The Anaheim Ducks at the SAP Center in Game 3 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The puck drops at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 16, and you are able to catch the game live on CNBC, RSN1, TVA2 and NSCA.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
Anaheim (+120) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-140), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 5 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
San Jose is 47-37 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.2 units this year. That win percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (46-36). Of the team’s 84 regular season outings, 44 have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 25-16 SU at home this season.
After producing the 15th-rated power-play unit in the regular season (scoring on 20.8 percent of all opportunities), the Sharks have been able to score on 22.2 percent of their power plays in the early stages of these playoffs.
The Sharks’ offensive attack attempted 33.0 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.1 goals per contest (ranked 12th overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, the club is maintaining an average of 34.5 shots on goal ( 3.0 goals per game).
Sporting a .916 save percentage and 25.9 saves per game, Martin Jones (33-29-7) has been the best option in goal for the Sharks this year. If the Sharks choose to give him a breather, however, head coach Peter Deboer may turn to Aaron Dell (15-14-14 record, .914 save percentage, 2.64 goals against average).
Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns will both lead the offensive attack for the Sharks. Pavelski (69 points) has produced 22 goals and 47 assists and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games this year. Burns has 13 goals and 55 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 48 contests.
On the other bench, Anaheim is 44-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 84 regular season contests, 50 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the road team, the Ducks are 18-23 SU.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson (29.0 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 33 wins, 29 losses, and eight overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .925 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this year.
Rickard Rakell (34 goals, 35 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Ducks.
Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in three of San Jose’s last five games.
- Anaheim has managed 24.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while San Jose has been attempting 34.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Anaheim skaters have dished out the seventh-most hits in the league (24.0 per game), but the team’s averaged just 18.0 hits over their last five away games.
