David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and the Boston Bruins will do battle against Brent Burns, Logan Couture, and the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center for an East-West tilt. The match will get going at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, February 18, and you can watch the game live on NBC Sports Network.
Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
The Sharks (-155) are tabbed as the favorites over the Bruins (+135), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
San Jose is 35-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 45-37 record the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 59 regular season matches, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 19-9 SU at home this season.
The Sharks have been able to convert on 24.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 25.2 saves per game with a .899 save percentage, Martin Jones (29-15-4) has been the best goalkeeper for San Jose this season. If San Jose decides to give him the night off, however, head coach Peter Deboer might turn to Aaron Dell (8-10-10 record, .892 save percentage, 3.04 goals against average).
Boston is 34-25 straight up (SU) and has earned -3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 33 of its contests have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the visiting team this season, the Bruins are 13-15 SU.
The Bruins currently tout the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve scored on 26.5 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of all penalties.
Tuukka Rask (2.37 goals against average and .920 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Boston. Rask is averaging 26.0 saves per game and has 19 wins, 13 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit.
Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Sharks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Sharks are 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Bruins are 1-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Two clubs that shoot the puck early and often, Boston has attempted the league’s seventh-most shots on goal (32.9) and San Jose has attempted the third-most (33.9).
- Over Boston’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-0 in those games).
- Boston skaters have accounted for the 11th-most hits in the league (23.5 per game).
