***** Official NHL Playoffs 2015/2016 *****

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Their bogey team struck again, after fighting back from 0-3 down Washington Capitals lost 4-3 to Pittsburgh in OT. That makes it 8 out of the last 9 times that the Caps have lost to the Penguins in the playoffs.


Eastern Conference

New York Islanders 4 (1) v Tampa Bay Lightning 5 (4)

Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (4) v Washington Capitals 3 (2)



Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 2 (3) v Dallas Stars 3 (3)

Nashville Predators 4 (3) v San Jose Sharks 3 (3)

 

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Game 7’s are usually tense affairs where both teams battle hard for that extra win. They are often very close, tight games, The last two nights however have seen nothing of the sort as St Louis thumped Dallas in Dallas and San Jose romped home at home against the Preds. So we have our conference finals. First game tonight, Tampa v Pittsburgh, Saturday off and then they alternate until we have our finalist.


Eastern Conference

New York Islanders 4 (1) v Tampa Bay Lightning 5 (4)

Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (4) v Washington Capitals 3 (2)



Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 6 (4) v Dallas Stars 1 (3)

Nashville Predators 0 (3) v San Jose Sharks 5 (4)

 

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PITTSBURGH -- The sight of their franchise goalie writhing in agony did little to slow down the Tampa Bay Lightning.

How could it? Watching the bold-faced names on their roster be taken off the ice with their long-term statuses unknown has become commonplace for perhaps the NHL's most resilient team. When Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop left Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night in the first period with a left leg injury, the Lightning wished him well and went right back to work.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 stops filling in, and Tampa Bay bottled up the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 3-1 victory to seize home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series.


Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (0) v Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (1)



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 0 (0) v San Jose Sharks 0 (0)

 

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Was in Brighton all day yesterday with 27,000 people at the Amex, amazing atmosphere just a shame we didn’t get the rub of the green.
• So Sunday night in ST. LOUIS -- Once again, Brian Elliott was the star of the show. His latest performance gave his St. Louis Blues teammates plenty of comfort knowing he had their back.
"When your goalie is your best player, it gives you a great chance of winning, and that was the case," captain David Backes said after the Blues opened their first Western Conference final in 15 years with a tense 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.

Then last night in PITTSBURGH Sidney Crosby snaps his goalless streak at the most opportune time with a goal 40 seconds into overtime to give Pittsburgh at 3-2 win over Tampa Bay and even the series at 1 apiece.

Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (1)



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 2 (1) v San Jose Sharks 1 (0)

 

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At last night’s game in ST. LOUIS -- The San Jose Sharks got their power play revved up. Martin Jones took care of everything at the other end and cemented the victory that evened the Western Conference finals at a game apiece.

"Guys came out with a good sense of urgency and got after it," said San Jose captain Joe Pavelski, who had an assist in a 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues that silenced another big home turnout Tuesday night. "It's good to see the power play strike a little bit."
Brent Burns scored San Jose's first two power-play goals of the Western Conference finals, and Jones stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the postseason.


Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (1)


Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 0 (1) v San Jose Sharks 4 (1)

 

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Sidney Crosby & Co. kept pressing and shooting until the Pittsburgh Penguins finally imposed their will.

Crosby, Phil Kessel and Chris Kunitz scored third-period goals to help the Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

Carl Hagelin snapped a scoreless tie late in the second period and Matt Murray had 26 saves for the Penguins, who took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and proved that they're far from a one-man show.


Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (1)


Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 0 (1) v San Jose Sharks 4 (1)

 

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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- For a San Jose team whose playoff struggles have often come down to running into a streaky goaltender at the wrong time, it must be nice to have the goalie making all the stops.

Martin Jones made 22 saves in his second straight shutout and Tomas Hertl scored twice to give the Sharks a series lead for the first time in four trips to the Western Conference final with a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 on Thursday night. A goal in each period without reply sealed the game.


Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (1)

Next three games

20/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa
22/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh
24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa (if required)


Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 0 (1) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Next three games

21/05/16 St Louis at San Jose
23/05/16 San Jose at St Louis
25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose (if required)

 

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TAMPA – Two goals in the first and two goals in the second from Lightning and it was 4-0 and game over? It nearly wasn’t as Pittsburgh got three back in the third and Andrei Vasilevskiy made two big saves in the closing minutes. So this series is back to 2-2 with potentially three to play.

Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (2)

Last three games

22/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh
24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa
26/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh (if required)



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 0 (1) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Next three games

21/05/16 St Louis at San Jose
23/05/16 San Jose at St Louis
25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose (if required)

 

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SAN JOSE – Just like the night before a team scored two in the first and two in the second, only this time it was the away team and this time the home team never really threatened to get it back. They finally lost 6-3 again tying up the series.

Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (2)

Last three games

22/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh
24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa
26/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh (if required)



Western Conference Final


St. Louis Blues 6 (2) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Last three games

23/05/16 San Jose at St Louis
25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose
27/05/16 San Jose at St Louis (if required)

 

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PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Johnson turned toward the net, wary of taking another shot to his already battered face.

