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Sharks-Blues Preview

Nov 13, 2009 - 8:16 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

San Jose (13-4-3) at St. Louis (6-7-4), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The San Jose Sharks continue to earn points even though their defense has been slipping slightly. A matchup with Paul Kariya and the St. Louis Blues gives them a chance to get back on track.

Following their second loss in 10 games, the Sharks look to stop Kariya and the struggling Blues on Saturday night.

San Jose (13-4-3) has gone 8-0-2 since a 5-2 road loss to Tampa Bay on Oct. 22.

"Things are rolling for us," defenseman Jason Demers said. "We just have to keep going."

The Sharks, though, gave up a total of five goals in regulation and overtime in the last two games after surrendering two or fewer in seven straight contests. San Jose lost 4-3 in a shootout to Dallas on Thursday night, two days after a 4-3 win over Nashville.

Evgeni Nabokov, whose outstanding play has helped San Jose earn an NHL-best 29 points, allowed two goals in a 1:45 span of the third period versus the Stars and surrendered the decisive score in the third round of the shootout.

San Jose was short-handed on the blueline, with Rob Blake missing the game due to an upper-body injury. He is out indefinitely.

Nabokov, 11-3-3 with a 2.12 goals-against average, will likely be in net again as San Jose tries to take advantage of a low-scoring St. Louis team.

The Blues (6-7-4) were held to one or no goals in five of their last seven games, the most recent a 3-1 loss to Nashville on Thursday night. St. Louis is in desperate need of production from Kariya, who has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games - the longest stretch of his career.

Kariya did not score a goal in his last seven games against the Sharks, recording two assists during that span.

The Blues seemed poised to end their scoring troubles following a 6-1 win over Vancouver on Tuesday night, but went 0 for 3 on the power play and were limited to 22 shots versus the Predators. They missed a chance to win consecutive games for the first time since opening the season with two victories over Detroit in Sweden.

"To play well one night and not the next night, it's something that's got to stop," right wing Brad Boyes said. "Our work ethic has got to be a lot better."

Boyes scored St. Louis' only goal against Nashville, giving him four on the season. He had a goal and three assists against the Canucks after being held without a point in his previous seven games.

Chris Mason continues to give the Blues a chance to win, allowing two goals or fewer in each of his last four games. He is 4-5-3 despite a 2.29 GAA.

Mason, though, has gone 1-6-1 with a 3.14 GAA in nine games - eight starts - versus the Sharks.

San Jose went 2-1-1 against St. Louis last season. The Sharks had gone 7-0-1 in their last eight road games against the Blues before losing 3-1 on March 12.