First RoundSt. Louis Blues look to dominate San Jose Sharks
By Tim Wharnsby
Posted: Sunday, April 8, 2012 | 10:19 AM
Categories: First Round, STL VS SJS
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No. 2 St. Louis Blues (49-22-11--109 pts) vs. No. 7 San Jose Sharks (43-29-10--96 pts)
1. Jaroslav Halak or Brian Elliott? We probably won't find out which goaltender will start for the Blues until the day of the series opener. Halak has the playoff success. But both earned two wins versus the Sharks this season and both registered shutouts. They combined to stop 107 of the 110 shots the Sharks fired at them in four games this year.
2. On the surface there doesn't appear to be any lingering hostilities from the Joe Thornton headshot on David Perron on Nov. 4, 2010 that kept the St. Louis forward out 13 months and 97 games. Thornton even sent Perron a "good luck" text before his first game back last fall. But we'll see. Perron played extremely well in his return, checking in with 21 goals and 42 points in 57 games.
3. Although Blues forward Scott Nichol and defenceman Kent Huskins were depth players on the Sharks the past two seasons, they are smart hockey men and will no doubt provide St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock with some insider information on their former team. Nichol suited up for 30 playoffs games with San Jose and Huskins 20. Their playoff experience also should help the younger Blues.
Season series - Blues 4-0-0.
Oct. 15 - Blues 4-2 at San Jose
Dec. 10 - Blues 1-0 at St. Louis
Feb. 12 - Blues 3-0 at St. Louis
March 3 - Blues 3-1 at San Jose
Prediction - Blues in five
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About the Author
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
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