Okay, now you can make that three straight games that the St. Louis Blues have looked overmatched by the San Jose Sharks.
NHL playoff scores 2016: Sharks making the Western Conference Final look lopsided
The Blues are at a loss, literally.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Aside from their win in Game 1 (which still looked shaky at times), the Blues have gone from Game 7 conquerors of the Central Division to lifeless hockey husks getting beaten at their own game. San Jose cruised to a 3-0 win in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday, giving them a 2-1 series lead that seems more commanding than it is.
Where the Dallas Stars had speed and skill but no size to match St. Louis' tendency to battle along the boards and in neutral ice, the Sharks have the whole package. For the second straight game, the Sharks' strong forecheck forced the Blues into mistakes they usually don't make. They chased Brian Elliott from his net. St. Louis made changes to specifically avoid the Sharks' power play in Game 3, and San Jose beat them without it anyway.
The Blues look as lost and feckless as we've seen them in months, which is a tremendous testament to the parity the Sharks have installed in this series.
Scores
Sharks 3, Blues 0 (SJ leads series, 2-1)
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3 things we learned
1. Ken Hitchcock's changes had minimal impacts
After a lackluster Game 2, the Blues coach decided to shake up his lineup a bit. Scottie Upshall, Steve Ott and Joel Edmunson got demoted to the press box while Dmitrij Jaskin, Magnus Paajarvi and Robert Bortuzzo came in. I'll give them this: the three of them led the Blues in Corsi For %. But it didn't amount to much, as the three amassed two shots on goal and remained invisible most of the night. But Steve Ott wasn't around to take dumb penalties, so there's that.
2. Troy Brouwer does not respect his stick
i think he’s frustrated pic.twitter.com/Xq7OzVCDaN
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 20, 2016
3. San Jose will kill you with turnovers
Two of the Sharks’ three goals came off forced turnovers at center ice or inside their own zone. They’re like the Stars in that sense; the second you give up possession, San Jose will dart back the other way in an instant. When Dallas’ forecheck was creating those plays in the second round, it gave the Blues fits. History is repeating itself in the conference final.
Impact Moment
Gaze upon the glory that is this Joe Thornton pass.
let’s admire that Thornton pass some more pic.twitter.com/zcgTFSIE9P
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 20, 2016
Tweets from Tony
Remember Tony, AKA @soloucity on Twitter, who fell in love with hockey during the Blues/Blackhawks Game 7? We're dedicating a section in our recaps to the gems of his Twitter account during the playoffs.
these goalies basically have one of those bomb squad suits on with a jersey on over it.
— Tony X. (@soIoucity) May 20, 2016
He's not wrong. Have you seen how skinny Ryan Miller is? Dude is a toothpick. Throw goalie gear on him and he's bigger than two regular Ryan Millers.
Stat of the Night
Last night, the #Pens managed 78 all-situations Corsi. Tonight, the #SjSharks and #StlBlues had 93 AS Corsi...combined.
— Sean Tierney (@SeanTierneyTss) May 20, 2016
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