SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose took an early lead in the series, with a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues in game one action of the Western Conference finals at SAP Center.
The game could best be summed up by Timo Meier and Logan Couture, each with two goals and an assist, and Martin Jones in the net with 28 saves for the night.
Logan Couture got things stared just over three minutes into the game with his shot that beat Jordan Binnington in the net for the Blues. Gustav Nyquist managed to come up with the puck in the neutral zone, then as he raced towards the net, he passed the puck to Couture in front of the net, who slipped it in the side of the net.
Logan Couture (39) opens the scoring with a first period goal past Blues goalie Jordan Binnington
Joel Edmundson found a way to get the puck past Jones, about midway through the period. Joe Pavelski took the lead back only few minutes later on a power play goal.
In the second period, Kevin Lebanc scored his 4th goal of the post season, but Ryan O’Reilly scored just over a minute later, stuffing the puck behind Jones from the side. Meier scored his two goals at 10:24 and again at 17:34, putting the Sharks up 5-2 going into the third period. One of his shots was a beautiful skate up the slot and tip the puck past Binnington.
Joe Pavelski (8) scores a goal past Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50)
Tyler Bozak scored for the Blues with thirteen minutes off the clock into the third, but that would be their last chance. The Blues pulled Binningon with just over three minutes remaining, but another turnover allowed Couture to score the empty net goal.
With about two minutes remaining, Goodrow and Bortuzzo were sent off the ice for roughing and misconducts, and Brenden Dillon and Oskar Sundqvist served roughing penalties. In all it meant that the Blues would leave the Sharks with a power play for most of the remainder of the game. No more goals were scored, Binnington had 19 saves in the 6-3 loss.
Game two will be Monday evening.
Jaden Schwartz (Center) celebrates his first period goal with teamates Brayden Schenn (10) and Joel Edmundson (6)
Evander Kane (9) tries to avoid a check by Alexander Steen (20) as he moves the puck up ice
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50) makes a blocker save as Joe Pavelski (8) looks for a rebound
Alexander Steen (20) moves the puck up ice as Erik Karlsson (65) defends
Ryan O’Reilly (90) tries to control the puck as Brenden Dillion (4) and Joe Thornton (19) defend
Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) makes a stop on a shot by Tyler Bozak (21) and Justin Braun (61) defends
Tomas Hertl (48) collides with Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50)
Sammy Blais (9) checks Erik Karlsson into the boards
Sharks forward Kevin Labanc looks to make a pass
Barclay Goodrow (23) and Robert Bortuzzo (41) fight late in the third period
Sharks goalie Martin Jones makes a save under pressure late in the third period
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