The San Jose Sharks, coming off an epic shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks, play host to the New York Rangers in the final game of a season-long six-game homestand. It is the final game against a team in the Eastern Time Zone, much less Eastern Conference.
What's at stake for each team
With just four weeks to go, there is no doubt that New York has more on the line. The Rangers are playing to get into the playoffs right now, in the eighth spot in the East a mere half-game ahead of Carolina.
But the Sharks have continued to show urgency in the uber-competitive Western Conference. They know they can catch Detroit and be caught within a division that features five teams with top-eight point percentages in the West.
San Jose is just 1.5 games ahead of Dallas for the Pacific Division and are an equal distance from the second seed in the West.
How they are playing
The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL, winning 18 of their last 23 games and getting points in 20. They are 3-1-1 so far in a homestand long enough to erase the effects of a February spent almost entirely on the road. Despite playing in the lea ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by MJ Kasprzak
NHL Inter-Conference Showdown Features Sharks and Rangers
March 12th, 2011 by MJ Kasprzak Leave a reply »
Advertisement