San Jose Sharks to face the surging Boston Bruins – NHL Preview
After losing four games in a row, the Boston Bruins have begun to find their rhythm, which indeed is a negative omen for the San Jose Sharks, who badly need victories to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Bruins’ position in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) is safe and they could easily qualify for the playoffs, but the Sharks do not have liberty to enjoy the same fate.
As Sharks host Bruins on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at HP Pavilion, San Jose, California, they are hoping to find their winning momentum back.
Let’s take a look at both teams.
Bruins
They are ranked at second spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points after 72 games.
Bruins are currently on a two-game winning streak, which followed a four-game skid. The victories came against Philadelphia Flyers (3-2 after shootout) and Toronto Maple Leafs (8-0).
Against Leafs, Bruins scored four goals in the first period, three in the second and one in the final as goaltender, Tim Thomas, earned his fifth shutout of the season.
Bruins are going to play their next three games on road and coach, Claude Julien, is hopeful that the team will perform well.
He said:
"I think it's maintaining what we've done over the last couple of games. Our last road trip wasn't a very good one, so we have to make sure we get a better one out of this one. We're going into a territory where there's a lot of desperation, so we certainly
going to have some good challenges."
Sharks
They are ranked at 10th spot in the Western Conference with 82 points after 73 games and are currently on a two-game losing streak with the defeats coming against Anaheim Ducks (5-3) and Los Angeles Kings (5-2).
Against Kings, Sharks played well in the first period by the end of which the score was 1-1. However, Sharks gave away one goal in the second period and three in the final while scoring only one and eventually lost the game.
Sharks’ right wing, Martin Havlat, thinks that the team can still reach the playoffs. He said:
"We just have to focus on what we do. We have everything in our hands, so we just have to start winning.”
Predictions
Bruins have slight edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Sharks win, the winning margin could be less than two goals.
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