NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Sharks vs Blackhawks – Game Four
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Team Records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Chicago: 52-22-8
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Blackhawks lead series 3-0
Sportsbook odds:
Sharks: +155 +1.5 (-220) Over 5.5 (-120)
Blackhawks: -175 -1.5 (+180) Under 5.5 (even)
Sharks vs. Blackhawks Preview
The Chicago Blackhawks are definitely looking like the best team in this year’s playoffs. Concerns over a return home to the United Center were not realized as the Hawks scored in overtime to take a 3-0 series lead against the San Jose Sharks. Game 4 goes Sunday in Chicago and it doesn’t look good for the regular season Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.
The San Jose Sharks are in a lot of trouble indeed but a 3-0 series hole has been overcome this playoff season already. Not unlike Games 1 and 2, the Sharks played a good game in Game 3 but just didn’t have enough to beat the talented Hawks.
The San Jose Sharks have scored four goals in the last two games and all of them have come off the stick of Patrick Marleau. It is safe to say that one on the three on the Big Line is doing his part for the Sharks.
Joe Thornton did not register a point but actually ended up plus one on the night! Dany Heatley got just his second assist in the series and now has just two goals in his last twenty games. The second line of Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe and Devin Setoguchi was largely invisible again and the power play went one for six including zero for three in the third period.
Everything has to be clicking in order to beat a team the caliber of the Chicago Blackhawks and for the Sharks, everything is not.
Evgeni Nabokov looked good despite the loss, stopping 35 shots. The Sharks defenses looked good as well but are not being paid off with wins.
It is only a matter of time before the Sharks get some Hockey God love, but unfortunately it will be a little too little love a little too late.
Antti Niemi made another 44 saves in Game 3 for Chicago – that should be enough to tell us that the Chicago Blackhawks are destined for a Stanley Cup Final appearance. Niemi has been the second best player on the Hawks however.
Jonathan Toews added two more assists on Friday night to take his league leading points total to 25 and stretch his playoff point scoring streak to twelve games. He is the difference maker that Joe Thornton is not.
The Chicago Blackhawks are getting good efforts from their role players as well, unlike the San Jose Sharks. Dustin Byfuglien remains one of the more polarizing figures left in the playoffs. He notched the overtime winner in Game 3 and has now scored a goal in each of the first three games of the Conference Final series. He and Dave Bolland have emerged as integral pieces of this potential championship team.
Byfuglien bothers Nabokov and Bolland bothers Joe Thornton, even though Joe says that Bolland has no impact – RIGHT!!
San Jose has outshot the Chicago Blackhawks in each of the first three games of the series so far and probably deserve a better than a 3-0 series deficit.
The Sharks are too good a team to get swept out of the playoffs and I expect them to bring their A Game to Sunday’s tilt.
The Sharks are pretty big underdogs at the moment in this game which means pretty good value if you want to bet on them.
NHL Betting Trends:
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose’s last 9 games when playing Chicago
San Jose is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Chicago
Chicago is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against San Jose
Game 4 Pick: San Jose Sharks
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