What proved to be the game-winning goal – his fourth career playoff game-winner – came when Logan Couture shot him a flawless pass from the right of Elliott that went straight to Ward’s stick and past the helpless netminder.
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In the second round the Blues battled the Dallas Stars, who finished the season with the most points in the Western Conference (109). Yes the Blues killed off the penalties, but it still leaves it hard for a team to really get anything going after two back-to-back penalties.
Talking to NBC Sports after Game 6, Thornton was asked if he had a preference of opponents in the Final – a question reporters love to ask, and players love to avoid. They set a great example for all of us on how we are on and off the ice.
Even in this Cardinals-enriched baseball region, the Blues put early-season baseball on the back-burner while hockey took center stage. “We’ve waited 18 years, or so”, said Thornton, who played in his 150th career playoff game. None of these elder statesmen have much time left in a young man’s game, which makes the emotional investment in one of these runs so dear.
San Jose moves onto to their first ever Stanley Cup appearance, and for some players like Joe Thornton, who has appeared in 1,367 regular season games, and Patrick Marleau, who has appeared in 1,411 regular season games, are making their first ever Stanley Cup appearance.
Power-play opportunities_St. Louis 0 of 1; San Jose 0 of 3.
Contrary to what the narrative may have you believe, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau showed up when it mattered most last night, just as they always have. No doubt about that.
That said, this team went to the Western Conference Finals. The Blue Note were just 4-6 on home ice at the Scottrade Center in the playoffs. If there was ever a year where the Blues had a chance, this was it.
Something about the guys who have been around the block more than once, and at long last get a shot at their childhood dreams, gets me every time. San Jose RW Joe Pavelski has a seven-game point streak (five goals, five assists).
Remember this – there are no guarantees.
But for Crosby, lifting Pittsburgh back to the Cup final for the first time since 2009, does not rest exclusively on his shoulders.
“The stop is pretty sudden”, Backes said, before telling a story that he could barely relay, overcome by emotions. “I just want to try to help them achieve the big goal”.
All these factors helped the Sharks get over this hurdle organizational hurdle.
Well, the Sharks voluntarily left that cursed group and are now heading to the 2016 Cup Finals where they’ll face either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 on Monday.
Pavelski, anointed captain in the offseason in Thornton’s stead, has scored more goals than any player this postseason.
Different, and better. And Wednesday’s game reflected how. Jones has been steady, if not flashy, for the Sharks throughout the postseason. There were the 2010 playoffs when the Sharks made quick work of the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings only to get swept in the Conference Finals by the Chicago Blackhawks. Upshall, a healthy scratch since Paajarvi returned, had one goal and three points during St. Louis’ first 16 playoff games. There also were glaring defensive mistakes and lack of attention to detail that kept cropping up against San Jose. One day, we may have those answers.
While it got a little close for comfort in the waning minutes, team teal didn’t panic.
Veteran forwards Troy Brouwer, Kyle Brodziak and Scottie Upshall are also unrestricted free agents. Thornton is one of the NHL’s best passers and both Pavelski and Hertl are lethal in-and-around the net.
My final analysis is the franchise took a step forward this year, jettisoning some of the ghosts of first-round playoff exits past. Hockey’s a team game, and the team hadn’t been good enough. The team that’s scored first is 5-1 and there’s only been a single lead change in 18-plus periods spread out over almost two weeks: Tyler Johnson’s deflection in overtime that gave Tampa Bay Game 5.
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(Norm Sanders has covered the Blues for the News-Democrat since 1995).
