San Jose Sharks look to recover in Game 5 against Vancouver Canucks: NHL Play-offs Preview
San Jose is faced with another opportunity to finally break the curse and move on to the next and final round of the National Hockey League (NHL) Play-off Western Conference Finals, but Vancouver is not letting them go easy when it comes to Game 5
on Tuesday.
The Vancouver Canucks are one-win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals and win their first cup in their 40-year history as an NHL franchise. Winning the Presidents’ Trophy in this regulation season, including Art Ross and Ryan Kesler being nominated
for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Canucks are giving it all they have to make this the best year.
San Jose on the other hand have their own aspirations with this series as they are yet to advance into the final round. They made it into the Western Conference Finals last year as well and despite being one of the top teams in the league, they were
swept away by Chicago in a 4-0 series.
The Canucks’ defensemen, Sami Salo, waited 12 seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks for a chance at making it into the final, is fed up with having to wait any further. The veteran defensemen scored twice on power-plays after Kesler
and added an assist which gave Vancouver a huge 4-2 edge in Game 4 and a chance for them to finally eliminate the Sharks.
"We're in a spot where we're one win away from the Stanley Cup Final and guys are excited about that," Vancouver’s superstar goalie, Roberto Luongo said. "We want to get there. We want to do whatever it takes to get there."
Vancouver fans have become a little edgy when mentioning their team emerged victorious in Game 5. Their past two series ended up in tense situations. The quarter-finals were supposed to be a clean sweep against the Chicago Blackhawks, who barely able
to make it into the post-season. After a 3-0 lead in the series, the Hawks made a three game recovery and forced a decider Game 7 which the Canucks marginally won in overtime. The same happened in the semi-finals against Nashville as the Predators took the
series into six games after being put down 3-1.
"We're going there to win a game and we like our chances coming back here so it's going to come down to seven games," the Sharks’ forward, Danny Boyle said. "That's the thought process right now."
The Canucks have a big chance at winning on Tuesday when the game returns to their home town in the Rogers Arena. They will have a historical opportunity to eliminate the San Jose Sharks in front of their own home crowd despite all that has happened
in these play-off series, the fans are willing to forget it all and move on to the next stage. The highly anticipated Game 5 is expected to begin tonight in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Tags: