Tue 17/05/2016 - 09:32 EDT

NHL Western Conference Final Game 2 Preview

NHL Western Conference Final Game 2 Preview

The NHL’s best road team during the regular season, the San Jose Sharks have lost four straight road playoff games heading into Game 2 of the Western Conference final Tuesday in St. Louis against the Blues.

NHL Western Conference Finals Betting Lines

By Bob Duff

San Jose Sharks (+115) at St. Louis Blues (-120)

joe t 

Both the Blues and Sharks opted to stay off the ice Monday on the off-day between Games 1 and 2. That left speculation on any changes the teams might opt to implement a complete guessing game, though there is a belief that Sharks coach Peter DeBoer may drop Patrick Marleau back to this third-line center role in order to give his forward lines more balance against the deep group of St. Louis forwards.

Sharks forward Matt Nieto, out the past two games with an undisclosed injury, remains listed as day to day and while he's expected to play at some point in this series, Game 2 seems unlikely. The NHL's best road team during the regular season with 28 wins, San Jose has lost four in a row on the road in the playoffs after starting postseason play with three successive road victories at the Staples Center in the opening round against the Los Angeles Kings.

Since his only shaky outing of the playoffs in Game 6 of the second round against the Dallas Stars, Blues goalie Brian Elliott has returned to the netminder who led the NHL in save percentage (.930) and was second in goals-against average (2.07) during the regular season, making 32 saves in their 2-1 Game 1 victory. Elliott improved to 4-0 against the Sharks in the playoffs with a 1.29 GAA and .954 save percentage. 

Blues captain David Backes scored a goal and dished out 11 hits in Game 1, three fewer than accounted for by the entire Sharks team. With 7-6-13 numbers in 15 games this playoff, Backes has matched his output (5-8-13) from his first 29 career playoff contests.

Jori Lehtera's game winner in Game 1 was just the second career Stanley Cup goal for the Blues forward and only his second goal in his last 27 games. The Blues won Game 1 against the Sharks for the first time in five playoff meetings between the teams. Clubs winning Game 1 of a conference final series own a .698 all-time winning percentage (67-29). The Sharks are 4-11 in series in which they've lost Game 1 and are 0-5 in series following a set that they required seven games to win.

Pick: The Sharks (+115)  

Category : News

More articles...
News - 07/05/25
UFC 315 Bets: Belal Muhammad vs Jack Della Maddalena Picks 

What: UFC 315 Who: Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena in the main event Where: Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada When: Saturday, May 10 at 9 p.m. ET How to watch: PPV event Who's ready for another incredible UFC event? That's what we've got on the way, as UFC 315 is here and people can't […]

News - 29/04/25
Kentucky Derby 2025: All roads lead through Burnham Square 

The most exciting two minutes in sports are almost here: the 2025 Kentucky Derby happens Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs! The race features 20 of the best three-year-olds in the country running a testing 1 ΒΌ miles at Churchill Downs. At stake are a $5 million purse, a blanket of roses, and the right […]

News - 11/04/25
Jaron Ennis is a Big Favorite to Beat Eimantas Stanionis in Their Boxing Bout 

What: Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis boxing bout Where: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey When: Saturday, April 12 at 10 p.m. ET How to watch: DAZN Who's ready for an exciting matchup inside of the ring this weekend? Come Saturday night, there's an exciting matchup on the way between Jaron Ennis […]

News - 10/04/25
Scottie Scheffler is a Small Favorite to Win The Masters in 2025 

What: The Masters When: April 10-13 Where: Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia How to watch: CBS Arguably the biggest and best golf tournament of the year is here. That's right, we're talking about The Masters, an event that golf fans can't wait to arrive every spring. Already, the course at Augusta is filled with people […]