NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Sharks vs Avalanche – Game Six
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Team Records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Colorado: 43-30-9
Tonight, 10:05pm
Sharks: -180 -1.5 (+170) Over 5.5 (+115)
Avalanche: +160 +1.5 (-200) Under 5.5 (-135)
For the first time in the tough series, the San Jose Sharks looked liked the overwhelming favourite to win. They thoroughly outplayed the Avalanche and really beat Colorado at their own game. Interestingly, it was the Sharks `youngsters, not their veteran leadership that led the way on Thursday night staking the team to their first lead in the series.
Saturday night marks the first elimination game in the series – will the upstart Avalanche live to fight another day or will the bully Sharks finish the pesky Avs.
The San Jose Sharks finally demonstrated why they were the league`s second best team during the regular season on Thursday night. The thoroughly dominated a Colorado team that had been giving them all that they could handle. The offense scored five goals and the defense recorded a long overdue shutout.
The Sharks boast arguably the best line in hockey – Thornton, Marleau and Heatley. They have been disappointing so far in the playoffs forcing others to step up and deliver the much needed offense. In Game 5, it was unheralded youngsters that were responsible for three of the five goals.
Logan Couture scored twice and Dwight Helminen added a goal as well to pace the Sharks to an easy home ice win. Patrick Marleau tallied a goal and an assist, Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi recorded two assists and five other Sharks had at least one point in the win.
Evgeni Nabokov recorded a shutout in Game 5 and although he was aided by a couple of goal posts, he played well and appears to be hitting his stride as the series wears on. A shutout against the Avs. is a good sign going forward.
The Colorado Avalanche looked like a tired team for the first time in the playoffs.
Their aggressive style was absent in Game 5 and hopes are that a fired up Pepsi Center crowd will breed a little life into the young Colorado team.
The Avalanche will be without Peter Meuller and Milan Hejduk once again, leaving a void in the offensive attack once again.
The Avalanche will need another standout effort from goaltender Craig Anderson if they want to extend the series. He had his first really bad outing of the post season and should bounce back in front of a home town crowd. The Avs need some offensive support obviously or this series could be over.
The San Jose Sharks are the better team and it has become more obvious as the series has worn on. The Sharks smell blood and we all know what happens when a Shark senses blood.
The series ends Saturday night and the Avalanche are sent packing with their heads held high.
NHL Betting Trends:
San Jose is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado’s last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado’s last 5 games when playing San Jose
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado’s last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Colorado’s last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose’s last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose’s last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose’s last 5 games when playing Colorado
Pick: San Jose Sharks (Yes lay the price!!!!)
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