Stanley Cup Final: 5 questions heading into Game 4 between Penguins and Sharks

SAN JOSE — Before the Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks began, the series was considered a toss-up

That may or may not be true after tonight’s Game 4. If the Sharks win, it’s a 2-2 series heading back to Pittsburgh. If the Penguins win, they are one win short of claiming the fourth Stanley Cup title. Here are five key questions going into tonight’s game (8 p.m. ET, NBC):

Do the Sharks need their captain Joe Pavelski scoring again to win?

No, but it would help. The Sharks proved in Game 3 they can without Pavelski on the scoresheet. But the Sharks’ offense is more frightening when Pavelski is playing like a beast. Coming into this series, he had four goals in his past three games and led the NHL with 13 playoff goals. In his first three games, he owns four shots and no goals. He needs to rediscover his scoring touch for the Sharks to win the series.

Will shots on goal be a significant factor again?

Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Sunday that he’s not worrying about Pittsburgh’s 113-74 shot advantage as much as the media is. But it is an issue.  When the Penguins win the shots-on-goal battle, mathematics say they have a better chance to win. Goalie Martin Jones’s .952 save percentage played a significant role in San Jose’s Game 3 triumph. When the Penguins pour 40 shots on the Sharks, it forces Jones to be near flawless.

Why isn’t Malkin’s lack of scoring a bigger issue?

Because the Penguins are winning the series and creating enough scoring chances. The Penguins are proud of their four-line mentality. They feel as if they don’t need Sidney Crosby or Malkin to do the heavy lifting to be successful. But with no points in the series, Malkin isn’t playing at his highest level. If the Sharks tie the series 2-2, and Malkin remains pointless, he will be on the hot seat going into Game 5.

Isn’t Jones outplaying Penguins goalie Matt Murray?

Statistics say that’s true.  The bad goal Murray surrendered to Joel Ward was critical to the Sharks’ win in Game 3. Before that loss, Murray had stopped 89 of the last 95 shots (.937 save percentage) he faced in four very important games.  Murray’s task is challenging because he faces periods of inactivity when the Sharks are not generating shots. That can be difficult. But Murray has been composed, and steely throughout these playoffs.

What can the Sharks can do about all of the blocked shots the Penguins have?

They don’t want to stop shooting. Blocked shots are annoying, but they don’t always prevent a scoring chance. Sometimes the puck caroms to another player who is in a better position.  The Sharks say they might pump fake more often to get the defender down early and then go around him. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, who owns heavy shot, may have to do that because the Penguins are particularly dedicated to blocking his blasts.