Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Two quick goals let Blues clinch
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues were 6-7 when Coach Ken Hitchcock came aboard. They’ve been among the NHL’S best since.
Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron scored in a 45second span in the third period, and the Blues woke up in time to put away the San Jose Sharks 3-1 and wrap up their NHL first-round playoff series Saturday night.
“It was a frustrating two periods, obviously we wanted to come out and jump to the lead. We had to push them out of the game,” Langenbrunner said. “We just stuck with it.”
Joe Thornton scored in the final minute of the second period for San Jose, and the Sharks were seemingly in control before the flurry that ended their season.
“We competed hard, we just came up on the short end of the stick this time,” Thornton said. “Hats off to the Blues. They played great, but it’s a terrible feeling right now.”
Brian Elliott made 26 saves, and Andy Mcdonald ended all doubt with an empty-net goal in the final minute. St. Louis, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, won a playoff series for the first time in a decade against a franchise that reached the conference finals the previous two years. Before this series, St. Louis hadn’t won a playoff game in eight years.
“The fans have been waiting a long time and have been very patient,” said defenseman Barret Jackman, the lone holdover from the last playoff team in 2004. “It’s nice to give them a little taste of what’s to come.”
The Blues seemed a step slow most of the way in front of a sellout crowd waving white rally towels before tying it with their checking line and getting the go-ahead goal from their top line. They were the first team to come from behind after two periods to win in the series.
“They are stifling,” San Jose Coach Todd Mclellan said. “They play such a good checking game, they give you absolutely nothing. When you have only four forwards that hit the score sheet in a five- game series, odds are you’re not winning.”
SENATORS 2, RANGERS 0
NEW YORK — Craig Anderson stopped 41 shots to make Jason Spezza’s first-period goal stand up, and Ottawa pushed top-seeded New York to the brink of elimination with a victory in Game 5.
The Senators, the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, have won two in a row and will have a chance to knock out the Rangers on Monday night in Ottawa. If New York can stay alive, the deciding Game 7 would be back at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
Spezza added insurance by scoring an empty-net goal with 55.3 seconds remaining, and Anderson was perfect in earning his second career NHL playoff shutout. He stood tall in the third period when the Rangers pressed for the tying goal. Since New York took a 2-0 lead in the first period of its 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4, Anderson has gone 116 minutes, 32 seconds without allowing a goal.
CAPITALS 4, BRUINS 3
BOSTON — Troy Brouwer scored on a power play with 1:27 left, giving Washington a victory and moving defending champion Boston a loss away from elimination.
Brouwer gave the Capitals a 3-2 series lead with his second goal of the playoffs, beating goalie Tim Thomas over the glove with a wrist shot from the right circle. It came with 37 seconds left on a slashing penalty against Benoit Pouliot.
The Bruins, who trailed 2-0 and 3-2, tied it at 8: 47 of the third period on Johnny Boychuk’s goal.