Red-Hot Sharks Come Swimming Into New York

Andrew Graziano Updated: Mar 16, 2014

I don’t think anybody wants to re-live or even think about the events that occurred the last time the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers faced off

against each other. But, just to jog your memory, Tuesday, October 8 of 2013 was the night the Rangers fell dreadfully and painfully to the Sharks, by a score-line of 9-2. The game also featured rookie Tomas Hertl scoring four goals, with one of those being a through-the-legs trick shot as he embarrassed then backup goaltender Martin Biron.

That was a bad night for everybody, fans included, but that was early on in the season, with the Rangers still getting used to their new coach and new system. Since that night, New York has seen tremendous improvements, and they are now one of the leaders in a tight divisional playoff race.

However, the Sharks have also seen improvement, and they are scary good.

Shark Bait

The Sharks have picked up at least in a point in their last seven games, and after trailing the league-best Anaheim Ducks by a hefty number of points, the two squads are now tied at 95 points a piece.

San Jose holds a 44-17-7 record, good for third in the Western Conference and also third out of all 30 teams in the league.

With an average age of 28, the beasts from the West have scoring depth up and down their lineup which includes the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, and many more. They are also backed by the goaltending of Antti Niemi, who back in 2010 while with the Chicago Blackhawks, won a Stanley Cup.

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The Rangers are certainly going to have their hands full with this team, but we should still salvage some hope and confidence, as nobody saw the Blueshirts beating the defending champion Blackhawks twice in the same season, but it sure did happen.

If there is one thing we have learned about this Rangers team, it is that they never give up, and they will always fight until the bitter end when the buzzer sounds.

Henrik Lundqvist is expected to be in goal, as he shoots for the history books searching for career win #302. Also fans are hoping they will witness Marty St.Louis’ first goal as a Ranger tomorrow afternoon at The Garden.

The puck drops at 4 pm.

FullTilt Forecast

I’m expecting this one to be a wide-open hockey game with chances back and forth. I have faith in our beloved boys in blue, and they will pull out the W in this contest with a 4-3 score in OT.