from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,

Philipp Grubauer was excellent again Saturday night, but opposing goalie Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks was just as good and teammate Tomas Hertl made the plays that mattered in Game 5 of the Avalanche-Sharks Western Conference semifinal series at SAP Center.

Hertl’s two goals and Jones’ 21 saves spearheaded the Sharks’ 2-1 victory that gave San Jose a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 is Monday night at the Pepsi Center in a potential elimination contest for the Avs.

San Jose broke a 1-1 tie 6:26 of the third period with Hertl’s second goal of the game. Hertl outmuscled Avs center Nathan MacKinnon at the top of the crease and put a backhander behind Grubauer.

MacKinnon had zero shots after two periods and finished with just one. He and Mikko Rantanen (two shots) entered the game with NHL-playoff-leading 13 points, but both had their worst offensive performances of the postseason. MacKinnon was brief in his postgame remarks.

“Just didn’t get many shots,” said MacKinnon, who saw his eight-game points streak end. “We have to win one at home. That’s it.”

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