SAN JOSE, Calif. — Philipp Grubauer was excellent again Saturday night, but opposing goalie Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks was equally as good and teammate Tomas Hertl made the drama that mattered in Game 5 of the Avalanche-Sharks Western Conference semifinal series at SAP Center.
Hertl’s two goals and Jones’ 21 saves spearheaded the Sharks’ 2-1 victory that gave San Jose a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 is Monday night at the Pepsi Center in a elimination contest for the Avs.
San Jose broke a tie 6:26 of the next phase with Hertl’s goal of the game. Hertl outmuscled Avs center Nathan MacKinnon at the top of the crease and put a backhander behind Grubauer.
MacKinnon had zero shots after two periods and finished with only one. He and Mikko Rantanen (two shots) entered the game with NHL-playoff-leading 13 points, but both had their worst offensive performances of the postseason. MacKinnon was short in his remarks.
“Just didn’t get shots,” said MacKinnon, who watched his eight-game points streak end. “We have to win one at home. This ’s it. ”
Said left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog: “We understand what’s at stake here and understand how important the following one is going to be. So if anything we have to ensure our despair level is urgency and up and intensity and all those things. ”
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The Avs lost the comparison that was special-teams, going 4-of-5 in the penalty kill and 0-for-3 on the power play. Hertl’s first goal came on the Sharks’ power play.
Soon after Hertl’s second goal, Grubauer became tangled behind the net with Joe Thornton, and the confrontation led to Avs defenseman Nikita Zadorov carrying a roughing minor for the sole penalty of the skirmish. Colorado managed to kill off the penalty to remain one goal down.
“Happens in a hockey game. Physical game,” Grubauer said of his altercation with Thornton.
Grubauer made 12 saves in the first period, 16 in the second and 37 for the game.
“But we didn’t win so it wasn’t enough,” he said. “I gave up two — I think two lucky ones but they pushed on far tougher than they did in our building. Team in their barn. ”
The Avs struck at 17:01 of this second period, when Tyson Jost fed the puck to linemate J.T. Compher on the rush and the latter put a shot on net. Jones left the rally in front, and the puck bounced in off Jost’s left leg for his first career playoff goal.
Colorado’s lead. Tyson Barrie was whistled for interference at 18:54, and Hertl tied it with a power-play goal at 19:40. From atop the crease, Hertl redirected a shot from the point by Logan Couture.
The Avalanche caught as soon as a goal by Sharks forward Kevin Labanc was disallowed because of a penalty seconds before the shot. Just before Lebanc put a wrister behind Grubauer, Timo Meier appeared to high-stick Mikko Rantanen in the face.
Referees spoke with officials in Toronto, and the goal was erased from the scoreboard and Meier took a seat in the penalty box. The Avs failed to convert on the power play but killed an ensuing San Jose man-advantage and was lucky to escape the initial period unscathed.
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“Obviously not the outcome we wanted,” said Avs defenseman Ian Cole. “We will need to go win Game 6. This ’s really all it comes down to. I would say it s unlucky tonight. It was a game that is tight but we don ’ t score in the third. ”
#Avs coach Jared Bednar after 2-1 loss at San Jose in Game 5 pic.twitter.com/Rd4OwQoxpI
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) May 5, 2019
Footnotes. Avs forward Matt Calvert was scratched with what is an injury. Calvert missed Game 3 with an injury but returned in Game 4 after being a decision. His condition might have worsened. Calvert was replaced by Sven Andrighetto. … Sharks ahead Joonas Donskoi made his series debut after recovering from an injury. Forward Dylan Gambrell, a University of Denver standout, was scratched for the fourth straight game after making his NHL playoff debut in the series opener.
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