Photo credit: @NHL

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Down 3-1 in the series, the Sharks are in a must-win situation or face elimination in tonight’s game at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks’ only major advantage now is having home ice tonight.

#2 In the last three games, the Sharks’ defense has not been a mystery, getting beat by scores of 5-3, 6-3, and in the last game, 5-0.

#3 The Sharks would have been swept if it had not been for their Game 1 win at home 5-2. If the Sharks can make it a 3-2 series, they still have a mountain climb with another trip back to Vegas on Sunday night for a possible Game 6 if they get that far.

#4 Has Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer’s theme been keying in on some of the Knights scorers from Game 4 — Max  Pacioretty scoring twice, Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch, and Jonathan Marchessault?

#5 Game 5 tonight at SAP Center. It really all boils down to this game for the Sharks tonight. They have to almost play perfect hockey to come away from this to keep the series alive.

Mary Lisa is a San Jose Sharks beat writer and does the Sharks podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com