The San Jose Sharks are back in the Shark Tank tonight, Thursday April 22, as they try to go a game up on the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Quarters. The Sharks won Game 4, 1-2 (OT) as -170 road favs as the best of seven series sits knotted at 2-2. NHL oddsmakers at SBGGLOBAL.com have the Sharks as -240 moneyline home favorites over the Avalanche (+200) with the over/under set at 5.5 goals . Be sure to get your 2010 NHL Playoffs: 2010 NHL Playoffs: Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks Game 5 Odds & Prediction in now at SBGGLOBAL.com
The Avs lost an overtime heart breaker 1-2 at home after the Sharks Joe Pavelski scored 10:24 into overtime. Paul Stastny nailed a goal for the Avs and goalie Craig Anderson played lights out after stopping 43 of 45 shots. In his playoff debut as a rookie Craig Anderson is 2-2 with a 2.11 GAA with one shutout . The Sharks have outshot the Avalanche 174-103 over the first four games of this series, including 148-73 in the last three games. The Avs are playing without two-thirds of their usual second line, as wingers Milan Hejduk and Peter Mueller won't play tonight because of head injuries. Center Matt Duchene, the NHL's rookie scoring leader, enters tonight's contest still looking for his first playoff goal. He finished the regular season with 26 goals and 31 assists for 55 points.
The Sharks are glad to be even heading back home where they try to get a leg up on the Avs. "It was a game we really wanted. To go down 3-1 is a really tough hole," said center Pavelski, who had the winning goal at 10:24 of OT. "Even up now at 2-2 and going back home, hopefully we can carry this and learn our lesson and get off to another good start." The Sharks went 28-12 at home in the regular season. Pavelski has 2 goals and 2 assists, including the game-winner Tuesday and the game-tying goal in the final seconds of regulation in Game 2. The Sharks would love to get more offense, especially from their top lines. So far, the Avs have held Sharks first-liners Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley without a goal . San Jose's tough-checking defense has done a good job on Colorado's top two lines.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Home team is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
- Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in San Jose.
- Favorite is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
- Avalanche are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in San Jose.
- Sharks are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Sharks are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks
When: Thursday April 22, 2010 10:30 PM ET
Line: SBGGLOBAL.com
Pick: Sharks -240
Point-Spreads.com 2010 NHL Playoffs: Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks Game 5 Odds & Predictions
The Bottom Line: The Sharks will be at their toughest tonight. Be sure to get your 2010 NHL Playoffs: Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks Game 4 Odds & Predictions in now at SBGGLOBAL.com and receive up to 20% in Sign-up Bonuses and start winning today!
