Sharks: ‘We’ve played OK hockey, we need to play great hockey’
Sharks: ‘We’ve played OK hockey, we need to play great hockey’
PITTSBURGH - The Sharks know what they’re up against on Thursday, down 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Penguins.
[...] the last thing they want to do is go back and play hockey in San Jose.
“We know the situation we’re in and we’re a pretty prideful group, have a lot of character,” defenseman Paul Martin said.
Thousands of people were camped out in front of the Consol Energy Center on Thursday evening to watch the game on big screens set up outside, and it was black and gold Penguins jerseys everywhere downtown.
Some national experts suggested to The Chronicle that the Sharks might want to get a little more physical with the Penguins, get them rattled, but, Dillon said, that’s not really San Jose’s style.
The game-winning goal last game was a power-play goal.
The Sharks, whose power play is one of their strengths, have had just eight power plays in the four games, the same number as Pittsburgh.
The Penguins have blocked 93 shots in the four games (to the Sharks’ 74), making it tough for the Sharks’ big men, particularly Brent Burns, to get anything through.
“I think it’s been a lot closer than it looks, three one-goal games and last game a power-play goal and a couple of tough bounces,” Dillon said.