Game 1: STL vs SJS – Sharks Draw First Blood

It took 84 minutes but the Sharks were able to overcome the Blues to grab a 1-0 series lead in round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs. One overtime wasn’t enough but Marty Havlat would make sure two was. A weak clearing attempt by Shattenkirk allowed Clowe to keep the puck in and feed it to Havlat who one-timed a rocket past Jaroslav Halak to end the game.

Havlat also scored the first goal of the game, a power play goal in the second period that gave San Jose a 1-0 lead. Niemi was strong in net for the Sharks stopping all 20 shots he faced through the first two periods but less than a minute into the third period Patrick Berglund tied the game for the Blues. Berglund had great positioning in front of the Sharks net and deflected Shattenkirk’s shot past Niemi.

Berglund scored his second of the game on the power play just a few minutes later. The blues took control of the game for a while but they eventually slipped. With just four minutes left the Sharks fourth line tied the game at 2. It was Desjardins with the goal.

Regulation wasn’t enough time to decide the game, and neither was overtime, sending these teams to the first double overtime of the 2012 playoffs. Blues had 14 shots on Niemi during the first overtime but didn’t get any during second, as Sharks took control. Finally, Havlat fired in his second of the night to give San Jose the win, and series lead.

Game 2 of the series is Staurday night at 7:30.