The San Jose Sharks and the expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights collide at the SAP Center in a Pacific Division matchup. It’s their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season. The puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 22, and you can watch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks Odds
Vegas is 47-26 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 18.5 units this year. 38 of its contests have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. As an away team this season, the Knights are 21-15 SU.
Vegas has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.2 times per game this season, 2.8 per game over its last five games total, and 3.0 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Boasting a .930 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (27-14-3) has been the best option in goal for Vegas this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant chooses to rest him, however, Vegas might turn to Malcolm Subban (13-4-1 record, .914 save percentage, 2.55 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault (67 points) has tallied 23 goals and 44 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 20 different games. Karlsson has 39 goals and 27 assists to his credit, and has logged at least one point in 46 games.
San Jose is 41-32 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.4 units this year. 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 22-14 SU at home this year.
The Sharks have converted on 21.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
San Jose players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.3 times per game in total this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties just 4.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones has denied 25.9 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Sharks. Jones has 27 wins, 25 losses, and seven overtime losses to his name and has maintained a 2.50 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this year.
Joe Pavelski (19 goals, 40 assists) will lead the attack for the Sharks.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Nine of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 7-2 overall in those games.
The Golden Knights are 17-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 36-17 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
San Jose is 4-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 3-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in each of San Jose’s last five outings.
San Jose has scored 3.1 goals per game overall this season, but has raised that figure up to 5.4 per matchup over its five-game win streak.
San Jose is ranked 23rd this season with 10.3 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as it’s averaged 7.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.0 giveaways over its last five.
Vegas has averaged 6.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 14th overall).
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