San Jose Sharks ready to host Chicago Blackhawks – NHL Preview
Two very good, but slumping teams, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks, will have an attempt towards getting back to winning ways in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Friday, February 10, 2012, at HP Pavilion, San Jose, California.
Chicago is ranked at sixth spot in the Western Conference with 65 points after 54 games, and the present road trip is not less than a nightmare as the team has lost all the four games.
The last defeat came against Colorado Avalanche in which Chicago gave away three goals in the final period to lose the game.
Blackhawks’ centre, Jonathan Toews, is annoyed by the losses and wants to get rid of the skid. He said:
“It's not like we're enjoying this. We're trying to fix the problem. No one's going anywhere. No one's running away from it.
He added that:
"We're looking each other in the eye. We're expecting every single guy to be better and pick up the slack and that's what we've got to do. We can't hide from these problems. We have to face them and deal with them."
The defence was badly exposed on road as it gave away a total of 19 goals in the four games. Chicago will play five more road games in the present trip and will make sure to end things on a positive note.
It will certainly start with a visit to California where Sharks will be waiting for the Blackhawks.
However, Sharks too need a morale booster as they host Blackhawks.
San Jose is on a two-game losing streak after being defeated by the surging Phoenix Coyotes (5-3) and Calgary Flames (4-3).
Calgary never went down and got a lead early in the game. Sharks did level the score, but soon after that Flames once again managed to take the lead.
When the score was once again levelled, 3-3, in the final period, Flames scored a decisive goal to seal the win.
Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, hopes that his team would play well against Blackhawks. The same sentiments were shared by centre, Joe Thornton.
Joe said:
“Just move on and get ready for Chicago now. ... We'll be better next time."
San Jose is ranked at third spot in the Western Conference with 64 points after 51 games, and has a good chance of dominating Blackhawks.
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