NHL Hockey Betting - San Jose Sharks

NHL Betting 2007-08 – San Jose Sharks
Manager: Ron Wilson
Arena: HP Pavilion
Last Season: 51-26-5, 107 pts (2nd Pacific, 5th Western Conference)
2008 Prediction: 4th Western Conference

Preseason Odds to win Stanley Cup: +550

It’s hard to vault the Sharks up as the favorites in the West because every time the experts speak so confidently about them, they fall flat on their face. They enter the 2007-08 season virtually unchanged, although they shipped off Vesa Toskala to Toronto, leaving Evgeni Nabokov as their only viable goalie. Their NHL betting odds are good, but they always are at the start of the season.

How scary is this offense? Joe Thornton was injured and abysmal in the first half of last season. Then, in the second half of the season, he was easily the best player on the ice, and finished second in points behind Sidney Crosby of the Penguins. Thornton will be flanked by the usual suspects of Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo, who needs to return to his 2005-06 form.

The Sharks are feared mostly for their team defense, which ranked seventh in the league. They lack any big name player in the defensive side, but their goal tending and team defense swarmed the puck so efficiently that it made it virtually impossible for teams to score on them. Nabokov has all the skills to be an elite goaltender, but hasn’t made the leap. The Sharks are banking on the fact that this is his year, because he lacks a viable backup.

The Sharks will remain a strong regular season play for the NHL bettor because of their fantastic team defense and potent scoring offense. They are a well-balanced team that may have found some unexpected leadership in the curious signing of Jeremy Roenick. But the Sharks have a history of being defined in the playoffs, which might make them a tough play for the Stanley Cup. But in the regular season, don’t shy away from these vicious Sharks.

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Official Website: www.sjsharks.com