Blues Lineup:
Forwards: Jaden Schwartz/Jori Lehtera/Vladimir Tarasenko...Robby Fabbri/Paul Stastny/Troy Brouwer...Dmitrij Jaskin/Patrik Berglund/David Backes...Scottie Upshall/Kyle Brozdiak/Ryan Reaves
D-pairings: Joel Edmundson/Alex Pietrangelo...Jay Bouwmeester/Kevin Shattenkirk...Carl Gunnarsson/Colton Parayko
Goalie: Brian Elliott
Blues Highlights:
The Blues finally played their last game on the long road trip tonight/last night as they took on the Sharks in San Jose. As John Kelly pointed out several times on the TV broadcast it would be the only time that the Blues were in San Jose this season. The Blues were just looking to salvage a game in the series at this point.
We pick up the action late in the first period. Brian Elliott, in his second start back, would deny Paul Martin,and then the ensuing rebound to preserve the game's nothing-nothing score.
The Blues would be on the ice for the second period, but had zero offense. So it seemed at least. Shots weren't as lopsided as it looked. (They actually had three more shots than they did in the first.) That, and the Blues were missing a LOT of shots wide. (So it seemed anyway)
Moving ahead to the third period, midway through to be exact, Robby Fabbri would finally break the 0-0 tie. Having already had a decent period, Fabbri would finally find the back of the net. He would beat Sharks starting goalie Martin Jones on a nifty play from a hard angle for the 1-0 lead.
Fabbri gets his 17th goal of the year with Brouwer(16) and Bouwmeester(16) getting the assists on the play. Joe Thornton was a pain in the Blues side most of this year. (And probably every other year). David Backes had finally had enough. Poor Edmundson got to feel the wrath too...
Late in the period the Blues would take a delay of game penalty. Elliott and the Blues would be up to the task. At one point it would go to 6-3 as David Backes would get called for high sticking. The Blues would kill off the 6 on 3. Back at 6 on 4 Ells would deny Dylan DeMelo on the one time chance. He would then also keep the rebound out to keep the game 1-0.
The Sharks weren't done though as they would make one last ditch effort to get it past Ells and get it into overtime...Sorry Joe. NOT.
The Blues win it 1-0 in a game in which they were outshot 37-24. Brian Elliott gets his second shut out in a row and his 100th win as a member of the St. Louis Blues. Here's another crazy stat for you. The Blues get their first shutout in San Jose since Manny Legace did it back in 2007. The Blues come back home (Thank you!) to face Vancouver Friday night. If either Minnesota or Colorado lose on Thursday, the Blues could clinch as early as Friday. Don't forget to find a Gametime vendor and get a paper!
From The Twitter Machine:
File this in the "The Blues Twitter account is 200 times better this year" file:
GAME OVER. BLUES WIN! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/54rqpfEuFs
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 23, 2016
Brian Elliott has been...well he's been outstanding:
Brian Elliott last 10 games overall: 8-0-1, 1.61 GAA, .948 SV%
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) March 23, 2016
Brian Elliott last 6 on the road: 6-0-0, 1.34 GAA, .951 SV%. #stlblues
Meanwhile in Chicago...They lose to Dallas 6-2. Poor Andrew Shaw wasn't too happy...
Andrew Shaw was pretty upset about taking a roughing penalty. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/NCUtSbdjyh
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) March 23, 2016
And finally, Elliott talks about tonight's win.
.@StLouisBlues Elliott: 'Everything came down to that little second effort, and our guys had it tonight." #STLvsSJShttps://t.co/MYeghO6E4i
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) March 23, 2016
Three Stars:
Third Star: Robby Fabbri (1 goal. Where would the Blues be without this kid this year?)
Second Star: Martin Jones (23 saves. Might have set up a lounger in the crease in the first half of the game. Working to confirm)
First Star: Brian Elliott (37 saves. [Insert gushing comment that I haven't made already here] )