Gila River Arena plays host to an enticing matchup as the San Jose Sharks square off against the Arizona Coyotes. Fox Sports Arizona will broadcast this Pacific Division matchup, and the action gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 8.
San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes Odds
San Jose is 14-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 17 of its matches have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2018-19 Sharks team is 5-11 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 22.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it has successfully killed off 85.2 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, San Jose has been sent to the penalty box just 3.6 times per game in the 2018-19 season, and 2.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .900 save percentage and 26.0 saves per game, Martin Jones (11-10-3) has been the best option in goal for San Jose this year. Jones did just play last night, however, so San Jose may choose to rest him and turn to Aaron Dell instead (3-6-2 record, .904 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Logan Couture will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Sharks. Burns has 29 points on four goals and 25 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Couture has nine goals and 19 assists to his name, and has logged a point in 19 games.
Arizona is 13-14 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 27 regular season contests, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 6-8 SU at home this year.
Arizona has converted on just 15.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 90.1 percent of all penalties.
The Coyotes have been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (26.5 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Arizona. Raanta has six wins and six losses to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .906 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this year.
Clayton Keller (eight goals, 11 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Coyotes.
San Jose Sharks vs. Arizona Coyotes Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Sharks, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five matchups.
- San Jose has attempted 35.1 shots per contest overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 37.8 in its last five road outings.
- The Coyotes are 4-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 5-10 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Arizona is ranked 27th this season with 5.7 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down, however, as the team has created 4.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 3.2 takeaways over its last five.
- San Jose skaters have averaged 5.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.9 takeaways per game (ranked 11th overall).
