SAN JOSE, CA – Game Two of the Western Conference Final was a continuation of the controlling play the San Jose Sharks maintained in the opening game of the series. Game Three further entrenched the Sharks in putting St. Louis back on their heels with a 3-0 victory on home ice and the second straight shutout.
Despite controlling play in the first half of the opening period, San Jose remained patient and withstood the onslaught. Martin Jones stopped all 22 shots St. Louis sent his way and Tomas Hertl scored game-winning goal in the first period to give the San Jose Sharks a 3-0 victory and 2-1 series lead.
San Jose started the scoring with a little more than four minutes left in the opening period. That’s when St. Louis defenseman Colton Parayko committed a turnover on a pass in the neutral zone. Sharks veteran Joe Thornton moved the puck ahead to Joe Pavelski. The San Jose captain sent a cross-ice pass through traffic to Hertl, who beat Blues goalie Brian Elliott from the top of the left circle with a slap shot high to the glove side.
San Jose extended their lead to 2-0 at 11:44 of the second period on Joonas Donskoi’s fourth goal of the postseason. This came at the hands of a turnover. This time, Donskoi broke up Robby Fabbri’s pass in San Jose’s end and started a 3-on-2 rush. Logan Couture passed from the left circleThe Blues got their only power play of the game at 15:01 of the second when Couture was called for high-sticking Patrik Berglund. San Jose killed its eighth straight penalty since St. Louis scored on its first power-play opportunity of the series in Game 1.
Despite outshooting the Sharks 15-13 after the second period, St. Louis trailed by two goals. San Jose is 7-0 in the playoffs when leading entering the third.
San Jose added to their lead when with 13:51, Tomas Hertl scored his fifth goal of the playoffs. He took a pass from Thornton below the goal line, skated in front of the crease and beat Elliott with a wrist shot. Jake Allen replaced Elliott after the third goal. Elliott stopped 11 of 14 shots. Allen finished stopping the only two shots he faced. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock was non-committal in naming his starting goalie for the next game.
For the Sharks, Martin Jones registered his fourth shutout of the playoffs and third in his last four games. Jones has not allowed a goal since Blues forward Jori Lehtera scored at 9:15 of the second period in Game One. St. Louis has gone 150:45 without scoring.
Although being down just one game to the Sharks, the last two plus games have really demonstrated the strength, skill and speed of the Sharks. St. Louis will have to retool their lines, likely add a little more physical play to their games and maybe insert Ryan Reaves into the line-up. Returning to St. Louis facing elimination is not an option for St. Louis so expect the Blues to further establish play early in Game Four and take some chances to nail down a victory.
Game Four takes place Saturday, May 21st (7:15 PM ET, NBC, CBC, TVA Sports) before the series returns to St. Louis on Monday, May 23rd.
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