The San Jose Sharks, led by Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski, are prepared to take the ice against Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in an East-West showdown. NBC Sports California will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 23.
San Jose Sharks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
San Jose is 36-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 61 regular season outings, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just one has pushed. This 2018-19 Sharks team is 17-15 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 25.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, it has the eighth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties..
Boasting a .898 save percentage and 25.0 saves per game, Martin Jones (30-16-5) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this year. If San Jose decides to rest him, however, they could go with Aaron Dell (8-10-3), who has a .892 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average this year.
On the other side of the ice, Columbus is 34-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 30 of its contests have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just six have pushed. The team is 15-15 SU at home this year.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 15.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Sergei Bobrovsky (25.9 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky has 25 wins, 19 losses, and one OT loss and has registered a mediocre 2.82 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this season.
San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in four of Columbus’ last five games.
- San Jose’s attempted 34.0 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 32.4 in its last 10 outings.
- Five of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-1 in those games.
- San Jose skaters recorded 18.4 hits per game last season, while the Jackets logged 21.8 hits per matchup.
