NHL
Game 14: St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks in St. Louis Shows That The Blues May Be Gaining Traction
The St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks is the sixth game of the seven game home stand for the St. Louis Blues. After a slow start to the season, it looks like the Blues are finding their step and may begin moving up in the standings. Coming into game 14, St. Louis holds a record of 5-5-3 and sit in last place in the Central Division. The Sharks on the other hand sit in third in the Pacific with a record of 8-5-3.
Chad Johnson played good enough in the game against Carolina that he was given his second straight start for the first time since the end of 2017-18 with the Buffalo Sabres. In those two games Johnson allowed a combined nine goals. To match that total, He would have to allow eight in this game after only allowing one last time out. Let’s see how he and the Blues did.
First Period
With the teams playing 4-on-4 there is a little over five minutes to play. Vladimir Tarasenko flies down the left wing. He carries it behind the Sharks net where he is met by Kevin Labanc. Tarasenko cuts the other way and is defended by Erik Karlsson. Tarasenko cuts again and continues behind the net. He finds Alex Pietrangelo and feeds a hard pass to him. Pietrangelo is wide open and dusts the puck off while picking his corner. He rips a snap shot over Aaron Dell’s right shoulder for a BLUUUEESSS GOAL and it’s 1-0.
STL Goal: Alex Pietrangelo (2) Assisted By: Vladimir Tarasenko (8) 1-0 Blues
Second Period
Coming down the far side, five minutes and a few seconds into the period, Vladimir Tarasenko has the puck on the right wing side of the ice and back hands it in deep. Ryan O’Reilly is the first to get to it and tries to swing the puck in front but is met by Justin Braun. Logan Couture takes it and tries to clear the puck. However, Tarasenko is there to take it away. He turns to feed Jaden Schwartz. Logan Couture lifts Tarasenko’s stick and turns the puck over to Jaden Schwartz. He throws it to a wide open Ryan O’Reilly who snaps the puck home for another BLUUUEESSS GOAL and his point streak extends to nine games.
STL Goal: Ryan O’Reilly (8) Assisted By: Jaden Schwartz (4) 2-0 Blues
Just over six minutes remain now in the second. The Blues win the face-off and Vince Dunn holds the puck in the zone with a poke to Jaden Schwartz. The puck bouncese a way to Alexander Steen and he smacks it to Tyler Bozak. Jaden Schwartz is rushing to the slot and Bozak sees him and takes a few steps to his right and feeds Schwartz at the goal mouth. Schwartz tips the puck in for his second BLUUUEESSS GOAL of the year. 3-0.
STL Goal: Jaden Schwartz (2) Assisted By: Tyler Bozak (6) and Alexander Steen (5) 3-0 Blues
Third Period
St. Louis has the puck on the break out. Alexander Steen, at the blue line gives it to Bozak. He carries it a few feet into the zone and gives it back to Steen. Somehow Alexander Steen snuck through both defensemen and found himself with the puck alone in front of the net. He slips it through the 5-hole of Dell for a BLUUUEESSS GOAL and a 4-0 lead.
STL Goal: Alexander Steen (5) Assisted By: Tyler Bozak (7) and Colton Parayko (3) 4-0 Blues
Final: St. Louis 4 – San Jose 0
Chad Johnson played well, stopping 33 of 33 shots in game one of the St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks three game series. The Blues improve to 6-5-3 and move to 6th place in the Central Division. San Jose falls to 8-6-3.
Remaining Games Between St. Louis and San Jose
- St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks (in San Jose) on 11/17
- St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks (in San Jose) on 3/9
Thoughts
- Chad Johnson played so well, he should be in net for the Blues next game on Sunday afternoon. However, it will not surprise me if Head Coach Mike Yeo goes back to Jake Allen who has sat for two games.
- Jay Bouwmeester has not played the previous two games. In games Bouwmeester does not play, the Blues are 3-0-0 and have allowed one goal or less in each game.
- Is there anything Ryan O’Reilly can not do? With a nine game point streak, O’Reilly has been the best player on the ice for St. Louis. O’Reilly has 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) in the nine games of the streak, including a hat trick he scored against Carolina on Tuesday (11/6).
What’s Ahead?
The St. Louis Blues (6-5-3) close out the seven game home stand with a 2:00pm start on Sunday (11/11) against the Minnesota Wild (10-4-2). You can find this game on FOX Sports Midwest.
Other Blues News
- Brayden Schenn has missed the last two games with an upper body injury. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Schenn is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
Social Media
Follow Jared on Twitter @Jared_pettus_00
Photo Credit
Photo Courtesy of pointnshoot
