Blues erase early deficit, dump Sharks

[March 03, 2023]    Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko and Brayden Schenn had a goal and assist each to rally the visiting St. Louis Blues past the San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Thursday.

Logan Brown, Tyler Pitlick and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for the Blues, who erased a 2-0, first-period deficit to snap a six-game losing streak (0-4-2).

Mar 2, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Benning (5) and St. Louis Blues left wing Josh Leivo (17) battle in the slot during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Pavel Buchnevich had four assists, Nikita Alexandrov had two assists and Thomas Greiss made 22 saves for St. Louis.

Alexander Barabanov had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who lost for the seventh time in eight games (1-6-1).

Logan Couture and Steven Lorentz also scored and James Reimer made 17 saves for San Jose, which is an NHL-worst 6-17-8 at home this season.

The Sharks outshot the Blues 10-4 in the first period while moving ahead 2-0. Barabanov took a pass from Andreas Johnsson, cut left and beat Greiss from the slot 3:50 into the game.

Couture made it 2-0 less than three minutes later. Erik Karlsson rushed up the left wing and passed back to Couture, who scored from the left circle.

Parayko cut the San Jose lead to 2-1 at 2:35 of the second period. Alexandrov circled behind the net and passed across to Parayko at the right post.

St. Louis snapped a 0-for-23 power-play slump while tying the game 2-2 less than three minutes later. Kyrou broke a five-game pointless stretch by scoring from the slot off Buchnevich's pass from behind the net.

Brown put the Blues up 3-2 with his first goal of the season. He scored from the lower right circle off a cross-ice pass from Buchnevich.

Another power-play goal pushed the Blues' lead to 4-2 with 1:00 left in the second period. Kyrou slid a cross-crease pass to Schenn at the right post.

The Sharks cut their deficit to 4-3 with a short-handed goal at 6:36 of the third period. Lorentz broke up the left wing and scored from the slot.

Pitlick restored the two-goal Blues advantage with his goal from the top of the left circle at 14:52. Kapanen made it 6-3 with an empty-net goal at 17:03.

--Field Level Media

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