Series: Series Tied 3-3
Location: SAP Center
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET; (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS)
Overview:
The San Jose Sharks will host their second Game 7 matchup this postseason on Wednesday night at SAP Center. Both teams played each other in Game 7 in 2002, with Colorado winning 1-0. So far this series both teams failed to win consecutive games. The winner of this matchup will face the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final.
Sharks Notes, Headline, and Lineup
This is a familiar situation for San Jose after beating the Vegas Golden Knights in an incredible 5-4 overtime win in the first round. San Jose is 7-4 all-time in Game 7. With their head coach, Peter DeBoer, they are 3-0 in Game 7. When it comes to experience in Game 7s, the Sharks have the upper hand. The whole team played 55 career Game 7s heading into the game.
In Game 6, Brent Burns scored one goal and Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored twice. The defensemen have been helping the Sharks stay on the scoresheet. The Avalanche will be putting pressure on the Sharks top defenseman to limit their scoring chances on goaltender Philipp Grubauer.
Pavelski Potential Return?
Captain Joe Pavelski took part in the morning skate. He is a game-time decision. He had missed the last six games due to an undisclosed injury he suffered from Game 7 against the Vegas Golden Knights. In seven Stanley Cup Playoff games, he scored four points (two goals, two assists)
Sharks projected lineup
Forwards
Timo Meier — Logan Couture – Gustav Nyquist
Evander Kane — Tomas Hertl — Joonas Donskoi
Marcus Sorensen — Joe Thornton — Kevin Labanc
Micheal Haley — Barclay Goodrow — Melker Karlsson
Defense
Marc-Edouard Vlasic — Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon — Erik Karlsson
Joakim Ryan — Justin Braun
Starting Goalie
Martin Jones
Avalanche Notes, Headline, and Lineup
Colorado is 4-6 all-time in Game 7. The pressure is on Colorado as they face a loud SAP Center crowd. They avoided elimination in Game 6 with 4-3 overtime at Pepsi Arena. Captain, Gabriel Landeskog scored the overtime winner to force Game 7. Game 7 will be a huge test for this young team. It will also be the first Game 7 for head coach Jared Bednar. According to multiple reports, the Avalanche will roll with seven defensemen tonight. Forward Matt Calvert will miss his second consecutive game with an undisclosed injury.
Matt Calvert won’t play. It’ll be 7 D again #game7 @BSNDenver #COLvsSJS
— Adrian Dater (@adater) May 8, 2019
Top Line Production
Colorado top line struggled in Game 6. Even though Landeskog scored the game-winning goal, both Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen failed to score a point. Another thing is MacKinnon and Rantanen were minus-9 in the whole game. In all three losses, they only combined for three total points (one goal, two assists). With the three wins, they scored nine points (four goals, five assists). There is no doubt that the top line will be the X factor for Colorado. If they want to win this game, that line needs to be the difference maker.
Avalanche projected lineup
Forwards
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Colin Wilson — Tyson Jost — Alexander Kerfoot
Matt Nieto — Carl Soderberg — J.T. Compher
Gabriel Bourque — Derick Brassard
Defense
Samuel Girard — Cale Makar
Nikita Zadorov — Tyson Barrie
Ian Cole — Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth
Starting Goalie
Philipp Grubauer
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