The Sharks’ third-period comeback fell short, and San Jose is now a game away from elimination after the Vegas Golden Knights picked up a 5-3 win, and a 3-2 series lead, in Game 5 on Friday night.
The Sharks trailed by four goals after Alex Tuch chased Martin Jones with just under 11-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third period. Kevin Labanc cut the lead to one about a minute later with San Jose's lone power-play goal.
With 9:16 remaining in regulation, the mini-comeback was on. Tomas Hertl scored 129 seconds after Labanc to make it a two-goal deficit, burying Mikkel Boedker's pass into the top corner past a prone Marc-Andre Fleury.