Sharks keeping their focus on Game 4 with Blues
San Jose leads a Western Conference finals series (2-1) for the first time in club history.
The Sharks can extend their advantage Saturday when they host the Blues in Game 4 before the best-of-seven series returns to St. Louis on Monday.
A Sharks’ victory at SAP Center would give them a franchise-record 11 wins in the postseason and put them on the brink of their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.
How does a team with a reputation as postseason underachiever keep from getting too far ahead of itself after coming off back-to-back shutout wins that suddenly have them in the discussion as potential Cup favorites?
San Jose boasts the top three scorers in the playoffs: center Logan Couture (20 points), defenseman Brent Burns (18) and right wing Joe Pavelski (17).
Special teams continue to excel as the Sharks’ power play is the best among the remaining four teams.
Since allowing a goal while shorthanded on St. Louis’ first power play in Game 1, the Sharks have killed all eight since.
Right wing Joonas Donskoi is second in rookie scoring (eight points) while leading in both goals (four) and shooting percentage (tied at 20 percent).
The Sharks have taken the home-ice advantage from St. Louis and have won six straight at home;
Remember, the Blues were 5-2 on the road this postseason before Thursday’s 3-0 loss in Game 3.
St. Louis had won a pivotal Game 5 in Dallas in the second round before returning to the Lone Star State to close out the Stars in Game 7.