The SAP Center is playing host a Pacific Division showdown as the San Jose Sharks take on the visiting Arizona Coyotes. The puck drops at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 13, and fans at home are able to catch it live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
The Sharks are 21-19 straight up (SU) and have lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (46-36). 26 of its 40 games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 12-8 SU at home.
San Jose has connected on 22.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
As a team, San Jose has been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for 8.9 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Martin Jones (13-15-5) has been the primary option in goal for the Sharks this season. If head coach Peter Deboer chooses to rest him, however, the Sharks might turn to Aaron Dell (8-8-8 record, .926 save percentage, 2.27 goals against average).
The Sharks will continue to look for offensive production out of Logan Couture and Brent Burns. Couture (30 points) has tallied 16 goals and 14 assists and has recorded two or more points eight times this year. Burns has seven goals and 23 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 22 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Arizona is 10-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 20.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 44 regular season matches, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. Arizona’s 5-18 SU as an away team this season.
Arizona has converted on just 16.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 17th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.1 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game this season, and 1.6 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (2.73 goals against average and .915 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 25.4 saves per game and has six wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses to his credit.
Clayton Keller (14 goals, 19 assists) will pace the attack for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of San Jose’s last five outings.
Arizona has managed 28.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while San Jose is averaging 35.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
The extra-man advantage could prove to be critical in this game. The Coyotes are 5-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-26 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Sharks are 8-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-14 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Two of San Jose’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
One of the top teams at pressuring their opponents, San Jose is ranked 4th in the league this season with 10.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down, however, as it has averaged 6.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.2 takeaways over its last five.
Arizona is ranked 30th in the league this season with 5.4 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as the team has averaged 5.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.0 takeaways over its last five.
San Jose might hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 10-7 in games decided by one goal, while Arizona is 7-12 in such games.
