Blues Vs. Sharks, Game 1: San Jose Wins It In Double-Overtime, 3-2

Blues Vs. Sharks, Game 1: Methodical Approach Serves San Jose in Win

Game 1 between the Sharks and Blues wasn't so much an intense playoff battle as it was a methodical chess match.

Blues Vs. Sharks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1 Final Score: Martin Havlat Gives Sharks 3-2 Win, 1-0 Lead

The San Jose Sharks continued the trend of Western Conference teams being inhospitable to their hosts in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Thursday. And Martin Havlat made sure the St. Louis Blues didn't have long to wait for their 1-0 deficit with a quick goal in the second overtime.

Havlat took a pass from Ryane Clowe and powered a shot past Jaroslav Halak just 3:34 into the second overtime to give the Sharks a 3-2 win in the first game of No. 7 San Jose's best-of-seven series with No. 2 St. Louis.

The goal was Havlat's second on the night and produced Clowe's second assist. San Jose's Antti Niemi had 40 saves in the Sharks' win.

Game 2 of the series will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in St. Louis.

For all news and information regarding the St. Louis Blues, please visit St. Louis Game Time. For updates and perspective on the San Jose Sharks, head on over to Fear the Fin. For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Blues Vs. Sharks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1: Headed To Double Overtime

San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi stopped 12 shots from the St. Louis Blues to force a second overtime period in Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series.

Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak played a role in extending the game to a second overtime, stopping eight shots from the Sharks, including a tip-in attempt by center Torrey Mitchell that spun the netminder around as the puck sat unattended in front of the crease before it was cleared from harm's way.

The Blues hold a 40-31 edge in the shots department and have won 44-of-84 face-offs. St. Louis is also out-hitting the Sharks (30-to-25) and have blocked 19 shots to the Sharks' 17.

Sharks center Andrew Desjardins' goal with 5:16 remaining in the third period helped the Sharks force overtime after the Blues had erased a one-goal deficit to take a 2-1 lead 7:28 into the third. Patrik Berglund got the Blues on the scoreboard after he tipped a Kevin Shattenkirk shot over the shoulder of Niemi 54 seconds into the period, and added a power play goal to give the Blues a 2-1 lead at the 7:28 mark after Martin Havlat had been sent off for tripping.

Havlat opened the scoring in the game, and the series, with a power play goal, tipping a Dan Boyle wrist shot past Halak six minutes into the second period.

Through 80 minutes of play, Boyle leads all skaters with 33:03 of ice time. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (30:14) and Blues defensemen Shattenkirk (31:18), Alex Pietrangelo (31:58) and Barret Jackman (30:20) have also logged over 30 minutes of ice time tonight.

For all news and information regarding the St. Louis Blues, please visit St. Louis Game Time. For updates and perspective on the San Jose Sharks, head on over to Fear the Fin. For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Blues Vs. Sharks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1: Andrew Desjardins Forces Overtime

Center Andrew Desjardins' goal with 5:16 remaining in the third period helped the No. 7 San Jose Sharks force overtime in Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the No. 2-seeded St. Louis Blues.

The Blues had erased a 1-0 San Jose lead, tying the game when Patrik Berglund tipped a Kevin Shattenkirk shot over the shoulder of Sharks goalie Antti Niemi 54 seconds into the third period. Berglund added a power play goal to give the Blues a 2-1 lead at the 7:28 mark after Martin Havlat was sent off for tripping.

Havlat opened the scoring in the game, and the series, with a power play goal, tipping a Dan Boyle wrist shot past Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak six minutes into the second period.

The Blues have out-shot the Sharks 28-to-23 in regulation and have a 25-to-23 edge in hits. The Sharks hold a 29-to-28 edge in the face-off circle.

For all news and information regarding the St. Louis Blues, please visit St. Louis Game Time. For updates and perspective on the San Jose Sharks, head on over to Fear the Fin. For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Blues Vs. Sharks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1: Martin Havlat Gives Sharks 1-0 Lead Entering Third Period

Forward Martin Havlat's power play goal 6:02 into the second period has given the No. 7-seed San Jose Sharks a 1-0 lead over the No. 2 seed St. Louis Blues entering the third period of Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series.

A slashing penalty on David Perron gave the Sharks the man advantage and Havlat cashed in with 21 seconds remaining in the power play. Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe were credited with the assists.

After a penalty-free first period, each club had two power plays in the second. In addition to Perron's slashing minor, Blues center David Backes, Sharks left winger T.J. Galiardi and Sharks defenseman Jason Demers were sent off for interference minors. Neither team scored and the two sides will open the third period at even strength.

Sharks goalie Antti Niemi has been the difference, stopping all 20 of the shots he's faced through the first 40 minutes. The Sharks have just eight blocked shots, compared to the 12 that the Blues have blocked. Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak has matched his teammates with 12 saves on 13 shots on goal.

For all news and information regarding the St. Louis Blues, please visit St. Louis Game Time. For updates and perspective on the San Jose Sharks, head on over to Fear the Fin. For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Blues Vs. Sharks, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 1: Scoreless After First Period

The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues are scoreless after the first period of Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series.

With the two teams feeling one another out, it was a clean, tightly-contested twenty minutes, with the two teams combining for zero penalty minutes and just 11 shots at goaltenders Antti Niemi (seven saves) and Jaroslav Halak (four saves). The Blues held a 10-to-7 edge in the face-off circle in the first period.

As expected, Sharks defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic (8:31) and Dan Boyle (8:10) led their team in ice time in the first period. Defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk (8:12) and Barret Jackman (8:01) logged the most time for the Blues.

For all news and information regarding the St. Louis Blues, please visit St. Louis Game Time. For updates and perspective on the San Jose Sharks, head on over to Fear the Fin. For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Blues Vs. Sharks Game 1: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The St. Louis Blues had no problems with the San Jose Sharks during the regular season. The two teams will face off as their postseason series begins on Thursday.