Gila River Arena is the site for a divisional showdown as the San Jose Sharks travel to Arizona to take on the Coyotes. Fox Arizona Plus will showcase the game, and the opening face-off is at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 16.
San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes Odds
Arizona (+125) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-145), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -125 for the under and +105 for the over.
San Jose is 23-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 42 regular season outings, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Sharks team is 10-11 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 22.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and the teams successfully killed off a whopping 84.3 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Sharks have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its past five. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .913 save percentage and 25.3 saves per game, Martin Jones (15-15-5) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this season. Jones did just play yesterday, however, so San Jose might decide to rest him and instead go with Aaron Dell (9-8-2 record, .924 save percentage, 2.29 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Joe Thornton will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Sharks. Burns (33 points) has tallied seven goals and 26 assists, and has recorded two or more points in eight different games. Thornton has 10 goals and 21 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 22 games.
Arizona is 10-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 22.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 24 of its outings have gone under the total, while 20 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 5-16 SU as the home team.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Coyotes players have been penalized only 3.0 times per game in total this season, and 1.2 per game over their past five contests. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta has stopped 25.4 shots per game as the top selection in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has six wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 2.73 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this year.
Clayton Keller (14 goals, 20 assists) will pace the offensive attack for Arizona.
San Jose Sharks vs. Arizona Coyotes Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Over Arizona’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- The Coyotes are 5-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-27 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- Two of San Jose’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- San Jose might have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The teams 11-7 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is only 7-13 in such games.
- The over has hit in three of Arizona’s last five outings.
- Arizona has given up 4.0 goals per game (while managing just 2.7 per contest) on its three-game losing streak.
- Arizona has averaged 6.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.9 giveaways per game (the 7th-fewest in the NHL).
- San Jose is ranked 29th this season with 13.0 giveaways per game. That figures trended down, however, as it’s averaged 10.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.2 giveaways over its last five.
- The Coyotes this season have registered the fourth-most hits in the league (24.2 per game).
