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As the Eastern Conference finals were already underway, the puck was removed from the West as the Sharks and Blues kicked off their conference finals.
San Jose was the host of the opening game of the series and the hometown of the Sharks won in a solid first-game performance. Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc all took part in the Sharks 6-3 win, while Couture and Meier scored two goals in the win.
It was the first tough physical match that was certainly not perfect for both teams, but it was an entertaining start to what could be a long and painful series of finding a Western Conference representative in the Cup final Stanley. Jordan Binnington and Martin Jones have not had the best start in the series, but their defenses are not quite at the top of their game.
San Jose is looking to overcome the bump and go to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2016, when they lost to the Penguins. The Blues have not participated in the Stanley Cup final since 1970.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC and NBCSN can be streamed via fuboTV (Free Trial).
NHL Playoffs for Saturday, May 11
- Game 1: FINAL – Sharks 6, Blues 3 (SJ leads 1-0) [Box score]
Saint Louis scares
The Blues reduced the score to "dangerous" when the Blues surprised the Sharks in their own zone and found Tyler Bozak wide open next to the net. Bozak slipped a shot past Jones. That goal raised the score to 5-3 seven minutes from the end.
In the end, that was not enough because the Sharks clung – and added an empty net – to victory in the first game of the series.
Things are not like the blues
It was an excellent second period for the Sharks, who increased their lead to 5-2 before the last regulation period. Kevin Labanc scored the first goal of the second period when he was able to take a shot in the traffic and overtake Jordan Binnington about eight minutes into the period. The Blues have once again found a quick answer when Ryan O'Reilly showed patience after Martin Jones gave up a juicy rebound.
But Timo Meier reacted soon after with what could be the goal of the playoffs so far. Logan Couture forced a turnaround by checking Colton Parayko, and Meier took the opportunity to swing a blues defender and shoot a Forsberg on Binnington. just ruthless.
Meier also added another goal later in the period thanks to a good chance in puck. After a teammate fired a puck off the board, Meier started reorienting to the middle of the ice and saw him bouncing off the Blues defender's skate and deflecting in front of Binnington for a rather lucky goal .
Just a really frustrating time for the Blues.
First heavy period in San Jose
It was a rather eventful (and brutal) first period in San Jose to launch this series. It's clear that the Blues focus on finishing the controls and bringing a physical element to their game, and they're looking for some of the Sharks' best players to bring them the pain.
But it was Logan Couture who got the Sharks in first place, scoring his 10th goal in the playoffs – a record among all players. This goal is also his 26th playoff goal in the last five years, placing him ahead of Sidney Crosby for third place in the NHL.
The Blues got an answer to that goal when Jaden Schwartz scored his ninth in the playoffs. St. Louis will seek to create traffic ahead of Martin Jones in this series and they have managed to position Joel Edmundson at the Schwartz count gate.
San Jose, however, answered the question with Joe Pavelski's hand-eye coordination. During a 5-on-3 power play for the Sharks, Pavelski was able to outsmart his own shot in the air – not once, but twice – and overtake Jordan Binnington to take over the # 39 advantage for San Jose.
The home team takes a 2-1 lead in the first intermission.
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