The San Jose Sharks might be headed toward a last-place finish in the NHL’s overall standings but that doesn’t mean they’re incapable of playing a spoiler role during the final two-plus weeks of the regular season.
That’s what happened Saturday night as Filip Zadina, Mikael Granlund, and Luke Kunin all scored second-period goals and Mackenzie Blackwood had 36 saves to earn his second shutout of the season as the Sharks posted a 4-0 win over the host St. Louis Blues.
Blackwood, who made 11 saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless, earned his first victory since Feb. 15 as the Sharks snapped a nine-game losing streak and significantly dented St. Louis’ playoff hopes.
The Blues (39-31-4), who were booed off the ice at Enterprise Center, remained five points back of the Los Angeles Kings for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The Blues, which also lost to the Sharks in San Jose on Nov. 16, now have just eight games remaining.
“I don’t think we think too much about,” being a spoiler, Kunin said. “Just worry about ourselves, our own game, and go out and try to win and compete every night.”
