Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 31st 2024
Preview and Prediction
The upcoming matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks may seem like a battle between two struggling teams in the Western Conference, but both teams are coming into the game with recent wins under their belts.
The Blackhawks are heading to the West Coast after breaking a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Meanwhile, the Sharks started their five-game homestand with a strong 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
The Sharks have also been on a winning streak, with back-to-back victories including a 5-4 comeback win in overtime against the Utah Hockey Club on Monday. This is a significant improvement for a team that started the season with nine consecutive losses.
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Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky expressed his pride in the team's performance, stating, "A win is a win, no matter where it is. We always strive to win games, and I am proud of the way the team showed up and worked hard in our back-to-back games."
The Sharks have had a tough season so far, currently sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Division. After finishing last in the league in the 2023-24 season, there were hopes that the team would turn things around, but they struggled in the beginning.
However, the recent wins have boosted team morale, especially for defenseman Jake Walman. He scored a goal and had three assists in the game against the Kings, following a three-assist performance in the previous game against Utah.
"We all have the ability to contribute to the team's success. We have a lot of skilled forwards, and our job as defensemen is to get the puck to them," Walman said.
The Blackhawks, who previously beat the Sharks 4-2 on October 17, are currently on a five-game road trip that will end with games against the two Southern California teams.
Their win against the Avalanche was a much-needed boost for the Blackhawks, who had been on the losing end of several close games during their losing streak.
Coach Luke Richardson expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We deserved the win tonight, and there have been other games where we deserved a better outcome. We are tired of moral victories and are happy to finally get a real win."
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The Blackhawks took an early lead against the Avalanche, with Ryan Donato scoring two goals in the first period to give them a 3-1 lead. Donato, along with linemates Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev, also did a good job of containing Colorado's star player Nathan MacKinnon.
Donato commented on the team's mindset going into the game, saying, "We have had several games where we played well but couldn't finish it off. We knew we had to step up and get the job done, and that's what we did."
The Blackhawks are currently tied with the Nashville Predators at the bottom of the Central Division.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks Recap OCT 31TH 2024
Will Smith scored his first NHL goal and added a second tally to pace the host San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
Alex Wennberg also scored for the Sharks, who have won three consecutive games for the first time since the middle of last season. Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves, including all 13 shots he faced in the third period while the Blackhawks dominated play and pushed frantically for the equalizer.
Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who have lost five of six games. Petr Mrazek stopped 26 shots and Connor Murphy collected two assists.
With his team trailing 2-1, Wennberg tied the game 90 seconds into the second period. Mrazek stopped Fabian Zetterlund's long shot, but he could not cover the loose puck before Wennberg chipped it into the net for his second tally of the season.
Smith's second goal of the game, just past the midway point of the second period, gave the Sharks their second lead of the night and eventually held up as the game-winner. During a power play, he rifled a long wrist shot into the top corner.
The Blackhawks controlled play throughout the third period but could not solve Blackwood again. Chicago even enjoyed a power play for the final 79 seconds.
The rollercoaster ride began early. Smith, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his ninth NHL game one to remember when he opened the scoring at the 6:52 mark. After he was fed a pass in the left circle, Smith lifted a top-corner shot for the memorable marker.
Donato tied the clash 37 seconds later. He pounced on a loose puck in the slot and ripped a short-side shot for his sixth goal of the season and fourth in a three-game spree.
Bertuzzi put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1 only 50 seconds after that by converting a rebound opportunity while parked at the doorstep.