Final - 2OT
Havlat's goal lifts Sharks over Blues in 2-OT
Apr 13, 2012 - 4:08 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Martin Havlat scored 3:34 into the second overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of a Western Conference quarterfinal series.In the second extra session, Ryane Clowe chipped a backhand pass from the near the left boards to the inside left circle where Havlat one-timed it home to give the Sharks the series lead.
Havlat had two goals while Andrew Desjardins scored the other for the seventh- seeded Sharks, who have made it to the conference finals in each of the past two seasons. Antti Niemi made 40 stops in the win.
"A lot of us have been here before these past few years," said San Jose head coach Todd McClellan. "We've played overtime hockey in the playoffs and we kept calm. To me, that's a sign of veteran leadership."
Patrik Berglund scored both goals for the Blues, who are the second seed after winning the Central Division for the first time since 2000. Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves in the loss.
"We were the ones who made a number of big errors tonight and it cost us," said St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock. "We'll take it hard tonight and get ready tomorrow and come back with a better effort on Saturday."
Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is set for Saturday night in St. Louis.
After a scoreless first period, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead 6:02 into the second on the power play when a shot in the high slot by Dan Boyle was tipped out of the air by Havlat.
The score remained that way until the third when St. Louis tied it just 54 seconds in when Kevin Shattenkirk's wrist shot from the right point hit off the stick of a defender then was tipped in by Berglund in front.
It was a 2-1 lead for the Blues less than seven minutes later. A rush down the left wing saw Andy McDonald send a pass to the slot where Berglund got around a diving Joe Pavelski to wrist the puck into the net for a power play marker.
San Jose, though, tied the game with 5:16 left in regulation when Tommy Wingels fought his way past a checker down the left side and charged to the net. From down low, he sent a backhand pass to the front where Desjardins one- timed it home.
Niemi had to make 14 stops in the first overtime while Halak made eight to send it to a second extra session.
Game Notes
Each team went 1-for-3 on the power play...When the Blues last won their division in 2000, they were knocked out in the first round by San Jose...St. Louis hasn't won a playoff series since 2002...St. Louis won all four games in the regular season series with San Jose, limiting the Sharks to just three goals.
- SAN JOSE: 3
ST. LOUIS: 2
Final - 2OT
Apr 12 11:16 PM - SAN JOSE: 2
ST. LOUIS: 2
End of OT
Apr 12 10:56 PM - SAN JOSE: 2
ST. LOUIS: 2
End of Regulation
Apr 12 10:04 PM - St Louis Power-Play Goal - Patrik Berglund (2), from Andy McDonald and Kris Russell at 7:28.
Sharks 1, Blues 2 3rd - 12:32Apr 12 9:44 PM - St Louis Goal - Patrik Berglund, from Kevin Shattenkirk and Alexander Steen at :54.
Sharks 1, Blues 1 3rd - 19:06Apr 12 9:29 PM - SAN JOSE: 1
ST. LOUIS: 0
End of 2nd
Apr 12 9:10 PM - SAN JOSE: 0
ST. LOUIS: 0
End of 1st
Apr 12 8:13 PM - SAN JOSE: 0
ST. LOUIS: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Apr 12 7:40 PM - Andy Lee Elliot could lead the Blues to a Stanley Cup. Lets go Blues!!!!
Sharks vs. BluesApr 11 6:51 AM
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