San Jose, Calif. – The Sharks lost their momentum with a three goal second period by the Blues to take home the win 5-3 to give Joel Hofer his first NHL win in the net.
Hofer had been called up over the weekend from AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, and had 23 saves for the win and at 21, is the youngest goalie to win his NHL debut with the Blues.
Brent Burns scored early in the first period on a power play with a slapshot from beyond the left circle to put the Sharks up 1-0. Brandon Saad scored a shorty against Adin Hill in the Sharks net to even the score. Logan Couture scored a shorthanded goal late in the period to give the Sharks the 2-1 lead after one.
The battle continued to be back-and-forth, beginning with Pavel Buchnevich’s goal at 4:20. Nick Merkley’s redirect only a few seconds later put the Sharks back on top, only to be evened again by Saad less than four minutes later. James Neals goal at 11:42 gave the Blues the lead and again, and ultimately the winning goal.
Robert Thomas scored the final empty net goal at 19:00 of the final period, earning Hofer an assist in the goal to boot.
These are a few of the best pictures from the game by our PHN photographer Jack Lima.
Blues goalie Joel Hofer makes his first NHL start – Photo by Jack Lima
Blues goalie Joel Hofer celebrates his first NHL win with teammates – Photo by Jack Lima
Blues goalie Joel Hofer makes an acrobatic stop – Photo by Jack Lima
William Eklund (72) Colton Parayko (55) battle for a rebound in front of goalie Joel Hoferarco Scandella (6) Logan Couture (39) and Vladimir Tarasenko (91) battle for a rebound in – photo by Jack Lima
Tomas Hertl gives instructions to his teammates prior to a face-off – photo by Jack Lima
Tomas Hertl controls the puck behind the net – photo by Jack Lima
Tomas Hertl (48) controls the puck in front of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) – photo by Jack Lima
Sharks Jasper Weatherby (center) and Jonah Gadjovich (42) try to avoid a shot on goal – photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Adin Hill makes a stop as Ryan Merkley (6) and Vladimir Tarasenko (91) look to control the rebound – photo by Jack Lima
Sharks forward Alexander Barabanov – photo by Jack Lima
Sharks defenseman Jasper Weatherby (26) moves the puck up ice as Marco Scandella (6) pursues – photo by Jack Lima
Pavel Buchnevich (center) celebrates his second period goal with Ivan Barbashev (49) and Klim Kostin (37) – photo by Jack Lima
Mario Ferraro (38) moves the puck up ice as Robert Thomas (18) pursues – photo by Jack Lima
Mario Ferraro (38) looks to control a rebound in front of goalie Adin Hill – photo by Jack Lima
Logan Couture – Photo by Jack Lima
Logan Couture celebrates his first period short handed goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Logan Couture (39) looks for a pass during a Sharks first period power play – Photo by Jack Lima
James Neil takes a shot – Photo by Jack Lima
James Neil (81) scores the go ahead goal past Sharks goalie Adin Hill – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns shot (not pictured) elundes Blues goalie Joel Hofer for the Sharks first goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns (88) skates the puck up ice as Robert Thomas (18) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns (88) makes a pass – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns (88) controls the puck as he looks up ice – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns (88) celebrates his goal with teammates – Photo by Jack Lima
Brandon Saad takes a shot on goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Blues goalie Joel Hofer stops a shot by William Ekland (72) – Photo by Jack Lima
Blues goalie Joel Hofer stops a shot as Jonathan Dahlen (76) looks for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Blues goalie Joel Hofer post game television interview – Photo by Jack Lima
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