Sharks vs. Ducks: Game 4 prediction

The Anaheim Ducks will try to avoid a sweep when the they visit the Sharks in San Jose for Game 4 of their first-round series.

Imagine a duck sitting in the ocean, floating peacefully. Then, imagine the theme music from the movie Jaws begin to play and grow louder. Finally, picture the poor unknowing duck get destroyed by a massive shark, like something out of Shark Week.

The prediction is pretty simple — the Ducks, coming off of an outright 8-1 beatdown on Monday night, can’t find much to hang their hopes on. The Sharks appear to be on a mission this series and look to sweep the Ducks and set up what should be a real entertaining second-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Two teams from southern California with the same issues may lead to the same results

The Los Angeles Kings and Ducks are similar teams in style and, of course, location. Watching the series, the games are frighteningly similar. Something is missing for the Ducks. The stars for Anaheim have simply not shown up in the series, and costly penalties by Ryan Getzlaf during Game 3 leave one feeling the time has come and gone for this version of the Ducks.

Much like their rivals, in L.A. who frankly looked frankly and lacking speed for their series, the Ducks have struggled. Ondrej Kase and Rickard Rakell have looked good for the most part, but the Ducks seem to lack the “it” factor this postseason. Much like their neighbors to the north, the sense is that this series is over and the prediction is a cake-walk win once again for the Sharks 5-2.

Who would have dreamed that one day there would be three NHL teams from California in the playoffs in the same year? Throw in the unbelievable story that is forming for the Vegas Golden Knights and the fans on the west coast who normally are accused of not being real hockey fans have had a treat this year.

Call it a bold prediction if you like

One of the 2 teams that will most likely meet in the 2nd round will probably represent the west in the Stanley Cup Final. The Sharks have been knocking on the door for a decade and this season with so much focus on the Knights and the teams from the east, it could be the perfect spot for them to get back to the final and maybe win this year. Martin Jones and Brett burns are a few of the world class players on the roster that anchor this Sharks team and they just might all by themselves will this team to the cup.

The only team that may stop the Sharks is the Golden Knights. They are playing tremendous hockey, and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is simply a brick wall right now. The Ducks may have something to say about all of this, but if Corey Perry and the rest of the veterans on the Ducks don’t make changes quickly this will be what may turn out to be the final act of Getzlaf and Perry leading this team in the near future.

Prediction: Sharks win 5-2

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