A couple of teams that have put themselves squarely in playoff contention, the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for a Western Conference showdown. The matchup gets started at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 22, and you can watch the game live on NBC Sports California.
San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Nashville (+150) is playing the role of underdog to Nashville (-170), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
Nashville is 36-23 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 6.9 units this year. That win percentage, ranked fourth in the league so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to what the team did during the 2016-17 season (41-41). Among its 59 games this season, 29 have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 20-10 SU at home.
The Predators have connected on 22.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Predators have been whistled for penalties 4.5 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over their past five contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Boasting a .926 save percentage and 29.1 saves per game, Pekka Rinne (30-13-4) has been the top goalkeeper for Nashville this season. If the Preds decide to give him a breather, however, the team may turn to Juuse Saros (6-11-11 record, .926 save percentage, 2.39 goals against average).
P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg will each lead the offensive attack for the Predators. Subban (46 points) has tallied 15 goals and 31 assists and has recorded two or more points on 11 separate occasions this year. Forsberg has 17 goals and 24 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 29 contests.
San Jose is 33-27 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.3 units this season. A total of 36 of its matches have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Sharks are 16-15 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Sharks have converted on 22.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully defended 84.3 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s players have been penalized only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (26.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for San Jose. Jones owns a 20-21-6 record, and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Sharks, the offense will be coordinated by Brent Burns (10 goals, 40 assists) and Logan Couture (24 goals, 22 assists).
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Trendss
- Two of Nashville’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 5-5 overall in shootouts this season.
- The over has hit in three of Nashville’s last five outings.
- Nashville’s attempted 31.7 shots per game overall this season (ranked 16th in the NHL), and 33.2 in their last five home games.
- Seven of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
