By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: St Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott juggles with the puck as Elliott and the Blues throw a 1-0 shutout against the Sharks on Tuesday night

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks had a golden opportunity to make the Pacific Division race a much tighter affair with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks both losing earlier in the night. Instead, team Teal missed out on a chance to pull within three points of the division-leading Kings with 9 games left to play by falling to the St. Louis Blues 1-0 at the SAP Center Tuesday night.

“It’s a missed opportunity,” said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “There’s not many games left to pick up a lot of points. You’ve got to make a chance like that count.”

Blues netminder Brian Elliot made 37 saves for his second shutout in as many games after a return from injury, while rookie sensation Robby Fabbri scored his 17^th goal of the season halfway through the 3^rd period to keep the Sharks playoff aspirations in a holding pattern. Had either San Jose won or the Arizona Coyotes lost Tuesday the Sharks would clinch a playoff berth.

“All these games are important,” said Sharks goalie Martin Jones. “This was disappointing to not get some points. But we have plenty of games left and it’s time to make the most of them.”

The Sharks (41-26-6) nearly tied the game late in the 3^rd after a pair of Blues gaffes in the final 3 minutes of regulation. First Carl Gunnarsson went to the box with 2:45 left for firing the puck over the glass then David Backes joined him 1:22 later after cross-checking Joe Pavelski in the face during a netfront scrum. Despite 38 seconds of 6-on-4 hockey (Sharks coach Peter DeBoer opted to pull Jones for the extra attacker) the Sharks couldn’t crack Elliot and the St. Louis defense.

“You always want urgency,” said Pavelski. “5-on-3, it’s a chance to create a really good shot. We didn’t get as many of those as we could have. We didn’t find that way.”

The two teams played a tight, checking contest for the full 60 minutes. It became evident early in the 3^rd that the first team to score would be the winner. Through the first two periods, St. Louis (43-22-9) fired just 15 shots on Jones. In total, Jones made 23 saves.

“The way we’ve been playing lately we’ve had stretches like that,” said Jones of the spurts of not seeing too much rubber thanks to his stout defense corps. “That’s a good thing. I just try to stay focused.

The only shot Jones couldn’t save came from Fabbri on a two-on-one rush. After defenseman Dylan DeMelo and Pavelski failed to stop the rush, defenseman Justin Braun was left to handle a two-on-one. Braun took away the pass to a streaking winger, but Jones was left to face down the lethal Fabbri. With Fabbri coming down the wing to Jones’ left, the youngster ripped a shot that beat Jones for the game’s only goal 9:55 into the period.

“It didn’t feel like they had a whole lot all night,” said Pavelski of St. Louis’ offense. “Me and (DeMelo) got caught up with some miscommunication there and they had a chance and found a way to sink one in.”

The Sharks hope to avoid another rookie sensation spoiling their potential playoff lockup. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers come to SAP Thursday night for the 4^th game of a season-high 6 game homestand. San Jose is currently 2-1 during that stretch.