In a game between two teams that are squarely in the playoff picture, the San Jose Sharks and the Washington Capitals take the ice at Capital One Arena for a cross-country showdown. NBC Sports Washington will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 4.
San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Washington (+110) is currently the underdog to Washington (-130), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-140 for the under, +120 for the over).
Earning 1.0 units for moneyline bettors, Washington is 15-12 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That early-season winning percentage is a big slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (55-27). Of the teams 27 games this season, 15 have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 9-5 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have converted on 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties.
The Capitals, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five contests at home. The teams had to kill penalties for just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Braden Holtby (14 wins, six losses) has been the best option in goal for the Caps this season. If head coach Barry Trotz decides to give him the night off, however, the team may go with Philipp Grubauer (1-8-8 record, .886 save percentage, 3.49 goals against average).
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin will each lead the offensive attack for the Capitals. Kuznetsov (29 points) has produced nine goals and 20 assists and has recorded two or more points on eight different occasions this year. Ovechkin has 19 goals and seven assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 15 games.
On the other bench, San Jose is 14-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 18 of its matches have gone under the total, while six have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team, the Sharks are 7-4 SU so far.
The Sharks have converted on just 16.9 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 unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 87.8 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.6 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for San Jose. Jones has 10 wins, eight losses, and two OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .926 save percentage and 2.23 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Sharks will be Logan Couture (13 goals, eight assists) and Joe Thornton (four goals, 12 assists).
San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Power plays and penalty kills could have a key role tonight. The Sharks are 5-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-9 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 6-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 9-3 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- San Jose is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 2-0 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in four of Washington’s last five games.
- Washington is ranked 26th this season with 11.3 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as the teams averaged 14.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 17.0 giveaways over its last five.
- San Jose is ranked 30th this season with 14.8 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it’s averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.6 giveaways over its last five.
- The Capitals this season have recorded the 12th-most hits in the league (22.3 per game).
