San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones stood on his head Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, stopping all 34 shots he faced. In doing so, Jones improved his already sensational career postseason numbers:

With his sixth career playoff shutout - and his second of 2018 - Jones tied Matt Murray for the most by any netminder across the last three years, per NHL Public Relations. He also moved one back of Evgeni Nabokov for the most playoff shutouts in Sharks history. Amazingly, Jones has done it in just 38 games, while it took Nabokov more than double (80) to reach seven shutouts.

Considering his playoff numbers, it's odd that Jones hasn't been especially great during the regular season. He's played well, but he's never had a season with a .920 save percentage, and he's never finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting.

But given his outstanding play when it matters most, it might be time to start including Jones' name in conversations about the game's elite netminders.

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San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones stood on his head Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, stopping all 34 shots he faced. In doing so, Jones improved his already sensational career postseason numbers:

With his sixth career playoff shutout - and his second of 2018 - Jones tied Matt Murray for the most by any netminder across the last three years, per NHL Public Relations. He also moved one back of Evgeni Nabokov for the most playoff shutouts in Sharks history. Amazingly, Jones has done it in just 38 games, while it took Nabokov more than double (80) to reach seven shutouts.

Considering his playoff numbers, it's odd that Jones hasn't been especially great during the regular season. He's played well, but he's never had a season with a .920 save percentage, and he's never finished in the top five in Vezina Trophy voting.

But given his outstanding play when it matters most, it might be time to start including Jones' name in conversations about the game's elite netminders.

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs, Martin Jones made 34 saves for his sixth career postseason shutout and the San Jose Sharks evened their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi scored in the first period to allow San Jose to play from ahead and Joe Pavelski added a power-play goal in the third to help the Sharks rebound from an overtime loss at home in Game 3.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vegas failed to convert on all five power-play chances to lose for the second time in eight games this postseason.

The teams have now alternated wins through four games, heading into Game 5 on Friday night in Vegas.

Each team has a shutout and an overtime win so far this series, which is now a best-of-three for a spot in the Western Conference Final.

Jones was sharp from the start, tying Evgeni Nabokov's record for most saves in a playoff shutout in Sharks history.

He robbed Reilly Smith early in the game and delivered big saves throughout. He was helped on a delayed penalty when Brent Burns cleared a puck off the goal line and when James Neal hit the post on a power play in the first period.

But he also delivered some big-time saves, including back-to-back stops against William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault on a Vegas power play in the final minute of the second period. Jones then turned aside Smith on a power play in the third.

Hertl helped give Jones a cushion with his goal early in the second. Logan Couture won an offensive zone faceoff against Erik Haula and Mikkel Boedker took the puck behind the goal for a wraparound attempt. Hertl was in front and knocked the loose puck in to make it 3-0.

Pavelski's goal on the rebound of Couture's shot sealed the game midway through the third.

The Sharks made some lineup changes from Game 3 with defenseman Joakim Ryan returning to the lineup for the first time since March 16 in place of Paul Martin and Donskoi getting back in after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury.

The moves paid off as the Sharks got off to the fast start coach Peter DeBoer was seeking. After an early giveaway led to a scoring chance for Vegas, Ryan fared well and stripped William Carrier of the puck to thwart a chance for the Golden Knights.

San Jose then scored twice in the final five minutes of the first period. Sorensen struck first, using a pick from linemate Eric Fehr to get loose from the corner and then skated around two defenseman to beat Fleury with his fourth goal of the playoffs.

The Sharks added to the lead with 5.1 seconds to go when Donskoi skated from his own zone and beat Fleury with a wrist shot from the high slot.

NOTES: Vegas had outscored the opposition 7-1 in the first period in the first seven games this postseason. ... Sorensen has five goals in 14 playoff games compared to six in 51 regular-season games.

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs, Martin Jones made 34 saves for his sixth career postseason shutout and the San Jose Sharks evened their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi scored in the first period to allow San Jose to play from ahead and Joe Pavelski added a power-play goal in the third to help the Sharks rebound from an overtime loss at home in Game 3.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vegas failed to convert on all five power-play chances to lose for the second time in eight games this postseason.

The teams have now alternated wins through four games, heading into Game 5 on Friday night in Vegas.

Each team has a shutout and an overtime win so far this series, which is now a best-of-three for a spot in the Western Conference Final.

