Blues at Sharks
The San Jose Sharks look to rebound from their first regulation loss in five games when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. San Jose saw its four-game point streak (3-0-1) come to an end Wednesday, when it dropped a 4-1 decision to the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday. Captain Joe Thornton netted the lone tally for the Sharks, who have scored fewer than three goals in each of their last 12 games and 16 of 17.
St. Louis is coming off a 6-3 triumph over the Coyotes in Phoenix on Thursday. The Blues improved to 1-2-0 on their five-game road trip, which concludes Sunday in Anaheim. Chris Stewart matched a career high with four points, Patrik Berglund scored a pair of goals and David Perron registered three assists as St. Louis matched its biggest offensive output of the season. San Jose posted a 2-1 victory in St. Louis on Feb. 19, ending its seven-game winless streak.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE BLUES (12-9-2): St. Louis entered Friday ranked second in the league on the power play at 26.7 percent despite having gone 1-for-22 over its last nine games. Stewart recorded a goal and set up three others Thursday, although he originally was credited with only two assists. It marked the second time in his career he's notched four points in a game. Stewart also accomplished the feat on March 6, 2010 against St. Louis while a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (11-7-4): San Jose's offense has struggled mightily in the third period as the club has been outscored 21-12 in the session this season. The Sharks have tallied four times in the third while allowing 15 goals in the third in their 11 losses. Coach Todd McLellan enters Saturday tied with Ron Wilson for first place on the franchise list with 206 victories. Thornton's goal on Wednesday was his 1,101st career point. He is two behind Frank Mahovlich for 55th place on the all-time list.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose has allowed a short-handed goal in each of its last three games.
2. Including the playoffs, the Blues have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Sharks and four straight in San Jose.
3. St. Louis is 2-4-1 in its last seven meetings with Pacific Division teams.
PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Blues 2