Two clubs that are facing each other for the final time this year, the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadiens take the ice at Bell Centre in a cross-continent showdown. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 2, and fans at home will be able to view the game live on Reseau Des Sports.
San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens Odds
With a -115 moneyline, Montreal comes into the game as the narrow favorite. The line for San Jose sits at -105, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 to bet the under, +110 for the over).
San Jose is 20-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 36 regular season matches, 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Sharks team is 8-8 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, it has the third-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 85.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Sharks have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .914 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Martin Jones (13-13-4) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this season. If it decides to rest him, however, San Jose could roll with Aaron Dell (7-7-1), who has a .931 save percentage and 2.06 goals against average this year.
Joe Thornton and Logan Couture will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Sharks. Thornton has 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists, and has recorded two or more points four times. Couture has 15 goals and 11 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 15 games).
On the other side of the ice, Montreal is 16-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 39 regular season contests, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 9-10 SU at home this season.
The Canadiens have converted on just 19.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Canadiens players have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their past five games total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price has stopped 27.5 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Canadiens. Price has 11 wins, 15 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has recorded a pedestrian 2.97 goals against average and a subpar .907 save percentage this season.
Phillip Danault (seven goals, 14 assists) and Alex Galchenyuk (nine goals, 12 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Canadiens.
San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
San Jose is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 1-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in each of Montreal’s last five games.
Montreal has averaged 2.6 goals per game this year, but has been averaging 0.8 goals per contest on its four-game losing streak.
Over Montreal’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-6 in those games).
The Canadiens this season have recorded the fourth-most hits per game (24.4), but that number has jumped up to 30.6 over their past five games as the home team.
