New york islanders vs san jose sharks
A great matchup between two teams with rich histories in the NHL!
Here's a brief preview of the New York Islanders vs San Jose Sharks game:
New York Islanders
- Record: 34-23-7 (75 points)
- Standings: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, 6th in the Eastern Conference
- Strengths: Strong defense, led by captain Anders Lee and defenseman Ryan Pulock. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been solid, with a.913 SV% and 2.64 GAA.
- Weaknesses: Scoring has been inconsistent, with only 2.83 goals per game (22nd in the league). The power play has struggled, converting at just 17.4% (26th in the league).
San Jose Sharks
- Record: 33-24-8 (74 points)
- Standings: 4th in the Pacific Division, 8th in the Western Conference
- Strengths: High-powered offense, led by forwards Logan Couture, Timo Meier, and Tomas Hertl. Goaltender Martin Jones has been reliable, with a.913 SV% and 2.83 GAA.
- Weaknesses: Defense has been a concern, with a 3.14 GAA (24th in the league). The penalty kill has struggled, converting at just 76.5% (26th in the league).
Head-to-Head
- The Islanders and Sharks have met 14 times in the regular season, with the Sharks holding a 7-5-2 advantage.
- The Islanders have won two of the last three meetings, including a 4-2 victory in their most recent matchup on December 14, 2020.
Prediction
This should be a tight, low-scoring game between two teams with strong defensive systems. The Islanders' Varlamov will need to be sharp to contain the Sharks' potent offense, while the Sharks' Jones will face a similar challenge against the Islanders' skilled forwards. I predict a 2-1 or 3-2 victory for the Islanders, with Varlamov making the difference in goal.