Robert Thomas delivers as Blues best Sharks

[March 10, 2023]  Robert Thomas scored a goal and added an assist to lead the St. Louis Blues past the visiting San Jose Sharks 4-2 Thursday.
 
 Torey Krug, Sammy Blais and Jakub Vrana also scored for the Blues, who won for just the second time in their last 10 games. 

Mar 9, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) defends the net against St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Pavel Buchnevich had two assists for St. Louis and Jordan Binnington made 32 saves to earn his first victory since Feb. 16.

Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks, who are 2-9-1 in their last 12 games. Alex Barabanov had two assists and Kaapo Kahkonen made 26 saves.

The Sharks outshot the Blues 15-9 in the first period and took a 1-0 lead at the 10:23 mark.

Barabanov faked a shot from the left circle, then slid a pass to Karlsson at the right circle -- and Karlsson scored before Binnington could slide over.

That was Karlsson's 20th goal and 83rd point of the season, setting a new career-high point total.

Krug tied the game 1-1 by converting a three-on-two break with 7:29 left in the period. Thomas rushed the puck up the right wing, Alexey Toropchenko drove the net from the left wing and Krug stepped in as the trailer to score.

The Blues took a 2-1 lead midway in the second period. Colton Parayko dove in the neutral zone to tip the rolling puck ahead to Blais, who broke to beat Kahkonen.

The Sharks tied the game 2-2 with 5:29 left in the period. Barabanov stickhandled through the middle of the Blues zone and set up Hertl's blast from the slot.

Vrana scored 2:53 into the third period to put the Blues up 3-2. After Buchnevich tried to jam the puck in at the right post, Vrana pushed the puck behind Kahkonen and off Karlsson.

Thomas scored a power-play goal to expand the Blues lead to 4-2 with 4:58 left. Brandon Saad made the centering pass from behind the net and Thomas ripped a one-time shot from the right faceoff dot.

--Field Level Media

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