San Jose Sharks eye playoff spot as they host Phoenix Coyotes – NHL Preview
San Jose Sharks are in a damage-control phase, which is not going as per their plans. They need to get victories if they want to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs this season, but they are unable to prevent defeats.
On the other hand, Phoenix Coyotes have somehow managed to once again secure a playoff spot in the Western Conference and they will ensure they do not fall down this time.
Both these teams are going to play against each other in a very crucial encounter on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at HP Pavilion, San Jose, California.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Sharks
They are ranked at 10th spot in the Western Conference with 84 points after 74 games and are one point behind the eighth-ranked Dallas Stars.
Sharks have eight more games to play in the regular season and they cannot afford more defeats at this stage of the competition.
In their last game, Sharks defeated Boston Bruins to snap their two-game skid. Sharks scored a goal in the first period and maintained the lead effectively throughout the game.
In the final period, Sharks scored and conceded a goal and won the game.
Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, said after the game:
"When you're in stressful situations, it can slow you down, it can make you lethargic, it can make you tired if you allow it to. But if you play free and put it aside and accept the challenge, then you're a little bit faster and you're a little bit fresher.
I thought we had that tonight. We didn't have that in the last two games."
Coyotes
They are ranked at seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 86 points after 75 games.
Coyotes have lost eight games this month and won four. In their last game, Coyotes defeated Colorado Avalanche.
Coyotes got a two-goal lead in the first period and increased the lead to three goals in the second. Avalanche did retaliate in the final period and scored twice, but could not add more goals and lost the game.
Coyotes’ head coach, Dave Tippett, said after the game:
"Guys knew they had to step it up. As a team, we were stronger earlier in the game but didn't make enough plays in the third. We hung on, picked up the two points and now move forward."
Predictions
Sharks have a slight edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might stay under six.
If Coyotes win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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