Two of the league’s best at scoring on the power play, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks face off at the SAP Center in an East-West showdown. The opening face-off is at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20, and fans at home are able to catch it live on NBC Sports California.
Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks Odds
Pittsburgh is 25-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 48 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 10-15 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh comes into the match up with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 26.9 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If Pittsburgh chooses to rest him, however, head coach Mike Sullivan may turn to Tristan Jarry (10-8-2), who has a .919 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average this year.
The visiting Penguins have relied on Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby this year. Kessel (54 points) has tallied 21 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games. Crosby has 17 goals and 33 assists to his credit, and has notched a point in 29 games.
San Jose is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 44 regular season contests, 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 13-8 SU at home this year.
The Sharks have converted on 22.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.3 percent of all penalties.
San Jose players have been sent to the penalty box 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their past five match ups. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Sharks. Jones has 15 wins, 16 losses, and five OT losses and has maintained a fairly-weak .910 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Brent Burns (seven goals, 28 assists) will lead the attack for the Sharks.
Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
The Penguins are 11-10 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 8-6 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Three of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 2-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this year.
San Jose is ranked 29th this season with 12.6 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 9.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.0 giveaways over its last five.
Pittsburgh has averaged 10.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 8.4 giveaways per game (ranked 10th).
Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s fifth-most hits per game (24.2), but the team’s recorded just 21.4 hits over their last five away games.
