When the St. Louis Blues took on the San Jose Sharks, it was about what you would expect. You saw two teams play a tightly contested affair, while also seeing two teams that are not currently in a playoff spot, and showcasing why they are where they are in the standings.
That's not to say the game didn't have a bit of entertainment, but it wasn't exactly the Colorado Avalanche against the Dallas Stars. As has been an epidemic across the NHL, neither team had double-digit shots in the first period, although the Sharks came close by outshooting the Blues 9-6.
It seemed like the officials set a poor early standard with their penalty calls. There was a seemingly phantom hook called on Philip Broberg, and then a bit of a makeup call on the Sharks after that.
Nevertheless, neither team got anything done in the first period. The second was at least a little more eventful.
Things got feisty early as there was a fight about three minutes in. San Jose picked up an instigator penalty there, but the Blues' power play couldn't score despite some good zone time.
The officials continued to make odd decisions roughly midway through. Nathan Walker got shoved into the Sharks' goaltender by one of their players, which injured the goalie. Somehow, the refs decided the jersey tug and following swat equalled roughing penalties on both teams.
But the temperature had been turned up. St. Louis started getting more pucks to the net with the goaltender switch, too.
The game's first odd-man rush came with about seven minutes left in the second period, although it went the Sharks' way. The Blues didn't even face a shot due to a great stick from Philip Broberg, who got a shaft on the saucer pass.
Finally, the Blues offense broke through with less than three minutes left. After fanning on a bouncing puck, Dylan Holloway just let the puck drift into the slot. Dalibor Dvorsky swatted it off the defender's shin and in for a 1-0 lead.
The Sharks started pressuring in the third period. Even though they only had two shots in the first four minutes, it still felt like they had the momentum, and Joel Hofer was bailing the Blues out with some good saves on deflections.
Then, San Jose tied the game just over five minutes in. San Jose had just hit the post, which led to a Blues rush the other way. St. Louis couldn't get a shot off after the puck rolled over a couple of sticks, and then the Sharks hit the man on the right wing behind the defense and the lefty shot to the blocker side to make it 1-1.
The goal ended what was approaching close to three hours of shutout hockey for Hofer. Still, he kept the game tied while the Blues got themselves re-acclimated offensively.
The Blues just missed on a rush by Jonaten Berggren with seven left. That led to a rush the other way, and Macklin Celebrini was stopped by the right pad of Hofer.
Things got very loose for both teams. Pucks were bouncing wildly, and everyone just kept whacking at it like they were playing baseball, which led to nervy moments since any certain bounce could have led to a breakaway, but didn't.
The refs decided to swallow the whistles late. With about 2:12 left, the Blues should have been on the power play as Theo Lindstein got crosschecked in the back at the offensive blue line. However, the game went to overtime.
St. Louis should have had another power play in OT as Broberg got tripped, but another no-call. Then the Blues overpassed the puck with under three to go, but got no shot from it.
Despite having at least 80% of the possession, the Blues didn't get their first OT shot until 1:10 to go. The Sharks nearly won it with about 20 seconds left, but shot the puck high from the high slot. Then, with a shootout looming, Holloway managed to catch up to the puck before the goal line, drive the goal, and somehow scoop the puck over the shoulder from an impossible angle for a 2-1 win.
Pro: Holloway
Sometimes it's ok to be lucky. Sometimes you're just that good.
Holloway was both in this game. The Blues needed both.
Holloway's assist was more of a mistake than anything. He fully intended to send a backhand shot towards the goal, but the puck went over his blade and drifted into the slot. It worked out for the best as he picked up an assist on the play.
Meanwhile, the goal was a thing of beauty. Credit goes to Broberg for tossing the puck down the ice to set it up, but this was one of the better finishes you'll see.
Just to catch up to the puck and have the calmness to make the move with defense coming at him was impressive. But the ability to scoop the puck over the goalie and get it on net instead of over the bar was something to behold.
Con: Hit or miss offense
If not for Hofer, the Blues probably don't win this game. It's not like the Sharks were overwhelming them, but the Blues' offense just disappeared for long stretches.
It wasn't as though they were defending a ton. They had the puck, which is something that was especially true in the overtime period.
However, they either just didn't shoot, shot wide or over passed and ran out of time/room.
You could almost accept the first period as you're getting your feet wet and figuring out the rhythm of the game. The Blues did get 11 shots in the second and also scored a goal.
Then, in the third, with the game on the line and a cold goalie in there, they managed four shots on goal. They only had two shots in OT, one of which came with just over a minute left, and the final one was the goal scored with three seconds left.
Pro: Top defensive pair
I don't have a good answer as to why they're good together or why they've been so much better than earlier in the season, but Logan Mailloux and Broberg are clicking like they've been together for years. Let's hope this can continue.
That duo was a big reason why Celebrini didn't really have any good chances in this game. Their stick work and positioning were key in shutting down a Sharks offense that has the potential to open the floodgates.
The amount of rush plays or potential odd-man breakouts that were shut down by a great stick play by either Mailloux or Broberg was great to see. They're stepping up at big times, which is what you need from your top defensive pair.
Overview:
Like many of the Blues games of late, this was an interesting mish-mash. The first half of the game was a showcase of two teams that have no business making the playoffs, but playing in a manner that showed they know they're still in the race.
It was tight, it was playing not to make a mistake, and there wasn't a bunch of chances taken by either team. That changed down the stretch.
Both teams almost threw caution to the wind. Even though the Blues weren't hitting the net, they were at least looking creative and playing more on the front foot than earlier this season.
I still claim NHL overtime is a farce. I always will, but even I can't deny that this was entertaining.
St. Louis managed to play up tempo, but smartly and got a just result based on the overall course of the game.