Penguins miss out on opportunity to win Stanley Cup

Nearly regardless of how Game 5 turns out, Martin Jones had already established himself as one of the best playoff goalies in Sharks franchise history. Braun, who scored San Jose’s only goal in Game 2, had goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

Looking to spark the offense with his team facing elimination, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer switched up his forward lines for the start of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“You don’t come in just to spoil something for the fans”, Sharks (and ex-Penguins) defenseman Paul Martin said.

The Penguins didn’t need much from Murray the first two games when they controlled the play for long stretches. “He was just a stud for us”.

The Penguins outshot the Sharks 46-22. Outplayed but not outscored, San Jose will host Game 6 on Sunday after jumping on Pittsburgh rookie Matt Murray early and holding on behind the spectacular Jones late.

San Jose generated good chances on the four-minute power play but it seemed like the Penguins would kill it off as the clock ran down.

San Jose, however, would weather that storm and escape with a 3-2 first period lead when Melker Karlsson converted a nifty passing play, before Joe Pavelski closed the scoring in the third. Couture followed at 2:53 with his ninth, redirecting defenseman Justin Braun’s shot from the point.

Malkin’s goal came on the power play 4:44 into the first period, but the Sharks killed two more minor penalties, one to Burns for high-sticking 8:18 into the first and another one to Karlsson for slashing midway through the second period. Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin scored for Pittsburgh also in the first as San Jose held a 3-2 lead through two periods. “We know the spot we’re in”.

Sharks goalie Martin Jones stopped 13 of 15 shots.

San Jose scoring the first two goals in a span of 1:49 early in the first. The 25-year-old Swede scored the victor with just over five minutes remaining in the first period. But in the second period when the Sharks made one of their strongest pushes of the series, Murray stood tall by robbing Brent Burns and stopping Ward on a two-on-one. He continues to lead all post-season scorers with 29 points.

The Sharks didn’t even get a shot on goal for more than eight minutes but made a strong push after getting the tying goal on Braun’s point shot past a screened Murray.

By now it was the Penguins in a frenzy and not the Sharks as a relentless Pittsburgh attack shifted into overdrive, hitting the post twice.

Jones was composed and seemingly cool despite the pressure that came with the night.

Teammates say that calm demeanour is nothing new. “We were right there”. We know what everybody is saying. Lot of people unfortunately don’t get to see him, us being on the west coast.

Fitting of their northern California locale, the Sharks were in an easy-going mood heading into Game 5.

“I thought our team as a whole was a little bit unsettled at the first part of the game”, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said, “but we settled in fast”.

“We had to go pack our stuff together real quick”, Heaton said.

Another performance like this won’t do – a point repeatedly made by Sharks players afterwards. “It didn’t happen, so we have to regroup and make sure we’re ready for the next one”.