Crunch Time: Sharks close out the Blues and the fans go nuts

Joe Thornton started San Jose’s first best scoring chance on a breakaway out of the Blues’ zone having his shot sent behind the net.
That’s where Joe Pavelski stepped in to clean things up. His wrap around was initially blocked but he stayed with it and sent the Shark Tank into hysterics.
And it never stopped.
The Sharks’ opening five minutes was as dominant a start as you could ask for and they survived a late push with a four-goal lead to advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals in team history with a 5-2 win.
“It was a great step for us. It was another step and it was fun out there tonight,” Pavelski said. “The building was great and the fans were great. We have to realize there’s more out there.”
It was a great feeling for the Sharks and the fans who have endured years of almost-made-its and disappointing finishes. Just a year ago, the Sharks weren’t even in the playoffs.
As important as the night was to the players—especially Patrick Marleau who started his career with the Sharks back in the late 90s.
Thornton even joked that the players have gotten old in the league waiting for this moment.
“The fans have waited 25 years and we’ve waited 18,” Thornton said.
The Sharks took control early, but only led 1-0 after the first.
Blues looked out of sorts early with bad turnovers in the neutral zone and in their own defensive zone.
But it finally took the San Jose’s defense to just clear the zone to start in motion the belief that Lord Stanley would come through the Bay Area.
From the opening introductions the place was as loud as any venue, rivaling any concert that has played in the SAP Center.
The Sharks out-shot the Blues 9-5 in the first, but St. Louis got some chances as the period went along.
Martin Jones wasn’t really tested in the early going, but quelled the chances that did get in front of him.
Most importantly, the chippiness and bad penalties that ruled Game 5 did not return in Game 6, at least not in the beginning.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t physical. The hits were loud and the crowd was louder as it responded.
Neither side, however, took a penalty in the first period.
That changed quickly as the Blues were called for interference less than 30 seconds into the second period.
After Ward scored on a redirection, barely a minute later, the Sharks were on a four-minute power play when Scottie Upshall was called for high sticking.
The place was on edge.
Elliott’s name echoed through the Tank.
The shots evened out, with
The end of the second period saw the Sharks leading 2-0 and the buzz around the arena was palpable. They were 20 minutes from anticipated history.
The high-fives came in bunches and were happily received by the fans.
And the Sharks answered the bell.
Ward scored his second goal of the game at the 3:01 mark of the third.
The fans were already counting down the minutes and that goal made everyone believe history was coming.
Then Joonas Donskoi made sure it was clinched.
He scored the Sharks’ fourth goal and chants of “We want the Cup” echoed through the Tank.
But that’s when Vladimir Tarasenko got going … finally in the series. He had no points coming into the game and got his first with the series essentially out of reach.
He scored a pair of unanswered goals and suddenly the sure bet the fans were feeling turned to a nervous energy.
But as precious seconds ticked away and the Blues didn’t find the back of the net, the nervousness turned to glee.
Logan Couture finally scored an empty net goal to put the game away and the place was as loud as ever.
There was a dog pile in front of the Sharks’ net and the celebration was on.
But now the true test is to come. As the Eastern Conference Final resolves itself, the Sharks will push for the ultimate goal and the fans will return hoping to see something that Los Angeles and Anaheim got to experience but not them: The cup coming to San Jose.