San Jose Sharks At St. Louis Blues Game Preview

This is going to be a tough game tonight. Regardless of if anyone on the Sharks is dumb enough to try to re-open that Roman Polak Door, you can bet there will be some hits, some scrums, and a goal or two. The Sharks are off to a roaring start, plowing through opponents to a 5-0 mark. The Blues, however, are doing just as well. They're 4-0, extending a home win streak from last season to 10 games. They've potted a power play goal in seven of their eight games, and have 19 goals so far to start the season.

The Sharks are off to their own special start. They've scored 24 goals in five games and lead the league in PPG. They've allowed just seven goals, as many as the Blues. As an upshot, Joe Thornton has yet to score four goals in a game though rookie Tomas Hertl doesn't seem to be slowing down. He's gotten himself a bit of a target painted on his back; Clarke MacArthur popped him a good one Saturday night, and he's number one on Don Cherry's "you're European and young and having fun so I hate you" list:

Party-pooper.

The Blues're going to have to keep an eye on that kid, but the Sharks are going to have to keep an eye on basically the whole Blues' team. Alexander Steen has four goals and four assists, David Backes has four goals and two assists, and Derek Roy (RoyWatch!) has five points so far on the year. Goalie Jaroslav Halak is 4-0-0 for the first time to start his career; will his sharp play continue to steamroll the opposition and make fellow goalie Brian Elliott expendable?

The Blues will have to work for a win tonight. Somebody has to lose tonight, but if the Blues' top line has their way, it absolutely won't be St. Louis.

Here's the matchup from the Blues' official site:

GP	RECORD	HOME	AWAY	L10	G/G	GA/G	PP%	PK%	PIM/G	S/G	S/A	FO%
	5	5-0-0	4-0-0	1-0-0	5-0-0	4.80	1.40	21.7	78.6	7.0	42.4	22.8	52.6
	4	4-0-0	4-0-0	0-0-0	4-0-0	4.75	1.75	37.5	77.8	22.5	32.5	26.5	54.4