NHL Preview roundup for Saturday, January 21, 2012 -Part I
The National Hockey League (NHL) season 2011-2012 has entered its second half and no one can still predict which teams would reach the playoffs.
Carrying a hope of improving their respective rankings, every team enters the rink, but does not necessarily win.
In this space, we are going to preview the games that are scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2012.
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks
Two of the best teams in the league, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks, are going to face-off at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
San Jose Sharks are ranked third in the NHL Western Conference with 57 points after playing 44 games.
On the other hand, Canucks are just a step ahead of their opponents and are ranked second in the same conference with 60 points. However, they have played 47 games, which gives the Sharks an edge over them.
Both the teams despite their impressive records, have faced defeat in their respective last games and will certainly try to give their best shots to get back to the winning run.
San Jose Sharks were beaten by Ottawa Senators (4-1), while the Canucks failed in the shootout phase (3-2) in the game against Los Angeles Kings.
It will be interesting to see which team emerges as the winner while both are evenly poised.
Ottawa Senators at Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks might not be the toughest opponent to face, but the surge in their performance lately has forced many to give a second thought before underestimating this team.
Senators should be warned against complacency when they travel to play the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States.
Anaheim Ducks have played 45 games this season and are ranked at the 13th spot in the Western Conference with 39 points. However, they are on a three-game winning streak and have lost only two out of eight games this month.
They dominated the Phoenix Coyotes (6-2) in their last game before winning two on-the-road games.
Unlike the Ducks, Senators have played well throughout the season. After playing 49 games, they are ranked at fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with 60 points.
They defeated San Jose Sharks (4-1) in their last game to take their on-road winning streak to five games. Now when they continue to play away from their home, they would love to stretch their winning streak.
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Islanders
These two relatively weaker sides are going to face-off at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
Carolina Hurricanes are placed at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 42 points after playing 49 games, while the Islanders are slightly better with the same number of points, but less number of games (45).
The only fact that makes this encounter exciting is their respective victories in their last games.
Carolina Hurricanes defeated the strong Washington Capitals side (3-0) on Friday with Jussi Jokinen scoring two goals and goalie, Cam Ward, getting the 18th shutout of his career after making 23 saves.
New York Islanders travelled to Philadelphia and beat the Flyers (4-1) to win their second straight game.
It’s hard to predict who would dominate the other, but considering their recent form, a possibility of a thrilling matchup cannot be ignored.
To be continued...
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