Blackhawks Sharks Betting – Blackhawks Will Edge Sharks In Long Series
While the Eastern Conference has been full of surprises, NHL betting fans get a real treat in the West with the top two teams advancing to the conference finals. The Sharks will have home ice advantage since the Blackhawks lost on the final game of the year. The Sharks might need that advantage, though, as they lost three of the four meetings between the teams in the regular season.
The Story
The Blackhawks and Sharks were the two best teams in the Western Conference throughout the regular season and now they are going to square off.
The difference in this series will be puck-possession as when the Blackhawks can play their style, they are tough to beat. If the Sharks can force them to play a different style, they will likely win.
Overall, this has the makings of a new rivalry that should be fantastic for years to come.
Who Has The Edge On Offense: Blackhawks vs Sharks?
Both teams have stellar offensive weapons but they go about accomplishing the same task in different ways.
The Sharks have some real playmakers like Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Joe Pavelski, but the difference is that the Blackhawks have a little bit more depth.
The Blackhawks have four forwards to match with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien and Marian Hossa, but they have better balance as the lines go deeper.
This matchup is as close as it gets.
Edge: EvenWho Has The Edge On Defense/Goaltending: Blackhawks vs Sharks?
The edge on defense has to go to the Blackhawks as online betting fans know that they have better depth.
With Brian Campbell back, the Blackhawks blue line now consists of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Sopel and Jordan Hendry.
The Sharks can match at the top end but they don’t have the depth. Dan Boyle and Rob Blake will have a big task shutting down the Blackhawks top line but the likes of Douglas Murray, Kent Huskins, Niclas Wallin and Jason Demers aren’t of the same ilk as the Blackhawks depth.
In net, the Sharks have a slight edge as Evgeni Nabokov has more experience but Antti Niemi has been phenomenal this year, so that evens the playing field between the pipes.
Edge: BlackhawksWho Has The Edge In Experience: Blackhawks vs Sharks?
The Sharks have been in the playoffs longer but they are known as chokers. As per usual, everyone is waiting on them to choke.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks were in the conference finals last year and they have that hunger to succeed.
For the most part, this is pretty much a wash.
Edge: EvenWho Will Win The Blackhawks vs Sharks Series?
Sports betting fans know the Blackhawks don’t have home ice advantage but they don’t need it. They are just 3-3 at the United Center this postseason and they have still made it to the conference finals.
The Sharks have size but the Blackhawks have a slight edge in skill. When they are motivated, they are tough to beat and that will be the story again in this series.
