SJ SHARKS REACH STANLEY CUP FINALS FOR FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY WITH HELP FROM ASSISTANT COACH BOB BOUGHNER, WINDSOR NATIVE AND SPITFIRES OWNER.
Logan Couture (1-2—3) and Joel Ward (2-0—2) combined for three of San Jose’s five goals to help the the SJ Sharks win Game 6 and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
SAN JOSE 5, St. Louis 2 – SJS wins 4-2
Couture registered his third three-point game of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, all of which have been earned in series-clinching wins (also Game 5 of FR at LAK: 0-3—3 and Game 7 of SR vs. NSH: 1-2—3). He paces all players with 16 assists and 24 points this postseason (8-16—24), extending his franchise records for a playoff year.
Ward scored twice, including his fourth career game-winning goal in the postseason, to register consecutive multi-goal games for the first time in his NHL career (regular season and playoffs). Prior to Game 5 and 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Final, Ward had only recorded one other multi-goal game in his previous 69 career playoff contests (also Game 5 of 2011 CSF at VAN: 2-1—3 w/ NSH).
Martin Jones (24 SV) improved to 12-6 in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (2.12 GAA, .919 SV%, 3 SO), including a 7-2 record at SAP Center (1.75 GAA, .936 SV%, 2 SO).
The SJ Sharks will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Final between the Penguins and Lightning (series tied 3-3). Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will be Monday; San Jose would begin the Final on the road if it plays Pittsburgh or at home if it plays Tampa Bay.
San Jose forward Joe Thornton (0-1—1) collected his 100th career playoff point as a member of the Sharks (21-79—100). He also extended his assist/point streak to four games (0-7—7).
IPM would like to congratulate Windsor Spitfires owner Bob Boughner on making it to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first year behind the bench with the SJ Sharks. Bring the Cup to Windsor!
PENGUINS, LIGHTNING VIE FOR STANLEY CUP FINAL BERTH IN GAME 7
Thursday’s contest at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh will be the fifth Game 7 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This marks the second straight year that the Eastern Conference Final will require a seventh and deciding game – the Lightning defeated the Rangers 2-0 to reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015. The Penguins and Lightning will contest a Game 7 for the second time in as many playoff meetings.
In the seventh game of the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Dwayne Roloson made 36 saves and Sean Bergenheim scored the lone goal in Tampa Bay’s 1-0 victory at PIT.
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh, 8:00 p.m., series tied 3-3,
Facebook Comments