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When the Blues’ Nathan Walker scored just 11 seconds into Thursday night’s eventual shootout win over San Jose, it marked the earliest goal of the NHL season.

Walker capitalized on a poor rim by Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov that was picked off by Radek Faksa, and centered to Walker at the net-front. Faksa started the play by winning the game’s opening faceoff, part of a 6 for 6 first period in the circle for the veteran center.

“I think if you can just have a good shift in itself, let alone get a goal on the first shift, it kind of sets the tone for the game,� Walker said. “‘Faks’ made a great heads up play for me there. … Just stayed in front of the net, and got a nice little deflection on it.�

Walker’s goal was the fastest by a Blues player since Zack Bolduc scored 11 seconds into a game on April 7 in Anaheim. It was tied for the sixth-earliest goal in franchise history. Alexander Steen (March 16, 2010) and Greg Paslawski (Oct. 29, 1985) share the record, at eight seconds.

Walker’s goal was seven seconds faster than the previous quickest tally, which was Michael Kesselring’s goal 18 seconds into Utah’s game in St. Louis on Nov. 7.

The line of Walker, Faksa and Toropchenko is one of just 28 around the NHL that have played at least two hours together at 5 on 5. During that time, the Blues are even (6-6) in goals.

“We’ve got a Russian, a Czech and an Aussie, so the communication is a little tough sometimes,� Walker said.

“It’s good. We chat a lot. We’re good friends on and off the ice, so it definitely makes for a good mix.�

Welcome back

Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph was the only Blues player on the ice for both the team’s goals scored on Thursday night, as he helped get the puck deep before Walker’s goal in the first period, and then Joseph picked up the primary assist on Jordan Kyrou’s second-period goal.

Joseph was playing his first game in a week following a lower-body injury that forced him to miss three games. In total, he logged 15:53 of ice time with two shot attempts and one blocked shot.

“I thought P.O played very well,� Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “I thought he stepped in and played well. I was happy for him, I was happy for the team.�

With Joseph on the ice at 5 on 5, the Blues outshot the Sharks 13-5. That 72.2% share of shots on goal was the second-highest of the season for Joseph in 14 games played.

Stuck out there

Leading up to Alexander Wennberg’s game-tying goal for San Jose with 8.8 seconds remaining in the third period on Thursday, a quartet of Blues were trudging through shifts that nearly reached three minutes.

Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Colton Parayko and Ryan Suter all were on the ice for the 2:39 preceding Wennberg’s goal with the extra attacker. It was by far each player’s longest shift of the evening.

Jake Neighbours, Brayden Schenn and Faksa rotated in as the fifth Blues skater on the ice.

The shift spanned four faceoffs (three lost by Thomas to Macklin Celebrini, one won by Faksa vs. Celebirni) and San Jose’s timeout about a minute into the shift.

The Blues iced the puck with 1:23 left in the third period, so they were not allowed to change, but a stoppage with 45 seconds could have allowed them to get fresh bodies on the ice.

Parayko and Suter lead all Blues skaters in total time on ice at 5 on 5, while Thomas averages more than a minute more of ice time than the next closest Blues forward at 5 on 5.