Penguins vs. Sharks Game 6 Date, Live-Stream Schedule, Start Time and Pick

It didn't happen Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but there are no tears in their locker room.

They realize they have another opportunity to win the championship if the Penguins can defeat the San Jose Sharks Sunday night in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at the SAP Center in San Jose. 

NBC will televise the game nationally at 8 p.m. ET, and you can stream it on NHL.TV. 

The pattern of the series between the two conference champions took a dramatic turn in Game 5, as the Sharks managed a 4-2 win at the Consol Energy Center to remain alive in the series. The Sharks had been playing from behind throughout the series, but that changed as they scored the two opening goals early in the first period.

While the Penguins would bounce back quickly, the good start from Peter DeBoer's squad provided the team with some confidence. Logan Couture, who had been struggling in the series, finished the first period with a goal and two assists, while Brent Burns scored the opening goal of the game just 1:04 after the opening faceoff.

Those things helped the Sharks breathe easier, but they have not brought about a panic among the Pens. Head coach Mike Sullivan believes the Penguins must retain the approach they have had throughout their postseason run.

Matchup	Series Standing	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Pittsburgh Penguins at San jose Sharks	Pittsburgh, 3-2	June 12	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS	San Jose, 3-2

"This team has had success all year long, and most specifically through this postseason, because of their focus and their attention to detail and trying to play to our identity," Sullivan told Wes Crosby of NHL.com. "And I think when our team plays our game, I think that gives our team the best chance to win."

While losing a potential clinching game on home ice was a blow, Game 5 followed a familiar trend in the series. The Penguins outskated the Sharks through much of the game, and that manifested itself with a 46-22 shots-on-goal advantage.

The Penguins possessed the puck for quite a bit of sustained activity in the San Jose zone during the first and second periods, but the superior play of San Jose goalie Martin Jones stopped them. Phil Kessel and Chris Kunitz beat Jones with whistling power-play shots in the first period, but both were stopped by the post.

Sidney Crosby didn't like the results in Game 5, but he thought his team played hard and sustained play throughout much of the game. He believes that's the formula for victory.

"I think you generate that many good quality scoring chances, our power play was working the puck around pretty good," Crosby said. "I think if we do all those things, come with the same mindset, understand the situation and go after it right from the start, [we'll be successful]. You get your mind and body ready for another physical and important game."

The Sharks will have plenty of confidence as they return home. Not only did they get the victory, but their Big Three came through with the performance the team needed to stay alive. In addition to what Couture and Burns did, Joe Pavelski provided the clinching goal when he scored into an empty net with 1:20 remaining.

The key to this game may be getting on the board early once again. The Penguins have shown they can lock the Sharks up defensively when they get the lead, but the Sharks want to take advantage of their boisterous home crowd by scoring early and trying to force a seventh game.

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Prediction

Winning on the road was completely unexpected in Game 5, but that victory won't matter when the two teams take the ice Sunday night. The Penguins are too strong and too professional to be thrown off their game by a home loss.

Expect a full effort from the visitors, but with the Big Three finally starting to produce for the Sharks, the home team should jump to an early lead.

The Sharks will dictate the pace of the game early behind goals by Pavelski and Burns, and Jones will play with confidence in goal. The Penguins will mount a strong charge in the third period, but the Sharks will hang on for a 3-2 victory.

It will be dramatic and perhaps a tad lucky, but the Sharks will force this series to go seven games.