Halak hurt, Elliott finishes job

ST. LOUIS— Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak formed the NHL’S best goalie tandem during the regular season. The Blues needed them both to even their series with San Jose. Elliott and Halak combined for a shutout, the Sharks put themselves in an early hole when MarcEdouard Vlasic tapped the puck into his own net, and St. Louis tied the first-round series 1-1 with a 3-0 victory Saturday night. Elliott made the final 17 saves after Halak left with an undisclosed lower-body injury in the second period. “The adrenaline kind of takes over, you forget about your body and just go out there and play,” Elliott said. Vladimir Sobotka was credited with a goal on the first shot of the game after Vlasic’s gaffe. David Backes and Andy Mcdonald also scored, and T.J. Oshie had two assists in the Blues’ first playoff win since April 12, 2004 against the Sharks.

Coach Ken Hitchcock was just as proud that his team held its own in a game that turned feisty at the finish. Blues defenceman Roman Polak and Sharks defenceman Justin Braun tangled and the ice was littered with gloves and sticks.

“Teams like San Jose, Detroit, Chicago, they play right through you, and if you don’t push back you get pushed out the back door,” Hitchcock said. The Blues announced midway through the second period that Halak was expected to return, but he never made it back to the bench.

Hitchcock said Halak would be on the team flight to San Jose.