The SAP Center is the site for a cross-continent showdown as the Ottawa Senators pay a visit to San Jose to face the Sharks. This one will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9 and it can be viewed live on Sportsnet.
Ottawa Senators at San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose (-170) is currently the favorite over Ottawa (+150), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Losing 0.8 units for moneyline bettors, San Jose is 15-12 straight up (SU) overall this year. That win percentage, ranked third in the Pacific Division so far this season, is right in line with what the team managed during last year’s regular season (46-36). Through 27 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 8-7 SU at home.
The Sharks have converted on 18.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 86.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Sharks have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five contests at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 4.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 25.5 saves per game, Martin Jones (11-9-2) has been the top option in goal for the Sharks this season. If the Sharks decide to give him the evening off, however, head coach Peter Deboer could go with Aaron Dell (4-6-6 record, .933 save percentage, 1.93 goals against average).
The Sharks will continue relying on leadership via Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture (22 points) has tallied 14 goals and eight assists and has recorded multiple points six times this year. Thornton has five goals and 14 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 14 contests.
Ottawa is 9-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 27 regular season contests, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Senators are 5-8 SU.
The Senators have converted on just 16.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s skaters have been penalized only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (.895 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Ottawa. Anderson is averaging 23.5 saves per game and has eight wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone (14 goals, 11 assists) and Mike Hoffman (nine goals, 12 assists).
Ottawa Senators vs. San Jose Sharks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Ottawa’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 0-5 in those games).
Ottawa has scored 2.9 goals per game as a team this season, but has been averaging 1.0 goal per matchup over its last three games (0-3 SU over that span).
The Senators are 4-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-12 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
Ottawa (1-4 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. San Jose has only participated in two shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
San Jose may hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 7-3 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is 5-10 in such games.
San Jose has averaged 21.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 14.7 giveaways per game (ranked 31st in the league).
Ottawa skaters have averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.0 giveaways per game (ranked 18th overall).
Ottawa skaters have accounted for the 10th-most hits in the league (22.5 per game).
