Blues vs Sharks Preview TV: CNBC, TSN, RDSI, CSN-CA (HD), FS-MW (HD)
Big Story: Martin Havlat's resurgence which started down the stretch continued into Game 1 of this series, and the Sharks drew first blood with a 3-2 win in the first double overtime game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. San Jose got the monkey off its back of not having beaten St. Louis all season, and now tries to take a commanding 2-0 lead back home to HP Pavilion.
On the Blues' side, coach Ken Hitchcock announced after Friday's optional skate he would come back with Jaroslav Halak as his starter. There was nothing wrong with Halak's performance on Thursday -- he stopped 31 of 33 shots before Havlat beat him 3:34 into the second extra period. But at the same time, with the NHL's top regular-season goalie in terms of goals-against average (1.56) and save percentage (.940) available in Brian Elliott, there was at least the option for Hitchcock to change things up.
Team Scope:
Sharks: Regular season and playoffs can be two totally different animals, and San Jose proved that by scoring as many goals against St. Louis in Game 1 as it had managed in their four prior matchups. Havlat, whose season was marred by inconsistency and injury until he put together a hot stretch after returning to the lineup on March 15, opened the scoring on a power-play goal in the second period. But after the Blues struck for a pair in the third to take the lead, the biggest goal of the night came courtesy of a guy who only had four during the regular season. Andrew Desjardins converted a feed from Tommy Wingels with 5:16 remaining, sending the game into overtime where Havlat eventually beat Halak from the high slot for the winner.
"We can talk about the goal, but the 13-14 minutes that they played for us was very valuable," coach Todd McLellan said of the Desjardins-Wingels-Daniel Winnik line. "They played hard, played smart. Desi was really good in the faceoff circle. Tommy got some power-play time and played a really important role on that line. When you get those two young guys playing together with a veteran like Daniel Winnik, you have a fourth line you can trust or third line, whatever they might be."
Blues: Once again, St. Louis will aim for the franchise's first playoff victory since April 12, 2004, also against San Jose. That win came in Game 3 with the Blues already down 2-0 in the series, a hole they're not interested in facing as the series shifts to California. In the end, their Game 1 loss came largely due to their inability to solve Sharks goalie Antti Niemi, who stopped them on 40 of 42 shots, including all 14 in the first overtime. Patrik Berglund was the only one to celebrate beating Niemi, first on a redirection of a Kevin Shattenkirk shot 54 seconds into the third to pull San Jose even, then on a power play at 7:28 to temporarily put the Sharks in front.
"We'll be fine," Berglund said in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We played some good hockey tonight. We still have a lot of confidence. We had a lot of chances to win this game. We just have to keep going at it. There's a lot of games to go."
Who's Hot: Havlat, who finished the regular season on a four-game points streak (1-4-5), now has 29 points in his last 29 playoff games. Ryane Clowe and Dan Boyle each chipped in a pair of assists in the Sharks' opening win. Niemi has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of eight starts dating back to March 26. … Berglund's goals were his first points in his fifth career playoff game for the Blues.
Injury Report: San Jose defenseman Colin White missed Game 1 with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. … Elliott, who had been nursing an upper-body injury, dressed as Halak's backup in the opener. St. Louis defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has been battling an illness that has kept him out of the last two games.
Stat Pack: Each team went 1-for-3 on the power play Thursday. During the regular-season series, the Blues had the advantage when up a man, going 5-for-19 while the Sharks were just 1-for-15 over four games. When they were swept by the Canucks in their last playoff appearance in 2009, the Blues were just 1-for-24 in the series.
Puck Drop: Just like San Jose cleared a mental hurdle in Game 1 by breaking through against the Central Division champs, St. Louis must now secure that critical first win in the series so the specter of another sweep isn't hanging over to the club as it heads to the Bay Area.
"There's not much to say," forward Alex Steen said in the Post-Dispatch after Thursday's defeat. "It is what it is right now. Game 1. It's a long series. We knew coming in that it was going to be a long series. It's two tough teams, intense teams, fun buildings, so it's going to be a fun series."
This GDT Brought to You By:
Russian Reggae Rap
"Ya Ma Goo"
Last edited by h22prelude93: 04-14-2012 at 11:23 AM.
I've got a bad feeling about tonight. The officials have been terrible this year/playoffs and after they screwed us in overtime in game 1, I wouldn't be surprised to see it continue. If the game would have been called correctly, 2 of the Sharks goals wouldn't have happened. Not that it's an excuse, I've just come to accept that the Blues get screwed quite often. Sharks win 4-1.
Have we seen the last of Stewart? Could be a realistic possibility.
If they win tonight I'm sure Hitch will stay w/ the same lineup for game 3. If Tarasenko signs w/ the Blues someone will have to go out of this group of forwards, which may make Stewart trade bait. Unfortunately, his value is at an all time low, so I don't think they would consider moving him in the off season.
Yeah, I don't see it going well either. I'm with Carvin on this one. Sorry to be pessimistic, but it's been so long you know - I just don't think I know what it's like for the Blues to get out of round one. Just seems like it's not meant to be, even if they want it. I read last night that the last time the Blues were in the finals were 1970. OUCH!