Jones was sharp from the start, tying Evgeni Nabokov's record for most saves in a playoff shutout in Sharks history.

He robbed Reilly Smith early in the game and delivered big saves throughout. He was helped on a delayed penalty when Brent Burns cleared a puck off the goal line and when James Neal hit the post on a power play in the first period.

But he also delivered some big-time saves, including back-to-back stops against William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault on a Vegas power play in the final minute of the second period. Jones then turned aside Smith on a power play in the third.

Hertl helped give Jones a cushion with his goal early in the second. Logan Couture won an offensive zone faceoff against Erik Haula and Mikkel Boedker took the puck behind the goal for a wraparound attempt. Hertl was in front and knocked the loose puck in to make it 3-0.

Pavelski's goal on the rebound of Couture's shot sealed the game midway through the third.

The Sharks made some lineup changes from Game 3 with defenseman Joakim Ryan returning to the lineup for the first time since March 16 in place of Paul Martin and Donskoi getting back in after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury.

The moves paid off as the Sharks got off to the fast start coach Peter DeBoer was seeking. After an early giveaway led to a scoring chance for Vegas, Ryan fared well and stripped William Carrier of the puck to thwart a chance for the Golden Knights.

San Jose then scored twice in the final five minutes of the first period. Sorensen struck first, using a pick from linemate Eric Fehr to get loose from the corner and then skated around two defenseman to beat Fleury with his fourth goal of the playoffs.

The Sharks added to the lead with 5.1 seconds to go when Donskoi skated from his own zone and beat Fleury with a wrist shot from the high slot.

NOTES: Vegas had outscored the opposition 7-1 in the first period in the first seven games this postseason. ... Sorensen has five goals in 14 playoff games compared to six in 51 regular-season games.

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Tom Wilson's three-game suspension is a massive blow to the Washington Capitals' aspirations of defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. Not only does the right winger's physicality make opponents aware of when he's on the ice, but he's also been a nice compliment to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps' top line, scoring 14 goals during the regular season.

This trio has also been firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. Ovechkin (8-5-13), Kuznetsov (5-4-9), and Wilson (2-5-7) have combined for 29 points in nine postseason games, so finding the correct replacement for Wilson is a key decision, to say the least.

Here are the forward lines Washington's been rolling out the last few games:

Assuming Andre Burakovsky remains out of the lineup with an upper-body injury (he hasn't played since Game 2 of Round 1), whoever enters the lineup in Wilson's place likely won't be inserted into a top-line role. Instead, here are five candidates to play alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov:

T.J. Oshie

Oshie would be a great fit. He isn't afraid to go in the corners, can be a playmaker and a finisher, is responsible defensively, and has experience playing with both Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. The problem is that it would leave Nicklas Backstrom without a proven offensive player on the second line. Lineup depth is crucial against the Pens, so this doesn't seem all that logical.

Brett Connolly

Connolly is a right-handed-shooting right winger currently playing out of position on the third line at left wing, so moving him back to his natural position could be a good fit.

Though he doesn't bring the same physicality as Wilson, Connolly isn't afraid to throw his weight around (72 hits during the regular season, 13 during the playoffs), brings size at 6-foot-3, and has scored 30 goals over the past two seasons despite a limited role. He could be Trotz's best option.

Devante Smith-Pelly

Smith-Pelly is basically a poor man's Wilson. Weighing 223 pounds and having already delivered 28 hits in the playoffs, he's Washington's second-most physical forward. His problem is offense, however, as he posted just seven goals in the regular season, while his career high is only 14.

Yet, given that Ovechkin and Kuznetsov create plenty of offense on their own, replicating Wilson's toughness might be Trotz's top priority in order to keep the line's chemistry intact. Going in that direction would make Smith-Pelly the best choice.

Jakub Vrana

Aside from Oshie, Vrana has the most offensive upside of the options. The 22-year-old was the 13th overall pick in 2014, and while he scored just 13 goals during the regular season, he has exceptional speed and offensive ability.

However, Trotz clearly doesn't trust him defensively. Vrana has been relegated to fourth-line duties, averaging just over nine minutes per game in the playoffs. Being out on the ice against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin requires acute defensive awareness, so while a promotion to the top line would be exciting, it's probably unwise.

