The San Jose Sharks at the Honda Center in Game 2 of the NHL postseason’s first round. The first puck will drop at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 14, and you’ll be able to view it live on NBC Sports Network.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks Odds
With a moneyline of -135, Anaheim enters the game as the favorite. The line for San Jose sits at +115 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 5 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
San Jose is 46-37 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 83 regular season outings, 44 of its games have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the away team this season, the Sharks are 21-21 SU.
San Jose has converted on 20.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the second-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Sharks have been penalized just 3.2 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.6 per game over its past five matchups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Martin Jones (32-29-7) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, San Jose could turn to 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 this season. Burns has 68 points via 13 goals and 55 assists, and has recorded two or more points 17 times. Pavelski has 22 goals and 46 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 47 games.
Anaheim is 44-39 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.9 units this season. 50 of its outings have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 26-16 SU as the home team this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark 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.
Ducks players have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
John Gibson has denied 28.9 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 33 wins, 28 losses, and eight overtime losses to his credit and has registered a .925 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average this year.
Rickard Rakell (34 goals, 35 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Ducks.
San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Six of Anaheim’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-2 overall in those games.
The Sharks are 14-13 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Ducks are 29-17 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
Anaheim is 4-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while San Jose is 5-3 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Anaheim’s last five games.
Anaheim is putting up 2.8 goals per game in its past five games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU over that span).
Anaheim skaters have averaged 10.4 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 10.1 giveaways per game (ranked 22nd in the NHL).
San Jose is ranked 20th this season with 10.1 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team’s averaged 8.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 giveaways over its last five.
The Ducks this season have tallied the seventh-most hits in the league (24.0 per game), but the club has averaged 27.0 over their last five games as the home team.
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