The Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks collide at the Honda Center in Game 1 of the NHL postseason’s opening round. The game gets started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 12 and it can be caught live on USA, R360, TVA2 and PRIT.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks Odds
With a moneyline of -145, Anaheim comes into the game as the heavy favorite. The line for San Jose sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-135 money on the over, +115 on the under).
San Jose is 45-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 82 regular season contests, 43 of its games have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just two have pushed. As a road team this season, the Sharks are 20-21 SU.
San Jose has converted on 20.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the second-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 84.9 percent of its penalties.
San Jose, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, 2.8 per game over its past five contests total, and 3.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Martin Jones (31-29-7) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this season. If San Jose chooses to rest him, however, the team could roll with Aaron Dell (15-14-4), who has a .914 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this year.
The visiting Sharks have relied on Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski heavily this season. Burns has 67 points on 12 goals and 55 assists, and has recorded multiple points 16 times. Pavelski has 22 goals and 44 assists to his credit (and has notched at least one point in 46 games).
On the other side of the ice, Anaheim is 44-38 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 49 of its contests have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 26-15 SU at home this year.
Anaheim has converted on just 17.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Anaheim players have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson has stopped 28.9 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Anaheim. Gibson has 33 wins, 27 losses, and eight overtime losses and has registered a .926 save percentage and 2.43 goals against average this year.
The Ducks will be led on offense by Rickard Rakell (34 goals, 35 assists).
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in three of Anaheim’s last five outings.
The Ducks are 29-16 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 14-13 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
Anaheim has managed 5.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 26th in the NHL).
San Jose has created 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.7 takeaways per game (ranked sixth).
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