St. Louis Blues' Andy McDonald (10) scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi (31) in the second period for Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup first round playoff series at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, April 16, 2012. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff)
The story of the Sharks-Blues playoff series hasn't been complex. The Blues have played well on special teams, and the Sharks have not. And that explains why St. Louis holds a 3-1 series lead heading into Saturday's Game 5.
"We've scored on our power-play chances and they haven't," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "That's the No. 1 difference in the series."
The Blues have converted on six of their 16 power plays, while the Sharks are just 2 for 15 when they have the man-advantage.
"Five-on-five play has been pretty even," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "It's been fairly uneventful. Not much has been much going on. So the power-play opportunities that we get have to go in, and our penalty kill has to get better. We have to close that ratio."
Blues forward Andy McDonald has been the spark plug for the Blues power play. McDonald has three goals and four assists so far -- with points on all six of the St. Louis power-play goals.
"The biggest thing that Andy has going for him is that his confidence allows other guys to feel good," Hitchcock said. "His play has been really good, but he's making other guys feel good. Other guys have had nervous moments. But when he's on the ice, it seems to calm everyone down."
- Hitchcock claimed to be stunned after Thursday's 2-1 victory gave the Blues a two-game sweep at HP Pavilion.
"Not a chance," Hitchcock said when asked if he had believed the Blues could win both. "I never
would have thought that in a million years. This has been such a graveyard for most teams in the playoffs."But those victories are part of a leaguewide trend. There has been a huge home-ice disadvantage. Heading into Friday's game, the road teams had gone a remarkable 21-11 in the first week of the postseason. That ought to give the Sharks some small comfort playing Game 5 in St. Louis.
"I still think home ice is an advantage, although the stats are proving that it's not," defenseman Dan Boyle said. "We've got to go over there and win two games. But it starts with winning this one, and we'll go from there. But teams are doing it on the road."
McLellan said the Sharks should have confidence based simply on their double-overtime victory at Scottrade Center in Game 1.
"We won in that building, which not a lot of teams have done," he said. "So the belief that we can do it should exist."
This will mark the third consecutive year that the road teams have won more games in the first round of the playoffs.
- McLellan said he was pleased with the play of Michal Handzus and Brad Winchester -- his two insertions into the lineup for Game 4. But he wasn't tipping his hand Friday about if he would go with them again in Game 5 or if he intended to make other changes.
"We have 24 hours to make some decisions on what to do," he said.
Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.
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