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W2W4: San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, Game 1
- Updated: May 15, 2016
3:47 PM ET
ST. LOUIS — After a few days of waiting, the Western Conference final kicks off between two franchises, the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks, that are each enjoying a playoff breakthrough. Here’s what to watch for in Game 1 of the Western Conference final, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.
• This series may hinge on how successful the Sharks’ power play is against a good Blues penalty kill. The Blues’ penalty kill had more success in round two against Dallas than it did in the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks, and that trend needs to continue for St. Louis to get off to a strong start in this series.
The Sharks have the best power play of any team remaining in the postseason; they’re clicking at a rate of 30.9 percent. Joe Thornton has been a force this postseason whenever he sets up on halfwall — as he has been for most of his career from that spot. The key, says Blues penalty killer Kyle Brodziak, is to prevent the Sharks from getting to that point.
“Faceoffs are going to be a big emphasis for us. We’re going to want the first opportunity to get the clear,” Brodziak said on Sunday. “[San Jose is] a team that finds ways to spend a lot of time in the zone.”
A big reason for that is Thornton’s patience and vision. There may not be a more patient player in the league when the puck is on his stick.
“When …
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