What Bettors Need To Know: Sharks at Blackhawks
United we fall
With a 2-0 series lead, you assume the Chicago Blackhawks would be happy to have home ice for the next two games of the Western Conference final.
However, Chicago has struggled inside the United Center, posting a 3-3 record at home this postseason. The Blackhawks dropped their last game in Chicago, 4-1, to the Vancouver Canucks and surrendered home ice in Game 1 of the conference semifinals, losing 5-1. Overall, Chicago has been outscored 14-19 at the United Center in the playoffs.
"We know how we want to play at home," forward Patrick Kane told NHL.com. "Keep it simple, not give too big of a show. Keep (fans) in the game right off the hop. Sometimes I think at home, whether it's the national anthem or just playing in front of a big crowd, you want to put on a show for them. That's not necessarily what we have to do. The biggest thing is playing a simple game like we have on the road."
The Blackhawks were one of the most successful home teams in hockey this season. They went 29-8-2-2 inside the United Center, scoring 3.26 goals per home contest – third best in the NHL.
Blood in the water
Getting pushed around for the first two games of the series would make any team angry. The San Jose Sharks would rather get even, after losing both games at home to the Blackhawks.
San Jose is looking to up the intensity and push back as the Western Conference semifinal swings to Chicago. The Sharks veteran members are trying to keep that intensity focused on winning and not boil over into frustration.
"Obviously, I don't want to be in this position, but this is a good time for us to come together here and kind of raise our middle finger and just do it together," defenseman Dan Boyle told ESPN. "It's going to take a lot of work."
The Sharks have outshot the Blackhawks in both games but have just three goals to show for their 72 shots on goal.
San Jose struggled on offense against the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round, scoring just one goal in Game 1, getting shutout in Game 3 and netting only two goals in Game 4. However, the Sharks dug in to close out the series with 10 total goals in the final two games. Then they blasted the Detroit Red Wings with three straight four-goal performances before the well went dry again.
The Sharks offense has netted only six total goals in their last four contests, playing under the total in two of those outings.
“I expect them to respond, it’s as simple as that,” San Jose coach Todd McClellan told reporters. “We’ve worked hard to get to where we are. We’ve had to overcome a lot. We’re in a situation where we have to do it again. I think throughout this playoff we’ve built character. This gives us an opportunity now to add to that.
“We’ve always boasted about our leadership in the locker-room, the ability for guys to take others with them and lead them in the right direction. We’ll need that now.”
Weakest link?
Heading into the postseason, most analysts picked the Blackhawks to contend for the Stanley Cup. Their biggest knock against Chicago was goaltender Antti Niemi.
The rookie was thrust into the playoff blender and, while there have been some rough outings, he’s come out as one of the biggest stories in the NHL. Niemi has turned away 69-of-72 shots in this series including holding the Sharks’ talented offense to one goal on 45 shots in Game 1.
“He works hard every day,” defenseman Brian Campbell told Yahoo! Sports. “He’s a good goalie, he’s come a long way. Give him credit for the work he’s put in. He deserves a lot what he’s getting.”
In the postseason, Niemi is 10-4 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. He’s also well aware of the pressure that San Jose will bring after falling two games behind.
“We were ready for them to come at us hard early, and I think they might have got a little frustrated when they didn’t score,” he told reporters. “It would have been a real bad situation for us if they scored, they would have got a lot of energy from this.”
Can the Sharks win in Chicago?
By Judd Hall
The Sharks have been dogged by a past that has earned them the mantle of being “underachievers.” But times appeared to be changing this season after they dropped the Red Wings in five games during the second round.
Two games into the Western Conference Final against the Blackhawks and San Jose’s fans and bettors alike are beginning to feel like they got conned. Now the Sharks, down two-games-to-none, must try to their hopes alive by winning Game 3 in Chicago.
If you’re looking at the stats, then you can see the Sharks are at least trying to make something happen on the attack. They took 45 shots on goal in Game 1 and another 27 in the second game of the series. And what do the kids from Silicon Valley have to show for those cannon shots? Three goals…three freaking goals.
