SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2009.
Ian Cole, Evgeni Malkin and Eric Fehr scored and Matt Murray made 23 saves as the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 Monday to take a 3-1 lead in the Cup final. Game 5 is Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
Malkin's goal was his first in seven games. Right wing Phil Kessel had two primary assists to further his Conn Smythe Trophy campaign.
Melker Karlsson scored the lone goal for San Jose, which got 17 saves from Martin Jones.
The Sharks outshot the Penguins 24-20 but couldn't capitalize on being on home ice in front of a jacked-up crowd at SAP Center. Fehr took the suspense out of the ending with a goal in the final minutes of the third period.
UPDATE:
Sharks force a game six with 4-2 win over the Penguins during game five of the Stanley Cup FInal. Game six is Sunday night in San Jose, 8:00 PM.
