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An East vs West Battle!
Heading into (11/20) last nights game between the Philadelphia Flyers
and the San Jose Sharks the two teams stood at #1 and #2 in goals for
to Goals Against. The Flyers held the down the #1 spot with an impressive
+20 with the Sharks right behind them at +19.
The two teams are both improved from a season ago with C. Pronger joining
the club in Philly and the accusation of Dany Heatley to the Sharks
both players have made an impact from the start in their new threads.
The Sharks always have a strong regular season team that can't seem
to get the job done in playoff hockey. Last season was no exception
as they were the number one seed that got knocked out of the second
season in six games to the eight seeded Mighty Ducks in the first round
of the playoffs. The Ducks had Pronger on defense last season but now
would see him in a Philly uniform. In this early season the Sharks are
currently the number one seed again. Can this be the season they finally
represent the West? I think yes.
With their new sniper (D. Heatley 17 Goals) and the leagues best set
up man (J. Thornton 24 Assists)add in the mix the always reliable goal
keep Evgeni Nabokov (2.20 G.A.A). This could be the year the finally
make something happen in.
+20. The Leagues best heading into last night's play Goals For to Goals
Against. Why? He goes by the name of Chris Pronger. Not only does Chris
keep the puck out of his teams defensive zone he attacks the opposing
teams. With 4 goals and 14 assists Pronger is a +14. Chirs is the main
reason Philly has only given up 45 goals in 18 games played this season
before last nights battle.
Last nights bill between the leagues two elite teams stood up to it's
expectations till 11:19 of the final session in a one goal game when
the set up man (J. Thornton) hit the sniper (D. Heatley) for the second
time of the evening on a similar type play as their first hook up. All
though it wasn't much of a snip as Thornton hooked up two beautiful
passes for the goals that lead to the win. This hook up between the
two was when the Sharks were down a man and it made for a 4-2 game.
Later on the Sharks would get a power play chance and Heatley would
finish off his trick while the Sharks would add another goal take the
two points in a 6-3 win.
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