Arizona Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks Matchup Preview

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Facing each other for the fourth and final time this season, the Arizona Coyotes and the San Jose Sharks clash at the SAP Center in a Pacific Division matchup. The first puck will drop at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 13, and you can catch it live on Fox Sports Arizona.

Arizona Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks Odds

Producing 0.8 units for moneyline bettors, San Jose is 30-26 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That win percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team produced during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Of the team’s 56 regular season matches, 34 have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 15-11 SU at home this season. The Sharks have converted on 23.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all penalties. As a team, the Sharks have been penalized just 3.6 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five games. The teams had to kill penalties for just 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total. With a .912 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Martin Jones (17-20-6) has been the top goalkeeper for the Sharks this season. If San Jose decides to give him a rest, however, the team may roll with Aaron Dell (14-10-10 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average). Brent Burns and Logan Couture will each lead the way for the Sharks. Burns (48 points) has tallied nine goals and 39 assists and has recorded multiple points on 12 different occasions this year. Couture has 23 goals and 20 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 26 contests. On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 14-42 straight up (SU) and has lost 24.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 56 regular season matches, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team so far, the Coyotes are 7-22 SU. The Coyotes have converted on just 16.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties. Arizona’s players have been whistled for penalties only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 4.2 per game over their last five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings. Antti Raanta (.918 save percentage and 2.58 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 26.4 saves per game and owns a 10-22-6 record. Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Coyotes will be Clayton Keller (16 goals, 24 assists) and Derek Stepan (10 goals, 26 assists).

Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions

Prediction: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • The Coyotes are 5-18 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-32 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
  • Two of San Jose’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 4-3 overall in shootouts this season.
  • San Jose could hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 14-10 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is only 9-18 in such games.
  • The total has gone under in three of San Jose’s last five games.
  • San Jose is ranked 26th this season with 11.5 giveaways per game. That figure has improved, however, as it’s averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.2 giveaways over its last five.
  • Arizona has averaged 5.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.4 giveaways per game (ranked sixth overall).
  • Arizona skaters have accounted for the leagues seventh-most hits per game (24.4).