The Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks are set to clash at the SAP Center in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. NBC Sports Network will showcase the matchup, which gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 18.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose is 47-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is right in line with the 45-37 record the team posted during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 86 regular season matches, 49 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 26-17 SU at home this year.
After sporting the sixth-strongest power-play unit in the regular season (finding net on 23.1 percent of all chances), the Sharks have connected on 15.0 percent of their extra-man advantages in the early stages of these playoffs.
The Sharks’ offense attempted 33.0 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.5 goals per outing (ranked second overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, the club is maintaining an average of 31.5 shots on goal and down to 2.8 goals per game.
With a .894 save percentage and 24.1 saves per game, Martin Jones (38-28-5) has been the principal option in goal for the Sharks this season. If head coach Peter Deboer chooses to give him the night off, however, the team may turn to Aaron Dell (11-16-16 record, .884 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
Vegas has lost 13.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 46-40 straight up (SU). Through 86 regular season matches, 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 40 have gone over and just four have pushed. As a road team, the Golden Knights are 20-23 SU.
The Golden Knights have converted on 18.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.2 percent of all penalties.
Marc-Andre Fleury (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Vegas. Fleury has 38 wins, 27 losses, and five OT losses to his credit, while registering a .913 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average this year.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in four of their last five games.
- Two clubs that put the puck on goal a lot, Vegas has registered the league’s second-most shots on goal (34.1) and San Jose has attempted the sixth-most (33.0). The Knights have averaged 28.6 shot attempts over their last five road games while the Sharks have taken 29.8 shots over their last five home outings.
- Over San Jose’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-5 in those games).
- Vegas skaters have accounted for the second-most hits in the league (28.5 per game).
