Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron scored goals less than a minute apart in the third period, leading the St. Louis Blues to a series-clinching 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night at Scottrade Center.
The Blues advanced to the second round for the first time in 10 years, beating the Sharks in their first round series, four games to one.
San Jose brought a 1-0 lead into the third, courtesy of a late second period goal by Joe Thornton. It didn’t last.
First, Langenbrunner got tie equalizer at 11:16. Antti Niemi failed to control a weak shot by Scott Nichol, and Langenbrunner was there to knock it in.
The crowd was still rocking when Perron gave St. Louis it’s first lead of the game, deflecting an Alex Peitrangelo shot from high in the slot at 12:01.
The Sharks had a chance to tie it when Andy McDonald was called for a delay of game minor at 15:30. Patrick Marleau had the best look on a redirection from the slot, but Brian Elliott smothered it.
As the power play expired Joe Pavelski found himself alone with the puck at side of the net, but again, Elliott was there to stop it. Marleau and Pavelski, two of the Sharks’ leading scorers in the regular season, were held without a point for the entire series.
