In their fifth and final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the San Jose Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks take the ice at Rogers Arena in a divisional showdown. CBC Sports will showcase the game, and the opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 17.
San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Vancouver (+170) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-200), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-140 to bet the under, +120 for the over).
San Jose is 39-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 40 of its outings have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the road team this season, the Sharks are 18-18 SU.
San Jose has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the top penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 85.2 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, San Jose has been whistled for penalties just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 2.0 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 25.9 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Martin Jones (26-25-7) has been the top option in goal for San Jose this season. Jones did just play last night, however, so the team may opt to rest him and turn to Aaron Dell instead (14-12-3 record, .914 save percentage, 2.65 goals against average).
The visiting Sharks will be led by Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns. Pavelski has 57 points on 18 goals and 39 assists, and has recorded two or more points 12 times. Burns has 10 goals and 45 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 39 games).
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 25-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 71 regular season contests, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 12-23 SU at home.
Vancouver has converted on 20.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom has denied 26.2 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 18 wins, 34 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a .911 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this season.
Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Canucks.
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in four of Vancouver’s last five games.
The Canucks are 9-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-33 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while San Jose is 4-3 in shootouts.
Vancouver is ranked 24th overall with 6.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down recently, however, as the team has forced 5.1 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.2 takeaways over its last five.
San Jose has averaged 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but has raised that figure up to 5.3 per contest over the team’s three-game winning streak.
One of the best at pressuring opposing offenses, San Jose is ranked fifth with 8.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has created 6.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.
San Jose could have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 16-12 in games decided by one goal, while Vancouver is only 8-16 in such games.
*****
