NHL postseason quick hits: Western Conference Final

Postseason Vitals
San Jose: 8-4-0 in 12 games in the playoffs
St. Louis: 8-6-0 in 14 games in the playoffs

History of the Matchup
This is the fifth time the two franchises have faced off in the playoffs, with all previous meetings taking place in the first round and each team winning two series apiece. San Jose took the 2015-16 regular-season series 2-1-0 with the home team winning each of the three tilts.

Squad Similarities Through the Playoffs
San Jose and St. Louis earned their berths into the Western Conference Final in similar fashion. Both the Sharks and Blues emerged victorious in their respective first-round series in emotional fashion. The Blues defeated the rival Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, and the Sharks downed the rival Los Angeles Kings in five games.

Both teams also suffered Game 6 defeats in the second round before notching Game 7 routes. St. Louis dominated the Dallas Stars 6-1, while Martin Jones shut out the Nashville Predators in San Jose’s 5-0 beat down.

Difference Makers
Defense — on both ends of the ice. San Jose’s blue line has gotten tighter as the playoffs have continued, with its top pair of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun stymying the Nashville Predators’ top scorers. And don't to forget that Team Teal has a two-way juggernaut defenseman in Norris Trophy finalist Brent Burns. But St. Louis boasts a big Kevin Shattenkirk-led blue line that could challenge the Sharks’ offensive depth, not to mention a smothering penalty kill that has gone 18-for-20.

What to Watch For
The grittiest series the Sharks have played yet. The Blues already have two hard-hitting postseason sagas under their belts, and there's no reason to think that will change in the next best-of-seven with San Jose.

Quotables
“It never gets easier. These teams are all good right now. Good goalies. It feels good but we understand this was a second step. It feels good but we have to keep going." —Sharks forward Joe Pavelski, via NHL.com