Two of the leagues best at fending off power plays, the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks take the ice at the SAP Center for an East-West showdown. The action will get underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 18, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on NBC Sports California.
Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose (+125) is entering this one as the underdog to San Jose (-145), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-140 for the under, +120 for the over).
San Jose is 10-7 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.0 unit this season. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far this season, is fairly close to what the team managed during last year regular season (46-36). Through 17 regular season matches, 12 of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team is 6-5 SU at home.
The Sharks have converted on just 15.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 88.7 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Sharks have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five games. The teams had to kill penalties for 8.6 minutes per game over their last five matchups, overall.
With a .926 save percentage and 24.8 saves per game, Martin Jones (eight wins, five losses) has been the top option in goal for the Sharks this year. If San Jose decides to give him a breather, however, the team could turn to Aaron Dell (2-4-4 record, .934 save percentage, 1.94 goals against average).
Logan Couture and Joe Thornton will both be focal points for the Sharks. Couture (15 points) has tallied 10 goals and five assists and has recorded two or more points in four different games this year. Thornton has two goals and eight assists to his name and has recorded a point in nine games.
On the other bench, Boston is 7-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of nine of its games have gone over the total, while another nine have gone under and none have pushed. As the away team, the Bruins are 2-6 SU so far.
The Bruins have converted on 20.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully defended 85.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Boston’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five match ups. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Tuukka Rask (2.89 goals against average and .897 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Boston. Rask is averaging 24.7 saves per game and owns a 3-9-2 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Bruins will be David Pastrnak (10 goals, seven assists) and Brad Marchand (eight goals, seven assists).
Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of San Jose’s last five games.
- Over Boston’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
- Boston skaters have accounted for the leagues second-most hits per game (26.1).
