How did it come to this? The stellar play of Marc-Andre Fleury kept the Penguins going even if they did not want to play for former coach Johnston. That could happen here at Consol Energy Center.
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While Kessel is quick to brush off his chances of capturing the Conn Smythe, the Sharks would prefer to table the discussion for at least a few more days, if not entirely.
Meanwhile, the Penguins best players have delivered their team one win away from the Stanley Cup. It’s extra special to win it at home in front of your home fans, but the prize is the same. Pressure will be heavy on them to close it out. That’s when the Sharks mental and physical battle has to be more determined. “Right now our players and our coaching staff are focused on that one game”. But that is basketball.
Hertl remains out for the Sharks and will miss his third straight game with what’s believed to be a knee injury.
San Jose has enjoyed little success in recent visits to Pittsburgh, earning a win in just one of its past five and failing to record consecutive visits since 2002. “You’re never sure considering the circumstances”. “Let’s just win three periods”.
Things have not gone the way of the Sharks so far this series, but anything can happen on any given night. They get one, they keep coming. “I don’t think it’s about anything beyond that”. Forward Logan Couture has a postseason-best 26 points, but both he and defenseman Brent Burns have been limited to two assists in the Finals.ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Center Evgeni Malkin, the Conn Smythe Award victor in Pittsburgh’s 2009 run to the Cup, admitted he wasn’t producing enough through the first three games of the series and responded to his own “I want more” declaration by setting up one tally and scoring what proved to be the game-winner in Game 4. “I think it’s that insatiable appetite to improve and get better that has allowed this team to get to the point where it’s at”.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan agrees with DeBoer’s assessment.
“The less fuel that’s out there, the better off we will be”, Costa said Wednesday. Each team would control the flow for various segments.
Along with center Logan Couture, Pavelski, Thornton and Burns overwhelmed the Blues in six games. None of the three could pull the proper trigger on their shot and score. While he finally looked unsafe in Game 4 with five shots on goal, he still has nothing to show for it.
Sullivan says his team has dealt with their previous challenges because they’ve handled themselves the right way. The Sharks’ power play, in particular, looked that way Monday, as Couture noted.
It all seems doable, and Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer certainly was talking exactly that way on Tuesday at the team’s practice session.
“There’s no quit in our group”, DeBoer said. “I mean, that’s the million-dollar question”. We got a goal from Melker Karlsson last night. I don’t believe it’s gripping their sticks too tight. I thought that the last game was his best game. Instead it was Penguins defenceman Ian Cole, he of zero goals previously in the playoffs, landing the first marker on a rebound. The Sharks have no option but to bear down and test him. The rubber is hitting the road here so to speak.
“We want to see people having a good time. We’re out of time”.
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“That’s one thing myself and some of the older guys on the team try to impress on the other guys on the team”. All the other stuff is for you guys. “It’s four vs. five”.
