Canadian Tire Centre will be hosting an East-West tilt as the Ottawa Senators face off against the visiting San Jose Sharks. It’s the last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. NBC Sports California will showcase the game, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5.
San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators Odds
Ottawa (+105) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 under, +110 over.
San Jose is 21-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.4 units this year. Through 38 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 12 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Sharks are 9-9 SU as the away team in 2017-18.
San Jose has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 85.0 percent of all penalties.
The Sharks, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 4.4 per game over its past five outings total, and 3.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Martin Jones (13-14-5) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose this season. Jones played last night, however, so head coach Peter Deboer may decide to rest him and go with Aaron Dell instead (8-7-1 record, .934 save percentage, 1.98 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Joe Thornton will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Sharks. Burns has 27 points on six goals and 21 assists, and has recorded multiple points six times. Thornton has eight goals and 19 assists to his credit, and has notched at least one point in 21 games.
Ottawa is 12-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 38 regular season contests, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while another 19 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 7-12 SU as the home team this season.
The Senators have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. Its penalty kill is also ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.1 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa players have been called for penalties only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.2 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Craig Anderson has stopped 25.5 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Senators. Anderson has 10 wins, 18 losses, and five OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 3.08 goals against average and a subpar .898 save percentage this year.
Mark Stone (15 goals, 19 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the home team.
San Jose Sharks vs. Ottawa Senators Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Senators, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of San Jose’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Ottawa’s last five games.
Over Ottawa’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
The Senators this season have tallied the 10th-most hits per game (23.1), but the club has averaged 31.2 over their past five games as the home team.
