Perron's tiebreaking goal lifts Blues past Sharks
ST. LOUIS -- A power-play goal by left winger David Perron broke a tie in the second period and sent the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 victory Thursday night over the San Jose Sharks.
It was the first meeting since the Sharks eliminated the Blues in the Western Conference final in six games last May.
The Sharks had not allowed a power-play goal in 11 consecutive games and had killed off 26 penalties in a row before Perron scored on a wrist shot at 15:56 of the second period while Sharks' left winger Mikkel Boedker was serving an interference penalty.
The Blues have scored on six of their last 10 power-play opportunities.
The win improved the Blues' record at home to 7-1-2 this season while the Sharks fell to 0-7 this year when allowing three or more goals. San Jose had allowed only four combined goals in their previous four games.
Left winger Jaden Schwartz scored the first two goals for the Blues, giving him five goals in his last six games and six for the season. His goal at 10:38 of the first period came after defenseman Alex Pietrangelo forced a turnover and tied the game at 1.
Schwartz scored an unassisted goal at 8:45 of the second period to put the Blues in front, but the lead lasted for only 19 seconds before Sharks' left winger Kevin Lablanc, playing his fifth game of the season, scored his first NHL goal.
The Sharks' first goal was scored by center Logan Couture at 6:16 of the first period, his first even-strength goal of the season and the first this year by a San Jose center. Two of Couture's three previous goals came on a power-play and one was into an empty net.
NOTES: RW Alexander Steen was out of the Blues lineup after having to leave Tuesday night's game because of an undisclosed injury when he was checked hard into the boards. ... The Blues activated D Robert Bortuzzo from injured reserve but he was a healthy scratch. ... Sharks C Melker Karlsson missed his second consecutive game (ankle injury) and was replaced in the lineup by RW Matt Nieto. ... Thursday night's game was the only one for the Sharks in St. Louis this season. ... The Sharks conclude their season-high six-game road trip on Saturday night in Arizona. ... The Blues will wrap up a three-game homestand Saturday night against Nashville.