San Jose Sharks Look to Extend Stanley Cup Final
By Ryan Ritchie
San Jose Sharks Will Not Go Down Easy as They Look to Extend Stanley Cup Final on Thursday Night
Heading into game five on Thursday night, maintaining a lead still remains foreign territory for the San Jose Sharks as they trail 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
For the Pens, they have an opportunity to close things out at the Consol Energy Center, and hoist Lord Stanley on home ice for the first time in what could be their third Stanley Cup Victory – the last time a professional sports team won a championship at home in the Steel City was the Pittsburgh Pirates back in the 1960s.
Just don’t expect the San Jose Sharks to roll over and surrender. Interviews heading into game five reveal a group with a very calm collective demeanor that understands the pressure to extend the series. As Brent Burns said, it’s the same pressure they’ve felt for four rounds in which every team must deal with.
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The San Jose Sharks must rely on what got them here in the first place. That means getting off to a quick start, finding the back of the net early.
One thing we haven’t seen in this series, how will the Pens react as the team forced on their heels? If the Sharks can find some type of momentum and can steal a game from a potentially distracted Pittsburgh squad (i.e. Sidney Crosby making plans to fly family in), it could be exactly what they need to bring this series back to California.
Former NHLer Dave Poulin discussed just that Thursday on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central at Noon citing a similar experience of his own back in the early to mid 1990s where focus was an issue for teammates in an opportunity to close out a series.
It’s not to say the Pittsburgh Penguins won’t win on Thursday night, because they could very well be raising the Stanley Cup later this evening – but the San Jose Sharks will make a thriller out of it at the very least.
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San Jose Sharks 5 Keys to Victory
Fire on All Cylinders
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It’s time to get more pucks to the net, get some traffic in front, and cause havoc for Matt Murray.
If that means getting in his grill, jamming sticks in his glove/pads, or whatever the Sharks need to do to cause extra commotion, so be it.
It might be difficult to rattle this kid with poised maturity in goal, but it doesn’t mean you can’t throw others players off their game.
Get in Crosby’s Head
Not an easy task, but once you get him whining/complaining to the referees, task accomplished – he’s off his game at that point. On the flip, there’s a reason he’s one of the best players in the world – he’s not a guy who gets easily flustered.
Time for Leaders to Take Control
A little secondary scoring always helps, but it doesn’t matter much unless your big guns are producing.
We’re looking at you Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, and Brent Burns. All four need to find the score-sheet in game five. Some success on the man advantage might help with that.
Mr.Postseason Needs to be Clutch/Game-Breaker
The theme of close games should continue on Thursday. If that’s the case, Joel Ward needs to continue doing what he has done through four rounds – be a clutch player who steps up in crucial moments.
He was signed last offseason for games just like this one tonight, so Pittsburgh better keep a close eye on Mr.Postseason.
Martin Jones Will Need to be Sharks Best Player
You could argue that Martin Jones has already been the San Jose Sharks best player despite the record in this series.
He has seen far too much rubber thus far, and it’s difficult to imagine that changing much in game five.
Who knows if it’s even possible, but Jones needs to find another gear to be an absolute brick wall this evening.
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Should Pittsburgh manage to win on home ice on Thursday, numerous players are making a strong case as Conn Smythe Winner (Playoff MVP).
Below are my top three predictions:
1. Sidney Crosby
2. Matt Murray
3. Phil Kessel