SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins recorded a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night at SAP Center. The Penguins lead this best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 slated for Thursday night at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

How it happened: Penguins coach Mike Sullivan knew Evgeni Malkin was ready to break out, and Malkin did so at the most important time, scoring a goal and adding an assist en route to the victory. He was a force in every aspect of the game. He entered Game 4 without a point in the finals. In fact, he had gone the six previous playoff games without a goal. On Pittsburgh's first goal of the game, Malkin used his massive frame to protect the puck in the neutral zone and threaded a pass through three defenders to teammate Phil Kessel, who broke in and got a quick shot on Sharks goalie Martin Jones. The rebound bounced right to Penguins defenseman Ian Cole, who quickly drove it home for a 1-0 lead at 7:36 of the first period. Later, Malkin scored a power-play goal at 2:37 of the second period; until then, the Penguins' power play had gone 0-for-7 in the finals. With Pittsburgh holding a two-goal lead, Penguins goalie Matt Murray made a crucial save less than five minutes into the third period -- a timely glove save on the Sharks' Patrick Marleau, who created a partial breakaway. That save proved important because the Sharks' Melker Karlsson scored at 8:07 of the third period to cut San Jose's deficit to one. That would be as close as the Sharks would get because the Penguins' Eric Fehr scored with 2:02 remaining in regulation to seal the victory.

What it means: The Penguins are one victory shy of winning their fourth Stanley Cup, and their first since 2009. Pittsburgh has a chance to hoist hockey's sacred chalice with a win on home ice in Game 5 on Thursday at Consol Energy Center. For the Sharks, they'll attempt to stave off elimination and force Game 6 back in San Jose.