St. Louis Blues Patrik Berglund of Sweden (21) celebrates his third period goal with teammates against the San Jose Sharks at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 8, 2015. St. Louis defeated San Jose 7-2. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
The “STL Line” of Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko andJori Lehtera combined for seven points in a 7-2 win against the San Jose Sharks at Scottrade Center on Thursday. The Blues also defeated the Sharks 7-2 on Jan. 3. St. Louis’ No. 1 line of Alexander Steen, David Backes and T.J. Oshie combined for six points and has 35 points in its past seven games. Lehtera, Steen, Oshie, Backes and Paul Stastny each had a goal and an assist. Schwartz had three assists, and Tarasenko two.
Steen scored his 11th goal, extending his point streak to five games go give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Jay Bouwmeester’s first goal in 22 games gave the Blues a 2-0 lead, but the Sharks got back in the game when Logan Couture converted a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush, beating Blues goalie Brian Elliott with 1:33 remaining in the first. Paul Stastny’s ninth goal put St. Louis back ahead by two with 54 seconds left in the first. It was Stastny’s ninth point in seven games, and the Blues’ second power-play goal on three tries in the opening period. The Blues have the best power play in the NHL.
The Sharks again cut the Blues lead to one when Melker Karlsson scored 29 seconds into the second period. Karlsson batted in a rebound after Couture’s shot bounced off Elliott’s glove. Lehtera and Oshie each scored to give the Blues a 5-2 lead after two periods. Sharks goalie Antti Niemi was pulled after giving up five goals on 21 shots.