Two of the leagues best at converting on the power play, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks collide at the SAP Center in an East-West matchup. The action gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20, and it will be showcased live on NBC Sports California.
Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks Odds
Pittsburgh is 25-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 10-15 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh enters the match up with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 26.9 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, it has the ninth-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .903 save percentage and 24.7 saves per game, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Tristan Jarry (10-8-2), who has a .919 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average this year.
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will both be relied on to facilitate things for the visiting Penguins. Kessel (54 points) is up to 21 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 14 different games. Crosby has 17 goals and 33 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 29 games.
San Jose is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 28 of its contests have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 13-8 SU at home this year.
The Sharks have converted on 22.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
San Jose skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five contests. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones has stopped 25.0 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Sharks. Jones has 15 wins, 16 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .910 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this season.
Brent Burns (seven goals, 28 assists) will lead the attack for the Sharks.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- The Penguins are 11-10 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 8-6 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Three of San Jose’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- San Jose is ranked 29th this season with 12.6 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as it’s averaged 9.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.0 giveaways over its last five.
- Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 10.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 8.4 giveaways per game (the 10th-fewest in the NHL).
- Pittsburgh skaters have dished out the fifth-most hits in the league (24.2 per game), but that numbers down to just 21.4 hits over their last five away games.
