BLUES 3, SHARKS 0: Vladimir Sobotka, captain David Backes and Andy McDonald scored while Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott combined for the shutout as Central Division champion St. Louis evened its Western Conference quarterfinal series with San Jose at one game apiece.

T.J. Oshie recorded two assists for the Blues, who travel to San Jose for Game 3 on Monday.

Halak stopped all 12 shots he faced before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury at 1:07 of the second period after being run into by teammate Barret Jackman.

Elliott, who led the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average during the regular season, entered and made eight saves in the second and nine in the third.

Halak (six) and Elliott (nine) combined for a league-leading 15 shutouts this season, tying the modern NHL record set in 1969-70 by Chicago, while capturing the Jennings Trophy.

Tempers spilled over late in the chippy contest as several fights broke out after the final buzzer, creating great anticipation for Game 3.

The Blues received a gift just 91 seconds into the game that gave them a 1-0 lead.

Sobotka unleashed a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that Antti Niemi stopped but could not control. As the puck fell into the crease, Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic failed miserably in his attempt to backhand it out of danger, instead knocking it into his own net.

St. Louis doubled the advantage with 6:11 remaining in the middle session as Oshie made a backhand pass across the slot to Backes, who fired the puck into an open left side of the net from the faceoff circle for his second goal in six career playoff games.

McDonald sealed the win with a tally during a 5-on-3 power play in the final minute of the third.

Niemi made 29 saves for the Sharks, who went 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sobotka's goal was his third in 21 career playoff games while Perron scored for the second time in six postseason contests. ... Blues D Alex Pietrangelo led all players with 25 minutes, 54 seconds of ice time and registered a game high-tying five shots on goal. ... D Dan Boyle topped the Sharks by spending 25:19 on the ice.