The St. Louis Blues scored three times on the power play, got 26 saves from goalie Brian Elliott and withstood a late rally from the San Jose Sharks to score a 4-3 win Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference Quarter-Final series.
Blues winger Andy McDonald broke a 1-1 tie 1:01 into the second period when he put a deflected point shot from defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo into an empty net. On the power play 10 minutes later, McDonald would feed center Jason Arnott, whose one-timer beat Sharks goalie Antti Niemi to give the Blues a 3-1 lead entering the third period.
Forward Alexander Steen scored the Blues' third power play goal of the night when he beat Niemi on a slap shot from the point to extend the Blues' lead to 4-1 less than a minute into the third period.
San Jose would inch back when defenseman Colin White beat Elliott on a slap shot from the slot with 3:02 to play. Center Logan Couture beat Elliott with a wrist shot with 17 seconds remaining but, even with the extra skater, the Sharks were unable to put another puck on net.
McDonald and Colaiacovo lead the Blues with three points apiece, while Steen and center Patrik Berglund and Jason Arnott each had a goal and an assist. Captain Joe Thornton (3 assists) and Couture (1 goal, 1 assist) had multi-point games for the Sharks.
Game 4 is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night in San Jose.
For more on the Blues, visit St. Louis Game Time and SB Nation St. Louis. For more on the Sharks, head to Fear The Fin and SB Nation Bay Area.
