PITTSBURGH – Melker Karlsson scored the winner and Martin Jones made 44 saves as the San Jose Sharks avoided elimination with a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final.
The Sharks’ win forces a Game 6 on Sunday in San Jose. The Penguins still have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Brent Burns opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the post-season for San Jose, which gave the Sharks their first lead of the series. Logan Couture made it 2-0 just over a minute later.
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Evgeni Malkin cut the lead to one at 4:44 on the power play with a wrist shot that went off the foot of Sharks defenceman Justin Braun. Carl Hagelin tied it just 22 seconds later.
Karlsson restored San Jose’s lead at 14:47 of the opening period. Joe Pavelski added an empty netter at 18:40 of the third period.
Matt Murray turned aside 18 of 21 shots in a losing effort.
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