Matt Murray has been superb for the Penguins in these play offs but he had probably the worst start of his professional career, allowing the Sharks two early goals to give them a real leg up. A bit awkward that he had a street named after him for the day. It took Brent Burns just over a minute to give the Sharks the lead.
Brent Burns manoeuvred around Justin Schultz to give him an open shot and slide the puck past Matt Murray short side, one of his weakest points. The Sharks captured on their early dominance to race to a 2-0 lead. Couture continued his charge as the play-offs points leader with a neat tip on Justin Braun's point shot that flummoxed Murray.
The Penguins were playing catch up now and they had to respond. They did so in quite a fashion. Evgeni Malkin scoring on a power play after waiting out the defence to open the shot. Just 22 second later, it was tied. Carl Hagelin scoring off a tip on a Nick Bonino shot up close. Just like that the game was level.
The Sharks exited the first with the lead though after Melker Karlsson tucked one through Murray's legs. From that point out it was the Jones show. The Penguins pressed and pressed and by the end of it they had over 44 shots. But, the Sharks held firm and were able to prevent the Penguins from scoring again. Pavelski scored an empty netter to confirm it.
The Penguins will be disappointed with their performance, no doubt. This is a team that has responded time and time again after a loss in these play offs and they will need to again to avoid a Game 7 at home. No-one in the Penguins camp wants that. Rather annoyingly the league has scheduled three day gaps so we'll have to wait until Sunday night to see if the Penguins can finish it off, finally.
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