| NHL Playoffs: Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks |
|
|
|
| Written by Ian Van Den Hurk | |||||||
|
Thursday, 10 April 2008
|
|||||||
 If many observers had their way, the NHL would just give the San Jose Sharks the Stanley Cup right now without playing in the NHL Playoffs. The Sharks dropped their last two games of the regular season – both meaningless contests – but they bulldozed their way into the postseason, going 18-2-2 since late February. A huge reason for the surge is defenseman Brian Campbell, whom San Jose acquired at the trade deadline. Campbell has been brilliant since landing in California, racking up 19 points in 20 games. His excellent skating and quick hands have opened up the San Jose offense and he's a significant reason the Sharks expect to be a force to be reckoned with during the NHL Playoffs. Overall, though, the Sharks rely on keeping the puck out of the net. They ranked third overall in fewest goals allowed this season, and Hart Trophy-candidate Evgeni Nabokov is capable of stealing a game all by himself.BetOnline.com has the San Jose Sharks heavy -230 odds favorites against the Calgary Flames with the over/under set at 5 goals. If anyone can give the Sharks trouble in the NHL Playoffs, it might be the Calgary Flames. The Flames backed into the playoffs, closing out the season with a 5-5-0 run in its last 10 games, but they fared well against San Jose this season. The key too success will be netminder – and former Nabokov teammate – Miikka Kiprusoff. “Kipper” got off to a very slow start this season but raised his game after the All-Star break ( 2.55 GAA, .916 save percentage). Still, he'll need to be better than that to compete with Nabokov. It shouldn't be much of a stretch for Kiprusoff, as he's always been a sensational playoff performer; in 43 career postseason games, he has a 2.05 goals against average and .928 save percentage. Many people are ex expecting the San Jose to crush Calgary in the first-round of the playoffs, but you'll want to watch the NHL playoff odds closely because those same people might be surprised to learn the Flames were 3-1 against the Sharks this season (two of those victories came in overtime). The San Jose Sharks have been the hottest team in the NHL for almost two months now, while the Calgary Flames have struggled down the stretch. It will be a low-scoring series and more competitive than people it expect it to, and Calgary kicks things off with an upset win in Game 1. Get your Free NHL Playoff Pick in Now! Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks, Thursday @ 10:00 p.m. ET It's not too late to get into the NHL Playoffs betting action. Visit BetOnline.com's world-renowned sportsbook today, and don't forget to check out the new-and-improved casino!                        |
|||||||
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 ) | |||||||