Two teams that have put themselves squarely in the playoff picture, the Winnipeg Jets and the San Jose Sharks collide at the SAP Center in a Western Conference showdown. The first puck will drop at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and you are able to catch it live on NBC Sports California.
Winnipeg Jets vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose (+105) is currently the underdog to San Jose (-125), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Winnipeg is 28-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.3 units this year. 23 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Jets are 11-16 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Winnipeg currently has the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 25.0 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
The Jets, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.7 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (25-14-6) has been the best option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If head coach Paul Maurice chooses to rest him, however, Winnipeg might turn to Steve Mason (3-8-1 record, .897 save percentage, 3.52 goals against average).
The visiting Jets have relied on Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine heavily this season. Wheeler (54 points) has tallied 14 goals and 40 assists, and has recorded multiple points 15 times. Laine has 21 goals and 17 assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 29 games).
On the other side of the ice, San Jose is 26-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.6 units this season. 29 of its matches have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 14-8 SU at home.
The Sharks have converted on 22.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Sharks players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 3.1 per game over their last ten outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones has denied 25.0 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Sharks. Jones has 15 wins, 16 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.68 goals against average and a fairly-weak .910 save percentage this year.
The Sharks will be led on offense by Brent Burns (seven goals, 31 assists).
Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Jets, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of San Jose’s last five games.
Over Winnipeg’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
