Two teams facing each other for the first time this year, the San Jose Sharks and the New Jersey Devils face off at the Prudential Center in a cross-country showdown. NBC Sports California will broadcast the game, which gets underway at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 14.
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils Odds
San Jose enters the contest as the favorite with a moneyline of -125. The line for New Jersey sits at +105 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Netting 2.0 units for moneyline bettors, the Devils are 2-0 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That winning percentage, best in the league so far in this young season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during the 2017-18 season (44-38). The team’s 2-0 SU at home so far this year.
New Jersey has successfully converted on 33.3 percent of its power play chances thus far. That’s a significant improvement from last year, when it was ranked 14th in the league by scoring on 21.0 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as it’s gone from successfully defending 81.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 10th overall last season) to 87.5 percent this year.
As a team, New Jersey has been penalized 4.5 times per game this season, a number that is up a bit from last year’s 3.8 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 9.1 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 9.0 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 19.0 saves per game with a .950 save percentage, the undefeated Keith Kinkaid (two wins, no losses) has been the primary option in goal for the Devils this year.
On the other hand, San Jose is 2-3 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through five regular season outings, three of its games have gone under the total, while two have gone over and none have pushed. San Jose’s 2-2 SU as the away team this season.
San Jose’s scored on 11.1 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 21.1 percent of its extra-man opportunities last season (a percentage that was just better than the league average). The team’s gone from killing off 84.2 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked second overall last season) to 75.0 percent in 2018-19.
San Jose’s skaters have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, a number that’s climbed some from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for 8.4 minutes per matchup this year.
Aaron Dell (.917 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for San Jose. Dell is averaging 27.5 saves per game and has one win, one , and one OT loss to his credit.
Kevin Labanc (one goal, four assists) has been one of the top playmaking threats for the visiting Sharks.
San Jose Sharks at New Jersey Devils Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
San Jose was 5-3 in shootouts last season. New Jersey was 5-4 in games that went to a shootout.
The total has gone under in three of San Jose’s last five games.
San Jose skaters registered 18.4 hits per game last season, while the Devils logged 22.6 hits per contest.
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