Sharks Eliminate Blues to Advance to their First Stanley Cup Finals

The San Jose Sharks got off to a 4-0 start and held off a late comeback attempt by the St. Louis Blues to win Game 6 of the NHL Western Conference Finals on May 25th. With the victory, San Jose won the series 4-2 and advanced to the first Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise’s 25 year history.

Continuing his excellent post season play, Sharks team Captain Joe Pavelski opened the scoring with a goal in the first period. It was his 13th goal of the post season. He also has nine assists. Joel Ward contributed a pair of goals. Vladamir Tarasenko scored two goals for St. Louis in the 3rd period, but the rally fell short. While it would be unfair to lay blame for the St. Louis exit on one player, Tarasenko, the Blues leading scorer during the regular season, was mysteriously missing in action in this series. The two goals were his only points in the entire series.

Pavelski, (in his 10th NHL season all with San Jose), Patrick Marleau (in his 18th season, also all with San Jose), and Joe Thornton (19 seasons, 11 with San Jose) all will be playing in their first finals despite having fine careers.

The Blues meanwhile, were looking to make it to the finals for the first time in 36 years, and it will now be at least 37 years. But they did advance to the conference finals for the first time since the 2000-01 season.