The San Jose Sharks' problems against the St. Louis Blues continue to grow

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SAN JOSE – The Sharks have already been to this place before, and after a 5-0 defeat against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, there has been a lot of talk about using these experiences to their advantage while they're out there. they are eliminated again.

The Western Conference final, however, feels different from the first two rounds.

After the fifth game, we have the impression that the Blues have taken full control.

The Sharks now have a goal in six periods and are struggling with health problems with some of their best players. The problems with the punitive pre-game of the Blues have again manifested, and only a few good deductions of goalkeeper Martin Jones have prevented the score from being even worse.

While the Sharks showed their bravery by coming back from a three-game-one deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, and overcame a win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7, right now are different of those they have had to face so far in the playoffs.

They feel a lot, a lot stronger.

"Certainly we were here before and we had to win on the road to Vegas to participate in the seventh game," said Sharks coach Pete DeBoer. "You're never comfortable when your back is like that against the wall, but we've already come here and found a way. I am sure we can do it again. "

Earl Erik Karlsson, Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski are among the Sharks' wounded wounded. Their availability for match 6 on Tuesday must be taken into account.

Although Karlsson's injury problems are not new, Hertl was injured in the first period after being touched by Ivan Barbashev. He played about five minutes after that. Pavelski nudged Alex Pietrangelo at the beginning of the third period and did not return.

"We are still alive," said Logan Couture, Sharks Center. "We have been to this place before going to Vegas 3-2 in a very difficult building. St. Louis is similar, it's a tough building against a good team. A structured team We have scored a goal in the last two games, it will not cut it. We do not do enough around their net or do not create enough chances during the second chance. "

Some takeaways from Game 5.

1. Erik Karlsson, injured on Sunday, recalls what happened in the regular season: Karlsson showed a lot of heart by saying that he was ready to play in the fifth game on Sunday, two days after obviously suffering the final stages of the fourth game in St. Louis. This was reminiscent of the Sharks match in Boston on February 26, when Karlsson felt ready to play again three days after aggravating a groin injury in a game against Columbus.

Karlsson was injured in the game against the Bruins and did not play until April 6 in the regular season final.

If Karlsson finished for the rest of the series, whatever its duration, it would not be a surprise.

Karlsson played only 10 minutes and 32 seconds on Sunday, making only four teams in the second period and missing the third inning.

"The 20-20 of Hindsight, you know? We make these decisions based on the reports we receive from the player and the medical team, and the report indicated that he could play and get through the game, "DeBoer said of Karlsson. "So, you know, it's easy to sit here and say now," Yes, of course, you have regrets. "

Karlsson suffered a ton of punishment in this series, as every blow the Blues inflicted on him in five games was considered an investment. It's paying. Karlsson's turnover allowed Oskar Sundqvist to get the first goal of the Blues at 5:50 of the first period.

2. The failure before the Blues remains relentless and their fourth line continues to have a significant impact: The Sharks were led 15-1 at one point in the second period as the Blues increased their lead to 3-0. The failure of St. Louis led directly to his first goal in the fourth game and still wreaked havoc on Sunday.

The Blues' fourth line, consisting of Barbashev, Alexander Steen and Sundqvist, was combined for nine hits and eight shots on Sunday. According to Natural Stat Trick, St. Louis had nine chances to score a very high risk in the second period, and the Sharks had one.

"We shot too much, we played too much," said Couture. "We had opportunities at the blue line when they were pinched and we did not succeed. They are working on shifts, our guys are tired and they have a few rebounds. Too many long shifts at home. "

At the other end, the Sharks only managed 21 shots against Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. They felt good about their first period when they had 11 shots on goal, not to mention the post that Evander Kane hit 10 seconds into the match.

Kane again drew the iron in the second period as Marc-Edouard Vlasic shot at the two posts behind Binnington and got up. Shortly after, Jaden Schwartz scored for the Blues to score 2-0.