The Bum's National Hockey League April's Playoff's Picks - Trends - News - Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

NHL RESULTS OVERALL:

1 - 1 + 3.00

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

SJ at PIT 08:00 PM

SJ +144 ( 4 UNITS )

O 5.0 ( 2 UNITS )

[StarDust Bum]

Sharks stave off elimination, top Pens
June 9, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) There's very little flash to Martin Jones. The San Jose Sharks goaltender speaks in a polite monotone, only too eager to deflect attention elsewhere. Call it a reflex action honed from years spent wearing a mask while intentionally standing in the way of a puck often fired at high speed.

Only this time he couldn't get out of the spotlight. Not after spoiling Pittsburgh's long-awaited house party with 60 minutes of the best hockey of his life.

The Sharks and the understated guy in net are heading back west for Game 6. So are the Penguins. The Stanley Cup, too. Blame Jones, who turned aside 44 shots in a 4-2 victory in Game 5 on Thursday night.

Outplayed but not outscored, San Jose heads home with a chance to even the best-of-seven series at 3-3 on Sunday.

''Joner bailed us out tonight,'' said San Jose defenseman Justin Braun.

Repeatedly. Their breakthrough season on the line after spending the better part of four games chasing - but not quite catching - the relentless Penguins, the Sharks responded by jumping on Pittsburgh rookie goaltender Matt Murray early then relying on Jones late.

Not that he wanted to talk about it, not even after becoming the first goaltender in the expansion era to win two games in the final while making at least 40 saves.

''I don't know, I felt good tonight,'' Jones said. ''I thought our (defense) did a good job in front of the net and we got a few bounces tonight.''

His teammates knew better. San Jose still has a chance to become the second team in NHL history to claw out of a 3-1 deficit in the final because Jones refused to serve as doorman for a coronation for Sidney Crosby and company.

''He was unbelievable,'' Braun said. ''He was calm. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't go after guys. He doesn't lose his cool. He's tapping us on the pads saying we did a good job and usually he bails us out. We need to give him a little more help.''

The Sharks, particularly their stars, gave him enough in the first period and Jones had all the wiggle room he would need.

Logan Couture had a goal and two assists while Brent Burns, Melker Karlsson and captain Joe Pavelski also scored for San Jose, which was outshot 46-22 but held firm after surviving a chaotic opening five minutes and playing capably after getting the lead in regulation for the first time in the series.

''We know we haven't scored many goals or any in this series and it's one of the reasons we're down 3-1,'' Couture said, ''(but) we didn't want our season to end.''

Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin scored for Pittsburgh but the 22-year-old Murray, whose postseason play helped fuel Pittsburgh's return to the final after a seven-year break, faltered early and his high-profile teammates struggled to the puck by Jones.

''We were right there,'' Crosby said. ''We hit a few posts. We were in around the net. Guys were working hard.''

Just not enough to finish off the Sharks.

San Jose coach Peter DeBoer preached patience with his team in a hole only one club in NHL history has climbed out of to raise the Cup. He pointed to the Sharks' own first-round collapse two years ago against Los Angeles - when a three-game lead became a 4-3 loss that took an entire season to get over - as proof of how quickly the tenor of a series can change.

The Penguins stressed the final step in the long slog from the tumult of December - when Mike Johnston was fired and replaced with Mike Sullivan with the team languishing on the fringe of the playoff picture - would be the most difficult. Yet the prospect of celebrating the first title captured within the city limits in 56 years sent thousands into the streets around Consol Energy Center and ticket were going for well over $1,000.

Things were no different inside, with the largest crowd in the arena's brief history - a group that included Pirates Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, whose epic ninth-inning blast in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field a couple miles up the street marked the last time a championship season ended in Pittsburgh - in a frenzy from the opening faceoff.

It took all of 64 seconds for the Sharks to quiet them and 2:53 to leave them stunned. Burns' first goal of the final, a wrist shot from the circle that didn't look unlike Joonas Donskoi's overtime winner in Game 3, put San Jose in front in regulation for the first time in the series. Couture doubled San Jose's advantage less than two minutes later with a redirect in front of the net.

