NHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference Quarterfinals Game Three: Sharks vs. Kings

Betting Online Overview

The San Jose Sharks are still trying to figure out what hit them in game two of this series when the Los Angeles Kings won 4-0. The MLB baseball betting has been put on hold in Los Angeles while the Kings show some much-needed aggression against a more talented San Jose team. What happened to the Sharks in game two is that none of their star players produced at all. Antti Niemi was awful in goal, Joe Thornton only had one shot on goal and Patrick Marleau logged almost 20 minutes of ice time with no results. In order for the Sharks to win, their big players need to play well. When the Sharks’ top talent falls on its collective face, you get results like game two.

For the Los Angeles Kings, they finally had some players step up and fill in the gap left behind by the injured Anze Kopitar. Drew Doughty, a defenseman who is known for his scoring touch, finally came to life with two goals and two assists in this game.

The Kings other scoring defenseman Jack Johnson also pitched in a goal and an assist. Goaltender Jonathan Quick turned aside 34 San Jose shots to preserve his shutout, and he was especially impressive turning back 15 first period shots. NHL fans know that the Kings need to play a team game to win, and that is exactly what the Kings did in game two.

San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are in a familiar position, but it is unfamiliar this early in the playoffs. Most Sharks fans know that San Jose has a habit of crumbling in the playoffs, but it normally happens in the Conference Finals. The Sharks showed no emotion and no ambition in game two, and the result of the game shows it. Antti Niemi only faced 23 shots, but four of them went in. His defense let him down, but Niemi was also out of position a great deal. The Sharks offense needs to take command of the game and keep the puck in the Los Angeles end if they want to win.

Los Angeles Kings
Patience is the key word in the game plan for the Los Angeles Kings in this series. If the Kings keep doing what they do well, getting shots in from the point and digging the puck out of the corner, then they will win this series. The lack of Anze Kopitar has shown a spotlight on the Kings’ scoring defense, and that is exactly what the Kings need. In this game, the Kings will have the hometown crowd on their hands, and Los Angeles sports fans are looking for a winner to cling to at this point.

The Bottom Line
The Kings looked very disciplined and determined in game two, while the Sharks looked listless and uninterested. The Sharks have to remember that the Kings are a skating team. From the forwards to the defense, the Kings love to move the puck and skate the boards. The Sharks cannot continue to sit back and hope that they will eventually get their chances. With the way the Kings play the game, the Sharks may have a difficult time creating chances to score on Jonathan Quick.

BSN Sports Pick: Los Angeles Kings