Red Wings vs Sharks | Game 1 Prediction & Pick

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Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks NHL Pick

The stage is set for two teams with a history as the San Jose Sharks host the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of the best-of-seven NHL Western Conference Semifinals on Friday.

Date/Time: Friday, April 29, 10:00 PM ET
Venue: The HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.
Broadcast: Versus

Money Line: Detroit +105, San Jose -125
Spread: San Jose -1 ½
Over/Under: 5 ½

The Red Wings will now get the opportunity to avenge last year’s five-game Conference semifinal loss to San Jose — with the difference being more rest.

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In 2010, Detroit was entering its second round matchup with the Sharks on the heels of a seven-game series with Phoenix, who they dismantled this season, sweeping the series 4-0 on April 20. The team will have had eight days rest by the time the puck drops at the HP Pavilion on Friday night, and that could be just enough time to get some of the Wings key players back on the ice.

Swede Henrik Zetterberg, who led his club with 80 points in the regular season, missed the entire first round, but has been practicing during his club’s extended break between rounds.  The 2008 Conn Smythe winner is expected to play in Game 1 of this series.

Other players who could return are leading goal scorer Johan Franzen (28) who missed the final game of the Phoenix series with an ankle injury, and defenseman Ruslan Salei.

Meanwhile, the Sharks, after making an early exit in the playoffs for the past four years, came into this year’s postseason as the second seed in the West after claiming its fourth straight Pacific Division crown. The Sharks then dispatched division rival Los Angeles in six games to make it to the second round of the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.

San Jose got a balanced scoring attack in its series with the Kings, having seven players who scored two or more goals, led by Ryane Clowe with four. Clowe also paced the team in scoring with seven points versus LA.

Joe Pavelski netted three goals, while Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Logan Couture, and Jason Demers each contributed a pair. Pavelski had a brilliant series against Detroit in last year’s playoffs, notching four goals and three assists while Thornton had three goals and five assists.

Likewise, the Red Wings had five players who netted two or more goals in their first round series with the Coyotes, including three-time Selke Award winner Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom, Patrick Eaves, Franzen, and Brian Rafalski. Fellow defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom, who is a finalist for the Norris Trophy yet again this season, joined Rafalski with two points from the blue line.

With all that scoring, goaltending could be the deciding factor in Round 2, and the Red Wings seem to hold a slight edge. Goaltender Jimmy Howard had a solid first round, allowing 10 goals on 118 shots for a .915 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA. Meanwhile, San Jose’s Antti Niemi is certainly not at the top of his game. Against Los Angeles, Niemi registered a 3.99 goals against average and a poor .863 save percentage.

Still the Sharks are the slight favorites heading into this year’s matchup.

San Jose may have outlasted the Wings in five games in last season’s conference semifinal, but all four of its wins were decided by one-goal margins while Detroit’s victory came in a 7-1 blowout.

The Red Wings and Sharks have met four times in the playoffs with each team having won two series.

The odds makers have the San Jose Sharks as a -1.5 point favorite with an over/under of 5.5.

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Matt’s Free Prediction: Sharks- This should be a highly competitive and physical game between a pair of division champions. While I think this series will need a game seven decision, the young Sharks will take Game 1, even over a well-rested or “rusted” Wings squad.

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