The momentum evaporated quickly. Malkin scored on the power play 4:44 into the first and Hagelin followed 22 seconds later to tie it, the fastest opening four-goal sequence in the history of the final.

Things settled down - at least a little - until Karlsson's shot from in front with just under five minutes left in the first, set up by a pretty backhand feed from Couture.

The advantage set the stage for Jones, who spent a large portion of the second period fending off one odd-man rush after another as Pittsburgh's frenetic speed pinned the Sharks in their end for long stretches. Yet the goalie who watched as a backup behind Los Angeles star Jonathan Quick two years ago as the Kings roared back to stun San Jose on their way to a title gave the Sharks the spark they needed to extend their season for at least three more days and keeping their slim hopes of raising the Cup themselves alive.

''We played the way we needed to win the game,'' Murray said. ''But their goalie stood on his head.''

[StarDust Bum]

Penguins miss out on opportunity to win Stanley Cup
June 10, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) Early nerves got the better of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had a chance to win the Stanley Cup at home. Admittedly unsettled at the outset of Game 5, they allowed the San Jose Sharks just enough of an opportunity to capitalize.

San Jose took an early lead and Martin Jones made it stand stopping the final 31 shots he faced as the Sharks avoided elimination with a 4-2 victory on Thursday.

''The adrenaline was definitely going,'' Penguins' goaltender Matt Murray said. ''A little bit jittery, a little bit nervous at the start, but I really settled in after that.''

The normally reliable and unflappable Murray had won 14 of 20 games in the playoffs, but he struggled early, allowing three goals on seven first-period shots. The 22-year-old rookie settled down to stop the final 14 shots he faced, but his teammates couldn't solve Jones, who finished with 44 saves.

The Penguins had a chance to win their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history and first since 2009. Pittsburgh remains in front, 3-2, in the best-of-seven series and will get another chance to win it all on Sunday.

''They were playing to try and get it back home,'' Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby said. ''I'm sure that was their mindset and we definitely wanted to close it out. It didn't happen, so we have to regroup and make sure we're ready for the next one.''

Brent Burns, Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson scored first-period goals for the Sharks. Joe Pavelski, the playoff leader in goals, sealed it with his first of the series and 14th of the playoffs. Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin scored for Pittsburgh also in the first as San Jose held a 3-2 lead through two periods.

The Penguins held a 46-21 advantage in shots, but couldn't come up with the tying goal. Jones was the difference as he made a pad save on Nick Bonino from the top of the crease and later stopped Conor Sheary in the slot.

''He made some good saves,'' Crosby said. ''We were right there. ''I thought we did a lot of good things.''

Pittsburgh appeared primed to celebrate a championship on Thursday.

The teams played in front of the largest crowd in Consol Energy Center history, some fans paying well above $1,500 for standing-room-only tickets and their chance to witness history. City officials estimated an additional 20,000 residents flooded the area, shutting down streets outside the arena, while 10,000 more filed in at a second location to watch the game on big screens.

It would've been the first major championship won in the city of Pittsburgh since Bill Mazeroski's walkoff home run for the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Instead, the Sharks had other plans. San Jose, appearing in its first Stanley Cup Final, is trying to become the first team since Toronto in 1942 to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the Stanley Cup.

''The elimination game is always the most difficult,'' Penguins' coach Mike Sullivan said.

The Penguins and Sharks combined for four goals in the first five minutes on Thursday, the fastest to start a Stanley Cup Final game in NHL history.

Burns opened the scoring 1:04 into the game, giving the Sharks their first lead of the Stanley Cup Final. It was the first time Pittsburgh trailed in regulation since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay. Couture tipped Justin Braun's shot behind Murray less than two minutes later to make it a 2-0 game.

Malkin quickly responded for Pittsburgh with a power-play goal and Hagelin tied the game 22 seconds later. Karlsson put the Sharks ahead after a wild first period, taking a no-look drop pass from Couture before putting a shot under Murray's glove from the slot.

