Saturday, April 21, 2012

Western Conference Quarterfinal: 2) St. Louis Blues VS. 7) San Jose Sharks

Welcome to the post for the quarterfinal series between the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks. Please use this post as a reference for the entire series.

Game 1: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Jaroslav Halak for St. Louis; Antti Niemi for San Jose. San Jose began with a Martin Havlat power play goal in the second period, powered by Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe. St. Louis tied it in the third period as Patrik Berglund scored, with help from Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Steen. The Blues got the lead with another Berglund goal, his second of the game coming on the power play via Andy McDonald and Kris Russell. The Sharks tied it as Andrew Desjardins scored, thanks to Tommy Wingels and Boyle. San Jose won it in the second overtime with another Havlat goal, his second of the game, assisted by Clowe and Logan Couture. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Berglund, Havlat, and Boyle, while Clowe gets the honorable mention. San Jose leads 1-0 in the series.

Game 2: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Jaroslav Halak for St. Louis; Antti Niemi for San Jose. St. Louis began with an unassisted Vladimir Sobotka goal in the first period. Halak was replaced by Brian Elliott due to a leg injury in the second period. The Blues added on in the second period with a David Backes goal with a lone T.J. Oshie assist. St. Louis iced it at 3-0 in the third period with a power play goal by Andy McDonald, powered by Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo. The three stars were Oshie, Elliott (17 for 17 in saves in relief), and Halak (12 for 12 in saves before injury). The series is tied at 1.

Game 3: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose; Brian Elliott for St. Louis. St. Louis started with a Patrik Berglund goal, his third of the postseason coming on the power play from Carlo Colaiacovo and Jason Arnott. San Jose tied it with a Brent Burns goal, also on the power play, made possible by Joe Thornton and Logan Couture. The Blues got the lead back in the second period with the second of the playoffs by Andy McDonald, assisted by Berglund and Colaiacovo. St. Louis added on with a power play goal by Arnott, powered by McDonald and Alex Steen. The Blues extended the lead with a Steen power play goal in the third period, set up by McDonald and Colaiacovo, the latter getting a sock trick. The Sharks pulled back on a Colin White goal passed from Ryane Clowe and Thornton. San Jose got as close as 4-3 with seventeen seconds left, but the Couture goal set up by Thornton, who got a sock trick, and Martin Havlat proved not to be enough. The three stars went to McDonald, Thornton, and Colaiacovo, while Arnott, Couture, Berglund, and Steen get the honorable mentions. St. Louis takes a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California. In goal: Antti Niemi for San Jose; Brian Elliott for St. Louis. St. Louis led off with a B.J. Crombeen goal made possible by Patrik Berglund and David Perron. The Blues extended the lead in the third period with a power play goal from Andy McDonald, his third of the postseason, powered by Berglund and Perron. San Jose got one back but never tied it, losing 2-1 after a Joe Thornton goal set up by Logan Couture and Brent Burns. McDonald, Elliott (24 for 25 in saves), and Berglund got the three stars while Perron gets an honorable mention. St. Louis is within a win of advancing, holding a 3-1 lead in the series.

Game 5: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Brian Elliott for St. Louis; Antti Niemi for San Jose. San Jose opened the scoring in the second period with a Joe Thornton goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Daniel Winnik and Torrey Mitchell. St. Louis tied it in the third period on a Jamie Langenbrunner goal, via Scott Nichol and Vladimir Sobotka. The Blues got the lead forty-five seconds later when David Perron scored, thanks to Alex Pietrangelo and T.J. Oshie. St. Louis iced it at 3-1 with an Andy McDonald empty net goal, his fourth of the playoffs, with a lone Patrik Berglund helper. The three stars of the game were Elliott (26 for 27 in saves), Perron, and Langenbrunner. St. Louis wins the series 4-1.

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