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 from years spent wearing a mask while intentionally standing in the way of a puck often fired at high speed.
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 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.