Blues edge Sharks

LIVERMORE, Calif. –   Game four of the Western Conference Quarter Finals series between the San Jose Sharks and Saint Louis Blues set up to be a big one.   The San Jose Sharks are hoping it was not too big, as they saw themselves fall for the third time in a row, second in a row at home, to the visiting Saint Louis Blues.   The Sharks are now down three games to one in the best of seven series, and are heading back to the Show-Me State on the verge of a first round playoff exit.

Saint Louis opened the scoring again tonight with a goal from B.J. Crombeen at 7:12 into the first.   As everyone has no doubt learned by this point, if they did not already know it coming out of the regular season, the Blue’s play a stifling defensive game.   The Blue’s are capable of defensive mastery, if they are successful at getting just a single goal cushion.   As if to illustrate the point, the Blue’s lone first period goal, the first of Crombeen’s playoff career, stood as the game winner until Joe Thornton scored with just over a minute remaining in the game.
Fortunately for Saint Louis, they had scored their second and only other goal of the game on the power play at the 12:00 mark of the third.   Andy McDonald was the lucky recipient of a fluky bouncing puck that had gone skyward over the head of Sharks goalie Antti Neimi, as the result of a David Perron shot.   The puck eventually landed in the crease behind Neimi and McDonald was there for the tap in.
The sharks had pulled Neimi and were skating with the extra attacker when Thornton scored his goal at 18:53 of the third period.   Logan Couture and Brent Burns were credited with the assists.   Unlike the mad scramble to end game three, the Sharks never threatened again in this one, and the horn sounded on what could be their last home game of the 2011-12 season.
In spite of the win or go home predicament the Sharks now find themselves in, they have proven time and time again this season that they are clutch performers.   San Jose has been quite successful in getting the “must” wins when their backs are against the wall.   Saint Louis must remain focused and determined or the door could be opened just enough to allow San Jose to get back in this series.   In addition to being an excellent defensive team, Saint Louis is also very well coached.   Ken Hitchcock has done an excellent job to this point and you have to believe he will have his team prepared to do whatever is necessary to be successful and close things out.   We will find out Saturday April 21 when game 5 gets underway in Saint Louis.
 Contact Randy.Thompson@prohockeynews.com
Photos by Jack Lima (Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com)