NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Sharks vs Blackhawks – Game Three
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Team Records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Chicago: 52-22-8
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Blackhawks lead series 2-0
Sportsbook odds:
Sharks: +135 +1.5 (-220) Over 5.5 (-120)
Blackhawks: -155 -1.5 (+180) Under 5.5 (even)
Sharks vs. Blackhawks Preview
A battle that has been anticipated for months is turning out to be a bit of a dud! The San Jose Sharks lost both of the first two games at home in the series and now have to travel to the Windy City in attempts to salvage a little playoff respect.
The Chicago Blackhawks return home after nine days on the road with a more-than-comfortable 2-0 series lead.
The San Jose Sharks do not seem to be the same team as the one that demolished the Detroit Red Wings in the last series. Absent is the world class play of their top line, the presence of secondary scoring and a defensive intensity that shut down the likes of Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
The line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley has not looked good in the Conference Final so far and are a combined minus nine.
Patrick Marleau scored two goals on Tuesday and appears to be the only Shark that is worthy of mention thus far. Joe Thornton is minus ten in the playoffs and Dany Heatley has only two goals in his last 19 games!
Has anyone seen Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe or Devin Setoguchi? A huge part of San Jose’s early playoff success has been silent in this series.
Defensively, the San Jose Sharks have been unable to keep the Blackhawks away from the front of their own goal.
Traffic in front of Evgeni Nabokov has made the keeper look pedestrian at times even though it is not all his fault. The Sharks back end will have to be more focussed on containing the Hawks big bodies or they will keep scoring on deflections and on rebounds.
The Chicago Blackhawks were OK against the Predators in Round 1, good against the Canucks in Round 2 and now look great in Round 3. The Hawks appear to be a team that is peaking at the perfect time.
They are scoring and defending superbly and they are the beneficiary of incredible goaltending.
The forward line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien has terrorized their opposition during this year’s playoffs and the Sharks are having an equally difficult time. This line possesses speed skills and a size factor that seems to be the difference in the series so far.
Oh ya, they also provide a scoring touch as well! Two of Chicago’s four goals were a direct result of their big forwards standing directly in front of Evgeni Nabokov. The Hawks second, third and fourth lines have been good as well.
Dave Bolland has done an incredible job of taking Joe Thornton out of his game as he did with the Sedins in Chicago’s previous series against Vancouver.
The Chicago defense has to keep doing what they have been doing. They are recognized as the strongest unit in the NHL and their play against San Jose is further proof that the praise is warranted.
Antti Niemi is the story of the 2010 playoffs. He is playing like a veteran and is giving the Hawks goaltending that they couldn’t have dreamed of.
There is no reason to think that the Blackhawks will stumble at home. Despite their 3-3 home record so far in the playoffs, they should roll.
The Hawks are a complete team and appear to be a matchup nightmare for the San Jose Sharks. Offensively, the Hawks are too strong. Defensively they are too deep and in goal, Niemi looks like the second coming of Patrick Roy.
This could be a short series folks!
NHL Betting Trends:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose’s last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose’s last 8 games when playing Chicago
San Jose is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
San Jose is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago’s last 8 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games when playing San Jose
Game 3 Pick: Chicago Blackhawks
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