San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks NHL Pick
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The Vancouver Canucks have the San Jose Sharks exactly where they want them, down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. But can they finish them off on Tuesday in Game 5, or will they find themselves exactly where they were against Chicago and Nashville at the final buzzer?
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 24, 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.
Broadcast: Versus
Money Line: San Jose +150, Vancouver -170
Spread: Vancouver -1 1/ 2
Over/Under: 5½
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In round one against the Blackhawks, the Canucks needed seven games to oust Chicago. After taking a 3-0 series lead, the Hawks took the next three and narrowly missed advancing, losing 2-1 in double overtime at the Rogers Center.
Then once again, Vancouver stormed out of the gate taking a 3-1 advantage into Game 5 against semifinal foe Nashville, but allowed the Predators to stay alive with a win that forced a deciding Game 6, where they eliminated their opponent with a 4-3 win at home.
Similarly, San Jose experienced its share of Game 5 disappointments, and after having the Los Angeles Kings on the ropes, 3-1 in the quarterfinals, needed an extra one to dethrone LA on its home ice. Then in the semis San Jose again stole three in a row, but after giving up the next three, would need a Game 7 to dispatch the mighty Red Wings.
So it would be safe to say that neither team has been able to clinch the final game after taking a 3-1 lead or better.
To further complicate betting angles, the Canucks lost both of their Game 5 decisions at the Rogers Center, and have an overall postseason record of 4W-3L at home and 4W-2L on the road.
Meanwhile, San Jose came up short in both their prior Game 5 bouts at the Shark Tank, and have fared much better on the road then at home, winning four times away from the Bay this postseason, while only losing twice.
But the Sharks will need to do much better than they did in Game 4, allowing Vancouver to score three unanswered goals in a dizzying two-minute stretch of three straight five-on-three power plays that gave the Canucks a 4-2 victory in Game 4 on Sunday.
Sami Salo scored twice and Ryan Kesler added another, as the three goals were the fastest in the playoffs for the Canucks, beating the previous mark of 2:18 against Calgary in 1989.
Henrik Sedin helped set up the three goals while also assisting on Alexandre Burrows’ even-strength goal in the third period. That assist set a franchise record for assists in a game, increasing Sedin’s league-leading total to 19 points this postseason.
Daniel Sedin also had a say in the game’s outcome with three assists of his own, as the Sharks seemed to have no answer for twins.
San Jose also failed to capitalize on five early power-play chances and was eventually done in with a barrage of bad penalties.
In a series dominated by special teams play, San Jose must capitalize on the extra man advantage, while staying out of the sin bin if they want to stay in the race for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The odds makers have the Vancouver Canucks as a -1.5 point favorite with an over/under of 5.5.
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Matt’s Free Prediction: Sharks –The Canucks can reach the Finals for the first time since 1994 by winning Game 5 at home, but the Sharks have more of a penchant for winning on the road than do the Canucks at home. I expect the Sharks to buckle down and win this one to send the series back to San Jose.
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