The San Jose Sharks look to rebound from Game 1’s loss tonight, Tuesday May 18, as they host the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The Hawks won Game 1, 2-1 as +115 roaddogs and lead the series 1-0. NHL oddsmakers at BODOG.com have the Sharks as -140 moneyline home favorites over the Blackhawks (+120) with the over/under set at 5.5 goals. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks Game 2 Odds & Prediction in now at BODOG.com
The Blackhawks took the first game 2-1 and will be expecting the Sharks to come out with more bite tonight. Chicago was 0-4 in its last four Game 1s before beating the Sharks on Sunday. It was all Goalie Antti Niemi in their win as he stopped a career high 44 shots; Niemi is 9-4 in these playoffs with a 2.45 GAA and two shutouts. The Hawks will be going for the throat tonight to take a 2-0 lead heading back to Chicago. "It's a different situation than we've been in most of the time," forward Patrick Sharp said. "I don't think it changes much. It's not going to make the series any easier being up 1-0. If anything, it will just get more difficult as we go on. It's a great opportunity to try to take both games in their building and that's what we'll try to do." One thing going for the Hawks is their play on the road, especially in these playoffs. The NHL's best road team in the regular season will be looking for its seventh consecutive victory away from United Center when they take the ice at HP Pavilion for Game 2. "The one thing we've done over the course of these playoffs, we play a more patient game, with energy, more purpose," Quenneville said of what the team does differently on the road. "I think maybe trying to make one extra play or pretty play at home might be the recipe for disaster, not being as successful." Patrick Kane has yet to cool off at all during the postseason. He has points in 11 of his 13 postseason games and 1 goal and 6 assists in his last five games.
The Sharks have been down before and mustn’t panic. The Sharks' top line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau were on the ice for both Blackhawks goals at even strength and are a combined minus-16 in the playoffs. But they know they can rebound after dropping Game 1 to Colorado. "You always want to win Game 1 at home," Heatley said. "I thought we played well enough to win, but we didn't. We come back (Tuesday) with the same type of effort and we'll kick it up a notch." One thing they’ll be sure to change is getting pucks higher up on Blackhawks goalie Niemi. "We just need to, with second chances, get them upstairs," Thornton said. "He takes away the bottom of the net pretty good. I think when we do get second chances, throw them upstairs on him." Other than that, just keep playing hard hitting offensive hockey. With his power-play assist in Game 1, Marleau has points in his last five games (2 goals, 3 assists). The Sharks' second line of Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi combined for 17 shots in the game but did not manage a single goal. San Jose lost two straight home games just twice this season. They lost four straight between Dec. 3-11 and two straight from the end between Feb. 2 and March 2 with the Olympic break sandwiched in the middle.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Blackhawks are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in San Jose.
- Blackhawks are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Over is 5-2-2 in the last 9 meetings in San Jose.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Road team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Blackhawks are 7-0 in their last 7 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
- Blackhawks are 7-0 in their last 7 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
- Sharks are 4-0 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Sharks are 6-1 in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite.
- Sharks are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Sharks are 21-5 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks
When: Tuesday May 18, 2010 10:00 PM ET
Line: BODOG.com
Pick: Sharks +120
Point-Spreads.com 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks Game 2 Odds & Predictions
The Bottom Line: The Sharks will rebound. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks Game 2 Odds & Predictions in now at BODOG.com and receive a 10% Deposit Bonus and start winning today!
