Squaring off for the final time this year, the San Jose Sharks and the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice at PNC Arena in an East-West matchup. NBC Sports California will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 4.
San Jose Sharks at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-125) is currently favored over San Jose (+105), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 under, +110 over).
San Jose is 27-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 31 of its contests have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Sharks are 13-14 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
San Jose has converted on 23.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off a whopping 84.3 percent of all penalties.
San Jose, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.7 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 3.4 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.6 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Martin Jones (16-18-6) has been the best option in goal for San Jose this year. If San Jose chooses to rest him, however, head coach Peter Deboer might turn to Aaron Dell (12-10-3), who has a .917 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average this year.
The visiting Sharks have relied heavily on Brent Burns and Logan Couture this year. Burns has 42 points on eight goals and 34 assists, and has recorded multiple points 10 times. Couture has 22 goals and 17 assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 23 games).
On the other bench, Carolina is 24-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 52 regular season matches, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 12-12 SU as the home team.
Carolina has converted on 19.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.2 percent of all penalties.
Carolina players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 2.4 per game over their past five outings total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (24.3 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for Carolina. Darling has nine wins, 21 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a poor .892 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Teuvo Teravainen (13 goals, 28 assists) will lead the attack for the Hurricanes.
San Jose Sharks at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of San Jose’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The under has hit in four of Carolina’s last five games.
