Prior to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and all those in attendance at SAP Center paused for a moment of silence in honor of the victim's of Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando.

The early morning attack on a gay nightclub was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, leaving 50 people dead.

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby set the tone seconds into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in San Jose, by taking a swing at the back of Joe Thornton's leg just after the opening faceoff.

The Sharks forward responded with a cross-check of his own. Neither player was penalized on the play.

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Note: Video includes language NSFW

In no uncertain terms, Cuba Gooding Jr. explained what the San Jose Sharks must do to force a Game 7 in a live interview with NBC's Jeremy Roenick in advance of Game 6.

The Academy Award winner and long-time hockey fan broke character - but for just a moment - and managed to complete the scene.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks will honor Gordie Howe in advance of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Players will wear these Howe decals on their helmets during pregame warmup:

Sharks arena personnel did their part, too, paying tribute to the fallen legend by illuminating Howe's No. 9 with the t-shirt giveaway.

Howe died Friday at age 88.

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James Reimer can't help but look ahead.

Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the trade deadline, Reimer has served as backup to Martin Jones during San Jose's run to the Stanley Cup Final. And while he's played well for the Sharks in limited minutes, he admits to being aware of potential suitors who may come calling when he hits unrestricted free agency at season's end.

"You kind of know what teams are in the market and might need a goalie," Reimer said Saturday according to Mike Zeisberger of Postmedia. "I’ve kind of heard too that people who go into free agency, they have their short list of two or three teams they think are in the market. Plus there always are teams that come in from left field. You kind of see here or there potential teams that need goalies."

For now, however, his attention remains fixed on the present.

“Right now you’re focused on the job at hand. I’m trying to get that silver thing,” he said, referring, of course, to the Stanley Cup.

Reimer has made only one playoff appearance in relief of Jones, but sparkled for the Sharks in eight regular season appearances down the stretch, with a record of 6-2-0 and a .938 save percentage.

The Sharks are down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Reimer can indeed get his name on the Cup if his teammates can scratch out two more wins against the Eastern Conference champions.

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The stage is set for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the passing of Gordie Howe remains at the forefront of the hockey world's collective consciousness.

The San Jose Sharks honored Mr. Hockey in the configuration for the t-shirts given to fans, arranging Howe's No. 9 in teal among the white ones.

The display of respect was not missed by the Detroit Red Wings.

A closer look at the tees proves the matter of taking a further bite out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' series lead and forcing a game 7 remains the priority.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The stage is set for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the passing of Gordie Howe remains at the forefront of the hockey world's collective consciousness.

The San Jose Sharks honored Mr. Hockey in the configuration for the t-shirts given to fans, arranging Howe's No. 9 in teal among the white ones.

The display of respect was not missed by the Detroit Red Wings.

A closer look at the tees proves the matter of taking a further bite out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' series lead and forcing a game 7 remains the priority.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's mass shooting hit particularly close to home for Garret Sparks.

The goaltender in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system shared a heartfelt message in the aftermath of the early morning attack on a gay nightclub that left 50 people dead.

Sparks played for the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears for parts of two seasons and appeared in one game for the club in 2015-16.

The American netminder made his feelings on gun violence clear Sunday.

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Peter DeBoer insists the San Jose Sharks aren't feeling any more pressure than they have at any other point this spring.

After winning Game 5 on the road to force Game 6 at home, the Sharks head coach isn't bothered by the fact that the Stanley Cup will be in the arena Sunday night.

"No more pressure. It was in the building last game," DeBoer told reporters at a press conference Sunday afternoon. "We can't win it tonight. It doesn't put any more pressure on us than we've had throughout the playoffs."

Making their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the Sharks dropped the first two games to the Penguins, then lost Game 4 on home ice Monday to hand Pittsburgh a 3-1 series lead.

The Sharks' 4-2 victory in Game 5 on Thursday night prevented the Penguins from winning their second championship in seven years, and San Jose can send the series to a winner-take-all contest with another victory in Game 6 on Sunday night.

"We just (have) to come in and take care of business," DeBoer said. "We (have) a confident group. We feel we can push this to a Game 7."

If it does reach that point, both teams have had Game 7 success in these playoffs. San Jose eliminated the Nashville Predators in the decisive game of their second-round series, and Pittsburgh defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven to advance to the Cup Final.

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If the San Jose Sharks force Game 7, they'll do it without Tomas Hertl.

The forward will not appear in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Sunday afternoon.

Hertl has missed four straight games with what the team is calling a lower-body injury.

DeBoer declined to specify whether Hertl has been skating, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

The 22-year-old center had six goals and 11 points in 20 playoff games before the injury.

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