Remember that one time the Sharks were absolutely pummeled by the Blues in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Yeah, me neither. The Sharks completed the three-game season-series sweep over the St. Louis Blues with a 4-2 decision in the gateway city on Tuesday night.
The second period has not been particularly kind to the Sharks as of late, and hoo boy was the narrative machine ready to go after San Jose was outscored 2-1 in the second frame. Despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Sharks played a pretty okay second period in my book. Shots were even 10-10 and I didn’t go into the fetal position a single time! Brent Burns put the Sharks up 3-0 early in the frame and Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester got the Blues back in it to make it 3-2.
Entering the third period the Sharks really needed to show their heart and grit and something. Or whatever. I don’t know, it sure seemed like some writers thought a lot depended on San Jose’s play in the third frame, which makes as much sense as, well, saying any one period means anything in a 240+ period season. It means nothing, is what I’m saying. So let’s relax, kids.
Despite a truly unlucky delay of game penalty late in the third (Logan Couture: unluckiest man on the Sharks, everybody), the Sharks were able to hang on for the 4-2 win. They fly to Los Angeles to take on the Kings on Thursday.
[Fancy Stats] – [Blues Reaction]
[Event Summary] – [PBP Log] – [TOI Log] – [Faceoff Report]
- I’m not crazy about benching Tyler Kennedy and Matt Nieto for Mike Brown and James Sheppard, but Shepp played a damn good game tonight. No, my mind has not been taken over by Jon Wold. Seriously.
- Logan Couture had another great chance tonight and was visibly frustrated on the bench after the play. I can’t wait to hear why his emotion is going cost the Sharks going forward.
- Antti Niemi was solid in net tonight, stopping 20 of the Blues’ shots on goal. The first goal was truly hard luck on the netminder as it clipped off of Andrew Desjardins before finding the twine.
- Four different Sharks scored tonight, including Matt Irwin and Martin Havlat — two guys who have not found their names on the scoresheet much this season. It was Irwin’s first goal of the season. Odds certain Sharks writers totally ignore Havlat’s goal: High.
- Joe Pavelski played 20 minutes tonight and had a goal to show for it. Not bad for a third-liner.
- Joe Thornton picked up his 700th point in a Sharks uniform tonight. San Jose: Won the trade.
- Sweeping the Blues is nice, but I wouldn’t mind a big win in Los Angeles ooooone bit.
As many of you know, Fear the Fin is an independent site run by Sharks fans for Sharks fans. Help keep Fear the Fin independent by contributing to our