Two teams facing each other for the third time this season, the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames face off at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Pacific Division tilt. Sportsnet West will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 16.
San Jose Sharks vs. Calgary Flames Odds
Calgary (-135) is currently the favorite over San Jose (+115) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
San Jose is 38-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 70 regular season contests, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Sharks are 17-18 SU on the road in 2017-18.
San Jose has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Sharks have been penalized just 3.3 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 3.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Martin Jones (25-25-7) has been the top option in goal for San Jose this year. If San Jose chooses to rest him, however, the team could go with Aaron Dell (14-12-3 record, .914 save percentage, 2.65 goals against average).
Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Sharks. Pavelski has 56 points on 18 goals and 38 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games. Burns has 10 goals and 44 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 38 games).
On the other side of the rink, Calgary is 35-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 35 of its matches have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 15-20 SU as the home team this year.
The Flames have converted on just 17.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
Flames players have been penalized 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Mike Smith (28.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Flames. Smith has 25 wins, 24 losses, and six overtime losses and has registered a .922 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average this year.
Johnny Gaudreau (22 goals, 58 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Flames.
San Jose Sharks vs. Calgary Flames Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
San Jose is 4-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 2-5 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Calgary’s last five games.
This game features two teams that have pounded opponents’ nets with shots. San Jose has registered the league’s ninth-most shots on goal (33.0) and Calgary has attempted the eighth-most (33.6).
42.9 percent of Calgary’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 15-20 overall in such games) while 57.9 percent of San Jose’s wins have come by two goals or more (22-20 overall in games decided by at least two goals).
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