Sharks vs Blackhawks NHL Spread/Handicapping
Headline: Struggling Sharks Hope to Hand Chicago First Regulation Loss Friday
Two teams that occupied the top two spots in the early season NHL Power Rankings square off in one of the marquee matchup on a busy night of action Friday. For the Blackhawks, they have just kept clicking along and are the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss so far.
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San Jose Sharks (7-3-1-2) at Chicago Blackhawks (10-0-0-3)
When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, February 15, 2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: NHL Network, CSN California (San Jose), CSN (Chicago)
Sharks vs. Hawks Betting Lines from from JustBet
San Jose Sharks +1½ -240 +132 Ov 5½ +107
Chicago Blackhawks -1½ +200 -145 Un 5½ -118
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For the Sharks – they are 0-for-Februrary – 0-3-3 in their last six games and fading fast. This is the second meeting of the year between the two clubs – the first was a 5-3 win for Chicago February 5 in San Jose.
It seems like a long time ago that the Sharks were at the top of the NHL standings and looking like one of the two teams to beat in the West along with their Friday competitor the Wings. They have since endured a six game losing streak – goal scoring has dried up and the results have not been there!
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Since averaging nearly five goals per game in their first five, the Sharks offense has scored just 11 goals in their last eight scoring more than two goals only once during the winless streak while being shut out twice.
Patrick Marleau has disappeared since his sizzling start and the supporting cast has been awful as well.
You can’t really blame Antti Niemi for San Jose’s struggles however. In his last two starts Niemi stopped 45 of the 46 total shots he faced, and he was not scored on in regulation in three of the starts he’s made this month.
The Sharks as a team are among the league’s best defensively allowing just 2.08 goals per game.
The Chicago Blackhawks are tops in the NHL standings early in the year – and impressive fact become more impressive when you consider that Friday night’s game will mark only their third on home ice all season.
Offensively, the Hawks are who we thought they were but it is in the defensive end that this team has separated themselves from the other contenders in the West. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the few teams in the NHL that have been better defensively than the Sharks. The Hawks are allowing just 1.92 goals per game so far and Corey Crawford is 7-0-3 with a sparkling 1.65 goals against average and sizzling .935 save percentage.
But Ray Emery will get the start for Chicago Friday – he is 3-0-0 with a 2.59 GAA and .920 save % so far – not bad for a second option!
As good as the Hawks have been defensively they have been equally good offensively. The team is averaging 3.31 goals per game and Patrick Kane has nine goals and 11 assists already through 13 games – good for second in the NHL. Jonathan Toews has two goals and four assists in his last four games and has 13 points overall.
There are 11 Chicago players with multiple goals on the season. If there is an area that this team could improve it is on the power play – just 18.2 % so far but brimming with talent and sure to break out.
Betting Prediction
:
A few trends to consider:
• SJ are 3-13 in their last 16 vs. Central.
• Under is 8-2 in SJ last 10 overall.
• Under is 8-2 in SJ last 10 vs. Western Conference.
• Under is 8-2 in CHI last 10 Fri. games.
• Under is 15-5-1 in CHI last 21 overall.
• Under is 11-5-2 in CHI last 18 vs. Pacific.
• SJ are 6-13 in the last 19 meetings.
It is difficult to bet against Chicago right now – everything has gone right for this team so far. Their only three non-wins so far this season came in the shootout. Add in the fact their recent dominance over the Sharks and this pick looks pretty easy.
The Hawks are scorching hot – the Sharks simply are not!
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks -145
