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Blues Vs. Sharks Recap: Dude, They Beat a Dell

All around team effort gives Blues huge win in San Jose.

By Justin42
Andrew Villa-USA TODAY Sports

Blues Lineup:

Forwards: Jaden Schwartz/Paul Stastny/Vladimir Tarasenko

Alexander Steen/Patrik Berglund/David Perron

Zach Sanford/Ivan Barbashev/Magnus Paajarvi

Scottie Upshall/Kyle Brodziak/Ryan Reaves

Defensemen: Alex Pietrangelo/Jay Bouwmeester

Carl Gunnarsson/Robert Bortuzzo

Colton Parayko/Joel Edmundson

Goaltender: Carter Hutton

Game Highlights:

The Blues were coming into this game fresh off a 2-1 loss in Anaheim the night before. Stats on the Blues side, 8-2-0 on the back end of back to backs. They're also 5-0 when playing three games in four nights and the last game is the other half of back to backs. Somewhat meaningless, but interesting all the same. Zach Sanford finds himself in the lineup as noted above. The Sharks starting goaltender was Aaron Dell.

First Period -

Carter Hutton has posted some good numbers against the Sharks as of late. The last time the Blues were in town he posted a 23 save shutout. He needed to be up to the task early on in the game. Joe Pavelski had a chance right in front of the net, but Hutton made the save.

Late in the first period, the Blues get on the board. Scottie Upshall gets his 8th goal of the year on a great individual effort. Upshall breaks up a Brent Burns pass, skates it to the right circle and lets go a shot that finds the back of the net. 1-0 Blues with about three and a half minutes left.

The lead lasted all of a minute. Marc-Edouard Vlasic ties the game on a deflection. The deflection was off of Gunnarsson's fat foot, and it almost looked as if Hutton would stop it. Unfortunately, it squirted past Hutton and put Gunnarsson on the score sheet for the Sharks. (Not really, but it seems Blues defensemen are assisting on more opposing goals than goals for).

At the end of one shots on goal were 11-6 in favor of the Blues.

Second Period -

Zach Sanford helping Blues fans get over that Shattenkirk trade real quick with his goal in the second. It was a top shelf job that gave him his first goal with the Blues. That was actually his third goal overall on the year, as he scored two while he was with Washington. 2-1 Blues.

The Blues outshot the Sharks again in the second 9-5. For some reason, it sure didn't feel like it.

Third Period -

If the Blues were tired (as certain FSMW pre game people like to point out) they certainly didn't show it. In fact, the Blues looked like they were as fresh as they were in Anaheim a night ago. Only difference was that they were able to put some pucks into the back of the net. Tarasenko scores his 33rd goal of the year on the Blues only powerplay of the night. That's right the Blues didn't get a powerplay until nine minutes (or so) had gone by in the third. Steen was almost the one to score the goal after hitting the cross bar. It bounced down right in front of the net. Dell dove for it, missed, and Tarasenko was there to bang it home. 3-1 Blues.

Carter Hutton had to have been bored in this one. The Blues only allowed 20 shots on net. Hutton did make a save late in the game to preserve the two goal lead. Because you all know what they say about two goal leads.

Tarasenko gets his 34th of the year thanks to the Sharks pulling Dell and a little hard work. Burns couldn't handle the puck flying in on his stick. Tarasenko hustled to the loose puck and puts it in the back of the net. 4-1 Blues and seals off a great win. The Blues finished up the night with 36 shots on goal. They take 4 of 6 on west coast swing. The Blues get a day off, and maybe another day off as they take on the Coyotes Saturday night in Arizona.

From the Twitter Machine:

Here's Tarasenko making Burns look like a traffic cone.

Ryan Reaves. Fighter, goal scorer(kind of) and...dancer?

Standings Update:

I wanted to post this because I just had to go and complain about Blues defensemen.

Player of the Game:

Green Beer. Happy St. Patrick's Day Gametimer's. Oh, speaking of beer, join the GT crew at Hotshots on Manchester Saturday night for some beer and Blues.