SAN JOSE
– Last-second heroics lifted the visiting St. Louis Blues past
the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in a shootout in front of the first
non-sell-out of the year at HP Pavilion.
SAN JOSE – Last-second heroics lifted the visiting St. Louis Blues past the San Jose Sharks 3-2 in a shootout in front of the first non-sell-out of the year at HP Pavilion.
The Blues fell behind in the game’s 79th second, then trailed 2-1 in the second period. St. Louis pulled even in the closing 6.6 seconds of regulation when second-year defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo scored a short-handed goal to produce a 2-2 tie.
After a scoreless overtime, the Blues garnered the second available point when Andy McDonald and TJ Oshie solved goalie Evgeni Nabokov in the shootout. Patrick Marleau was San Jose’s lone successful shooter.
San Jose was on the power play for the fifth time when the Blues took advantage of a Shark defensive lapse to score the equalizer in the third period. Nabokov was able to stop a 2-on-1 rush by Barrett Jackman and McDonald with 38 seconds left, but could not defend Colaiacovo’s goal.
“Your top five players are on the ice and you give up several chances on the power play,” said San Jose coach Todd McLellan. “I am very disappointed,”
San Jose began its search for a fourth consecutive win when Dany Heatley ripped a slapshot from the high slot past Blues goalie Ty Conklin 1:19 into play. Joe Thornton, the NHL’s leading scorer, provided the primary assist. Thornton has a 10-game point streak (3-13-16) and his current nine-game assist streak in one short of his career high.
St. Louis responded with an even-strength goal 11:06 into the first. Jay McClement, on a 2-on-1 rush along with Alexander Steen, lined a 35-foot shot inside the far left post.
Heatley delivered seven shots on net in the first period, matching the franchise mark for one period set by Joe Pavelski.
Although the Blues fashioned an 11-7 edge in shots in the second period, San Jose scored the only goal. Douglas Murray’s slapshot from the right point was redirected by Joe Pavelski at the edge of the crease past Conklin. Pavelski has scored 11 points (4-7) in his last 12 games.
Blues coach Andy Murray was pleased with the team’s defensive effort, keeping Hartley without a shot for the final two periods. “Our penalty killers did a great job stepping up.”
The Sharks conclude the three-game homestand with a 7pm date with the Calgary Flames.