The puck off Jason Garrison's stick found him anyway, and this time he didn't even feel it. He was too busy celebrating lifting the Tampa Bay Lightning to within one win away from a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Garrison's wrister smacked off Johnson's back and into the Pittsburgh Penguins net 53 seconds into overtime on Sunday night, giving the Lightning a 4-3 victory and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

A year after falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup finals, Tampa Bay can head back to the championship round with a win in Game 6 at home on Tuesday.

Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (3)

Last games

24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa
26/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh (if required)



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 6 (2) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Last games

23/05/16 San Jose at St Louis
25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose
27/05/16 San Jose at St Louis (if required)

 

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ST. LOUIS -- All the time Joe Pavelski has spent practicing his stick work has paid off big for the San Jose Sharks.
And the Sharks captain has his team on the brink of their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

"You think back to some of the best scorers ever, his ability to get his stick on pucks in front of the net from different angles is as good as anybody I've ever seen," coach Peter DeBoer said. "His biggest asset is he works at it."

With the Sharks trailing by a goal, Pavelski tied the game late in the second period and then scored the go-ahead goal in the opening minute of the third period in the Sharks' 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues for a 3-2 lead in Western Conference final on Monday night.

"You play a good game like that, you want to ride that," Pavelski said. "Everyone's played a key role so far and it's going to have to continue."

Joel Ward also scored twice, including one of two empty-netters, in the final minute for San Jose, which can close out the series at home on Wednesday night. Joe Thornton had three assists.


Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (2) v Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (3)

Last games

24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa

26/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh (if required)



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 6 (3) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Last games

25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose

27/05/16 San Jose at St Louis (if required)

 

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TAMPA, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins made good on Evgeni Malkin's pledge to force Game 7 in the Eastern Conference final.

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Phil Kessel, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Nick Bonino also scored Tuesday night in a 5-2 victory that evened the best-of-seven series with the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-3.

Game 7 is Thursday night, with the Penguins hoping to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009 and the Lightning looking to advance to the Cup Final for the second straight year.


Eastern Conference Final

Pittsburgh Penguins 5 (3) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (3)

Last game

26/05/16 Tampa at Pittsburgh



Western Conference Final

St. Louis Blues 6 (3) v San Jose Sharks 3 (2)

Last games

25/05/16 St Louis at San Jose

27/05/16 San Jose at St Louis (if required)

 

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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- After 25 years, the San Jose Sharks will finally play for the Stanley Cup.

Captain Joe Pavelski scored an early goal, Joel Ward had two of his own and the Sharks advanced to their first Stanley Cup final in franchise history by beating the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Wednesday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

Joonas Donskoi also scored, Logan Couture had an empty-netter and Martin Jones made 24 saves as a Sharks team notorious for postseason letdowns will now play for the championship that has eluded stars such as Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau for so many years.


Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins 5 (3) v Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (3)

Last game

24/05/16 Pittsburgh at Tampa


Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 2 (2) v San Jose Sharks 5 (4)

 

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PITTSBURGH -- The hours before the biggest game of Bryan Rust's life were restless. The nap he tried to sneak in never materialized. The Pittsburgh Penguins forward's mind was simply too busy.

"I was just sitting up there looking at the ceiling," Rust said.
Yet even those daydreams didn't compare to the reality. The rookie forward, who began training camp hoping just to make the team, scored both of Pittsburgh's goals in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night.

Pittsburgh will host Western Conference champion San Jose in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night.

Eastern Conference

Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (4) v Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (3)

Western Conference

St. Louis Blues 2 (2) v San Jose Sharks 5 (4)


Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0)

Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0)

Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required
Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0) if required
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required

 

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PITTSBURGH -- Nick Bonino looks the part. Thatchy beard that juts out well below his chinstrap. Nose a bit askew. The rugged forward has etched out a career making a living in tight spaces, putting his body in places on the ice that aren't for the meek.

Those instincts, honed from years of finding order in the middle of chaos, lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to the early lead in the Stanley Cup finals.

Bonino darted to the net and knocked in Kris Letang's centering pass with 2:33 remaining, lifting the Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 on Monday night.

Pittsburgh recovered after blowing an early two-goal lead and spoiled San Jose's long-awaited debut on the league's biggest stage.


Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks 2 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1)

Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0)

Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required
Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0) if required
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required

 

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PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby enters the faceoff circle with a plan every time, well aware it will almost certainly evaporate once the puck smacks the ice.
That doesn't stop the Pittsburgh superstar from doing it, because every once in a while the idea in his head morphs into reality. Times like Wednesday night, when Crosby's improvisation helped move the Penguins within two victories of the Stanley Cup.

Sidney Crosby told his linemates what was going to happen if they did exactly what he told them to do. They did, and now the Penguins are up 2-0 over the Sharks in the Stanley Cup finals.

