Martin Jones’ stellar play lauded by Sharks

Martin Jones’ stellar play lauded by Sharks

Had the Sharks been the team hoisting the Stanley Cup, goalie Martin Jones could have been the Conn Smythe favorite.

“What do you say about him?” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer asked.

Jones posted a .932 save percentage in the six games against Pittsburgh, which peppered the San Jose net with 206 shots on goal for an average of 34 per game.

“I don’t think anyone should ever question the leadership or the character or the will of the group of men in there,” said DeBoer, lumping Thornton and Marleau in with a core group often criticized in the past for postseason failures.

After recording three goals and 18 points in the first three rounds, Thornton was held to three assists in the Finals and Marleau’s only point in six games against the Penguins was a goal in Game 1.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re 19, 21 or 40, it’s the hardest trophy to win,” Sharks defenseman Brent Burns said.

Gooding came into the Sharks’ dressing room after the game and gave Burns a big hug before joining the Penguins’ celebration on the ice to congratulate Sidney Crosby and others.

After Tomas Hertl provided a power-play goal in the opener, the Sharks failed to convert again in the series.

Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang became the third defenseman to score the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in three years, joining Chicago’s Duncan Keith in 2015 and Los Angeles’ Alec Martinez in 2014.