The Vancouver Canucks host the San Jose Sharks tonight, Sunday May 15th, for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Vancouver has won three of their last five meetings over San Jose. NHL oddsmakers have the Canucks as -160 moneyline home favourites over the Sharks (+140) with the over/under set at 5.5 goals. Be sure to check the Sharks vs Canucks NHL Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
San Jose (8-5, 4-2 V) was pushed to the max by Detroit, but won a decisive Game 7 to reach the Conference finals. They were even for goals as each scored 18 through the series. Goalie Antti Niemi has a 7-5 playoff record in these playoffs with a 3.01GAA. He has playoff experience after winning the Cup last season with Chicago, Vancouver’s nemesis. While a spot in the conference finals isn't out of place for the Sharks, opening a playoff series on the road is something different. They haven't opened a playoff series away from home since 2007, a span of eight series. "It'll be interesting. We'll enter a series as the underdog," McLellan said. "That hasn't happened before. Maybe there will be a little pressure taken off us there and we can go play free." The Sharks didn't have much success in the regular season against the Canucks, either, picking up just one shootout victory in four matchups. The Sharks will look to take a lesson from last season's five-game series victory against the Red Wings that was followed by a four-game loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. It's possible there could be a letdown after such an emotional series that saw the Sharks turn a 3-0 series lead into a seven-game gut-wrencher. "Last year after we beat these guys, I think we got a little too happy and didn't focus on our next goal and that was the Blackhawks," Couture said. "They took it to us and swept us. We haven't won anything yet. We've made it past the second round. Now we have to get ready for the Canucks."
Vancouver (8-5, 4-3 H) took Nashville in six games outscoring them 14-11. Goalie Roberto Luongo has a 8-5 record in these playoffs with a 2.25GAA with two shutouts. The Canucks again find Sharks goalie Antti Niemi in their path as they attempt to reach the Cup final for the first time in 17 years. Niemi backstopped Chicago past the Canucks and to a Stanley Cup championship last June but moved on to San Jose in the off-season. Canuck winger Mason Raymond admitted Thursday it would nice to get another crack at Niemi. “Yeah, for sure,” he said. “The goalie is obviously a huge part of the team and to get some wins and put some goals past him would definitely feel really good.” Defenceman Sami Salo wasn't as interested in revenge as he was in figuring out how to beat the Sharks. “I don't think we're going to focus on any single player,” said the veteran Finn. “At this time of year, I think everybody is playing at their top level. You saw the Nashville goalie [Pekka Rinne] was playing excellent and Chicago's goalie Corey Crawford was excellent, too. San Jose has a lot of speed up front and a lot of skill. It's going to be a big challenge for us to just not eliminate their top line but their other guys who can score as well.” Niemi is one factor standing in Vancouver's way while captain Joe Thornton is another. Jumbo Joe is desperately trying to shed his label as a playoff under-achiever. Ditto for Patrick Marleau. Both played well in the 3-2 win Thursday and Marleau wound up with the series-winning goal. Canuck captain Henrik Sedin says, “San Jose has maybe a bigger team than us. I wouldn't say they are more physical but if you look at the forwards like Thornton, Marleau, Dany Heatley, Ryan Clowe and all those guys, they're all big players.”
Recent Trends to Consider:
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Favorite is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Sharks are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
Canucks are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a favorite of -151 to -200.
Canucks are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a home favorite of -151 to -200.
Canucks are 5-1 in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite of -151 to -200.
Canucks are 13-3 in their last 16 vs. Pacific.
Sharks are 7-0 in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
Sharks are 1-5 in their last 6 playoff games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
Sharks vs Canucks
When: Sunday, May-15, 8:05 PM ET
Pick: Canucks -160
Point-Spreads.com recommends you check out NHL Point Spreads before Sharks vs Canucks game.
The Bottom Line: Home ice is nice for Vancouver; they just need to get the first goal. Be sure to check Sharks vs Canucks Hockey Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