But, I've got tickets to the Yotes/Hawks game, my first live playoff game ever so I'm going. Hopefully I see good news on the boards there for the Blues.
If they win tonight I'm sure Hitch will stay w/ the same lineup for game 3. If Tarasenko signs w/ the Blues someone will have to go out of this group of forwards, which may make Stewart trade bait. Unfortunately, his value is at an all time low, so I don't think they would consider moving him in the off season.
They don't have the luxury of keeping spare $3.25+ million players.
I'm not a fan of D'Agostini on the fourth line. It didn't work well the past two times they tried it, so I'm not sure what they expect tonight. I guess Reaves might be injured though.
I would've put Porter in over D'Agostini, but hopefully it works out well.
I hope Stewart never plays for the Blues again. People on here jumped my ass when I was ripping on him early in the season and said we should trade him for a 1st rounder. Now, I doubt he would even fetch a 1st rounder. He sucks so bad.
Looks like Colaiacovo, Crombeen, and Dagostini are in. Huskins, Reaves, and Stewart are out #stlblues
I don't like a single one of those changes. If Reaves is hurt, I'd put in Porter, and if he's not hurt, no way do I scratch him. Huskins was unspectacular, but Coliacovo has been down right bad lately, and I think Arnott would be a better scratch choice than Stewie (god did Arnott not look very good on Thursday), and I'd put in Jaden ahead of Dagger.
If D'Agostini or Arnott fail in game 2, either Schwartz or Porter go on that line in game 3. Stewart doesn't touch the ice again. The 4th line RW spot can go to any of those 3, it's not like that spot is going to make or break us.
hey blues fans,
san jose native here saying that i'm enjoying the lack of trash talk that's been going on from your fanbase. our team has been in the underdog status of the playoffs for a good 10+ years and we're used to fanbases that like to throw us in the gutter. you fans are proving that you're a classy bunch of people that can respect competition without getting really hotheaded and pejorative... i'd just like to say that if you beat us, i'm rooting for saint louis for the rest of the playoffs.
hey blues fans,
san jose native here saying that i'm enjoying the lack of trash talk that's been going on from your fanbase. our team has been in the underdog status of the playoffs for a good 10+ years and we're used to fanbases that like to throw us in the gutter. you fans are proving that you're a classy bunch of people that can respect competition without getting really hotheaded and pejorative... i'd just like to say that if you beat us, i'm rooting for saint louis for the rest of the playoffs.
Much appreciated. Good luck in the series, should be tight the rest of the way.
hey blues fans,
san jose native here saying that i'm enjoying the lack of trash talk that's been going on from your fanbase. our team has been in the underdog status of the playoffs for a good 10+ years and we're used to fanbases that like to throw us in the gutter. you fans are proving that you're a classy bunch of people that can respect competition without getting really hotheaded and pejorative... i'd just like to say that if you beat us, i'm rooting for saint louis for the rest of the playoffs.
Much appreciated. Good luck in the series, should be tight the rest of the way.
it's definitely not going to be easy for us. game 1 proved that. your team has a lot of young blood. that's what swept us in the series against the blackhawks. our team has old blood that might suit this series better. it'll hopefully be an interesting remaining series!
hey blues fans,
san jose native here saying that i'm enjoying the lack of trash talk that's been going on from your fanbase. our team has been in the underdog status of the playoffs for a good 10+ years and we're used to fanbases that like to throw us in the gutter. you fans are proving that you're a classy bunch of people that can respect competition without getting really hotheaded and pejorative... i'd just like to say that if you beat us, i'm rooting for saint louis for the rest of the playoffs.
Oh, shut up!
just kidding,
If the Blues can play like they did on Thurs, just cut down on the mistakes and the Blues should win 3-1, 4-2.
If the Blues can play like they did on Thurs, just cut down on the mistakes and the Blues should win 3-1, 4-2.
LET'S GO BLUES!
i don't think any fan of the sharks was thoroughly impressed by thursday's victory. you guys still have a ton in the tank, and i'm eager but scared what you guys are gonna bring the next 4 games. here's hoping that the victor of this series is the victor of the cup!
i don't think any fan of the sharks was thoroughly impressed by thursday's victory. you guys still have a ton in the tank, and i'm eager but scared what you guys are gonna bring the next 4 games. here's hoping that the victor of this series is the victor of the cup!
Reminded me of still having to play at least 2 games in The Tank. Not gonna be easy for the Blues...regular season success or not.
Good luck rest of the way!
I'd prefer to see Reaves in...but hey....trust in the (hitch)****
Reminded me of still having to play at least 2 games in The Tank. Not gonna be easy for the Blues...regular season success or not.
Good luck rest of the way!
I'd prefer to see Reaves in...but hey....trust in the (hitch)****
i appreciate good double entendre as much as the next fan, but even with the shark tank boiling over with presence, i doubt that the sharks will take the series without a struggle. your team is pretty damn good. may the best team win!
also, i have to add for curious browsers that san jose is hungry because the city has a bigger population than san francisco and the sharks are the only team of a huge demographic which includes most of the south bay. imagine LA or NYC with only one team for its population. that's why we're fanatics.
just kidding,
