Wales need Bale fit at Euro 2016
San Jose sees off Blues for 3-2 lead
LOS ANGELES, May 24, (AFP): The San Jose Sharks moved to within one win of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday after beating the St. Louis Blues 6-3 to take control of their Western Conference series.
A Joe Pavelski strike 16 seconds into the final period handed the Sharks a 4-3 lead before two emptynet goals in the final minute gave the scoreline a flattering look.
The win puts San Jose 3-2 ahead in the best-of-seven series, meaning they will reach the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history with a win at home on Wednesday in Game Six.
A decisive Game Seven, if needed, would be played in St. Louis on Friday.
Pavelski’s go-ahead goal came after he redirected a shot by Brent Burns past Jake Allen for his 12th goal in 17 playoff games.
Chris Tierney made it 5-3 and Joel Ward completed the scoring with his second Joel Ward #42 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates with Joonas Donskoi #27 after scoring a second period goal against the St Louis Blues in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May
23, in St Louis, Missouri. (AFP)
Allen stopped 21 of the 25 shots he faced.
The Blues had looked on course for a win after twice taking the lead in the second period.
But the Sharks hit back twice through power-play goals to tie the game. Both goals came while Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was in the penalty box.
Ward made it 2-2 after a roughing penalty to Shattenkirk. Shattenkirk was then called again for hooking, leaving Pavelski free to grab his first of the game and make it 3-3.
The Blues had earlier capitalized on a power-play goal of their own from Robby Fabbri to take a 3-2 lead in the second period before Pavelski’s equalizer.
San Jose had taken the lead through Marc-Edouard Vasic in the first period before Jaden Schwartz and Troy Bouwer put the Blues 2-1 ahead. LONDON, May 24, (RTRS): Few players at Euro 2016 have had a bigger impact on their team than Gareth Bale who dragged Wales to their first major tournament since 1958 by scoring seven and setting up two of their 11 goals in qualifying.
The Real Madrid forward will join Wales after playing in a second Champions League final in three years and his status among the world’s top players contrasts with that of many of the squad, fewer than half of whom play in the top flight.
Bale’s three-year spell with Real’s galacticos has done nothing to dampen his enthusiasm for playing for his country, however.
He said Wales reaching the European Championship in France was the finest moment of his career, quite a statement from a player who has scored in a Champions League final.
Bale has grown in confidence since leaving Tottenham Hotspur three years ago to join Real and has notched up 19 league goals this season, his best tally so far. He has also overtaken Gary Lineker as the top-scoring Briton to have played in Spain. He has bulked up too. Bale’s fitness will preoccupy Wales manager Chris Coleman and his staff leading up to, and during, the tournament as it is difficult to see them getting out of a group containing England, Russia and Slovakia without their talisman.