The SAP Center will play host to a Western Conference matchup as the Dallas Stars pay a visit to San Jose to face the Sharks. It’s the third and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The match will get started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 3, and it’ll be shown live on Sportsnet ONE.
Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
Dallas (+155) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-175), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
The Sharks are 44-35 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 2.3 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is right in line with what the team posted during the 2016-17 season (46-36). Of the team’s 79 regular season contests, 43 have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 24-14 SU at home this season.
San Jose has converted on 20.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, San Jose has been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 4.2 per game over its past five games. The team’s had to stave off opposition power plays for just 7.6 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Sporting a .917 save percentage and 26.3 saves per game, Martin Jones (30-27-7) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Sharks this season. If head coach Peter Deboer decides to give him the night off, however, the Sharks could turn to Aaron Dell (15-13-13 record, .913 save percentage, 2.67 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski will both lead the way for the Sharks. Burns (63 points) has tallied 11 goals and 52 assists and has recorded two or more points on 15 different occasions this year. Pavelski has 21 goals and 42 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 43 games.
On the other side of the rink, Dallas is 40-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 39 of its matches have gone over the total, while 38 have gone under and just two have pushed. Dallas’ 14-24 SU as the away team this season.
Dallas has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Dallas’ players have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Ben Bishop (2.49 goals against average and .916 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Dallas. Bishop is averaging 24.8 saves per game and owns a 26-27-6 record.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Stars will be Tyler Seguin (40 goals, 36 assists) and Jamie Benn (29 goals, 42 assists).
Dallas Stars vs. San Jose Sharks Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in three of San Jose’s last five outings.
The Stars are 18-20 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 14-13 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
San Jose is 5-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Dallas is 4-3 in shootouts.
San Jose skaters have averaged 7.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.7 takeaways per game (ranked 6th in the league).
Dallas is ranked 28th in the NHL with 5.6 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has averaged 4.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 3.8 takeaways over its last five.
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