Blades of Teal
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San Jose Sharks Seek Redemption In Pivotal Game 5

By Patrick Leiva

May 21, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) scores against St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) in the third period of game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Blues won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) scores against St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) in the third period of game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. The Blues won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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This series shifts back to St. Louis for tonight’s pivotal Game 5 matchup as each team looks to put the other on the brink of elimination.

The San Jose Sharks are ready to put their dismal Game 4 performance behind them. They’ll get that opportunity tonight as they head back to the Scottrade Center to take on the St. Louis Blues in this crucial Game 5 matchup in what is now a best-of-three series in these Western Conference finals.

San Jose has been a resilient group throughout this postseason run and have shown an uncanny ability to bounce back after a tough loss. Team teal is 4-1 during these playoffs following a loss and they will look to rediscover what made them so successful over the course of the first three contests.

Meanwhile, St. Louis returns home fresh off their best performance of this series, with a renewed confidence they can play their physical, bruising brand of hockey.

One area where the Blues have struggled though is on home ice where they sport a 4-5 record in these playoffs, and the Sharks will look to extend the misery of the St. Louis fans. It should be a fascinating night of hockey as neither team wants to go down 3-2 and face elimination on Wednesday night.

Players to Watch:

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Sharks: Logan Couture. San Jose needs Couture to crank up his play as his line has been held in check for the most part during the series. After setting a franchise record with 11 points against Nashville, Couture has been held to just three assists thus far, with only one coming at even strength. His 20 playoff points still leads the entire NHL, but the Sharks would certainly like him to add to his tally tonight.

Blues: David Backes. The St. Louis captain was only able to play more than five minutes in Game 4 due to an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the final two periods of play. It will be interesting to see if Backes will be able to go tonight as Ken Hitchcock mentioned that he would be a game-time decision. Backes is tied for the team-lead with seven goals in these playoffs and tied for second with 13 points. With Robby Fabbri’s status also in question, the Blues could be missing two of their top forwards for tonight’s tilt.

Keys to the Game

1. Special Teams

In such a close series, the special teams battle is always pivotal. San Jose can’t win this series if they lose the special teams matchup the way did in Game 4. The Sharks need their penalty-killers to be on top of their game, while their power play must kick into high gear after being held off the scoreboard in three of the four games thus far.

A return to form in Game 5 from both units could be just what the doctor ordered for team teal to prevail.

2. Limit Turnovers

It’s pretty evident when the Sharks are on the game as their passing is crisp and tape-to-tape. That was far from the case last game where San Jose did not manage the puck very well at all and St. Louis made them pay.

The Sharks need clean break outs from their own zone and build their speed through the neutral zone which has given this Blues team fits. Be smart with the puck and don’t give the home team anything easy with stupid giveaways.

Next: San Jose Sharks Weekly Recap

3. Match Their Intensity

To a man, team teal said St. Louis was the more desperate team on Saturday night. That can’t be the case again in one of the biggest games in franchise history. San Jose needs to be on their toes from the puck drop and be willing to outwork the Blues in all areas of the ice.

They will likely have to weather a storm at some point as the home crowd will have St. Louis raring to go. The Sharks need to stick to their game plan and bring it for the full 60 minutes, if not longer, to get the result they desire.

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