• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
St Louis Blues

Perron Assists, Elliott’s Glove Leads Blues to Game 4 Triumph, 2-1

By Walter McLaughlin April 20th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

David Perron

David Perron knows all about expectations.

Drafted 26th overall in an admittedly sub-par 2007 draft class, he nevertheless made the Blues straight out of the Juniors, scoring 13 goals and 27 points in 62 games. In the 2008-09 season, he cracked the 50 point plateau, notching 35 assists in the process and becoming noteworthy for his playmaking skills. He has since reached 20 goals twice, including a career-high 21 this past season in just 57 games. However, his ability to stay on the ice has slowed his development, as concussions have cost 97 games over the past two years.

Healthy again, the Blues expect Perron’s grit, two-way abilities and playmaking skills to play major roles in their series against the Sharks. Thursday night at the HP Pavilion, they did.

Patrik Berglund

Brei Bird Photography

Perron’s crisp lateral pass to Patrik Berglund led to a B.J. Crombeen blast from the slot at 7:12 of the first period to open the scoring for St. Louis, and his slick wrister that handcuffed Antti Niemi ultimately led to a bizarre off-the-back rebound subsequently tapped in by Andy McDonald for the 2-0 edge. Despite a late Joe Thornton goal, the Blues hung on for the 2-1 victory, taking a 3-1 game advantage as the series heads back St. Louis.

“We’re growing up quick here, but this team is making us do it, too,” coach Ken Hitchcock observed, speaking of both his team and the Sharks. “I don’t think there’s one guy in that room that thinks we’ve got anything except three wins. You can just see the mood in the locker room. You get grounded real quick because you know that this series could be 3-1 the other way. But I like the fact that we hung in here in this building, hung in real hard.”

The Sharks, by many measures, outplayed St. Louis in this game. They outshot the Blues 25-24 and seemed to have the edge in scoring chances. They also played more physically, outhitting St. Louis 28-19. San Jose coach Todd McLellan agreed: “I thought it was probably our best 60-minute effort in the series, but you can’t take consolation in having a good game. Not in the playoffs. You have to find ways to win.”

Brian Elliott Blues

(Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE)

Brian Elliott, once again, was a major reason for the St. Louis win. He turned aside 24 of 25 shots, including two highlight-reel saves — one a huge stop on a Logan Couture breakaway — in the second period alone. Since taking over for the injured Jaroslov Halak in game one, Elliott has posted a 1.51 G.A.A. and .944 save percentage, stopping 67 of 71 shots. “Our goaltending has been fantastic all year,” St. Louis forward B.J. Crombeen said. “It’s kind of our team defense. Our whole mentality is defense first and checking leads to offense. It’s something that Hitch really brought on board when he came here and it’s something we’ve had success with.” Indeed, not only did Elliott set the modern-day record for lowest goals against average in a season (1.56), but he and Halak (1.97) easily won the Williams Jennings trophy for the fewest goals allowed by a goaltending tandem in the NHL this year.

Much as in game three, the Sharks scored late to make a game of it. With the clock ticking down and Niemi on the bench, Brent Burns drove the puck into the Blues’ zone. Logan Couture dug it out of the corner, slid it to a wide open Joe Thornton, who wound up and slapped the puck home, cutting the lead to 2-1. However, with only 1:07 left in the game, the Sharks were unable to score the equalizer. With the win, the Blues swept both games at the HP Pavilion and assumed firm control of the series.

(Icon SMI)

“I would have never thought that in a million years,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “This has been such a graveyard for most teams in the playoffs. We’re learning a lot.” Joe Thornton, as to be expected, was more wistful: “We’ve put ourselves in a corner and now we have to fight our way out. “We had good looks again tonight and just snaked it for whatever reason.”

Only twenty times in NHL history has a team come back from being down 3-1 in a series. The Sharks now join the Canucks, Blackhawks, Penguins, and Red Wings in attempting that Herculean effort. Regarding his team’s luck in the series so far, Thornton commented, “We had some good looks tonight. We’re just snake-bitten, for whatever reason.”

He paused, and then said, “Now we’re behind the 8-ball.”

Game five is slated for Saturday night at The Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

  • Tags
  • Andy McDonald
  • Antti Niemi
  • B.J. Crombeen
  • Brent Burns
  • Brian Elliott
  • David Perron
  • HP Pavilion
  • Jaroslav Halak
  • Joe Thornton
  • Ken Hitchcock
  • Patrik Berglund
  • Scottrade Center
  • Todd McLellan
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 11:25 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Caufield, Dobes, Power & More

Jan 22nd 11:15 AM
Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars Road Schedule Ravaged By COVID-19

Jan 22nd 10:55 AM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Riley vs. Riley, Family Members Faceoff Behind the Bench

Jan 22nd 10:45 AM
Nashville Predators

Predators: 3 Early Observations From the Young Season

Jan 22nd 10:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Capitals’ Backstrom Is Most Underrated Player in the NHL

Jan 22nd 10:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Kings Turn Tables On Avalanche For 4-2 Win

Jan 22nd 10:15 AM
Dallas Stars

3 Focuses for the Dallas Stars on Opening Night

Jan 22nd 10:05 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Top Devils as Mat Barzal Continues to Grow

Jan 22nd 9:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Will Never Replace Joe Thornton in the Locker Room

Jan 22nd 9:45 AM
Chicago Blackhawks

4 Takeaways From Blackhawks’ Series With the Panthers

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information