Stanley Cup Final: Sharks vs. Penguins Game 5 recap, full highlights

The San Jose Sharks forced a Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Final after a hard-fought battle against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Somehow, some way, this series is going back to San Jose. The San Jose Sharks came out like a team in desperation mode, and once they took the lead, they never looked back. Sharks goalie Martin Jones has to be credited for putting the team on his back, as he put on one of the best goaltending performances you will ever see in a Cup Final.

The first five minutes of the game was some of the most intense hockey you’re ever going to see. The Sharks came out like a house on fire when Brent Burns and Logan Couture gave them a 2-0 lead, but then Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin scored 22 seconds apart to tie the game at 2.

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Melker Karlsson scored near the end of the first period to give them back the lead, but from then on it was all Martin Jones. The Penguins came out in the second and third period with wave after wave of attack, but Jones kept his composure and stopped everything in sight. The final shot count ended up being 46-22 in favor of the Penguins.

At the other end, some questioned whether Matt Murray should’ve been pulled after he let in 3 goals on 7 shots. However, he came into the second period with a fresh start and kept his team in the game.

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A Sharks power play with six minutes left threatened to put this game out of reach, but the Penguins killed it off. But it wouldn’t matter as Joe Pavelski scored the empty netter to keep their season alive. Pittsburgh’s chance to win a Stanley Cup at home will have to wait.

Three stars

Martin Jones

Despite a brief 22-second stretch in the first period, it was a perfect performance from the goalie. The only chance the Sharks have of coming back in this series is if Jones continues to stand on his head.

Logan Couture

With a goal and two assists, he was involved in all of San Jose’s goals in the first period. He’s been arguably their best offensive player in these playoffs.

Evgeni Malkin

He played like the version of Malkin that won the Conn Smythe back in 2009. He scored in the first period and put in some remarkable shifts.

Highlights

Brent Burns’ opening goal was the first lead the Sharks had all series long. It was similar to Joonas Donskoi’s overtime winner in Game 3:

Logan Couture would score to put the Sharks ahead 2-0 less than three minutes into the game:

Evgeni Malkin cut the Sharks lead back to 1:

"The @penguins went down a pair, then Geno got rolling. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/AtZOde8y26— #StanleyCup Final (@NHL) June 10, 2016"

Then Carl Hagelin tied it 22 seconds later on the powerplay:

Melker Karlsson would retake the lead for the Sharks:

"Take the lead, lose the lead, take the lead. Melker Karlsson puts the @SanJoseSharks back ahead. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/Dbi5gnB6dQ— #StanleyCup Final (@NHL) June 10, 2016"

Next Game

Despite everything, the Penguins have a 3-2 series lead and are in a good position to win the Cup. However, they’ll be disappointed since they really wanted to win at home. The puck for Game 6 will drop on Sunday, June 12, at 8:00 pm Eastern. The game will air on NBC.

Visit our NHL Playoffs page for more news and related content.