The San Jose Sharks used a first period scoring frenzy to claim a 4-2 win and keep the Pittsburgh Penguins from clinching the Stanley Cup.
The win sends the series back to San Jose for game six, where a Penguins win would again clinch the trophy.
The Sharks got first period goals from Brent Burns and Logan Couture less than two minutes apart to give them a fast start that in the end proved too much for Pittsburgh.
"We needed some big-game performances from guys ... in a tough environment," said San Jose coach Peter DeBoer.
"We found a way to stay alive and bring it back to San Jose."
The Sharks still face a daunting task.
Since the Stanley Cup final went to the best-of-seven format in 1939, teams that have taken a 3-1 series lead have gone on to capture the championship 31 of 32 times.
The Sharks' big guns came out firing in game five, with Burns and Couture scoring within the first three minutes to grab a 2-0 lead.
The mugging seemed to jolt the Penguins who hit back in devastating style as Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin answered 22 seconds apart to draw level again.
By now it was the Penguins in a frenzy and not the Sharks as a relentless Pittsburgh attack shifted into overdrive, hitting the post twice.
San Jose, however, would weather that storm and escape with a 3-2 first period lead when Melker Karlsson converted a nifty passing play, before Joe Pavelski closed the scoring in the third.
The opening period of game five produced the most electrifying hockey of the finals with five goals equalling the total of any of the previous games.
"We know we haven't scored many goals, or any, in this series," said Couture. "It's one of the reasons why we're down 3-1. We wanted to come. We didn't want the season to end tonight.
"Obviously it's tough. You get a two-goal lead, it's gone in a matter of a minute, minute and a half."
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