Event of the Day: San Jose Sharks versus Las Vegas Golden Knights
Our event of the day is a second round NHL Playoffs matchup between the 3rd seed San Jose Sharks and the 1st seed Las Vegas Golden Knights at the SAP Center in San Jose. This fixture is the fourth game of the series with the first three ending 7-0 Knights, 4-3 Sharks in double overtime, and 4-3 Knights in overtime. Both of these teams are playing well after coming off sweeps in the first round over the Kings and the Ducks and it has led to fast paced, hard hitting hockey. Excluding game one were the Knights destroyed the Sharks 7-0, the series overall has been very close with both other games heading into a least one period of extra time. Both teams also field explosive offensive players with William Karlsson and Reilly Smith leading the Knights with 9 points each in the playoffs while Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski share the Sharks lead with 7 apiece.
However these offensive threats do have their hands full with the opposing goalkeepers, Marc-Andre Fluery, one of the best goal keepers in the game, is in net for the Knights and Martin Jones, who other than a terrible game 1 has matched him blow for blow, is in net for the Sharks. If the Sharks wish to even up this series, they must continue to pepper Marc-André Fleury with shots like game three when they forced 39 saves. Even though it was a losing effort this kind of offensive aggression is what San Jose needs to win. In order for the Knights to squander the Sharks home field advantage and take one more step in this historic expansion season they must continue to take advantage of their superior player depth and the Sharks fatigue from playing in back to back overtime games. It should be a great game in San Jose tonight.
Honourable Mentions around the globe go to the second UEFA Champions League Semi-Final match between Liverpool and Roma. The first leg was dominated by Liverpool, 5-2, who were paced by the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year, Mohamad Salah, who had two goals and two assists. However Roma still have fight in them as they defeated Barcelona last round after facing a 4-1 deficit in the first leg. This should be a fast paced, intense game with two high class sides fighting for a final spot. Elsewhere around the sporting world the NBA Playoffs continue with the 1st seed Rockets and 5th seed Jazz meeting in the West. The MLB season is also in full swing with an interesting matchup between division rivals the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Snooker and Table Tennis World Championships are also still going strong, as are a variety of ATP and WTA Tennis events. Lastly the IPL has one match today, an exciting match between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals.
Whatever you’re watching enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by NHL