Thursday Night Game Previews

After a mammoth 5 game evening last night we return to only 3 fixtures tonight - here are the previews!

Boston Bruins v Montreal Canadiens

Montreal will want to ensure they get a win in front of their own fans tonight head back into Boston with a 3-1 series advantage. To go back 2-2 could be seen by some as disasterous after taking the first 2 games in Boston and setting up the chance of progressing into round 2. It wouldn't be a disaster by far if they did go back 2-2. Nobody expected them to be 2 up in the first place.
Montreal are looking to have Halpern back in the line up - a defensive forward who could win vital face offs for the Canadiens team. They will need to come out of the blocks faster this game as well, allowing the Bruins a 3 goal lead in game 3 before they woke up. Price would have liked a couple of the goals in that game back, he needs to be on form again tonight as well. The crowd were immense in game 3, Montreal need to get a lead and use the crowd to their advantage.

The Bruins haven't got a powerplay goal yet in this series and you would think at some point that is going to be a  factor. If they get any 1 man advantages tonight they need to make use of them. They got themselves in front last game and hung on. They need that sort of jump again. I wouldn't be expecting any big turn arounds like the San Jose / LA game or last nights Caps / Rangers match up. Whichever team can get their necks infront will be the team to take the game. A good start here is vital. Kelly could miss this game injured for the Bruins and if he does Seguin will get his first ice time of the playoffs.

Montreal to win this one in front of the home fans, getting back to keeping the Bruins to 2 goals or under.

Vancouver Canucks v Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks face their 2nd elimination game and i certainly don't expect a repeat of the last one. Chicago had to come out and win the last game infront of their home fans. They couldn't defend the cup going out in a sweep. The fans in Chicago were intense and the team carried that intensity onto the ice against a laboured Canucks. Back in Vancouver, things are going to be different. The Blackhawks will have to produce another display where they are on the charge from the first whistle. Their forecheck will have to be good and Toews, Kane and Sharp will need to be lethal in attack again. Bolland was a major player in the last game and played with good intensity, another big performance from him wouldn't go a miss. If they can rattle Luongo early on they might have a chance.

Vancouver will be wanting to get back to performing like they did in the 1st 3 games of the series. The 4th game to them was just a minor blip, a detail. Back on home ice they will have to up their game again and im sure they will. Daniel Sedin has been hot so far this series so expect to see him amongst the points. Don't expect a 9 goal game this time around. Luongo will want to be back at his sharpest and Vancouver won't want to get into a toe to toe shoot out. They might go toe to toe in the physical wars though, the 3rd period of game 4 seeing a lot of penalty minutes handed out. Expect that aggression and emotion to carry on into game 5.

Seabrook and Kopecky are still likely to be missing for Chicago so im going for the Canucks to finish the series here by 2 goals.

 San Jose Sharks v LA Kings

Can we have a repeat of game 3 please! As much as everyone would love it, im not sure if we will get it. LA must get a win on home ice so all the pressure is on them for this game. They seemed to have set up the chance of this game 4 being the one that would give them a 3-1 series lead. Instead, San Jose came back and blew away those chances. It was a devestating loss and LA will need to bounce back. They need to get going from the start and play for 60 minutes and not think they have the game sowed up if they get into a good lead. One thing that the Kings can take into this game is the fact they have proved this San Jose team can ship goals. 9 goals against them in 2 games so they need more of the same going forward. Can they find a plug for the other end and be as good as game 2 when Quick got that shut out?

San Jose's confidence will be high. They won't like the way they got themselves 4-0 down for the 2nd time in the series but in game 3 they found a way out. The first thing they will want to do is ensure LA don't get that sort of jump on them again. San Jose now have the chance to go 3-1 up going back to San Jose to finish it off. This team will always score goals if the opponents aren't on top of their defensive game. They were absolutely awesome in that 2nd period in game 3, maybe its time for the Sharks to start a game like that themselves and see if LA have what it takes to make a comeback.

Again, i think LA's powerplay is going to be crucial in this game. I think they will get it going and expect goals from the D, Doughty and Johnson. The Kings to tie the series 2-2 and extend this wonderful match up. Im nt expecting 11 goals though!! Go on, prove me wrong!