San Jose knows they have a tall task in front of them, but they want to apply pressure on Pittsburgh to let them know this won’t be easy.
The San Jose Sharks are in a less than ideal situation, trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins by a 3-1 series margin in the Stanley Cup Final.
While team teal is in do-or-die mode from here on out, the Sharks have confidence in their ability to come from behind.
In order to do so, San Jose has to find a way to play with a lead. Obviously, scoring first would be exactly how Peter DeBoer draws it up but they can’t get discouraged if they do surrender the opening tally.
The Sharks must keep pushing and fighting no matter what the circumstances. Luckily, team teal has been very strong in these playoffs as series have worn on. Check out these numbers from Pete Jensen of NHL.com:
For what it's worth, #SJSharks are 5-1 in Games 5 through 7 this postseason, outscoring opponents 30-13 in those games. Only loss came in OT
— Pete Jensen 🏒 (@NHLJensen) June 8, 2016
Granted, this situation is completely different from those earlier series as San Jose played from ahead on those occasions, while they’re now trailing by a wide margin.
The task for the Sharks is to chip away at their deficit and make the Penguins earn everything. San Jose will look to place some doubt in the minds of Pittsburgh if they can find a way to take Game 5.
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While that won’t be easy, it’s not impossible as the Sharks have displayed their resiliency all season long. They’ll have to continue to rely upon Martin Jones to hold down the fort as the Penguins will be flying in the early going, looking to deliver a knock out blow.
San Jose will have to weather the storm and then assert themselves as quickly as possible.
If team teal can find a way, this series will return to the Shark Tank where a raucous crowd will await. The Sharks have been at their best in these playoffs at SAP Center.
As Paul Martin talked about, a win in Game 5 means this series is once again up for grabs as the pressure starts to shift to the Penguins.
“Once you get that first win, a lot can happen from there.” #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/kC08c8vua4
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 8, 2016
Also, Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News notes how Pittsburgh has had a recent history of failing to close out their opposition despite holding substantial series leads.
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It’s all up to the Sharks now though as the Penguins have been the aggressor thus far. San Jose can’t sit back and must leave it all on the ice, beginning tonight. Everyone who hits the ice at Consol Energy Center has to be locked in.
If they can start to plant that seed of doubt in their opposition, team teal will have a chance to become just the second team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
For the Sharks, it all starts with one. One shift, one shot, one goal, one period, one game at a time until the job at hand is done.