That proved to be enough for the Sharks.

''We knew we were going to have to bring our best,'' Sullivan said. ''We did a lot of really good things out there.''

[StarDust Bum]

The Latest: Sharks beat Pittsburgh, force Game 6
June 9, 2016

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Latest from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins lead the series 3-2. (All times local):


11:40 p.m.

It's back to San Jose for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday.

The Sharks are 2-0 this postseason when facing elimination. The Penguins squandered an opportunity to become the first Pittsburgh team to win a championship at home since the Pirates won Game 7 of the 1960 World Series over the New York Yankees on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run.

The Sharks trail the series 3-2 following a 4-2 win on Thursday. The only other time they faced elimination this postseason, San Jose defeated Nashville 5-0 in Game 7 of their second-round series.

Sharks captain Joe Pavelski earned his first point of the series by securing the victory with an empty-net goal.

---

11 p.m.

Martin Jones stopped 44 shots, Logan Couture had a goal and two assists and the San Jose Sharks avoided elimination by hanging on for a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.

Melker Karlsson, Brent Burns and captain Joe Pavelski, into an empty net, also scored for the Sharks, who cut the Penguins' series lead to 3-2 and forced Game 6 at San Jose on Sunday.

Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin scored 26 seconds apart in the first period of a game the Penguins outshot the Sharks 46-22.

Aside from Pavelski's goal, the rest of the scoring came in the first period, and included the teams combining to score two each in the first 5:06 to set a Cup final series record for fastest four goals to start a game.

The Sharks squandered a 2-0 lead before Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal with 5:13 left in the first. Set up in the slot by Couture's no-look pass, Karlsson snapped a shot that banked in off the bottom of goalie Matt Murray's glove.

---

10:25 p.m.

The Sharks are one period away from sending the Stanley Cup Final series back to San Jose for Game 6 on Sunday.

Up 3-2 on the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the third period, the Sharks are 8-0 this postseason when leading after two periods.

The Penguins, meanwhile, are 0-4 this postseason when trailing after two periods. Pittsburgh, which leads the series 3-1, is attempting to win its fourth Cup, and do it for the first time on home ice.

---

10:05 p.m.

Martin Jones stopped all 17 shots he faced in the second period in helping the San Jose Sharks preserve their 3-2 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jones was particularly sharp during a 50-second span beginning with about 5 minutes left in the frame.

First, he stopped Phil Kessel's shot from the left circle, and then kicked out his left pad to stop Nick Bonino attempting to backhand in the rebound from the slot. Off the next faceoff, Jones got a piece Connor Sheary's shot that was deflected in front. Finally, Jones stood his ground and got his blocker out just in time to stop Patric Hornqvist driving alone to the net and getting a shot off from his knees.

Jones has allowed two goals on 32 shots. Penguins rookie Matt Murray has given up three goals on 15 shots.

Pittsburgh leads the series 3-1 and was hoping to win the Cup at home Thursday night.

---

9:50 p.m.

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari provided a thumbs-up to the up-tempo, high-scoring first period.

He posted a picture from the stands of the Consol Energy Center and a note on his Twitter account after the Penguins had scored twice in 22 seconds to tie the game at 2.

Referring to the goal surge as ''exciting stuff!'' Calipari added the Penguins' fast-break wouldn't look out of place at the Wildcats home, Rupp Arena.

---

9:40 p.m.

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture has regained his scoring touch in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Couture has a goal and two assists in helping the Sharks build a 3-2 lead over the Penguins. That comes after Couture was held to just two assists this series, and held without a point the previous two games.

Couture has now upped his playoff-leading point total to 29 (nine goals, 20 points). He had already surpassed the Sharks' franchise record for playoff points set by Igor Larionov, who had 18 points in 14 games in 1994.

---

9:25 p.m.

The San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins have set a Stanley Cup Final record by combining to score four goals in the first 5:06.

