Game 3 Free Playoff Predictions: Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks
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Vancouver Canucks (54-19-9) at San Jose Sharks (48-25-9)
Date/Time: Friday, May 20, 2011, 9:00 PM ET
Venue: HP Pavillion at San Jose, San Jose, California
Broadcast: VERSUS (HD), CBC (HD), RDS (HD)
Canucks lead series 2-0
Canucks vs. Sharks Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: Sharks -1.5 (+230)
Moneyline: Canucks +105: Sharks -125
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
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For some fans the only thing that was lacking in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final was a little hate between the two clubs. Nobody can make that same claim after Game 2! The Vancouver Canucks took advantage of an undisciplined Sharks team, went three for seven on the power play and dominated their way to an impressive 2-0 series lead. Now it is up to the Sharks to regroup and refocus ahead of their Game 3 showdown in Friday night – this time in their own building where they are just 4-3 so far in this year’s playoffs.
Much has been made about Ben Eager’s play in Game 2 – some would criticize him and some would praise him as the only Shark that showed any sort of emotion. The truth of the matter is that the Sharks were embarrassed and were victims of their top guns failing to show up on Wednesday night. Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Ryan Clowe and Joe Pavelski were relatively quiet and need to step up their game! The Sharks forwards for some reason also seem to run out of gas once the third period starts – they have been outscored 13-4 in the third periods of their last five games.
Defensively the Sharks didn’t have a chance in Game 2 – nine penalties in the third period of Game 2 is evidence! Antti Niemi wasn’t spectacular and the Sharks lost – too much speed, skill and sustained pressure doomed the Sharks as a whole on Wednesday night. Hopes are that home ice will be the spark that San Jose desperately needs.
The Vancouver Canucks, to a man were happy with the outcome of every aspect of the game, even the goon plays of Ben Eager. The Canucks were able to make the Sharks pay with power play goals on Game 2 serving notice that they won’t be bullied and that if a team wants to take liberties that they will make them pay.
Offensively, the Canucks have to be happy to see the Sedin twins finding their game once again. Five points combined in Game 2 is reason to think that they have emerged from their “slump”. With four lines playing very well and with the speed game looking like “the difference” in the series, Vancouver will be tough to stop even away from home.
NHL Betting Trends:
VAN are 9-1 in their last 10 Fri. games.
VAN are 15-3 in their last 18 vs. Pacific.
Under is 16-6-3 in VAN last 25 overall.
SJ are 0-8 in their last 8 Conference Finals games.
Under is 6-1-1 in SJ last 8 home games.
SJ are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. Northwest.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
VAN are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in San Jose.
Betting Prediction: The San Jose Sharks have lost their last eight Western Conference Finals games and have lost five of their last six games overall. The Canucks have won seven of their last nine games overall.
The word composure has been thrown around a lot in this series and rightfully so. Seven of the 15 goals in the series have been scored with the man advantage. Vancouver has been shorthanded a total of three times in the two games of the series so far – the Sharks were shorthanded seven times in Game 2 alone. Speed kills and discipline rules supreme as the Canucks proved. Take the red hot Canucks to bury the Sharks even further in the Western Conference final.
Pick: Vancouver Canucks +105
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