The San Jose Sharks, fueled by Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, are prepared to take the ice against John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in a cross-country tilt. NBC Sports Washington will broadcast the game, which gets going at 0:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 5.
San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals Odds
San Jose (+190) is entering this one as the underdog to Washington (-230) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been placed at 7 goals (-105 over, -115 under).
Washington is 28-14 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the NHL’s best so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Of its 42 games this season, 27 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 11-8 SU at home this season.
The Capitals have converted on 22.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Braden Holtby (17-12-4) has been the principal option in goal for the Caps this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to rest him, however, Washington could go with Ilya Samsonov (11-4-4 record, .918 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
San Jose has lost 9.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 19-24 straight up (SU). A total of 21 of its matches have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Sharks are 8-12 SU as the away team this season.
The Sharks have converted on just 14.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked first overall and it’s successfully killed off 88.2 percent of all penalties.
Martin Jones (3.13 goals against average and .893 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for San Jose. Jones is averaging 24.6 saves per game and has 13 wins, 17 losses, and one OT loss to his credit.
San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Six of San Jose’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 2-4 in those games.
- Extra-man opportunities may be even more critical than usual in the outcome of this game. The Sharks are 4-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-14 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Capitals are 8-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 12-7 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- San Jose is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 3-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in four of their past five games.
- San Jose skaters have averaged 6.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.3 giveaways per game (the 10th-fewest in the league).
- Washington skaters have averaged 13.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.6 giveaways per game (ranked 19th).
- This game features a couple of the more aggressive teams in the league. San Jose skaters have dished out the 10th-most hits in the league (22.6 per game) and the Caps have handed the seventh-most (24.1).