Conor Sheary's goal 2:35 into OT gave the Penguins the win and sends them to San Jose with a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals.

The Sharks rallied but still had trouble containing the speed of the Penguins in Game 2. We've chosen some of the best photos from the game to show you how it all went down.

Crosby's faceoff win helped set up Conor Sheary's perfectly placed wrist shot 2:35 into overtime, one that lifted the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"I call 25 faceoffs a night," Crosby said with a laugh. "I got 24 wrong tonight."
It's the one Crosby got right that will live on if the Penguins find a way to close out their fourth championship. Just before heading to the dot to the right of San Jose goalie Martin Jones, Crosby told Sheary to line up on the wall and then look for a soft spot in the San Jose defense.

Crosby won the draw and dropped it to defenseman Kris Letang, who feigned a shot then slipped it to Sheary. The 23-year-old rookie zipped it over Jones' outstretched glove for his fourth goal of the playoffs and second of the series.
"It's pretty surreal," said Sheary, who began the season in the minor leagues.


Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks 2 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1)

Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks 1 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2)

Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required
Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0) if required
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required

 

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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Joonas Donskoi wasn't even born when the San Jose Sharks started in 1991 and hadn't taken part in any of a series of playoff disappointments that haunted the franchise over the years.

On a team full of big-name stars, it was a Finnish rookie who wasn't even supposed to be ready for the NHL this season who delivered perhaps San Jose's biggest goal ever.

Donskoi's goal 12:18 into overtime ended the first Stanley Cup Final game ever in San Jose and helped the Sharks bounce back from two straight road losses to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 3 on Saturday night.

"It's game in, game out different guys stepping up to the plate," center Joe Thornton said. "It was huge he scored. Some clutch goals. He's always around the puck. He always wants the puck."

Joel Ward tied it midway through the third, Justin Braun also scored and Martin Jones made 40 saves to help the Sharks cut Pittsburgh's series lead to 2-1 with their first victory ever in the final

Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks 2 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1)

Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks 1 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2)

Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2) at San Jose Sharks 3 (1)

Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0)
Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0) if required
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required

 

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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins were confident that three straight games without a point for Evgeni Malkin and a rare off night by Matt Murray were an aberration more than a concern.

Bounce-back performances from those two key players moved the Penguins to the brink of winning the Stanley Cup.
Malkin scored one goal and assisted on another, Murray made 23 saves and the Penguins took a 3-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals by beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Monday night.

"He's a world class player," Penguins defenseman Ian Cole said of Malkin. "He's been going through a rough stretch. He's been really contributing in other ways than on the scoresheet. But obviously you saw how good he is today. When he turns it on, obviously what he can do is huge for our team."

Malkin helped set up Cole's goal to open the scoring, then added one of his own on the power play to give Murray all the support needed.
Eric Fehr sealed it with a late goal after San Jose made a strong push in the third.

Two nights after allowing a soft game-tying goal to Joel Ward, Murray was steady throughout to put the Penguins one win from skating off with their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. They can do it at home in Game 5 on Thursday night.


Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks 2 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1)
Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks 1 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2)
Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2) at San Jose Sharks 3 (1)
Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (3) at San Jose Sharks 1 (1)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0)

Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0) if required
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required

 

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I admit I’ve not really been following this since the Rangers got eliminated, and been watching the Copa America which is on at the same time. So with the Penguins already 3-1 up in the series I tuned in expecting them to take the Cup tonight. But the Sharks put up a great fight winning 4-2 and taking it to 3-2 in the series. Their goalie Martin Jones played out of his skin (44 saves). So it’s off to San Jose for game 6 - just what all the Penguins fans, who were outside the stadium and in party mood, didn’t want.

 

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PITTSBURGH -- 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 by 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. The Sharks' breakthrough season on the line after they spent the better part of four games chasing -- but not quite catching -- relentless Pittsburgh, they responded by jumping on Penguins rookie goaltender Matt Murray early and 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 Stanley Cup finals 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 finals because Jones refused to serve as doorman for a coronation for Sidney Crosby & Co.

The Sharks went 2 up through Burns and Couture back came the Penguins with Malkin and Hagelin just 22 seconds later, only for Karlsson to sneak a one goal lead for San Jose at the first break. Jones stood on his head in the second stopping wave after wave of one man rush and Pavelski wrapped things up with 1:20 to go in the game.

Stanley Cup Final

Mon May 30th San Jose Sharks 2 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (1)
Weds June 1st San Jose Sharks 1 (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2)
Sat June 4th Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (2) at San Jose Sharks 3 (1)
Mon June 6th Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (3) at San Jose Sharks 1 (1)

Thurs June 9th San Jose Sharks 4 (2) at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (3)

Sun June 12th Pittsburgh Penguins (0) at San Jose Sharks (0)
Weds June 15th San Jose Sharks (0) at Pittsburgh Penguins (0) if required