Resilient performance leads Pens to a 3-1 lead

The  Penguins can become champions on Thursday night after beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 at the SAP center last night. They can become the first Pittsburgh sports team to win the title on their home turf in Pittsburgh in a long time. But, there is still another game to play at least and the Sharks will push.

The Penguins came into this game after a tough loss in game 3 in over time with a point to prove. After losses Murray was unbeaten and dominant in some big games, most notably Game 6 in the Tampa Bay series. The Sharks were expected to come into this game with a big push to tie the series but they seemed a bit slow and tired compared to previous games.

The Penguins controlled the first period and it where grateful to Martin Jones kicking out a rebound to Ian Cole with just over 7 minutes played in the period. Cole shot the puck as it was bobbling to score his first goal of the play offs and ended his 105 game goalless streak. He couldn't have really picked a better time. The game settled down for the rest of the period and was quite chippy but the Penguins held on.

The next goal didn't appear until early in the second period. The Penguins were given their second power play of the evening. Geno had made a few comments before the game about how he needed to take control of the power play and for the second time in these play offs he followed on his promises. After some neat work on the blue line to keep it in Kessel took a shot. Malkin positioned himself next to the post and tapped it in to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead.

The Penguins kept that lead until 8 minutes into the third period when Melker Karlsson scored to finally break Murray for the Sharks. The Sharks could smell blood and pressured the Penguins heavily in the third period. As a result they were able to finish with more shots than the Penguins in the series but they failed to make them count. The Penguins retreated and were able to block a large number of the Sharks chances.

Eric Fehr stuck the dagger into the Sharks hopes at tying the game after Hagelin did an excellent job in keeping the job in the zone right on the line. He spotted Fehr racing into an open lane and passed the puck across. Fehr rifled the shot past Jones to send the Penguins into delirium. The Penguins held on the for the rest of the game and took a 3-1 lead.

With the next game on Thursday I think the Penguins will end it, I hope they do anyway. The chance to win the Stanley Cup at home doesn't come around often. I predict the big guys will step up. This whole team deserves it and I hope it happens.