Each team scored twice in what were the fastest four goals scored to open a game in the final series, according to Elias Sports.

The Penguins were involved in setting the old mark in 1992 when they and the Chicago Blackhawks combined to score four goals in the first 6:51 of Game 4 of the final series. Pittsburgh went on to win the game 8-2 and complete a four-game sweep of the Blackhawks.

---

9:10 p.m.

Down 3-2 after the first period to San Jose, the Pittsburgh Penguins headed into intermission trailing on the scoreboard for the first time in three weeks.

The Sharks opened the scoring for the first time in this Stanley Cup Final on Brent Burns' goal just 1:04 into the game. Burns' goal also ended the Penguins streak of not trailing in a game at 436 minutes and 50 seconds. It was a run that began following a 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on May 20.

The Penguins have gone 5-2 since, with both losses coming in overtime.

The Sharks then opened a 2-0 lead on Logan Couture's redirection of Justin Braun's point shot. Pittsburgh responded with two goals in a span of 22 seconds as the two teams combined to score four times in the first 5:06.

San Jose regained the lead on Melker Karlsson's goal with 5:15 left in the period.

Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray made just four saves on seven shots.

Sharks goalie Martin Jones stopped 13 of 15 shots.

---

8:55 p.m.

The San Jose Sharks have taken a 3-2 lead on Melker Karlsson's goal scored with 5:15 left in what's been a highly entertaining first period.

Logan Couture set up the goal with a no-look pass to a wide-open Karlsson in the slot. Karlsson quickly snapped a shot that banked in off the bottom of goalie Matt Murray's glove.

Couture now has a goal and two assists.

The posts have been ringing in Pittsburgh.

After erasing a two-goal deficit, the Pittsburgh Penguins took over the momentum. Chris Kunitz snapped a shot from the left circle that banged off the left post with 11 minutes left in the first period. Some 10 seconds later, Pittsburgh's Phil Kessel had a shot from near the same spot deflect off both posts. Kessel's shot first hit off the left post and then caromed across the crease and hit the right post, before deflecting out.

Both chances came during a power-play opportunity, with San Jose defenseman Brent Burns off for high-sticking.

---

8:30 p.m.

Goals are coming fast in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final.

The Sharks scored goals 1:49 apart in the first period of Game 5 to take a 2-0 lead, stunning a Pittsburgh crowd eager to celebrate a Stanley Cup championship. The Penguins led the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Thursday night's game.

Brent Burns gave the Sharks their first lead of the final with a goal just 64 seconds into the game. Logan Couture then deflected in Justin Braun's shot from the right point to put the San Jose Sharks up 2-0 at the 2:53 mark.

It didn't last long: The Penguins answered with goals just 22 seconds apart. Evgeni Malkin cashed in on a power play and Carl Hagelin added another to make it 2-2 just 5:06 into the game.

---

7:55 p.m.

By the numbers:

Teams with a 3-1 series lead have gone on to win the Cup 31 of 32 times. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the lone NHL team to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win.

The Penguins have not trailed over past 435 minutes and 46 seconds of game time. They're 5-2 during that stretch, with both losses in overtime.

With 14 playoff wins, Penguins goalie Matt Murray is one shy of matching NHL rookie record for one postseason set by Patrick Roy in 1986, and matched by Ron Hextall in `87 and Cam Ward in 2006.

The Sharks set a franchise record with 28 regular-season road wins, though they're 5-6 on the road in the playoffs.

San Jose goalie Martin Jones has allowed 19 goals in his past seven games since posting consecutive shutouts against St. Louis in Games 2-3 of Western Conference final.

Both teams have converted just one of eight power-play chances.

With three Cup championships, Pittsburgh is tied for ninth on the list with New Jersey. The New York Rangers and Islanders are tied for seventh with four each.

---

7:20 p.m.

Pittsburgh is ready for the biggest party in 56 years.

