Saad scores twice, Blues top Sharks for first win in five games

ST. LOUIS-- Brandon Saad scored twice to help the St. Louis Blues to their first win in five games, 4-1 against the San Jose Sharks at Enterprise Center on Thursday.

David Perron had two assists and Ville Husso made 26 saves for the Blues (9-5-2), who were 0-3-1 their previous four games.
"I think me and the team, I think we played a little bit simpler, played with more pace, getting pucks in deep better, making smart decisions," Saad said. "Still had some turnovers we want to clean up, but I think it's our main focus as a team. We were kind of shooting ourselves there with turnovers."

James Reimer made 44 saves for the Sharks (8-7-1), who ended a five-game road trip 2-3-0.
"I think once you chase the game a little bit and you get down, I think that you start opening up and we had some turnovers tonight," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "I know a few of our defensemen tried to make high-danger plays and tried to put pucks through people that got knocked down and went the other way."
Saad scored a power-play goal, his first in six games, at 10:25 of the first period by redirecting a puck in from the crease to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
"We had some good movement," Saad said. "I think we had four or five chances even before mine went in. That's something we're going to feel good about that regardless if it goes in. We want to have some movement and have some chances. We definitely did a good job of that tonight."

Saad's goal came after the Sharks thought they had taken a 1-0 lead from Logan Couture at 7:21 but the Blues challenged for offside and the goal was overturned.
Robert Thomas made it 2-0 at 1:35 of the second on a quick redirection over Reimer's shoulder from a Pavel Buchnevich pass. Scott Perunovich carried the puck up the ice into the zone before feeding Buchnevich. Perunovich had an assist for his first NHL point.
Jonathan Dahlen's quick shot from the slot off a Timo Meier pass made it 2-1 at 8:16, but Saad's second of the game at 10:17, a one-timer from the right of the slot made it 3-1.
The Blues had 19 shots in the second.
"There were high percentage shots for them in the slot a lot of times for them throughout the game," Sharks defenseman Jake Middleton said. "[Reimer] made great saves. There's nothing we can do but pat him on the back. We've got to be better in front of him."

Jordan Kyrou extended his point streak to six games when he scored with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle to make it 4-1 at 1:09 of the third.
The Blues said they wanted a better showing after a 3-2 loss to the previously one-win Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.
"Businesslike. Practice the next day was businesslike," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "I don't know if I really talk in terms of business to the players like that. But if we can become a businesslike team night in, night out, in practice and all that, that goes a long way. And you know you're going to be prepared to play the right way if you get that mindset."
NOTES:The Sharks allowed the first goal for the first time in nine games. ... The Blues are 5-0-1 their past six games against the Sharks and 11-2-3 the past 16. ... Blues defenseman Justin Faulk played in his 700th NHL game (559 with the Carolina Hurricanes and 141 with St. Louis), becoming the 33rd U.S.-born player to reach that mark. ... Kyrou has six goals, two assists during his point streak and 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 12 games against the Sharks. ... Husso's shutout streak ended at 163:02. ... The 48 shots by the Blues is their most in a regular-season game since they had 49 against the Vegas Golden Knights Oct. 12, 2017. ... The 48 shots allowed was a season high by the Sharks.