NHL opening night: San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks had more points during the regular season than anyone in the NHL, but in the wake of their first-round playoff flameout against Anaheim last season, it seems no one is counting them as Western Conference contenders this year.
San Jose is +300 on WagerWeb.com to win the West this year, which is tied with Detroit for No. 2 in that conference behind Chicago. And the Sharks get to begin to put their most recent playoff failures behind them starting tonight in Colorado, where they are -170 money line favorites.
Colorado might be the worst team in the West this year, as the franchise did an overhaul this offseason, adding Greg Sherman as the general manager and Joe Sacco as the coach. Former star Joe Sakic retired during the offseason, and he will be honored tonight.
The Avs also brought in veteran goalie Craig Anderson, who was a backup to Tomas Vokoun last year with the Florida Panthers. Anderson is contending for time in goal with holdover Peter Budaj. Colorado, which had the fewest goals in the league last year, also traded Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings in July for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing, who’s out until late October.
The Sharks won all four meetings between the teams last season by a combined score of 12-4.
San Jose didn’t stand pat this offseason, acquiring Dany Heatley from Ottawa in exchange for right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, left wing Milan Michalek and a draft pick. Heatley, who had 39 goals and 33 assists last season, will headline a No. 1 line with Joe Thornton (25 goals, 61 assists last year) and right wing Devin Setoguchi, who had 31 goals and 34 assists in 2008-09, his first full season in the NHL.
“That adds extra punch to our offense,” Thornton said of Heatley. “He’s such a dynamic scorer and he creates a lot of room for guys like me and Setoguchi. He’s going to take a lot of pressure off. I think it’s going to open up the game a little more.”
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