Written by Pat Iversen at SB Nation.com
As he has been all playoffs, goalie Brian Elliott was the difference for the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday. Behind Elliott’s great night in net, the Blues took a 2-1 win and a 1-0 series lead over the San Jose Sharks.
Elliott made 31 saves in the win. David Backes and Jori Lehtera had the goals for St. Louis, while Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton were the best players for the Sharks yet again.
It was a great night for deflections and goalie screens. The Blues took it too far early in the game, however. Jori Lehtera appeared to score the Blues first goal, but it was ruled that he interfered with the goalie in the crease.
No matter. Sharks forward Logan Couture tripped Blues rookie Robby Fabbri seven minutes into the game, and St. Louis capitalized on the ensuing power play. Blues captain Backes parked in front of the net, tipped in a shot from Kevin Shattenkirk and gave St. Louis an early 1-0 lead.
The Blues’ fans weren’t even done celebrating before the lead evaporated. On the very next shift, the Sharks worked the puck in the offensive zone and scored on a double-deflection. Brent Burns’ shot from the point tipped off Joe Pavelski’s stick off Tomas Hertl’s foot and into the net to tie the game.
Lehtera got his goal comeuppance in the second period. Burns made an ill-advised pass in the neutral zone, and Lehtera retrieved it, walked in and fired a slap shot over the shoulder of Sharks goalie Martin Jones.
Elliott was solid down the stretch for St. Louis, stopping 20 straight San Jose shots at one point after Hertl’s goal.
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