PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOTAL DOMINATION (Wednesday) >> 29-17-2 Last 9 Days!
(NHL) San Jose vs. Edmonton,
Total: 5.00 | 100.00 Under
Result: Push
Total: 5.00 | 100.00 Under
Result: Push
The set-up: The 46-29-7 San Jose Sharks made the Stanley Cup Finals (lost to the Penguins) last season, the first in franchise history. They are back in the playoffs again this year but 'limp in' having lost nine of their last 13 games. The 46-26-9 Edmonton Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division, four points ahead of the Sharks, thanks to a 12-2-0 run over their final 14 contests.Edmonton will be participating in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2006!
San Jose: Logan Couture (52 points) and Joe Thornton (50) are both questionable for Game 1, after missing the final seven and three games with facial and knee injuries, respectively. They have both practiced each of the last two days but are not guaranteed to rejoin the lineup Wednesday. Other key players were also held out of the Sharks' final game of the regular season, including defenseman Justin Braun, veteran forward Joel Ward and, most notably, captain Joe Pavelski, who tied for the team lead with 29 goals.
Edmonton: Connor McDavid ended the regular season with a 14-game point streak, scoring seven goals and adding 18 assists during his run. He finished with 100 points to capture the Art Ross Trophy (30 goals and 70 assists). He joins Wayne Gretzky as the only Oilers to win the regular-season scoring title and became the third-youngest player in NHL history - behind Sidney Crosby and Gretzky - to capture the Art Ross Trophy at 20 years, 86 days. Edmonton made the largest increase in points (33) in the league after placing 29th last season.
The pick: Even if both Couture and Thornton play in Game 1, will they be close to 100 percent? That said, what San Jose does have over Edmonton is experience. The Sharks are the reigning Western Conference champs and their roster is filled with veterans who have long playoffs resumes. In contrast, for many of the key Oilers players, this will be their first playoff experience.Let's not ignore that Edmonton was 25-12-4 at home and hasn't lost at home since March 12. Todd McLellan was a fixture in San Jose, coaching the Sharks through 540 regular-season games and 62 playoff matches. However, after he and the Sharks mutually agreed to part ways following the 2014-15 season, he was tasked with taking over the Oilers, a rebuilding team that hadn't made the playoffs since 2006. In his second behind the bench in Edmonton, he has led the Oilers to their first 100-point season in 30 years and faces his ex-team in the first round. This is a great first round matchup and I say make the Over a 10* play.
San Jose: Logan Couture (52 points) and Joe Thornton (50) are both questionable for Game 1, after missing the final seven and three games with facial and knee injuries, respectively. They have both practiced each of the last two days but are not guaranteed to rejoin the lineup Wednesday. Other key players were also held out of the Sharks' final game of the regular season, including defenseman Justin Braun, veteran forward Joel Ward and, most notably, captain Joe Pavelski, who tied for the team lead with 29 goals.
Edmonton: Connor McDavid ended the regular season with a 14-game point streak, scoring seven goals and adding 18 assists during his run. He finished with 100 points to capture the Art Ross Trophy (30 goals and 70 assists). He joins Wayne Gretzky as the only Oilers to win the regular-season scoring title and became the third-youngest player in NHL history - behind Sidney Crosby and Gretzky - to capture the Art Ross Trophy at 20 years, 86 days. Edmonton made the largest increase in points (33) in the league after placing 29th last season.
The pick: Even if both Couture and Thornton play in Game 1, will they be close to 100 percent? That said, what San Jose does have over Edmonton is experience. The Sharks are the reigning Western Conference champs and their roster is filled with veterans who have long playoffs resumes. In contrast, for many of the key Oilers players, this will be their first playoff experience.Let's not ignore that Edmonton was 25-12-4 at home and hasn't lost at home since March 12. Todd McLellan was a fixture in San Jose, coaching the Sharks through 540 regular-season games and 62 playoff matches. However, after he and the Sharks mutually agreed to part ways following the 2014-15 season, he was tasked with taking over the Oilers, a rebuilding team that hadn't made the playoffs since 2006. In his second behind the bench in Edmonton, he has led the Oilers to their first 100-point season in 30 years and faces his ex-team in the first round. This is a great first round matchup and I say make the Over a 10* play.
