PPG Paints Arena will play host to a cross-country clash as the Pittsburgh Penguins square off against the visiting San Jose Sharks. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. This one gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 30 and it is being shown live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-180) is currently favored over San Jose (+160), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Pittsburgh is 27-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during the 2016-17 season campaign. Of its 51 games this season, 25 have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team is 17-8 SU at home.
The Penguins currently have the strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve converted on 27.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated ninth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
The Penguins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over their last five outings total, and 4.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the top goalkeeper for Pittsburgh this year. If the Pens, however, decide to give him the night off, the team could roll with Tristan Jarry (10-8-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will both lead the way for the Penguins. Kessel (58 points) has put up 21 goals and 37 assists and has recorded two or more points 14 times this year. Crosby has 17 goals and 38 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 32 contests.
San Jose is 26-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Sharks are 12-12 SU as the road team this season.
The Sharks have converted on 22.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose. Jones owns a 15-16-5 record, while registering a .910 save percentage and 2.68 goals against average this year.
Brent Burns (seven goals, 34 assists) has been one of the top offensive playmakers for the visiting Sharks.
San Jose Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-2 in those games).
The Penguins are 13-10 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Sharks are 8-8 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Pittsburgh is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while San Jose is 3-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 4.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 8.4 giveaways per game (ranked 11th).
San Jose is ranked 29th this season with 12.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 9.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.6 giveaways over its last five.
The Penguins this season have recorded the sixth-most hits in the league (24.3 per game), but the club has averaged 30.6 over their past five games as the home team.
