The SAP Center is the site for an intriguing showdown as the Arizona Coyotes visit San Jose to face the Sharks. This divisional matchup gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 23 and it can be watched live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Arizona Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
Moneyline and Over/Under (O/U) odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
The Sharks are 19-18 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -6.3 units) thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 45-37 record the team produced during the 2017-18 season campaign. Of its 37 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 11-7 SU at home this year.
San Jose’s been able to convert on 24.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.8 percent of all penalties.
San Jose, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 5.0 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 24.6 saves per game with a .899 save percentage, Martin Jones (15-12-4) has been the top option in goal for the Sharks this season. Jones did just play last night, however, so the Sharks may choose to rest him and roll with Aaron Dell instead (5-6-6 record, .906 save percentage, 2.68 goals against average).
Logan Couture and Brent Burns will both be offensive focal points for the Sharks. Couture (36 points) has put up 13 goals and 23 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Burns has four goals and 31 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 23 contests.
Arizona has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 15-20 straight up (SU). A total of 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, Arizona is 8-9 SU so far.
Arizona has converted on just 16.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully killed off 87.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 5.2 per game over their past five outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Darcy Kuemper (27.7 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Arizona. Kuemper owns a 4-11-2 record, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Coyotes, the offense will be facilitated by Clayton Keller (eight goals, 16 assists) and Nick Schmaltz (six goals, 16 assists).
Arizona Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their last five matchups.
- The Sharks have averaged the league’s fourth-most shots on goal (34.8) while the Coyotes have attempted just the 20th-most (34.8).
- Six of Arizona’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-5 in those games.
- Arizona skaters recorded 24.4 hits per game last season, while the Sharks accounted for 18.4 hits per contest.
