In a game featuring a couple of the league’s top penalty-kill units, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks meet at the Honda Center in a divisional showdown. This one will get going at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 21 and it will be broadcasted live on NBC Sports California.
San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds
Anaheim comes into the game as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -150. The line for San Jose sits at +130, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -130 under, +110 over.
San Jose is 25-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 28 of its outings have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Sharks team is 11-12 SU on the road.
San Jose has converted on 22.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the third-strongest penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of its penalties.
The Sharks, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its past five contests. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.0 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Martin Jones (15-16-5) has been the top option in goal for San Jose this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, head coach Peter Deboer may turn to Aaron Dell (11-8-2), who has a .928 save percentage and 2.18 goals against average this year.
The visiting Sharks have relied heavily on Brent Burns and Joe Thornton this season. Burns has 37 points on seven goals and 30 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Thornton has 12 goals and 21 assists to his name, and has logged at least one point in 25 games.
Anaheim is 22-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 47 regular season outings, 30 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 12-11 SU at home.
The Ducks have converted on just 16.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
Anaheim players have been called for penalties 4.6 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson (29.7 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 16 wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a .923 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this year.
The Ducks offense will be led by Rickard Rakell (16 goals, 17 assists).
San Jose Sharks vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Six of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 4-2 overall in those games.
The Ducks are 16-12 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 8-6 SU in games where they serve more minutes than the opposition.
Two of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Anaheim’s last five outings.
Anaheim skaters have averaged 13.8 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.1 giveaways per game (ranked 20th overall).
San Jose is ranked 29th this season with 12.6 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team’s averaged 9.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.2 giveaways over its last five.
The Ducks this season have handed the seventh-most hits in the NHL (23.5 per game).
