PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NHL Game of the Week
(NHL) San Jose vs. Pittsburgh,
Money Line: 142.00 San Jose (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: 142.00 San Jose (Away)
Result: Loss
The Sharks are a strong road team and in excellent position to steal this first game. Getting a decent plus price seals the deal. The Sharks are helped by winning their Western Conference Finals series in six games while the Penguins had to go the full seven games to eliminate Tampa Bay coming from 3-2 down to accomplish the task. The Penguins have lost the first game in each of their last two series, including getting upset at home in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay.
Home teams are only one game above .500 during the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. San Jose had the best road mark in the league during the regular season at 28-10-3 and own a winning road record during the playoffs. The Sharks were a combined 5-1 on the road against the Kings and Blues in the playoffs.
I feel the Sharks are better than the Penguins. Certainly they make for an excellent value play entering this championship series with the best goal differential in the playoffs at plus 22 and most goals scored with 63. If you discount overtime games - which is basically a crapshoot - the Sharks are 12-3 during the playoffs.
San Jose owns a blue-line advantage on the Penguins. Kris Letang is a stud, but other than him the Penguins defensemen are vulnerable. Remember, too, that Trevor Daley is out for the rest of the playoffs after suffering a broken ankle.
Pittsburgh has speed and depth. But the Penguins' depth is negated in this first game since the Sharks will be fresh having last played this past Wednesday. San Jose certainly can match Pittsburgh's speed. The Sharks also can play the grind game if necessary. They proved their versatility in knocking off the Kings, Predators and Blues - three different style teams.
Both goalies - Martin Jones and Matt Murray - have stepped up during the postseason. But I trust Jones more. He has 12 victories this postseason. No goalie has more. Jones has a 2.12 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.
Murray is a youngster having just turned 22 a few days ago. He has a 2.21 GAA and .924 save percentage. He played great against the Capitals, but had some bad moments against the Lightning, which caused him to get benched in Game 5 of that series.
Home teams are only one game above .500 during the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. San Jose had the best road mark in the league during the regular season at 28-10-3 and own a winning road record during the playoffs. The Sharks were a combined 5-1 on the road against the Kings and Blues in the playoffs.
I feel the Sharks are better than the Penguins. Certainly they make for an excellent value play entering this championship series with the best goal differential in the playoffs at plus 22 and most goals scored with 63. If you discount overtime games - which is basically a crapshoot - the Sharks are 12-3 during the playoffs.
San Jose owns a blue-line advantage on the Penguins. Kris Letang is a stud, but other than him the Penguins defensemen are vulnerable. Remember, too, that Trevor Daley is out for the rest of the playoffs after suffering a broken ankle.
Pittsburgh has speed and depth. But the Penguins' depth is negated in this first game since the Sharks will be fresh having last played this past Wednesday. San Jose certainly can match Pittsburgh's speed. The Sharks also can play the grind game if necessary. They proved their versatility in knocking off the Kings, Predators and Blues - three different style teams.
Both goalies - Martin Jones and Matt Murray - have stepped up during the postseason. But I trust Jones more. He has 12 victories this postseason. No goalie has more. Jones has a 2.12 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.
Murray is a youngster having just turned 22 a few days ago. He has a 2.21 GAA and .924 save percentage. He played great against the Capitals, but had some bad moments against the Lightning, which caused him to get benched in Game 5 of that series.
