NHL Free Picks - San Jose @ Calgary

When the San Jose Sharks meet the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, it will be a tale of two teams locked in different types of playoff position battles.

Despite playing just .500 hockey over its past ten games, the Sharks are battling with the Chicago Blackhawks for the top spot in the Western conference, with home ice advantage through the first three playoff rounds on the line.

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The Flames on the other hand, will be fighting just for a chance to compete in the 2010 postseason, two points back of the Colorado Avalanche for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference with just two games remaining.

San Jose Sharks @ Calgary Flames
Pengrowth Saddledome Arena, Calgary, Alberta
Tuesday April 6, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: TSN
NHL Betting Line: Flames -130
Puck Line: Flames -1.5 +235, Sharks +1.5 -275

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After a big win over the Avalanche that moved them in to a tie with Colorado for the final playoff spot in the west, the Flames’ postseason hopes took another hit when they fell to the Blackhawks in a 4-1 blowout loss on the road. Calgary will welcome San Jose to town, where they beat the Sharks 4-3 a couple of weeks ago, in an attempt to take the season series three to one.

What The Sharks Will Have To Do To Win:

Despite trailing Colorado by two goals nearing the midway mark of the third period on Sunday, the Sharks were able to score two goals in the game’s final 12 minutes to force overtime, and earn a point in an eventual 5-4 loss. That point was crucial to San Jose’s goal of finishing first in the conference, but with just two points separating them and the second place Blackhawks, the Sharks will need a strong finish to earn home ice advantage through the west. This team can score in bunches, as evidenced by San Jose’s three forwards in the top-15 in league scoring, and its nine goal offensive outburst in its only win over the Flames this season. After missing a couple of games with injury, Joe Thornton was back in the lineup for the Sharks in Sunday’s loss, registering two assists. In their only win over Calgary this season, the Sharks scored nine goals, compare to four combined in two losses, which illustrated how Thornton and company will be key to a San Jose win.

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What The Flames Will Have To Do To Win:

Miikka Kiprusoff practically stole the Flames’ win over Colorado with a 35-save effort, but couldn’t stop the powerful Blackhawks in Sunday’s loss. The team in front of him will have to put forward a much better effort if Calgary is going to have any chance of keeping its playoff hopes alive. The Flames have scored just five goals over their last three games, which is simply not going to get it done.

Outlook & Pick:

With the exception of the win over Colorado that could be mainly attributed go goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, the Flames have not responded well in pressure games this season. Calgary fell to the Blackhawks in an important game on Sunday, and now play the team that Chicago is fighting with for the top spot in the west. Expect the same result.

Pick: Sharks -110 - Bet On the NHL NOW! Click Here!