Pavelski scores twice, Sharks top Blues to take 3-2 lead

Pavelski scored the tying goal on the power play late in the second period and tipped in the victor early in the third as San Jose moved to within one win of its first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals with a riveting 6-3 victory over the Blues at Scottrade Center.

St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock will decide on the status of injured players after the pre-game skate before Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.

“You can tell within the locker room, the guys even that have been here only for a couple years, how much pressure (they’re under)”, Martin said.

Robby Fabbri gave the Blues took a 3-2 lead with 8:02 to go in the second period before Pavelski changed the momentum of the game. It’s one step from the Stanley Cup final. The Lightning host the Penguins in Game 6, though it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Pittsburgh force a Game 7. They’re 6-3 on the road and need another win to bring the series home for Game 7.

The Sharks were 2 for 3 on the power play after entering 2 for 15 in the series.

The Sharks can advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history with a win Wednesday night at home in Game 6. St. Louis hasn’t reached the Stanley Cup Finals since 1970 when they won their third consecutive championship.

The Sharks haven’t won a title since they come into existence.

“How hard they work, and how great a shape they’re in, and how they prepare, and how much they love coming to the rink has really impressed me, so I think if anyone deserves it, they do”, he said.

The veteran defenseman said the Sharks’ veteran core “impressed” him when he joined the team in training camp this year.

Hitchcock said he’ll have the same number of players dressed for the warmup as in Game 4, when he had two extra forwards and one extra defenseman on the ice. “I just go enjoy and try to play my best hockey”.

Pavelski, Thornton and Hertl have combined for 18 points in five games in the series and are a combined plus-9.

“I think we’ve been in that mode, that “this is the most important game” for a while now”, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. Couture and Pavelski are tied for the league lead in points (21), while defenseman Brent Burns, who joined the core in 2011-12, is third in scoring with 19 points. Jake Allen will likely get the start once again as the goaltending situation is very rocky right now as he will take on Martin Jones who has been remarkable in these playoffs.