NHL Western Conference Final - Game 2

Can Blackhawks Back The Sharks Into A Corner?

Unlike the East, this is a conference final many had predicted. However, not many people predicted that game one of the series was going to be a goaltending showcase; not with the potent offense each team possesses. But that’s what we got in the opener. Sharks net-minder Evgeni Nabokov was spectacular in the loss, making 28 saves. However, Antii Niemi was even better, making 44 saves to put his Blackhawks up 1-0 in the series. The Finnish goalie silenced a lot of critics who still claimed he wasn’t ready to lead a team to the Stanley Cup. A couple more games like that and he’ll quiet the rest of them. It wasn’t just the amount of saves that made Niemi impressive; it was who he was saving. The Sharks top-six forwards had a combined 23 shots, and Niemi stopped them all. San Jose’s only goal came from a deflected shot on the power play that Patrick Roy would have had trouble stopping. In summation, Niemi was pretty damn good in game one.  

Chicago Blackhawks @ San Jose Sharks

Western Conference Finals Game 2 (Blackhawks lead 1-0)

Tuesday, May 18^th - 10:00 PM EST

HP Pavilion, San Jose, California

Broadcast: VS., TSN  

NHL Playoff Betting Line: Sharks -140

Puck Line: Sharks -1.5 +215, Blackhawks +1.5 -255

What The Blackhawks Have To Do To Win:

Niemi cannot be expected to put in that kind of performance each game; that’s too much to ask even for an experienced veteran. Luckily, the Blackhawks have a team good enough to give their goalie a rest when they need too. Chicago should take a page out of their Vancouver-playbook in this one. That means crashing the net hard (I’m looking at you Dustin Byfuglian) and getting a physical presence in front of Nabokov. It’s this kind of back-to-basics play that has the Blackhawks so successful on the road this postseason. Chicago has won six-straight away from the Windy City, mainly because of their unwillingness to put on a show. The team has acknowledged that sometimes, when at home, they may take risks and make fancy plays in order to get the home crowd riled up. That attitude does not exist outside the United Center, and it’s been a major reason why the Blackhawks have been so successful on the road.  

What The Sharks Have To Do To Win:

San Jose doesn’t have to change their game-plan much in game two. They got off 45 shots against the Blackhawks, many of which were quality chances. The top lines were shooting, the team was drawing penalties, and they didn’t look majorly sloppy at any point of the game. They were just beaten by a goaltender that was playing unbelievable hockey. San Jose’s approach to game two should be very similar to game one. Their forwards are bigger than Chicago’s, and should use their physicality to get quality scoring chances. It’s unlikely that Niemi is going to have another game like he did in game one; if the Sharks play the way they did in that first game against a Niemi that isn’t playing unbelievably, the Sharks will get their goals. 

Outlook & Pick

Chicago’s road record cannot be overlooked. Not only are they on a six-game streak in the playoffs, but the Hawks had one of the best road records in the NHL during the regular season (23-14-4). Only San Jose and Los Angeles had more wins on the road. The Blackhawks know how to play in hostile territory; it’s a simple as that. It should be more of the same in game two.  

NHL Playoff Betting Pick: Blackhawks