s Slater Koekkoek during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Long before he scored the winning goal in Game 2 against San Jose on Wednesday, Sheary practiced his playoff heroics with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_sheary-3.jpg.optimal.jpgPittsburgh Penguins playoff hero Conor Sheary (43) controls the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning’s Slater Koekkoek during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Long before he scored the winning goal in Game 2 against San Jose on Wednesday, Sheary practiced his playoff heroics with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Gene J. Puskar | AP photo

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Conor Sheary skates past San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Sheary scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Penguins a 2-1 victory, and a 2-0 lead in the series.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_sheary-2.jpg.optimal.jpgPittsburgh Penguins winger Conor Sheary skates past San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Sheary scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Penguins a 2-1 victory, and a 2-0 lead in the series. Gene J. Puskar | AP photo

By Tom Venesky

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ON TV

Stanley Cup Finals

Game 3

Saturday

NBCSN — Penguins at Sharks, 8 p.m.

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky