With the series even at four games apiece, the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks collide at T-Mobile Arena in Game 5 of the NHL’s Western Conference Semifinals. The game gets started at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, May 4 and it’ll air live on NBC Sports Network.
San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Vegas (-150) is currently favored over San Jose (+130), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.
Vegas is 57-33 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 19.3 units this season. Among the team’s 90 games this season, 45 have gone over the total, while 42 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 32-13 SU at home this season.
Following a regular season where they scored on 21.1 percent of all power-play chances (the 10th-strongest), the Golden Knights have been able to score on 17.1 percent of their postseason power plays. Their penalty kill has gone from 82.3 percent in the regular season to 85.3 percent in the playoffs.
The Golden Knights’ offensive skaters attempted 32.7 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.3 goals per outing (ranked fourth overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the team is managing an average of 32.6 shots on goal and down to 2.6 goals per game.
Sporting a .931 save percentage and 28.7 saves per game, Marc-Andre Fleury (35-19-5) has been the top option in goal for the Knights this season. If head coach Gerard Gallant decides to give him a breather, however, the team might turn to Malcolm Subban (15-7-7 record, .910 save percentage, 2.68 goals against average).
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault will both lead the way for the Golden Knights. Karlsson (87 points) is up to 47 goals and 40 assists and has recorded multiple points 22 times this year. Marchessault has 29 goals and 54 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 50 contests.
On the other side of the ice, San Jose is 51-39 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.5 units this year. A total of 46 of its games have gone under the total, while 41 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the away team, the Sharks are 23-22 SU.
The Sharks have converted on 21.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s players have been whistled for penalties only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 5.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays an unhealthy 17.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Martin Jones (2.48 goals against average and .917 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for San Jose. Jones is averaging 26.2 saves per game and has 37 wins, 31 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Sharks, the offense will be facilitated through Joe Pavelski (24 goals, 50 assists) and Brent Burns (15 goals, 59 assists).
San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
Six of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-2 in those games.
The extra-man advantage could have a key role tonight. The Sharks are 23-21 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 38-27 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Golden Knights are 23-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 44-20 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Vegas is 4-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while San Jose is 5-3 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Vegas’ last five games.
Vegas skaters have averaged 9.4 giveaways per game (ranked 15th in the league).
San Jose is ranked 20th this season with 10.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as it’s averaged 8.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 8.2 giveaways over its last five.
+++++