Chandler Stephenson

Stephenson is probably the least sexy pick of the bunch, but he's had a nice playoffs so far, tallying five points and playing the sixth-most minutes among Washington's forwards - meaning Trotz clearly trusts him. He's fast and kills penalties, too, so even though he's just 24 with little playoff experience, he wouldn't be a defensive liability, provided his left-handed shot can play on the right wing.

Like with Oshie, promoting Stephenson would result in breaking up the team's second line, but it could turn out to be a shrewd move.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Tom Wilson's three-game suspension is a massive blow to the Washington Capitals' aspirations of defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the playoffs. Not only does the right winger's physicality make opponents aware of when he's on the ice, but he's also been a nice compliment to Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the Caps' top line, scoring 14 goals during the regular season.

This trio has also been firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. Ovechkin (8-5-13), Kuznetsov (5-4-9), and Wilson (2-5-7) have combined for 29 points in nine postseason games, so finding the correct replacement for Wilson is a key decision, to say the least.

Here are the forward lines Washington's been rolling out the last few games:

Assuming Andre Burakovsky remains out of the lineup with an upper-body injury (he hasn't played since Game 2 of Round 1), whoever enters the lineup in Wilson's place likely won't be inserted into a top-line role. Instead, here are five candidates to play alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov:

T.J. Oshie

Oshie would be a great fit. He isn't afraid to go in the corners, can be a playmaker and a finisher, is responsible defensively, and has experience playing with both Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. The problem is that it would leave Nicklas Backstrom without a proven offensive player on the second line. Lineup depth is crucial against the Pens, so this doesn't seem all that logical.

Brett Connolly

Connolly is a right-handed-shooting right winger currently playing out of position on the third line at left wing, so moving him back to his natural position could be a good fit.

Though he doesn't bring the same physicality as Wilson, Connolly isn't afraid to throw his weight around (72 hits during the regular season, 13 during the playoffs), brings size at 6-foot-3, and has scored 30 goals over the past two seasons despite a limited role. He could be Trotz's best option.

Devante Smith-Pelly

Smith-Pelly is basically a poor man's Wilson. Weighing 223 pounds and having already delivered 28 hits in the playoffs, he's Washington's second-most physical forward. His problem is offense, however, as he posted just seven goals in the regular season, while his career high is only 14.

Yet, given that Ovechkin and Kuznetsov create plenty of offense on their own, replicating Wilson's toughness might be Trotz's top priority in order to keep the line's chemistry intact. Going in that direction would make Smith-Pelly the best choice.

Jakub Vrana

Aside from Oshie, Vrana has the most offensive upside of the options. The 22-year-old was the 13th overall pick in 2014, and while he scored just 13 goals during the regular season, he has exceptional speed and offensive ability.

However, Trotz clearly doesn't trust him defensively. Vrana has been relegated to fourth-line duties, averaging just over nine minutes per game in the playoffs. Being out on the ice against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin requires acute defensive awareness, so while a promotion to the top line would be exciting, it's probably unwise.

Chandler Stephenson

Stephenson is probably the least sexy pick of the bunch, but he's had a nice playoffs so far, tallying five points and playing the sixth-most minutes among Washington's forwards - meaning Trotz clearly trusts him. He's fast and kills penalties, too, so even though he's just 24 with little playoff experience, he wouldn't be a defensive liability, provided his left-handed shot can play on the right wing.

Like with Oshie, promoting Stephenson would result in breaking up the team's second line, but it could turn out to be a shrewd move.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In trying to drown out the opposition, San Jose Sharks fans threw off the anthem singer.

As has become tradition, Vegas fans have been yelling "Knight" during the U.S. anthem at the line "Gave proof through the night."

In an attempt to curb that Golden Knights enthusiasm, the home crowd booed at that moment of the song prior to Game 4, causing the singer to follow the line up with "that our star was still there."

Star, of course, should be flag.

Oops.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In trying to drown out the opposition, San Jose Sharks fans threw off the anthem singer.

As has become tradition, Vegas fans have been yelling "Knight" during the U.S. anthem at the line "Gave proof through the night."

In an attempt to curb that Golden Knights enthusiasm, the home crowd booed at that moment of the song prior to Game 4, causing the singer to follow the line up with "that our star was still there."

Star, of course, should be flag.

Oops.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.