Blues Even Western Conference Final

Hayden See, Reporter

The Blues defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2 to tie the Western Conference Final at one.

Jaden Schwartz scored early in the first period to put St. Louis up. He has scored nine goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, almost as many as he did in the regular season. Defenseman Vince Dunn added to the lead with a goal of his own in the second period, his second of the postseason. He shot through traffic and snuck it past Sharks’ goalie Martin Jones. O’Reilly tallied his team-leading eighth assist on the goal.

“Schwartz cannot be stopped in the playoffs this year,” junior Blake Haffer said.

After some costly turnovers by Alex Pietrangelo, the San Jose Sharks tied up the game at two. The first one was on the Blues’ power-play and the second was set-up after Pietrangelo couldn’t corral a pass from Dunn. The Blues came back, getting a go-ahead goal from Robert Bortuzzo, a backhander. It was the first playoff goal scored by Bortuzzo in his career, and it ended up being the game-winning-goal.

“What a moment for Bortuzzo to score the game winner in a playoff game,” junior Ethan Seymore said.

Oskar Sundqvist gave the Blues a two-goal lead with his third goal of the playoffs. He was set-up by a no-look pass from Steen. It was his first goal since the first round of the playoffs. Jordan Binnington recorded 24 saves, and he only allowed one goal at even-strength.

“Binnington has nerves of steel. He performs no matter what the stakes are,” junior Ethan Markovich said.

Game 3 of the Western Conference Final is Wednesday at 7PM.