A couple of teams that split their season series two wins apiece a year ago, the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks take the ice at the SAP Center. Sportsnet ONE will broadcast this divisional matchup, and the action gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 13.
Calgary Flames vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
Calgary is 2-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season SU winning percentage is a noticeable drop-off from the 50-32 record that the team posted during the 2018-19 season campaign. Two of its matches have gone over the total, while another two have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team in 2019-20, the Flames are 1-2 SU.
Calgary has scored on 18.8 percent of its power play chances thus far. That mark hasn’t moved too much from last season, when it was ranked 18th in the league by converting on 19.3 percent of its extra-man advantages. Its penalty kill has gotten stronger since last year, as the team’s gone from successfully defending 79.9 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 18th overall last year) to 81.0 percent this year.
Calgary, as a collective unit, has been penalized 5.4 times per game in the 2019-20 season, a number that’s regressed noticeably from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for a whopping 13.6 minutes per outing this year.
Averaging 31.0 saves per game with a .906 save percentage, David Rittich (2-3-1) has been the best option in goal for Calgary this season.
Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk will both lead the way for the visiting Flames. Gaudreau (seven points) has tallied three goals and four assists this season; Tkachuk has two goals and four assists to his credit through the early stages of the regular season.
Over on the other bench, San Jose is 1-4 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through five regular season matches, three of its games have gone under the total, while two have gone over and none have pushed.
San Jose has converted on 15.0 percent of its power plays this year after scoring on 22.5 percent (ranked sixth in league) last season. It’s killed off an impressive 87.5 percent of all penalties, a few points up from the 80.5 percent the team recorded a year ago (when it was ranked 14th overall).
The Sharks have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.7, the eighth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for a whopping 14.4 minutes per outing this season.
The winless Martin Jones (23.3 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for San Jose. Jones has zero wins and three losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 4.55 goals against average and a poor .854 save percentage this year.
The Sharks offense will be led by Brent Burns (two goals, three assists).
Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The Sharks are 0-1 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Flames are 2-1 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
- After posting a 0-4 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Calgary is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. San Jose was 0-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- San Jose ranked fourth last year with 9.3 takeaways per game, but the team seems to be applying less pressure on opposing offenses to begin this season. It’s currently ranked 18th through five games with 7.2 takeaways per contest.
- Calgary skaters ranked third last year with 10.5 takeaways per game, but the team appears to be applying less pressure on opposing offenses to begin this season. It’s up to a ranking of 16th through 5 games with 7.4 takeaways per contest.
