Of 32 teams, the Sharks became the 15th to force a Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Final when trailing the best-of-seven series 3-1. But the mountain trail grew a little less potholed or steep after Thursday’s victory at Consol Energy Center.
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“The most important thing for us to win Game 6 will be I think us just coming out and playing our best game”, DeBoer said.
Officials say they’ll be concentrating on several areas of the city, including the North Shore.
San Jose generated few scoring chances and only 14 shots, in the second and third period and were outshot 46-22 overall. He’s certainly no trash talker. I mean, we were winning one, losing one, including him.
“We know we haven’t scored many goals, or any, in this series”, Couture said afterwards.
Patric Hornqvist has been credited with eight goals in 23 games played during the 2015-2016 playoffs.
The Sharks are 8-3 on home ice in the postseason, including victories to advance to the Western Conference finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.
Specifically, Martin was referring to 2011 and 2014 when the Penguins blew 3-1 advantages against Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers. The Penguins have their own history. To fail to grasp the Cup, they must lose Sunday and then go back home and also lose a Game 7 in a building where they have played impressively.
The feeling was that Martin Jones’ dynamic play in goal was the reason why San Jose won and little else.
Afterward, the Penguins tried to send a message that they weren’t frustrated and remained in control. Sidney Crosby is a terrific captain and terrific leader. I think that’s the experience that’s going to serve him well.
Translation: Jones was somewhat lucky. If Hertl can return to the lineup, it could give the Sharks a motivational boost and some added offensive punch.
Yes, this is getting interesting.
Oddsmakers clearly are encouraged by San Jose and Jones’ improved performance in Game 5. The Penguins hold a 179-119 shots edge during this series, but only have one more goal to show for their efforts. Once the Sharks get set up in the Penguins zone they’ve done a good job creating shots – they put five on goal in their first power play of the evening. The post was his friend a couple of times, yes. Therefore, were you any less joyful when Mario Lemieux hoisted the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in Minnesota in the summer of 1991? So it wasn’t all luck.
“At this stage, you’re just going out there and you’re just battling”, he said. His teammates know it. “We want to give our fans one more chance to cheer and be excited about us and finish on a high note”.
As a coach who preaches about the importance of playing all four lines, DeBoer wasn’t planning to lean on his top six for heavy minutes in mid-June as his team zigzagged across the country in the final.
“The confidence he has in himself, and the confidence we have in him, is unbelievable for such a young guy”, Penguins forward Chris Kunitz said.
Here’s where the media would line up before going out onto the ice to interview the celebrating Penguins.
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When asked about the disparity in shots and attempts in Thursday’s game, DeBoer said that the number on the shot clock is “not always an accurate reflection” of the game itself. They probably need to hear that about now. The Detroit Red Wings superstar and record setting wing passed away Friday at the age of 88 and the hours leading up to Game 6 will be filled with remorse as much as excitement. And with the older roster, who is helped the most by these two-day rests between games that now are the rule? “We talked about changing a little bit, and we intend to do that”. I definitely sensed that. One more desperate chance for the Sharks to do something unexpected. Jones has already seen 40-plus shots three times during the final and is showing no signs of cracking – with Thursday’s 44-save performance the most in regulation by a goalie during the Stanley Cup Final since Johnny Bower in 1967.