Thousands of fans descended on the streets surrounding Consol Energy Center on Thursday ahead of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins can become the first Pittsburgh team to win a championship at home since Bill Mazeroski's epic ninth-inning home run against the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Scalpers were asking $1,500 just to get in the door, though business was slow two hours before game time. With temperatures around 70 degrees and little humidity, many decided against forking over a mortgage payment in exchange for a folding chair, a frosty beverage or two and starting ''Let's Go Pens!'' chants.

The city and team have worked together to put a massive big screen television outside an arena gate, and added a second viewing spot at a downtown shopping square about a mile away.

---

6:50 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is hoping Evgeni Malkin's performance in Game 4 can carry over into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against San Jose.

Malkin posted his first points of the series with a goal and assist in a 3-1 victory at San Jose on Monday night. The goal, which put Pittsburgh up 2-0, stood up as the winner.

Sullivan says he's seen Malkin's performance improving both offensively and defensively as the series progresses.

Sidney Crosby has just two assists against San Jose, and is in the midst of a five-game scoring drought.

Defenseman Kris Letang has three assists, all of them setting up eventual winning goals.

---

6:30 p.m.

San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer has a simple objective when it comes to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Scoring first would be a welcome change, DeBoer told reporters earlier in the day.

That's something the Sharks haven't done yet in a series they trail 3-1.

DeBoer, however, didn't want to paint his team into a corner. Should the Sharks not score first, he said, ''we can't just back the bus up and head home.''

DeBoer at least cleared up one issue regarding his lineup by announcing center Tomas Hertl will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury.

---

6:10 p.m.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have an opportunity to accomplish something not done since the final months of the Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency: Win a championship at home.

With a 3-1 Stanley Cup Final series lead over San Jose, the Penguins will get that opportunity at the Consol Energy Center on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh hasn't had a chance to celebrate a title on home soil since Oct. 13, 1960. That's when Bill Mazeroski led off the ninth inning with a home run to clinch a 10-9 Game 7 victory over the New York Yankees at Forbes Field.

The Penguins celebrated their previous three championship victories on the road: at Minnesota in 1991, at Chicago in `92 and at Detroit in 2009.

The Pirates clinched their previous two World Series titles at Baltimore, in 1979 and `71, both in Game 7, while the Steelers' six Super Bowl titles have all come at neutral sites.

---

6 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one victory away from clinching their fourth Stanley Cup championship.

Pittsburgh returns home for Game 5 on Thursday night holding a 3-1 series lead over the San Jose Sharks.

Forward Phil Kessel leads the Penguins in the playoffs with 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists). Rookie goalie Matt Murray has allowed just seven goals in four games against the Sharks.

The Penguins are seeking to win their second title since 2009. The Sharks are attempting to avoid elimination in making the franchise's first Cup Final appearance.

The Sharks have yet to hold a lead this series. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Pittsburgh 3-2 in overtime in Game 3.

A Sharks victory would force Game 6 at San Jose on Sunday.

[StarDust Bum]

nhl results last night: 2 - 0 + 7.76
overall playoff record: 3 - 1 + 10.76

see you on sunday !!

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

Nolan Ryan threw seven no-hitters, to seven different catchers........

-- Jeff Torborg-- Became a manager when his playing days were done.

-- Art Kusyner-- Starting C Torborg broke his finger two days before this game.

-- Tom Egan-- Like Bob Uecker, a journeyman catcher with a career .200 BA.

-- Ellie Rodriguez-- Was All-Star rep for Royals in their first-ever season.

-- Alan Ashby-- Is now a broadcaster for the Astros.

-- John Russell-- Was Rangers' 3rd-string catcher when he caught the no-hitter.

-- Mike Stanley-- Best hitter of these seven, hit 187 HRs, had a .370 OB%.

**********

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday......

13) Someone brought this up on Twitter Friday night and it took me a damn hour to unravel the whole thing in my mind:

Vince Carter was drafted by Golden State on June 24, 1988; he was traded later that night to Toronto for Antawn Jamison, but the pick that was used to draft him had already been traded twice, in 1993 and 1994-- the Anfernee Hardaway/Chris Webber deal in '93 and a deal involving Scott Skiles the next year.

