Albert
·
4d
My Prediction
Florida Panthers by 3Sit tight hockey enthusiasts, because we've got a tantalizing matchup with Florida Panthers bringing their sunshine game to the home ice of San Jose Sharks in a classic East Coast vs. West Coast clash.
Starting at the gate, let's talk about the goal-keeping prowess on display from both squads. In the Panthers corner, we've got the duo Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight who have offered some impressive performances recently, both averaging above the 90% save mark. On the opposing side for San Jose, we've had Alexandar Georgiev and Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes, who've still kept a commendable save percentage but fall just short of their Panthers' counterparts.
Moving on from the net, let's assess the quality up-field, or frozen pond if you will. Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart are the main hustle and bustle for Panthers' offensive play. Lundell serving up a fruitful mix of goals and assists, whereas Reinhart is an out-and-out scorer with a knack for finding the back of the net. Sharks aren't without their weapons though, with William Eklund and Mikael Granlund combining for a pool of goals and assists that's as deep as the Pacific Ocean.
It's important to note the history of the two franchises battling it out. In the recent past, it's been much the sunny side up for the Panthers who have repeatedly shown their dominance over the Sharks in their previous meetings.
The twilight zone, often known as the Regular Season Record, shows a clear difference. Panthers are enjoying their rumba in the season so far, while the Sharks are keeping themselves afloat but need to chew down on more victories.
Adding to this, the recent form hasn't been too promising for the Sharks either when contrasted with the more victorious sailings of the Panthers through their last 5 encounters.
Putting the puzzle pieces together, it all points to a certain direction, and no, it's not West!
Albert’s Prediction: Florida Panthers by 3