San Jose Sharks seeking recovery as they travel to play Toronto Maple Leafs – NHL Preview
Presently on one of their worst road trip of the current National Hockey League (NHL) season, the San Jose Sharks are feared to lose their safe status in the Western Conference if a recovery is not shown.
The Sharks could get rid of the skid as they are now up against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who too are performing poorly of late and could also lose their safe status in Eastern Conference.
Both the teams are going to face off on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Let’s have a look at both the teams.
Sharks
Sharks started their nine-game road trip midway through this month and after playing six games on road, they have only won one and are currently on a four-game losing streak.
The recent defeats came against Tampa Bay Lightning (6-5 in overtime), Carolina Hurricanes (3-2), Detroit Red Wings (3-2) and Columbus Blue Jackets (6-3).
Except for the defeat against the Red Wings, all the other loses were hard to explain and the prominence of defensive inability was tough to answer for almost everyone.
Against the feeble Blue Jackets, the Sharks conceded four goals in the first period. They scored two in the second, but, at the same time, gave away one.
In the final period, both teams scored apiece.
Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, said after the game:
"They were much better prepared to compete than the white team. The disappointing thing for me is the lack of urgency that we entered the game with."
Sharks are ranked at third spot in the Western Conference with 69 points after 58 games.
Leafs
Leafs are also lacking on their defence and have lost six out of their last seven games with the recent defeats coming against Vancouver Canucks (6-2) and New Jersey Devils (4-3 in overtime).
The Devils got a two-goal advantage in the first period and never allowed Leafs to take over. Although Leafs did manage to level the score twice, they just could not get past the Devils.
Leafs’ captain, Dion Phaneuf, however, was satisfied as the team registered a strong comeback and fought hard to take the game to overtime.
He said:
"As a group we've got to take it as a real big positive to get that point. It's not the way we wanted it to end, but to get that point at that point of the game, it's huge.”
Leafs are ranked at eight spot in the Eastern Conference with 65 points after 60 games.
Predictions
Sharks will win.
The sum of goals scored by both the teams will stay under six.
If Leafs get a victory, the winning margin will be two or less goals.
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