San Jose Sharks want to relish underdog role in playoffs against St. Louis Blues - San Jose Mercury News

The Sharks will be hoping to turn back the clock to the spring of 2000 when they open the NHL playoffs against the St. Louis Blues.

That year, the Sharks upset the heavily favored, Presidents' Trophy-winning Blues in the first round. And the Sharks will be big underdogs again when this series begins, either on Wednesday or Thursday, in St. Louis.

Not only were the Blues (49-22-11) fighting for the NHL's best record on the last day of the season, but they also dominated the Sharks this season. One of the league's surprise teams, the Blues went 4-0 against San Jose. They also outscored the Sharks 11-3.

"We didn't play well against St. Louis this year," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "They've had our number. We're going in as the underdog, and we're going to have to relish that role."

The Sharks earned a berth against the second-seeded Blues by defeating the Los Angeles Kings in a 3-2 overtime game Saturday night to lock up the Western Conference's No. 7 seed. But they had no time to enjoy the moment or reflect on winning seven of their last nine games to ensure a playoff berth.

They already were thinking about the Blues.

"They're a very good team," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "They've proved it. They're the second-best team in the West. They're there for a reason. It's not a mistake. It's going to be a good test for us."

The Sharks, like most teams this season, were worn down by the Blues' relentless checking

game. They excel at chasing the puck all around the ice. And their rock-solid defense is anchored by the outstanding goaltending tandem of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott.

As a team, the Blues led the NHL in defense, giving up just 1.89 goals a game.

"They're one of the best forechecking teams in the entire league, if not the best," Sharks forward Logan Couture said. "They're stingy defensively and have two great goalies. They play so well in their building. So it's going to be a real challenge for us."

What the Sharks do have is a battle-tested team that has been to the last two Western Conference Finals. That experience, Thornton said, outweighs how the Sharks were manhandled by the Blues during the regular season.

"I think those four games are irrelevant," Thornton said. "They just don't matter. It doesn't matter how many goals you had or how many points your team scored. Everything gets thrown out going into the postseason."

Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.