Sharks vs. Penguins: Game 4 Stats and NHL Final 2016 Game 5 Schedule, Odds

The Pittsburgh Penguins did not have to change a thing when it came to their preparations for Game 4 of their Stanley Cup Final series against the San Jose Sharks.

While they had a narrow 2-1 lead in games, they had actually been the better team in all three of their matchups with the Western Conference champions. The Sharks had received a goal from Joel Ward fairly late in the third period that tied the score and then Joonas Donskoi potted the winner in overtime to give the Sharks some life.

But at no point in the first three games had the Sharks earned a lead while the two teams were competing. They had trailed or were tied throughout the series until Donskoi's goal gave them their first victory.

There was no reason for Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan to alter any of his team's strategy. The Penguins were the faster, more decisive and more skilled team, and all they had to do was continue what they were doing in Game 4.

Matchup	Series Standings	Game 5	Time (ET)	TV
San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins	Pittsburgh, 3-1	Thursday	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS

That's just what happened. While the Sharks were desperate to get a lead in Game 4 and put some pressure on early, goalie Matt Murray was not about to give up the first goal. Then when Phil Kessel wristed off a hard shot from the right faceoff circle and the rebound was slammed home by defenseman Ian Cole, the Penguins had the Sharks right where they wanted them.

San Jose could do little more than chase the Penguins throughout the first two periods.

Evgeni Malkin got the Penguins on the board early in the second period when he redirected a perfect feed from Kessel to score his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final. It was also the Penguins' first power-play goal of the series.

The score was 2-0, but the advantage seemed more like 6-0 or 7-0 because Murray was resolute in net. 

When the Penguins took that same advantage into the locker room after 40 minutes, the raucous SAP Center had grown quiet.

The Sharks played with the desperation they needed in the third period and finally started carrying the play and sustaining it. They got on the board at the 11:37 mark when Melker Karlsson jumped on a loose puck and fired it under Murray's glove.

The crowd erupted and the Sharks continued their surge, but they could not get another puck past Murray. The game effectively came to an end when Eric Fehr converted a slick pass from Carl Hagelin and beat Martin Jones with 2:02 remaining in the the game.

Pittsburgh earned every bit of its 3-1 victory, and the Pens are on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup. The Penguins will take a 3-1 advantage with them when they return to the Consol Energy Center Thursday night with a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Sidney Crosby said the key to winning the Cup in Game 5 is to keep playing the same way.

"Just keep doing what we're doing. Obviously we know what's at stake,'' Crosby said after the game, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press (h/t CBS Sports). ''We don't have to change a thing, just keep playing the same way we're playing and the results will take care of themselves.''

From a statistical point of view, the Sharks held several advantages in Game 4. They outshot the Penguins 24-20, largely because of the 12-7 edge they had in the third period. The Sharks won 55 percent of the faceoffs, and they also had a 46-31 edge in credited hits.

The Penguins converted on one of their two power-play opportunities while the Sharks were blanked in two attempts. Both teams were credited with 20 blocked shots.

Pittsburgh held a big advantage in giveaways. The Penguins lost the puck nine times in the game, while the Sharks lost it 20 times. That's probably the main reason the Sharks were unable to put enough pressure on Murray to change the outcome of the game.

The Penguins are now overwhelming 13-19 favorites to win their first Stanley Cup since 2009, according to OddsChecker. The Sharks must win three games in a row to earn the first Stanley Cup in their history, and the 35-4 odds reflect the difficulty of that challenge.