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Sharks try to even series with Canucks
SAN JOSE SHARKS
at VANCOUVER CANUCKS
NHL Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Game 2 – Vancouver leads series 1-0
Puck drops: Wednesday, 9:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Vancouver -155, San Jose +135, Total: 5.5
For the third straight series, the Canucks drew first blood and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. After winning their first four road playoff games, the Sharks have now lost three straight away from home, and four of five overall after taking a 3-0 lead in their series against Detroit.
San Jose could not hold a third-period lead for the third time in its past four games, allowing the Canucks to rally down 2-1 to score two unanswered goals and win 3-2. After going without a goal for seven straight games, Patrick Marleau scored a goal for the second straight game on Sunday. Thanks to a puck-handling gaffe by Roberto Luongo, Joe Thornton snapped a seven-game skid without a goal by tallying the Sharks first goal of the series. Despite the loss, the chatter around the locker room was about the performance of Antti Niemi who made 35 saves on 38 shots, most of them the spectacular kind. Yes, he lost the game, but Niemi’s heroics stopped this game from being a rout. If Niemi repeats his performance in Game 2, the Sharks have a great shot at tying the series.
Vancouver is now in the Conference Finals of its championship push and perhaps the most important piece of the title run is taking place off the ice. Manny Malhotra remains a longshot -- some believe no shot -- to play for the Canucks again this season after nearly losing his vision and his hockey career to a deflected puck that struck his eye in mid-March. That has not, however, prevented many from wondering aloud why he suddenly returned to the ice, first by himself and then with teammates, early in practice during the week leading up to the Western Conference final. Whether or not a miraculous comeback is possible, there is little question his attempted return has helped the Canucks. In addition to an emotional boost, Vancouver's coaching staff picked Malhotra's brain about his former Sharks team. The Canucks dominated the play in Game 1, and only an outstanding performance by Niemi stopped that from showing up in the box score. After registering just one point in his previous seven games, Henrik Sedin has risen from the ashes in his past four games, totaling six points, including the GW goal and an assist in Game 1. While Niemi got much of the praise in net, Luongo continued his Conn Smythe-worthy performance in Game 1, stopping 27 of the 29 shots. After getting pulled in Game 5 against Chicago in the Quarterfinals, Luongo has posted a 1.67 GAA and a save percentage of .937.
Henrik Sedin’s game-winning, power-play goal was just the second PPG for the Canucks this postseason at home and snapped an 0-for-17 drought at home with the man advantage. While that doesn’t mean the Canucks are back to their regular-season form that saw them score the most PPG in the NHL, it’s a positive sign for a team that has still managed to win despite not consistently putting the puck in net. After scoring four or more goals in a game 35 times during the regular season, Vancouver has done so just twice in the postseason.
San Jose has now lost seven straight Conference Finals games after its Game 1 loss, which is just two shy of tying the Bruins record of nine straight Conference Finals losses which ended Tuesday night. Game 1 was the eighth time in the past nine games that a San Jose was decided by one goal. The Sharks righted their ship just in time to defeat the Red Wings, but that might have taken a lot out of them, as they continue to falter in the third period of games, which is a sign of fatigue. They have been outscored 9-3 in third period in their past four games. However, I still believe the Sharks are dangerous, and as long as Niemi continues to play well, they have enough offensive firepower to put pressure on their opponent. I like San Jose to tie the series and win Game 2.
These two FoxSheets trends also side with the Sharks:
SAN JOSE is 77-48 ATS (61.6%, +127.0 Units) in road games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games since 1996. The average score was SAN JOSE 2.8, OPPONENT 2.5 - (Rating = 2*).
VANCOUVER is 2-11 ATS (15.4%, -19.5 Units) in home games when leading in a playoff series since 1996. The average score was VANCOUVER 1.7, OPPONENT 3.2 - (Rating = 3*).
SAN JOSE SHARKS
at VANCOUVER CANUCKS
NHL Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Game 2 – Vancouver leads series 1-0
Puck drops: Wednesday, 9:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Vancouver -155, San Jose +135, Total: 5.5
For the third straight series, the Canucks drew first blood and jumped out to a 1-0 lead. After winning their first four road playoff games, the Sharks have now lost three straight away from home, and four of five overall after taking a 3-0 lead in their series against Detroit.
San Jose could not hold a third-period lead for the third time in its past four games, allowing the Canucks to rally down 2-1 to score two unanswered goals and win 3-2. After going without a goal for seven straight games, Patrick Marleau scored a goal for the second straight game on Sunday. Thanks to a puck-handling gaffe by Roberto Luongo, Joe Thornton snapped a seven-game skid without a goal by tallying the Sharks first goal of the series. Despite the loss, the chatter around the locker room was about the performance of Antti Niemi who made 35 saves on 38 shots, most of them the spectacular kind. Yes, he lost the game, but Niemi’s heroics stopped this game from being a rout. If Niemi repeats his performance in Game 2, the Sharks have a great shot at tying the series.
Vancouver is now in the Conference Finals of its championship push and perhaps the most important piece of the title run is taking place off the ice. Manny Malhotra remains a longshot -- some believe no shot -- to play for the Canucks again this season after nearly losing his vision and his hockey career to a deflected puck that struck his eye in mid-March. That has not, however, prevented many from wondering aloud why he suddenly returned to the ice, first by himself and then with teammates, early in practice during the week leading up to the Western Conference final. Whether or not a miraculous comeback is possible, there is little question his attempted return has helped the Canucks. In addition to an emotional boost, Vancouver's coaching staff picked Malhotra's brain about his former Sharks team. The Canucks dominated the play in Game 1, and only an outstanding performance by Niemi stopped that from showing up in the box score. After registering just one point in his previous seven games, Henrik Sedin has risen from the ashes in his past four games, totaling six points, including the GW goal and an assist in Game 1. While Niemi got much of the praise in net, Luongo continued his Conn Smythe-worthy performance in Game 1, stopping 27 of the 29 shots. After getting pulled in Game 5 against Chicago in the Quarterfinals, Luongo has posted a 1.67 GAA and a save percentage of .937.
Henrik Sedin’s game-winning, power-play goal was just the second PPG for the Canucks this postseason at home and snapped an 0-for-17 drought at home with the man advantage. While that doesn’t mean the Canucks are back to their regular-season form that saw them score the most PPG in the NHL, it’s a positive sign for a team that has still managed to win despite not consistently putting the puck in net. After scoring four or more goals in a game 35 times during the regular season, Vancouver has done so just twice in the postseason.
San Jose has now lost seven straight Conference Finals games after its Game 1 loss, which is just two shy of tying the Bruins record of nine straight Conference Finals losses which ended Tuesday night. Game 1 was the eighth time in the past nine games that a San Jose was decided by one goal. The Sharks righted their ship just in time to defeat the Red Wings, but that might have taken a lot out of them, as they continue to falter in the third period of games, which is a sign of fatigue. They have been outscored 9-3 in third period in their past four games. However, I still believe the Sharks are dangerous, and as long as Niemi continues to play well, they have enough offensive firepower to put pressure on their opponent. I like San Jose to tie the series and win Game 2.
These two FoxSheets trends also side with the Sharks:
SAN JOSE is 77-48 ATS (61.6%, +127.0 Units) in road games after having lost 4 or 5 of their last 6 games since 1996. The average score was SAN JOSE 2.8, OPPONENT 2.5 - (Rating = 2*).
VANCOUVER is 2-11 ATS (15.4%, -19.5 Units) in home games when leading in a playoff series since 1996. The average score was VANCOUVER 1.7, OPPONENT 3.2 - (Rating = 3*).
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