JONES, COUTURE HELP SHARKS FORCE GAME 6 IN STANLEY CUP FINAL

Martin Jones made 44 saves and Logan Couture provided 1-2—3, all in the first period, to help stave off elimination and now the Sharks force Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Final.

THURSDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
San Jose 4, PITTSBURGH 2 – PIT leads 3-2

The Sharks also became the ninth team to force a Game 6 in that scenario when facing elimination on the road. The last to do so: the 2008 Penguins, who ultimately lost to the Red Wings in the next contest.

Jones made 44 saves, including 17 in the second period – a career high in the playoffs and three shy of his best for any game including the regular season (124 GP). He turned aside 47 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory March 7 at CGY.

Jones also posted 40 saves in the team’s Game 3 win vs. PIT. Elias notes that he became the first goaltender in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to register multiple 40-plus save victories within one Stanley Cup Final.

MILESTONES AND MUSINGS

• Teams fell to 9-9 in their last 18 chances to clinch the Stanley Cup on home ice (dating to 2000)
• Sharks captain Joe Pavelski (Plover, Wis.) scored his League-leading 14th goal of the playoffs, the third-most by a U.S.-born player within a single postseason in NHL history
• Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin registered his 48th career playoff goal to move into sole possession of seventh place among active skaters
• Each member of the “HBK Line” – Carl Hagelin (1-0—1), Nick Bonino (0-1—1) and Phil Kessel (0-1—1) – recorded one point. The trio has combined for 56 points in 23 games this postseason
• The Sharks set a single-year playoff record with their sixth road win
• Brent Burns scored San Jose’s opening goal, giving him 7-16—23 this postseason – tied for the fourth-most points by any defenseman within a single playoff year dating to 1986.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ San Jose, 8:00 p.m., PIT leads 3-2

Stanley Cup schedule HERE.