In both trades, a pick Golden State later used to draft Todd Fuller (whoops) was also moved with the Carter pick.

12) Vince Carter scored 23,969 points in his NBA career, earned $165,575,296 in salary; the pick used to select him was traded when he was in 10th and 11th grade.

11) Barry Bonds was a great, great hitter; he hit 762 HRs, had a career OB% of .444.

Don Mattingly hit .307 in his fine career, with 222 homers, also a great hitter.

But playing isn't coaching; Mattingly is Marlins' manager, Bonds is a hitting coach and neither one of them can fix Giancarlo Stanton, who is going thru one of the worst hitting funks I've ever seen. Its like he has suddenly become Adam Dunn, except he never walks. Stanton is hitting .195 this season. No bueno.

With two strikes on him this season, Stanton is 9-112, with 14 walks, 77 strikeouts. Seeing as they still owe hm $325M or so down the road, they need to have coaches who can fix him, even if that coach wasn't a Hall of Fame player.

10) White Sox brought up SS prospect Tim Anderson and DFA'd Jimmy Rollins, making them younger, more athletic and probably better.

9) In Jose Quintana's last 17 losses, White Sox scored a total of 19 runs.

8) Cavan Biggio, son of the Astros' Hall of Famer, was a 5th-round draft pick of the Blue Jays. That pick was announced by Cavan's older brother, who is an intern in the commissioner's office. There is networking in baseball; your dad is a Hall of Famer, you have a better shot at an internship.

7) Red Sox have scored 54 more runs than any team in the AL; some credit has to go to hitting coach Chili Davis, who is very underrated. When he was in Oakland, the A's made the playoffs all three years. Probably not a coincidence.

6) New sliding rules at second base are hurting offenses; you get lot more double plays now, with runners not allowed to do anything remotely aggressive to break up a double play. Reducing contact around home plate probably helped scoring go up.

5) Golfer Jason Day threw out the first pitch at the Pirates game last night; he is in town for the US Open at Oakmont next week.

4) Chicago Cubs used a 6th-round pick on Chad Hockin, who is the grandson of the great hitter, the late Harmon Killebrew.

3) Klay Thompson wore a Dodgers' hat at a Giants' home game last night, normally not the best way to make friends in the Bay Area, but Thompson's brother plays for the Dodgers and if the Warriors win Monday night, it'll all be forgotten, I'm guessing.

2) CBS made a good move, dumped former referee Mike Carey as its rules expert; Carey wasn't good on TV, although he did improve last year.

1) I'd like to propose a change to how saves are tracked; the current system just isn't a good yardstick for how closers finish games.

-- Protect a one-run lead, 3 points. Lose a one-run lead, lose 1 point.
-- Protect a two-run lead, 2 points. Lose a two-run lead, lose 2 points.
-- Protect a three-run lead, 1 point. Lose a three-run lead, lose 3 points.

For instance, Huston Street entered the game last night with a 3-0 lead; he blew the lead, so he would lose three points. I think over the course of a season, this point system would be more telling than the current one.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL

Sunday, June 12

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NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 betting preview: Penguins at Sharks
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Sidney Crosby has yet to score in the Stanley Cup Finals, will he end the scoring slump and hoist the Cup in San Jose?

Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks (A: +100, H: -110, O/U: 5.0)

Penguins lead series 3-2

Logan Couture has a knack of coming through in the clutch when the San Jose Sharks need him the most. Fresh off his fourth three-point performance of the playoffs, Couture looks to help the Sharks stretch the Stanley Cup final to its limit when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on Sunday night.

