In their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators meet at Canadian Tire Centre in a cross-continent tilt. The match will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5 and it is being shown live on NBC Sports California.
San Jose Sharks vs. Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa (+105) is playing the role of underdog to San Jose (-125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 under, +110 over).
San Jose is 21-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.4 units this year. 24 of its matches have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Sharks team is 9-9 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, it has the third-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 85.0 percent of all penalties.
The Sharks, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 4.4 per game over its last five outings total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Martin Jones (13-14-5) has been the top option in goal for San Jose this season. Jones played last night, however, so head coach Peter Deboer could opt to rest him and instead roll with Aaron Dell (8-7-1 record, .934 save percentage, 1.98 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Joe Thornton will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Sharks. Burns has 27 points via six goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points in six different games. Thornton has eight goals and 19 assists to his credit (and has logged a point in 21 games).
Ottawa is 12-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 19 of its games have gone over the total, while another 19 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the teams 7-12 SU at home.
The Senators have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is also ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa players have been penalized only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Craig Anderson has stopped 25.5 shots per game as the top selection in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 10 wins, 18 losses, and five overtime losses to his name and has recorded a fairly-weak .898 save percentage and 3.08 goals against average this season.
Mark Stone (15 goals, 19 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the home team.
San Jose Sharks vs. Ottawa Senators Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- 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.
- The under has hit in three of Ottawa’s last five outings.
- Over Ottawa’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
- The Senators this season have tallied the 10th-most hits per game (23.1), but that average has risen to 31.2 over their past five home outings.
