Event of the Day: Colorado Avalanche versus San Jose Sharks
Our event of the day is Game 4 of the NHL playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and the San Jose Sharks at the Pepsi Center in Denver. After the opening three contests of the series, San Jose have their noses in front and hold a 2-1 lead going into tonight’s clash. After winning both home ties in round one against the Calgary Flames, Colorado would’ve been disappointed to stumble on their home ice last time out, as the Sharks got the better of the Denver-based outfit. The Avalanche will be desperate to bounce back tonight and level the series before returning to San Jose for what could prove a pivotal Game 5. Colorado were one of the stand out performers in the first round as they eliminated Calgary easily, a team who recorded the second most wins in this year’s regular season and looked in good stead to cultivate a deep run in the playoffs. However, the Avalanche skaters have excelled since the post season began, particularly on their home ice, and they will look to exploit San Jose’s leaky defence at the Pepsi Center tonight. No other franchise has conceded more goals than the Sharks in the playoffs, 33, which bodes well with the fact that center Nathan MacKinnon is having the playoffs of his career, having notched five goals in just eight outings thus far. Should they overcome the one game deficit and beat the Sharks in this series, it would represent their best performance in a playoff campaign since they reached the Conference Finals in 2002.
Though they have immense scoring power in their own ranks, Colorado will certainly be wary of the offensive threat San Jose can pose, with the Sharks boasting two of the three highest scorers in the post season thus far. Logan Couture and Tomáš Hertl have been unstoppable since the playoffs began, with the pair scoring 15 goals between them already. Three of Couture’s goals came last time out against Colorado and he will be hoping for another sublime performance in the Mile High City tonight. The Sharks recorded their first ever Stanley Cup final appearance back in 2016, but since then have failed to progress further than the second round. However, after eliminating one of the favourites in the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, many are now tipping San Jose to go all the way this time round to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history. These two sides last met in a playoff series in 2010 in the first round, on which occasion the Sharks prevailed, winning by a scoreline of four games to two. It should be a thrilling game of ice hockey tonight.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Europa League where we have reached the Semi-final stage. Firstly, Chelsea will make the trip to Germany as they take on the in form Eintracht Frankfurt at the Commerzbank-Arena, whilst Arsenal will remain in London as they host Spanish side Valencia at the Emirates. Elsewhere, Night 14 of the Unibet Premier League will take place in Manchester as the race for the top four places heats up, with six players still in with a chance of appearing at finals night at the O2. There is also action on the PGA European Tour as the Volvo China Open gets underway at Genzon Golf Club where some of the world’s finest golfers will battle it out for the winner’s cheque of just under £400,000. In the Super League Wigan Warriors host bottom placed London Broncos who have won just three of their 13 outings so far this season. Finally, there is a crucial clash in the NBA as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Toronto Raptors for Game 3 of their playoff series which is finely poised at one game apiece.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NHL