Normally you’ll blame Patrick Marleau along with Joe Thornton for all of San Jose’s past playoff flameouts. But Marleau has actually made himself useful in scoring two goals on the three shots he’s fired against Chicago. Thornton, however, has done his usual disappearing act with just five shots to his credit. Dany Heatley has taken Marleau’s place as a non-factor so far with just one assist to show for his work.
As bad as the effort has been by the Sharks’ top players, some of their woes can be attributed to some fantastic goaltending. Antti Niemi has been on fire between the pipes for Chicago in the last two rounds of the playoffs. He’s posted a 2.15 goals against average and an impressive .930 save percentage since May 3 at home against Vancouver.
What could be problematic for Niemi is his play during the playoffs at the United Center. The Finnish backstop is just 3-3 in six home postseason tests, posting a 2.82 GAA and surprisingly lackluster .887 save percentage.
Niemi does have the advantage of having one of the better attacks in front of him for the playoffs. Jonathan Toews has rolled up seven goals during the postseason, while Patrick Kane has lit the lamp seven times on his own in this tournament. Someone who has come out of nowhere to become an X-Factor for the Blackhawk is right winger Dustin Byfuglien. The Minnesota native has scored all six of his goals in Chicago’s last six games. Plus, Byfuglien is riding a three-game goal scoring streak.
That trio of strikers has made Evgeni Nabokov’s life a living hell. Nabby has stopped 91 percent of the shots he’s seen in the playoffs with a 2.53 GAA. Yet Nabokov can’t help but give up some really weak goals. It may sound like opinion, but San Jose’s goalie has surrendered about four softies to the ‘Hawks in this season.
The oddsmakers aren’t liking the Sharks’ chances in Game 3 as they’ve tabbed Chicago as a $1.55 home “chalk” (risk $155 to win $100) with a total of 5 ½.
This is a rough spot for gamblers to want to back San Jose. Over the last five season, the Sharks have gone 3-6 in games as road pups when they have scored two goals or less in back-to-back tilts. The ‘over’ is 7-2 in those games.
Chicago has been a great wager when posted as a home favorite after giving up two or fewer goals in back-to-back contests, evidenced by a 12-4 mark. The ‘under’ is 10-5-1 for the Blackhawks in this spot.
Gamblers can always take the Sharks on the puck line (+1 ½-goals) at minus-220 (risk $220 to win $100). While that is a lot of money to lay down at the betting shop, it isn’t a bad risk. That’s because Chicago has only covered the puck line in (-1 ½-goals) in three of its last 10 home games after giving up two or fewer goals in its past two fixtures.
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San Jose Sharks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
The San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at United Center.
Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist to lead the Blackhawks over the Sharks 4-2 in Game 2 of the Western Conference final on Tuesday night.
Chicago won as +135 road underdogs, while the game played OVER the 5.5-goal total set by oddsmakers.
Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith put up two helpers apiece for the Blackhawks, who now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Patrick Marleau scored twice for San Jose, while Dan Boyle assisted on both markers for San Jose.
Team records:
San Jose: 51-20-11
Chicago: 52-22-8
San Jose most recently:
When playing on Friday are 9-1
Before playing Toronto are 4-4-1
After playing Chicago are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Friday are 3-6-1
Before playing Edmonton are 5-5
After playing San Jose are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
San Jose is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 8 games when playing Chicago
San Jose is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 8 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games when playing San Jose
Next up:
Chicago home to San Jose, Sunday, May 23
SAN JOSE (59-24-0-12, 130 pts.) at CHICAGO (62-26-0-8, 132 pts.)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN JOSE is 60-45 ATS (-19.8 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 35-16 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO is 26-7 ATS (+14.0 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO is 56-27 ATS (+20.0 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 35-17 ATS (+9.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN JOSE is 13-3 ATS (+9.6 Units) in road games revenging a home loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 13-3 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 37-55 ATS (-32.8 Units) in home games on Friday nights since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 7-7 (+1.0 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 7-7-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.7 Units)
SAN JOSE vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 8 games when playing Chicago
San Jose is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 8 games when playing San Jose
Chicago is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against San Jose
Western Conference Finals - Best of 7 - CHI leads 2-0
SAN JOSE at CHICAGO
SAN JOSE: 4-9 SU off BB home losses
CHICAGO: 10-0 SU at home after allowing 2 goals in BB games