The 27-year-old scored his first goal of the series and set up two tallies in Thursday's 4-2 win in Game 5 to increase his NHL-leading point total to 29 (nine goals, 20 assists) in 23 games. "I just don't want to go home," Couture said of his previous three-point efforts in the clinching game of each round. While San Jose's club-best sixth road win extended the Stanley Cup final, Pittsburgh was denied in its bid to secure the fourth title in franchise history - and first at home. Rookie goaltender Matt Murray permitted three goals on his first five shots to lead the Penguins' undoing in Game 5, but is 5-0 in games following a loss in the postseason.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

PROBABLE GOALIES:

Penguins - Matt Murray: (W/L: 14-6, GAA: 2.14, SAVE %: .923)

Sharks - Martin Jones: (W/L: 14-9, GAA: 2.16, SAVE %: .922)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Evgeni Malkin has scored in consecutive contests and speedy forward Carl Hagelin also tallied on Thursday to record his fourth point (one goal, three assists) of the Stanley Cup final. Hagelin's mates on the "HBK Line" each notched an assist in Game 5 as Phil Kessel collected his team-leading 22nd point while Nick Bonino is tied with Malkin for second place at 18. Hart Trophy finalist Sidney Crosby has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last three contests after recording nine points (three goals, six assists) in his previous 12 games.

ABOUT THE SHARKS: Second-year wing Melker Karlsson received a healthy dose of praise from coach Peter DeBoer for stepping up in the postseason, most notably in the absence of an injured Tomas Hertl (lower body). "Melker's been excellent the entire playoffs, but particularly in the final. I think he's really found another level here for us," DeBoer told the San Jose Mercury-News of the 25-year-old Swede. "He's disruptive on the forecheck and with his tenacity on the puck, he's turning a lot of pucks over. If you're a skill guy like Logan (Couture) playing with him, he's going to create some turnovers with the way he forechecks and you're there to make the next play." Karlsson has collected five goals in the playoffs after recording just 10 during the regular season.

TRENDS:

* Penguins are 2-12-1 in the last 15 meetings in San Jose.
* Penguins are 7-1 in their last eight Sunday games.
* Sharks are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
* Under is 7-1 in Penguins last eight Stanley Cup Finals games.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Sharks last seven versus Eastern Conference opponents.

CONSENSUS: The early consensus has 62 percent of bettors backing the Sharks on home ice, while 67 percent of bettors think Game 6 will be a high-scoring affair and are on the over.

[StarDust Bum]

NHL
Dunkel

Sunday, June 12


Pittsburgh @ San Jose

Game 61-62
June 12, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Pittsburgh
14.319
San Jose
12.404
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 2
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Jose
-120
5
Dunkel Pick:
Pittsburgh
(+100); Under




NHL
Long Sheet

Sunday, June 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH (63-31-0-11, 137 pts.) at SAN JOSE (60-36-0-9, 129 pts.) - 6/12/2016, 8:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 6-5 (+0.2 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 6-5-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.6 Units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NHL
Short Sheet

Sunday, June 12

Pittsburgh at San Jose, 8:05 PM ET
Pittsburgh: 16-5 SU after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game
San Jose: 17-26 SU off a road win by 2 goals or more




NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, June 12

San Jose-Pittsburgh (P 3-2)
Penguins can win 4th Stanley Cup here; their three previous titles were all won on road. San Jose lost five of last eight games with Pittsburgh, seven of last nine series games stayed under. Seven of last 15 Shark-Penguin games went OT, four to shootout. San Jose is 1-10 on power play in series; Penguins are 2-11. Pittsburgh has a 179-120 edge in shots in first five games. Sharks are in Stanley Cup finals for first time; Penguins are in for first time since winning Cup in '09, its third Stanley Cup title. Pittsburgh won two of last three visits to San Jose; Sharks scored twice in first 2:53 of Game 5, gave up tying goals in next 2:13, held Pittsburgh scoreless rest of way. San Jose is 8-3 at home in playoffs

Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 16-9, Over: 11-5-9
Conference finals-- Home 6-7, Over 7-5-1
Home: 3-2 Over: 1-4




NHL

Sunday, June 12

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. SAN JOSE
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 9 games when playing on the road against San Jose
Pittsburgh is 2-12-1 SU in its last 15 games ,when playing on the road against San Jose
San Jose is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games


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