ST. LOUIS -– The Sharks and Blues both had the right to feel confident about their games headed into Sunday’s Western Conference Final opener, as they were each coming off of dominant Game 7 performances in the previous round.
The Blues are the only ones still feeling good, though, beating the Sharks at Scottrade Center, 2-1, to take the early series lead in the best-of-seven. Game 2 is on Tuesday.
Jori Lehtera’s marker in the middle of the second period was the difference, and was a preventable goal on a number of fronts.
Brent Burns turned the puck over to the Blues center in the neutral zone, and then backed off of Lehtera, who charged into the zone.