San Jose has not allowed a goal since the second period of Game 1 as their defense has smothered the Blues attack.
The San Jose Sharks have been known throughout the years as a high-skilled, offensive team and that is certainly still the case in these playoffs. However, team teal is a drastically different group in their own end of the ice as their defense has fueled San Jose to a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Blues in this Western Conference Final series.
For the first time in franchise history, the Sharks have posted back-to-back shutouts and for the first time in their own history, the Blues have been shut out in consecutive postseason contests.
San Jose has done a tremendous job of limiting Grade-A chances against as the Sharks blue liners are getting back to pucks and transitioning out of their own zone. Also, the boys at the back are being much more aggressive in stepping up into the neutral zone and standing up at their own blue line.
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Whenever they do get hemmed in defensively, team teal has kept the Blues attack to the perimeter and haven’t allowed this big St. Louis team to make their presence felt in front of Martin Jones.
Speaking of Jones, he’s been fantastic ever since allowing the game-winning goal to Jori Lehtera in Game 1 as he’s shown the kind of response that makes hime a true number one goaltender in this league.
In fact, Jones has not allowed a goal since the second period of Game 1 as he’s currently working on a shutout streak of 150: 45.
Martin Jones is the first goaltender in @SanJoseSharks history to register consecutive shutouts in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/UiMvROrwYB
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 20, 2016
While Jones has been calm, cool and collected between the pipes, the boys in front of him have done a great job of making his life easy.
Jones hasn’t had to battle traffic in front of his crease often and he’s been able to get a clear view on many of the Blues shots.
The shutdown pairing of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun has done just that as they’ve held St. Louis sniper Vladimir Tarasenko in check through the first three games. Tarasenko has zero points and is a minus-one, only able to muster two shots on goal in Game 3.
While Brent Burns takes a lot of the headlines, and for good reason, on the Sharks blue line, the under the radar pairing of Roman Polak and Brenden Dillon is playing some very good hockey as well. Polak was great in Game 3 with a team-high six hits and six blocked shots as well.
Also, you can’t forget about the work of Paul Martin who allows Burns to do his thing on the offensive end of the ice.
Nothin epitomized the defensive brilliance of San Jose in this game as the Blues pulled their goaltender for an extra-attacker with more than five minutes remaining. Despite that fact, team teal kept St. Louis to the outside and allowed the Blues to register maybe one shot on goal over that span.
Next: Sharks Blank Blues For Second-Straight Game
It should come as now surprise the Sharks have played as well as they have to this point in the Western Conference Final as this is likely the deepest blue line they’ve ever assembled.
Right now, they’re putting on a defensive clinic, including the forwards, as they are clearly frustrating this Blues team that is used to dictating the play. San Jose has now held St. Louis scoreless for the past seven-plus periods in this series and will look to continue that stifling defensive pressure in Game 4 on Saturday night.