The Sharks are back. Having been dominated the previous game, and being down a goal going into the second half of the game, the Sharks decided not to choke, and pulled away from the Blues through a series of great defensive plays, great saves, and great (and empty net) goals. The Sharks played their best game for half the game, the Blues did too. The Sharks game is just 4-0 better than the Blues.

The Sharks did not play their best game for the first half. The Blues were able to capitalize for three goals. The Sharks made mistakes on defense in not controlling rebounds, and Martin Jones missed what should have been a surefire save, and the Blues were able to capitalize offensively. Everything clicked for the Blues for the first couple periods, and while Jake Allen should have caught the first goal from Vlasic, the second there was nothing he could do, with the defense unable to clear Joel Ward from the paint.

The Blues truly did play well, and they played athletically, and they played with awareness, and then they lost all of it. The Sharks simply outmuscled and outwanted the Blues in the second half of last night’s game, and the Blues paid for it, and could continue to do so.

This should be a lesson to the Blues that one half of a game does not and will not cut it from here on out, if the Blues are able to comeback in this series. They need to play full games like they did in the 6-3 game three days ago, and if they are unable to do so they will be brought out to the backside of the barn and Blues fans won’t have to stress about the Stanley Cup. They need to learn to finish, and that’s what cost them the game last night.

The Sharks play seems to be linked to the play of their defense. When the defense is on, the Sharks are usually a bruising, crushing force of nature, but when the defense is off, unable to help Jones control rebounds or clear the paint or slow down attackers, the Sharks offense is also unable to get going. Jones made a ton of memorable saves last night, so it’s not 100% on him not being able to control rebounds. The defense didn’t start making great plays until the second half and that’s why the Sharks won the game in that half.

If Brett Burns, Marc Eduard Vlasic and Paul Martin are able to get this Sharks team going for a full game again, no matter who comes out of the East they better worry. Even a Stamkos led Lightning can’t deal with a tight, forceful, sound Sharks team, not with the depth the Sharks have, not with Martin Jones being confident in his team and able to stand on his head.

We’ll see next game if my prediction was accurate, but I’m feeling good.