Location: SAP Center
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET; (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS)
The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues will play Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at SAP Center tonight. Both teams are coming into the series winning Game 7 in the second round. The Blues eliminated the Dallas Stars 2-1 in double overtime, and the Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in regulation.
The last time both teams played each other in the Stanley Cup Finals was the 2016 Western Conference Final, with the Sharks winning in six games. The winner of this series will enter the Stanley Cup Final, facing either the Boston Bruins or Carolina Hurricanes.
The Sharks have the best home record in the playoffs with a 6-2 record. They outscored opponents 31-22 and won both Game 7s at SAP Center. Now they will face against the Blues, who have the best playoff best road record of 5-1.
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Jordan Binnington has never faced the #SJSharks – how will that impact his game heading into the Western Conference Final? #NHLTonight #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RJuE4B9wJQ
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 11, 2019
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Another test for the Sharks is Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. For the first time all season the Sharks will face the rookie goaltender. Binnington, 25, was 24-5-1 during the regular season. His amazing season makes him the top candidate for the Calder Trophy.
Sharks goaltender Martin Jones will have to outduel Binnington to help the Sharks win the first game of the series. Top Defensemen Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Erik Karlsson have to shut down the Blues top line of Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, and Vladimir Tarasenko. In the second round against the Avalanche, the Sharks defensive core did a great job shutting down the top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen.
Brent Burns has logged 408:59 of time on ice through two rounds, nearly an hour more than the next-closest player (53:44).
409 minutes is nearly equivalent to skating every minute of regulation for an entire 7-game series (420:00). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/Az04SlIxLC
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 10, 2019
The Sharks total power play was 10-for-54 (18.5 %) in the playoffs. In the second round against the Avalanche, they were 2-for-20 (10%). They hope to improve on the man-advantage with Joe Pavelski back in the lineup. Pavelski returned to Game 7 and immediately made an impact scoring a goal and assist.
Blues top-line of Schenn, Schwartz, and Tarasenko scored eight goals in 13 games. Schwartz has been outstanding being the top goalscorer in the line with six goals. Their competition will be Sharks top line of Logan Couture, Timo Meier, and Gustav Nyquist. The line has been formed since Joe Pavelski injury. They outdueled the Avalanche top line in the second round scoring six goals. They only gave up two goals throughout the second round.
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In the 2016 Western Conference Final, the #SJSharks were able to limit Vladimir Tarasenko.
Can they stifle him again or will he have a breakout series? #NHLTonight #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/YLG3db8kGS
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 11, 2019
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Ryan O’Reilly is another key player for the Blues. Lately, he had been lined up with David Perron and Sammy Blais in the last two games. Expect those three players to be in the second line tonight. Rookie, Robert Thomas had been outstanding in the playoffs scoring one goal and four assists. He set up the Patrick Maroon series-clinching goal.
Robert Thomas of the @StLouisBlues is the third teenager in NHL history to record two points in a #Game7.
The others:
Dan Quinn in 1984 DF (0-2—2 w/ CGY)
Trevor Linden in 1989 DSF (1-1—2 w/ VAN)#NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ILJR0hQVZA— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 8, 2019
The Blues defense stood out the most in this year’s playoffs. They are lead by captain Alex Pietrangelo, who scored 11 points in 13 games and averages 25:51 total ice-times in the playoffs. He will be paired with Joel Edmundson, while Colton Parayko will be paired with veteran Jay Bouwmeester.
Berube style of play made the Blues a strong playoff team. Having a tight, strong forecheck helped the Blues turn the puck over and regain possession. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns has trouble against the forecheck. Berube approach to a disciplined defensive game can provide a good balance against the Sharks strong attack.
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Craig Berube took over the Blues head coaching position on an interim basis. It’s safe to say he will be back next season, writes @Zeisberger.https://t.co/qpWwqRZZLX
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) May 11, 2019
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